[0siris]

I pretty much agree, Tony'll be incapacitated and everyone's trying to get a piece of his pie (AJ and Janice, two characters I can't stand, actually have the chance to be important/intriguing characters in the coming weeks). But it still feels like a bit of a cheap tactic under that scenario. We've already had this type of event happen before in the show with Christpher, although not with the consequences.

James Gandolfini has long wanted to walk away from the character, so I can see him pushing for a plot twist like this behind the scenes--either Tony dies, or his role is minimalized so he can pursue other roles. Its possible that he does die, and he's scene more in flashback or in dream sequences. The show loves to do that, and wouldn't it be fitting if the main cast member spends the rest of the season as a ghost/hallucination in the minds of his "friends" and "family"?

[Chi-townChief]

Gandolfini, I think, is f***ed as far as playing anything but a mob role, I think. A victim of his own success.

[Pukin Dog]

Well, since the secret is out, here is what I think:

Tony wont say who shot him, to protect his uncle. So everyone is going to point fingers at the dude who hung himself, and think he did it before dying. It could start an internal war, because Syl is the one who told him about Florida. Some might think he was part of a plan.

Then you have the Feds, who will also think there is more to the death. This is going to be a hell of a season.