The Sopranos

[Sean]

After giving it some time, I still don't know how I feel about the ending. Although calling it an ending is misleading since nothing ended. On the one hand, I like the way it ended giving us a real feel of what every day of Tony's life is probably like...everyone is suspicious, and anything could happen at any moment. On the other hand, I personally prefer storytelling that includes some kind of resolution for the characters I've invested time into following. I almost feel like they didn't have a real "ending" because they were scared to commit to one. But maybe that's just me.

[b.miller]

I know what you're talking about, Sean. I think so much of The Sopranos (especially season 3 on) was about subverting expectations and playing with traditional storytelling structure though that this is really the only way they could've ended. I bet it was very very funny for David Chase on Sunday night when everyone simultaneously thought their cable had cut out or their Tivos messed up. The last scene was very indicative of most of the last 4 seasons (for me at least) where you're watching and waiting for something to happen and you're waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen and when it ends you realize that it happened while you were waiting.

If the show had only gone 1 or 2 seasons, I would've been very pissed off at this ending, but considering what the show has become I think it's very fitting.

[the mongoose]

Hmmm, this guy has some interesting ideas about the final episode.......must read!

Click (spoiler warning)

[grady]

Originally Posted by the mongoose

Hmmm, this guy has some interesting ideas about the final episode.......must read!

Click (spoiler warning)

I like a great deal of the ideas he brings up in that piece, however, something that is briefly mentioned in the piece, but then futher clarified by HBO executives in recent interviews can be found at the following two links. It further solidifies things regarding the finale.

link 1 (spoiler warning)

link 2 (spoiler warning)

[potatobroth]

after i got over the initial shock of "bullshit!" i came to really admire his ending to the show. I'll admit i had never given the 'tony got whacked' scenario a thought as the show aired for the first time. But after reading a bit more about some of the metaphors, homages, and symbolism used in the diner scene i find it hard to not feel this way.

Mr. Chase wrote that its 'all there' and his framing of shots in that final scene was too impeccable to call unintentional; i actually live <1mile from where they filmed that diner scene and the area was closed for quite some time because of filming. The town of Bloomfield did not want the scene to be filmed there but ultimately Mr. Chase convinced them it was his intentions to film that exact scene at that exact restaurant for many years. They finally allowed him access.

In the end, i feel that Tony was killed by the man in the Members Only jacket and i think that the blog by bobharris (ex CSI writer?) has nailed quite a few of the symbolisms on the head. He's also gone way overboard with others but i just take the bad with the good.

Its a very fitting ending i feel. Regardless of what you believe happened or didnt happen to Tony, I must admit that this scene had me on the edge of my seat with my heart racing. That song, that foreshadowing, that tension, that raw emotion between him and his family was quite unlike other television shows much less finales.