The Sopranos Pt. 2

This, unlike the previous entry, is going to be a spoiler. So, if you DO NOT want The Sopranos ruined for you, stop reading. Now.

For those who want a detailed deconstruction of The Sopranos, they should check out Tim Goodman on sfgate.com

Fantastic? Horrible? Cheesy? Brilliant? How does one go about describing (their feelings) in regards to the ending? Well, when the scene abruptly cut to black without sound I immediately looked to the two guys with whom I was watching with for answers. I first glanced to the owner of the house (and TV). He had already picked up the remote faster than Doc Holiday drew his guns in Tombstone. He thought there was something wrong with the cable but then the credits began to air and we were all in shock.

For me, the shock was not necessarily from how it ended but that it ended. I refused the whole episode to check my watch. I didn't want to know, at any point, how much time was left in the episode and I was, and still am, thoroughly disappointed that the show is over.

I personally thought the whole episode was amazing. I would have preferred for it to be two or three hours but that is strictly for selfish reasons. I was curious to see how they could get through it all in just the one hour. But oh Mr. Chase.

Two parts particularly stood out: Phil Leotardo's murder, and the very last scene. Now, going into tonight's episode, I was wanting New Jersey prevail over New York, with Tony living and Phil dying. And when Phil was at the gas station with his daughter and grandchildren, I knew at least half of my wish would come true. He stepped out of the passenger seat and as soon as he closed the door... BAM! Right in the back of the f*cking head! He immediately crumbled to the ground. His daughter, horrified, began screaming and got out of the car with it still in Drive. The car began to roll slowly and within 5 second, the front right tire went DIRECTLY over Phil's head. (Sorry buddy, no open casket for you)

At this point in the night, I had my hands raised in the air like I had just knocked out my opponent and I was now the World Heavyweight Champion. Here I was, rooting for this man to be murdered, and now that he was, I was happy. Part of me feels bad for thinking this way but I had to choose a side (we always have to) and my mind was made up. Tony Soprano and the Jersey crew till the end.

Ah the ending. How tense was that last 5 minutes?. Tony by himself sitting in the restaurant. Carmela walking in. They discuss Carlo, a member of Tony's crew, and how he has been flipped. Then in walks AJ right behind a guy who looks like he is going to whack Tony. Meadow being unable to parallel-park. The two Black guys walk in, they are maybe going to hit Tony. Cut to black. The End.

The more I think about this ending, the more I love it. Some were expecting a huge bloodbath with Tony and/or Tony dying. Or Janice to kill Tony, or AJ. Or Tony to squeal to the Feds and be put in Witness protection. There were countless ways to end the show. But would any of them really satisfied? Could any ending really be fitting to such a show? There are bound to be several critiques over the ending and its abruptness and lack of closure. But the conflict at hand was solved: Jersey defeats New York. Phil dies, Tony is left standing. That is the story line we were all following.

Sure we want to know what is going to come of Carlo flipping and whether or not Tony is going to prison. Some are speculating that somebody might have shot him right as the scene ended. Others think it has been left ambiguous because a movie is in the future. AJ or Janice could still kill him. Tony could go to the Feds with hopes of reducing his prison sentence (think Johnny Sac)

Who really knows? Not me, and I think it's beautiful.

So this is my farewell to The Sopranos. The greatest television show of all time. I will miss thee dearly. Thanks for the numerous memories.