the ending of the Sopranos

[archibaldcrane]

The ending was what I expected - they continue to lead the life they do, consistent problems and forced to ignore fear of death as much as possible. I knew there would be tons of people here speculating "but...but was he shot at teh end?" which makes me /sigh.

[AzazaelFenrir]

my only complaint was the length of the pause before the credits. I thought I was gonna have to give comcast a call and bitch them out for fucking my cable up.

[JMunin]

This is no-lessons learned TV. Years ago, when Seinfeld ended, Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer were still going on about the minutae of their lives after their fates were sealed. The Sopranos continue on as before, as we all continue on, ignoring the bad and emphasizing the good. David Chase has tried as much as humanly possible to make The Sopranos as close to real life as possible. His philosophy: people don't change, people appear and disappear and life goes on. At the beginning of this season, when Tony was shot, he attempted to change but didn't. He's still Tony and will always be Tony. None of these characters change and I'm glad. When the screen went black, I felt my body tingle and I released a sigh. It's been a good run. Enjoy it for what it is.

And what a great sound that was when Phil's head got squashed.

P.S. Slate has a Sopranos discussion, and though this season is kinda meh (there's also a lot of communal glad-handing), there are a few gems. Check that out here: http://www.slate.com/id/2163797/entry/2163798/

[Aladwar]

I originally thought my satellite lost a connection or some shit, then I saw the credits start rolling. Wtf.

[Yangsing]

I thought it was a good episode overall. Phil got what he deserved.

The ending was made to make people talk, and look at it now...everyone in the United States is talking about it. On every message board, radio station, whatever...someones talking about the episode. The ending was the most tense 2 minutes in TV history, or very close to it. I don't know about other people, but I was on the edge thinking in every scene someone could have been whacked.

[Deejay]

Isnt everyone happy that half the episode was dedicated to the gayest character on Sopranos?

I mean seriously?

AJ WANTS TO GO TO THE ARMY? WHAT? OMG THE SUSPEN- OH WAI!
NO HE DOESNT! HE'S GOING TO STAY HOME!?
HES GOING TO MAKE A MOVIE?
HE GOT A NEW CAR?

OH HAPPY DAY! LET US REJOICE IN KNOWING WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THAT INTERESTING BOY'S LIFE!
BOY AM I GLAD I WATCHED THIS!

I swear to god, my eyes were glued to the TV for the first 55 minutes of the episode untill i realized that nothing was going to happen. Worst finale ever. The final scene had so much more potential. I see where they were going with the whole black out and then credits, but its retarded when 99.999% of the people watching thought their cable went out.

[Vedder]

Just like everyone else, I thought the DVR messed up... even though I was watching it live.

I can't say I loved the ending, but it was pretty good. I think most people put too much emphasis on the VERY END of most finales... but if you take the last episode as a whole, it certainly delivered.

You got to see Janice is still a needy loathsome golddigger, Uncle June is still crazy, AJ's a wuss, Paulie is neurotic, Carmela overly fond of her privileged life, Phil got what he deserved, Tony working all the angles as usual, etc, etc.

Sure, there are loose ends and things left to ponder, but there's nothing wrong with that imo.

[Po]

Part of the reason I was so disappointed by this ending I think is because the ending of Rome was so good. All loose ends tied up, nothing to worry about, etc.

But I suppose the creators of this show did not want all the loose ends to be tied up, they want you to fucking discuss this on every form of multimedia on Monday morning like we are doing now. At the same time it feels like such a cop-out for one of the most influential and successful drama shows in tv history.

My friend just reminded me that Tony had been promised safety in that meeting he had earlier in the show. So maybe the get shot POV isn't accurate after all.

[Yangsing]

Ending sucked. The core target audience of the Sopranos didn't want some mind-fuck after of years of watching. I'd write a letter to HBO and bitch at them if I weren't so lazy.

Any person who's watched the Sopranos for awhile now knows when it comes to season finales or important episodes, there's some abstract bullshit to go along with the importance. Regular viewers should be used to the abstract approach by now.

Sopranos is not like rambo or scarface where everyone is just blasting away at each other. If I'm correct, murders don't come in bunches in the mob world. Sopranos veers more towards reality than sensualization.

[Vedder]

If I'm correct, murders don't come in bunches in the mob world. Sopranos veers more towards reality than sensualization.

Sensualization? Are we talking about Emmanuelle in Space or the Sopranos?

I think you meant sensationalism, but heh... I agree with your point.

[Bethany]

Part of the reason I was so disappointed by this ending I think is because the ending of Rome was so good. All loose ends tied up, nothing to worry about, etc.

But I suppose the creators of this show did not want all the loose ends to be tied up, they want you to fucking discuss this on every form of multimedia on Monday morning like we are doing now. At the same time it feels like such a cop-out for one of the most influential and successful drama shows in tv history.

My friend just reminded me that Tony had been promised safety in that meeting he had earlier in the show. So maybe the get shot POV isn't accurate after all.

Romes ending was damn good. I loved Atia at the end showing both she could still be a bitch but was still hurt. Anyways, on to Sopranos...

David Chase littered this final season with all sorts of clues, and in many cases did wrap up several story lines and loose ends. In my opinion this is what happened:

Tony looks up as the door chime rings, just as he had done every time before only this time it fades to black & there is no audio because Tony is shot and dies instantly. The man who came in and sat at the counter, then later went to the bathroom is the one who did it.

Meadows soon to be father in law Patsy, was the person behind the hit. Patsy still held his grudge against Tony because of Tony killing off Patsy's twin brother earlier. Patsy had worked things out with Phil's crew that it would happen this way and Phil would take over Tony's spot. Remember the family sit down at Tony's house where Meadow & Patsy's son were discussed? Notice Patsy's wife looking all around and checking out the China pattern and looking all happy. She knew it was all going to be hers.

Also, if you Recall too when Sil was shot at in the car, Patsy was not hit, even though he was at point blank range, the same as Sil. Only Sil though was injured, Patsy got out of the car, fired off a few shots, and ran away.

Patsy ordered the hit on Tony to take place while they were having dinner to spare his soon to be daughter in law Meadow, because Patsy would know through his son she was at the Doctor and was going to be late. You can pick up on even more subtle hints like this throughout this last season, but it all boils down to David Chase laying the ground work for the viewer to decide what happened at the end.

[Stilgar]

I'm not buying that, myself, Bethany. I agree more with the earlier assessments that nothing at all happened there in the diner. I don't think the evidence is really there that Patsy would tell someone to go whack his own boss. And if he did, then what? Phil is dead. Paulie or Sil would probably take the reigns of what's left of the Soprano family, not Patsy.

But you know, even as I write this, I realize that compelling arguments can be made both for and against pretty much any interpretation of the ending, and I guess thats what Chase intended.

[Po]

Yea I read a good thing over lunch that it did not black out because he was killed, but just to show that the rest of Tony's life he will be looking up as people enter doors.

And that it would not have made the ending any better if Meadow had come and sat down and it showed him looking up again as the door kept opening.

It made the point it was supposed to.

[Enkidu]

There's no reason to try to figure out what the ending meant. It's a "do we have a movie deal?" ending. If yes, Tony looks up and Meadow walks in. They have a nice meal and the story goes on. If not, the fans get whacked.

Personally I wanted some closure. I haven't watched since the third season, seemed to go downhill ever since big pussy was killed, but I still wanted to see how it ends. I was very disappointed but at the same time I'd go and watch a Sopranos movie if they make one... So I guess they did good if they actually make a movie. If they don't they just flat out ruined the ending.

[Juvant]

thought i'd share this because I thought it was funny.


http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4...hwowmt6.th.png


I watched the finale again today, and I liked it more than the first time.

Still really liked those last few minutes, would love to see a movie.

[MF Perm]

No plans for a movie, David Chase discussing the ending.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19187052/

[Enkidu]

No plans, whatever. Hollywood is hollywood. If they put money on the table they'll get a movie. Chase knows that...

Now if he ended the series by killing Tony, something a lot of people expected to happen, a movie continuation wouldn't even be possible. They left the door wide open, you can speculate as much as you want on the final scene yet you'll never get a complete ending.

Plus the more they deny a movie the more hype it gets.

[Keno]

Man, you guys must not know David Chase very well if you think you're going to get a straight forward ending.

The last scene was brilliant.

Stopped reading there. You're a fucking moron.

[Norelco]

Man, you guys must not know David Chase very well if you think you're going to get a straight forward ending.

The last scene was brilliant.

Stopped reading there. You're a fucking moron.

Ah, you're just flashing your ignorance. You're just like every other retard out there that can't think for themselves and needs every loose end tied up, and delivered to you, neatly wrapped with a bow. Life isn't like that, and neither is the Sopranos. Your comment is completely unwarranted.

[Keno]

Man, you guys must not know David Chase very well if you think you're going to get a straight forward ending.

The last scene was brilliant.

Stopped reading there. You're a fucking moron.

Ah, you're just flashing your ignorance. You're just like every other retard out there that can't think for themselves and needs every loose end tied up, and delivered to you, neatly wrapped with a bow. Life isn't like that, and neither is the Sopranos. Your comment is completely unwarranted.

I'd respond to that, but just... wow. Life isn't like that, correct; you think the Sopranos is modeling life? Ah, you're flashing your idiocy there.