Posted on 06/11/2007 4:33:46 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
I have been perusing the message boards tonight to see the reaction to the series ending episode of The Sopranos and it seems the natives are restless. Many seem to feel it is a cop out and that all the creators of the show did was set it up for a possible feature film or a "to be continued" at some other time. They say they are disappointed with this "non-ending."
I can't disagree more.
In fact, I think it is a brilliant ending that befits the entire series.
What made this series is that there was always a sense of foreboding, a sense that violent death could occur at any time. It pervaded the series through and through. At the end of some episodes, when nothing bad happened, you never felt a sense of relief. Maybe a tad bit of disappointment, but never relief. No relief was ever in the offing because there was more to come and the violence and shock was always just around the corner. The tension never let up.
Tony seemed like the lovable rake until he snapped and strangled someone with his bare hands his friends were never safe from either his ire or the ire of those he crossed. This is one of the few series where major characters died in every season. From Big Pussy, to Chris' girlfriend Adriana, to Christopher himself, among so many others, major character's lives were never safe during the run of this show. Just like that of real gangsters who's lives dangle by a thread because of their unsettled and dangerous avocation.
(Warning, spoilers are here. If you have not seen the episode do not read further)
The whole last show was replete with warnings of death. Talismans of death and harbingers float in and out of frame. It swirls around Tony like a whirlwind. Yet, as the show progresses, we come to think he and the surviving members of his crew might be out of the woods.
We maybe even get the haunting feeling that doomed Uncle Junior is still on his game as Tony confronts him at long last in the mental ward. Joon gives a slight, sardonic smile during Tony's questioning. Is he still in there? Playing at the mental case to escape his fate? Maybe, maybe not. We never get a full answer, but doubt remains. Hope remains that he isn't lost to the mists of mental degradation.
AJ seems back on track, Meadow, Tony's daughter is doing well, Sil is not, but at least he's alive. Things might be OK at long last?
The family has all come out of hiding sure that they have made nice with the bosses in New York. It all went too far, they say. It's done. Even the Fed that has occasionally slipped Tony intel over the years accidentally let's his relief over come him in front of another agent. "We WON!", he yelps, only to become self-conscious by the outburst.
Still, as Tony sits down with his family to eat in a highly public, family styled restaurant, we aren't sure it's over. There's that tension still. Something still seems unresolved, something unsettling is still hanging over us. Tony sits with his back to the doors to the bathrooms. A goomba looking man has been staring at Tony from the counter since he entered. What is this guy's problem? Why does he keep glancing at Tony. He seems smooth, not worried. What gives him this sense of resolve? Is he not aware that Jersey and New York have made up? What is his deal?
The goomba lurches past the booth where Tony sits and disappears into the darkness of the doorway that is situated at Tony's back. We see him no more in these waning seconds of the episode.
Meadow is having trouble parallel parking, but finally gets the chore done. She runs across the street to join her family at the booth inside the restaurant. Will she get hit by a car as she hurriedly crosses the street? What seems so uncomfortable? We hear the bell of the restaurant door opening.
Tony looks up with that affable expression.
Then...
The screen goes black.
No music plays as the credits roll.
End series.
WHAT??? THAT'S IT??? Scream these disgruntled fans on the message boards. "This is ALL there is to the ending?", they carp.
Yes, that's it. And I'll tell you why it is brilliant.
This series wasn't really "The Sopranos", this series was Tony Soprano. It is and was all about him. From the therapist's office to the Bada Bing to the kitchen getting coffee to the occasional bloody murder, this show was all about Tony Soprano.
Now, remember a few episodes back when Tony and his doomed brother in Law, Bobby, were talking in that boat on the lake? Remember how they were saying that no one hears or sees the one that ends up getting you in the end? Bobby sure didn't. He turned around in a toy store and two full magazines of 9MM bullets from two New York thugs snuffed him out. He didn't even have a chance to say a word. One minute admiring a toy train the next split second cast into the great here after.
Boom, boom, boom. Over. There was no indication he even realized what was happening.
So, here we have that last scene of the series. A goomba looking man enters a black doorway behind Tony. Tony looks up to see Meadow enter the restaurant at the tingling of the door bell.
Then blackness.
You see, Tony neither heard nor saw the "one that got him".
And, since the show was all about Tony Soprano, when he ceased to be... so did the show.
Blackness.
No more music.
Into the great here after.
Brilliant.
And at long last, the tension is over. And we all get our just rewards in the end.
I see - you're an Italian Jesse Jackson. You're an ethnic grievance-monger who hasn't even bothered to watch the program he's whining like a baby about.
I also take pride in not wasting my time glued to the TV watching the crap that is spewed out of Hollywood.
So you don't watch any television or films at all?
I take pride in not watching a show that glorifies the kind of lifestyle the the Sopranos live.
Do you really believe that The Sopranos glorifies mob life? Really? Most viewers see it as a damning indictment of that lifestyle from a variety of perspectives.
Anymore stupid questions?
I haven't asked any yet. But I cannot wait for more of your moronic, uninformed answers.
But I get your general drift: you pride yourself on being ignorant.
“Life goes on. A simple and perfect ending.”
That’s the beauty of the finale. There were four possible endings: 1) Tony gets killed 2) Tony goes to prison 3) tony flips and 4) Life goes on. this finale leaves open the possibility of all four. Pick the one you want. At first i thought it was “life goes on” but after the “you never hear it coming” conversation between tony and Bobby, I think that was the ending. Regardless, Chase’s writing and direction was simply brilliant with all the imagery and innuendo during the final scenes.
I don’t think they do a movie. this ending will be discussed for a very long time. A movie to tie it all up in a pretty bow will ruin it.
>>>>Yeah, do you enjoy farting in church? <<<<
As long as he sits in his own pew.
Not as ignorant as you who hasnt read my very first post and the comments that followed. So let me type this slow so you can understand it and I will try not to go down the name calling road you decided to take. First I havent whined about anything. I stated an opinion about a news item. I guess that isnt allowed in your world Stalin. I do watch television but only programs that stimulate the intelligence. Yes I do know that Hollywood glorifies mob life. Like I said in a previous post Hollywood glorifies it, the public consumes it, especially rappers and then they act it out in real life in our streets. But only and uninformed moron couidnt see that.
I also didn’t like the ending at first, but now love it. The tension was so thick in those final moments that you could cut it with a knife.
I like the interpretation that the fade to black indicated the end of Tony Soprano, but then again it could mean anything. Brilliant!
I had my money on Meadow witnessing her family’s demise and stepping in somewhat like her grandmother.
I thought the cat might be Adrianne.
Great tv drama; sorry to see it go.
Sopranos was and is a classic. I’ll miss Silvio (great hair)...
A homage to the Godfather?
Felt the same way at that point. Michael going into the restroom to retrieve the hidden gun............
You people crack me up! LOL
Mobile
“Deadwood didn’t just disappear. They have two four hour movies planned to finish off the story line. Just an FYI.”
Where did you hear/see this? Hope its true.
Will Tony’s bathrobe find a home in the Smithsonian next to Archie’s chair?
I felt that way also but you get over it. This is a joke and these people are no way like my family nor can they measure up to us. It is funny to watch.
‘That’s what I thought was happening, too-—when Mike made his bones in that restaurant.’
Yep. I found it interesting how many cable channels focused on ‘mafia related’ stuff the past week, from running the Godfather on Bravo(?) to the History Channel bio’s on mob figures and its history.
‘A homage to the Godfather?
Felt the same way at that point. Michael going into the restroom to retrieve the hidden gun............’
Yep. Hard to miss that one if you’ve seen The Godfather more than once.
Who talks about “Who Shot JR” anymore? Nobody cares. Why, because it was all revealed, there was nothing left to the imagination.
People will still be talking about The Sopranos years from now precisely because of the ending.
Reminds me of another show that ended 40 years ago, and people still argue about, precisely the show ended vaguely, “The Prisoner.”
I take it he didn't come out of there with just his you-know-what in his hands.
I remember reading the news about made-for-HBO Deadwood movies, too. The last news I read about it indicated the movies were being delayed due to writers working on “John from Cincinnati.”
For those who want a Sopranos movie, two words....Godfather III.
Here’s an article about the two Deadwood movies:
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-hbo-deadwoodmovies,0,1761625.story
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