So there are probably plenty of people all over the web talking about this today but I feel I need to weigh in with my opinion of The Sopranos series finale.
SPOILERS ABOUND
I was excited for last night’s episode, hoping to be entertained by a continuation of the gang-war bloodbath from last episode. I (and probably most viewers) expected series creator David Chase to provide me with an end to the story of Tony Soprano. Only three things could happen to Tony at the end of the series as far I was concerned: he would be arrested, he would turn to the FBI or he would be dead. I really believe that Tony deserved to be punished for his actions over the course of his life; redemption, I feel, was no longer an option. What I got was a bookend to the beginning of the series, with little change to Tony at all.
After nearly 8 years (six seasons) of the show, Tony is not in too different of a place. He is still leading his Jersey crew and experiencing the same types of psychological and familial problems he was dealing with at the start of the show.
We did get a nice gang killing in the form of New York boss and thorn-in-Tony’s-side, Phil Leotardo. I was thoroughly entertained by the post-headshot skull crush while his wife screamed in terror.
One thing that really bothered me was the overall structure of the finale as it seemed to be a vehicle by Chase to insert as many “classic” Sopranos scenes and locales as possible. Scenes occurred at the Bada Bing and at the little tables outside Satriale’s for what seemed to be no reason other than to give viewers one last look at these places.
Characters seemed to serve this purpose too as we were given final glimpses of the characters we have loved over the course of the series. Absent were Artie Bucco and Melfi (who was given her final send-off last episode). Even one of Meadow’s friends from early on the series made a return for what seemed to be no reason at all.
Throughout the entire show, Jennifer and I were extremely high strung, waiting for something big to happen, remarking throughout the show that “There’s only 25 minutes left” and then “There’s only 10 minutes left.” The end scene was the tensest 10 minutes of television I have experienced in quite some time. Chase certainly was taking from Hitchcock’s playbook, increasing the suspense with each person that walked into the diner. One of them was definitely there to kill Tony, right? Tony was obviously nervous the entire time, watching every person that entered the restaurant, wondering if they were there to end him. Even Meadow having trouble parking her car helped to add to the anxiety of the situation. For this I applaud Chase. The ending itself was unexpected. Tony and Carmella sitting at the diner, waiting for AJ and Meadow to arrive. Tony has selected Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” on the tabletop jukebox. AJ eventually shows up and, after attempting to parallel park several times, Meadow herself heads for the door to the diner. The series ends with the bell on the diner door ringing, signaling someone’s entrance, with Tony looking up toward the door. The music ends and the screen goes black for several seconds before the credits appear. In a very uncharacteristic manner, no music accompanies the credits.
So that was it? The family sits down at dinner? I immediately felt a sense of disappointment. Where was the final shootout? How can Tony get away with all the pain he has caused others throughout his life? But then Jenn pointed something out to me. Maybe it wasn’t Meadow walking in the door. We didn’t see her enter. It could have been anyone. Maybe Tony died right then. Whatever happened, the outcome belongs solely to the viewer.
After talking it over with Jenn, we came up with the idea that Tony will forever be looking over his shoulder as he did in the final scenes. He will never be at rest. This life he has chosen for him and his family has a never ending curse. They will never be safe. Perhaps that is the theme of the series. The path he has chosen is one of anxiety, unrest and the feeling that he can be killed at any moment. That is his punishment. A fate, I feel, that is much worse than death.
Series finale aside, The Sopranos will no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest television shows ever produced. And it should. Even in the times when it stumbled, it was still better written than most other shows on the tube.
-that is all.
