Link to an excellent article on the episode:
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/224079
Quote:
"Aren't unanswered questions in perfect keeping with the moral ambiguity that's infused the whole series? And aren't loose ends a huge part of life?"
"The claim that Chase is making as an artist here is, real life doesn't have neat endings."
"Sure, I was frustrated," Walter said of the final cut-to-black as Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" played on the jukebox. "But you don't want everything tied up with a neat ribbon on it. I don't know what's going to happen in MY life. Do you know what's going to happen in yours?''
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Some great points. Overall, I was very pleased with the episode. The only thing that seemed forced was Tony and Carm's visit to AJ's therapist, with Tony telling her "a had a rough childhood." Bleh.
For those of you expecting fireworks, weren't there enough over the last 4-5 episodes? Damn, over the entire 80+ episode run? Think of the series' arc as an ebbing and flowing wave of action/drama, as opposed to simple up and down one.
And Chase's "auteurism" aside, I liked how things ended in context with the series on the whole-as hard as Tony tries to keep his two worlds apart, at any moment, they could come crashing together, even when things seem OK. That last scene must be what it would be like to be Tony Soprano- someone who is unable to feel content because of so much inner conflict.
And yeah, all this focus on the ending. It's like Chase put up a big middle finger to everybody wanting a cherry on top, and reminded them it's all about the main course, not dessert.
Now it's time to be sad. In SFU and the Sopranos, HBO has put out the two finest TV dramas in history, and they're gone. They will surely live forever, but no more new ones to look forward to. I'm sure something equally good will come out in my lifetime, but for now, it's bittersweet to say goodbye to such an amazing piece of TV art.