Sopranos Finale "Made in America"

[Flashpoint]

The beauty of it was that I wasn't watching Tony Soprano. I WAS Tony Soprano. I was trying to function in a typical family setting, but couldn't get past the constant tension of never knowing what was coming next. I was in charge, but at the same time powerless. I have defeated my worst enemy, but am probably going to jail on a pathetic gun charge. My most loyal soldier can turn down my orders. My daughter shapes her life on a mafia upbringing - dispite my attempts to shield her from it. My wife focuses on the minutia of homemaking instead of the realities of our lives. My son is nothing more than a dilatant who waffles from one interest to the next aimlessly. The man who taught me everything no longers knows anything.

Yet I love them all.

And I will never know what is coming next.

Put me in the 41% who thought it was brilliant.

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Throughout the entire run of this series, I always appreciated the soundtrack; the selective use of music to help illustrate a scene or a point. I usually enjoyed the particular selection of music that would play as the credits rolled on each episode. I thought the use of total silence at the very end was just as effective.

Now it's time to watch it all over again. I just bought seasons 1-6 on DVD.

[HalifaxDrunk]

I finally got around to watching it (and am now able to read this thread), I'm in the brilliant camp. I like how it leaves you thinking, the last 5 minutes were hard to sit through, crazy suspense!

All the recent theories floating around on the net make this ending even move fantastic. Tony's still the boss, life goes on even if the show doesn't. When they end most series they try to tie everything up into a nice package, the only series finale that could pull this off was M*A*S*H*, the wars over go home. Seinfeld’s jail scene was weak, Friends giving everyone a "go your own way" ending was dumb. The Sopranos was no exception, if Tony was killed then the questions would start..."If Phil is dead who called for the hit"..."Now is Pauly the boss"...Did they kill Syl too?" Tony lives to whack another day, we just don't get to see it anymore.

[underGRADFlame]

Mod's should add a poll , brilliant or weak!!!

[photon]

Poll added, though any mention of snacks is purely speculative and probably because I haven't had dinner yet.

[Ro]

Link to an excellent article on the episode:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/224079

"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?''

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.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

^^^^ Here, Here, great post Ro

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Ro

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.

I agree I found that pretty annoying as well. But I think the point was to show Tony's self-centredness. They're there to talk about AJ, and they don't even get two minutes into before Tony starts talking about himself instead. You could tell Carmella wasn't pleased by the stare-down she was giving him.

[Cowperson]

Out with a "bada whimper." - National Post review.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/s...b-15a9ac56c735

EDIT TO ADD - Soprano's anger gets focussed:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...sec-artsliving

Cowperson

[Ro]

Chase says movie "unlikely"

MOre fan reaction

[photon]

"Tony Soprano didn’t just get whacked; he practically got a funeral"

http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1406/1/

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by photon

"Tony Soprano didn’t just get whacked; he practically got a funeral"

http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1406/1/

that parallel with the last supper is pretty interesting

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I think collectively, all of North America was saying "what the FACK".....Wow, just wow, I can't believe that's how Chase ended it, the guy is a prick.

hahaha that made me laugh, exactly what I was thinking too, what an ass. I read a very long article on him in Vanity Fair prior to this final season, he sounds like quite the tortured soul.

I know this is all old news by now, but my computer had been in the shop for the past three weeks, I haven't had a chance to vent about the finale yet.

[Sainters7]