Thought I would get this one out there, in case anybody else is interested.

It is too bad, but the time has come.  While still exemplary television, I think anybody has to admit that the last few seasons have dipped a bit in quality.

And they concentrated so much on AJ.  I never liked him at all.  He was always a whiny, little pussy, and he only seemed to get worse, you know?

They are getting out at the right time.

And Paulie is behind all of this.  You just know it.  In fact, he’ll be the one that plugs Tony.  That is my prediction, anyway -- just getting it out there beforehand.

So, I’ve got my pasta ready.  Anybody else gonna watch this?

I disagree, Bert. I think the whole series has been fantastic. The thing I've enjoyed the most, in the final season, is Christopher's battle with his drug addiction. As a person who works in the drug and alcohol sector, I can tell you that it's a very authentic portrayal. As for AJ, I think he's pretty cool too. I think the idea of focusing on what it would be like to grow up in a mafia household is fascinating. I can’t wait to see the final episodes when they air down here.

How many episodes did they make of the final season before they took a break and many episodes are there to go?

Chris' storyline was good, especially his final episode.

AJ should've used a shorter rope.

I can't imagine Paulie turning against Tony.

I can't believe they're wrapping it up in a one hour episode.



Phil

Somebody has got to let me know what happens cos' I'm without HBO.

The Sopranos is the greatest show of all time. I was a little worried these past few weeks, the final nine seemed to be taking their time in getting going, especially with side-track episodes like "Remember When", but then last week with "Blue Comet" the shit hit the fan, and Chase and co really kicked it into high gear.

I've hated Christopher since the very, very first episode. Season four I wished Tony had just killed him, because he was a real prick during those episodes. I was so glad to see him go. It was my ultimate Sopranos fantasy and it happened. Good old David Chase.

I have no idea how they're going to end the series, and I refuse to speculate. Nothing I've ever predicted happening has ever happened, Chase has continued to surprise me time and time again, I'm sure the finale will be amazing. I'm very curious to see how he's gonna work Melfi into the story, now that she's given Tony the boot. I'll also be curious to see what happens with A.J. He's had more screen time this season than any other, so they're obviously building to something.

I agree with Phil, Paulie is no traitor. He's danced on the edge before (remember his phone calls to Johnny Sack while he was in prison) but he's no traitor. All I shall say is that if Carmela doesn't live, then I'm done with the show. She's the best character, the only one who can look Tony in the eye, tell him to go fuck himself and not have a single thing happen to her. If she gets clipped, I'll be deeply upset.

Sopranos forever! Still haven't exactly figured out the point of living once it's all said and done, but this new show John From Cincinatti has sort of caught my eye, so we'll see how it goes.


Matt.

Worst...Ending...Ever

WTF??

That was the lamest series ender ever!  The ending for Soap was better.  Hell, the ending for Twin Peaks wrapped things up better!

I was gonna have a Sopranos party.  I'm glad I didn't as I would've probably punched someone in a display of misplaced anger.


Phil

Jesus, was that awful.  What a disappointment.

Have they lost thier minds?

SPOILER

Umm...just kidding.  There is no spoiler.

The Soprano family enjoys a nice meal in some diner.  With onion rings.

The end.  I'm not kidding.

It didn't!!!!


SPOILERS


The mob war is supposedly over after someone killed Phil.  His death was pretty funny, though.

Paulie's feeling his age and turned down Guido's old job.

Tony visited Junior, which is where they should've finished it.

The final scene was Tony, Carmella, and the kids meeting into an out of the way diner.  Everyone that comes in through the door catches Tony's attention.  I guess this is to show how paranoid he is that someone will still cap his ass.

The Brady Bunch had a better series finale.



Phil

SPOILER...SPOILER...SPOILER


The last scene is in a Diner where Tony's sitting by himself, and eventually Carmela and AJ filter in, along with two unknown men at random times that they have a habit of showing every so often..one sits at the counter and another in a booth.

Eventually, Meadow shows up in her car, and has a hard time parking in what could be the biggest space that a single car could fit in in the history of the world.

The guy from the counter gets up and he...goes to the bathroom.

Meadow eventually parks the car...runs across the street...the camera cuts to Tony's face...the chime on the door rings as it opens...he looks up, and...

Cut to Black.  That's right, nothing happened except a suspenseful build up to nothing.  Had it not been for what happened to Phil and Paulie's complaints about the cat, I may have tried to ask for that hour of my life back.


EDIT:  The Sopranos had a habit of often using music to portray certain things.  Anybody think "Don't Stop Believin'" suggests anything?

That final scene...there was so much tension....so many odd people in the diner.

Will it be this guy...no, wait...that guy...

You just know something is gonna happen.  The final minutes are ticking down.

Then, suddenly -- very, very suddenly -- nothing happens!

The screen goes black.  Silent.  I thought my TV was broken.  Then, roll credits.  No music.

Quoted from Shelton Eventually, Meadow shows up in her car, and has a hard time parking in what could be the biggest space that a single car could fit in in the history of the world.

Actually, you can tell where a person lives by how much space they need to park.  In the city, you learn to park in tight spots.  In the suburbs, you're used to parking where there is space.

Meadow learned to park in a desert, or something.


Phil

While flipping through alt.tv.sopranos, I read something of interest.

Remember when Bobby and Tony were fishing in the boat (at Bobby's place)?  One thing he said was, 'you never hear it coming.'  A few weeks back, when Paulie and Tony went into hiding in Florida, Paulie had a dream where Big Pussy tells Paul that you don't hear the bullet.

Given these little nuggets of wisdom, I'm beginning to think that Tony died in the diner.


Phil

I thought the ending was genius. I also thought Tony died at the end. A lot of people, I bet, are really angry and frustrated at the ending, but I think Chase did the right thing by giving it ambiguity. I just personally felt that Tony dies at the end. He looks up at Meadow, and all of a sudden, the camera goes black. It seems like it is implying death. Bobby had a quote earlier in the season about not hearing it when it comes. In last week's episode, Tony thinks back at that quote at the end of the episode. Paulie has a nightmare in this season with Big Pussy mentioning something similar to what Bobby said about dying too. Also, Tony is seen eating an orange early in the final episode. The orange is a sign of death in the Godfather movies and The Sopranos has made numerous references to those movies during its run. The show ends when Tony dies because the show is about him and his ordeals with his two familes. David Chase, I think literally ended the show as the main character died. Just my opinion.