The ending of the Soprano's

Tiocfaidh Armani

Bit of a let down but the more I read about it the more apt it is how it ended. It's safe to say Tony is dead when you look deeply into the ending. Anyone else got any opinions on it?

Immaculate Pasta

I've watched the series all the way through twice. First time I saw it I thought Tony was still alive but my most recent viewing I thought he died.

http://thechaselounge.net/showthread.php?t=2204 - This is the most complete analysis of the final scene which I've read. I think it sometimes goes too in depth but it's still a good comprehensive analysis of it.

I thought when I first watched it that Tony was still alive because with the war with New York over there was no one out there trying to kill him. However from the second viewing when I think about the amount of people Tony had crossed over the years there'll always be someone out there who would want him dead. Also thinking of the number of people who were killed on the show, I'm sure most of those weren't expecting it.

The scene where Bobby says on Sopranos Home Movies where he says "you probably don't even hear when it happens right?" is significant, hence why it's mentioned again just before the end of the finale. I think the ending, as it is seen through Tony's eyes, confirms this.

Giruilla

The biggest problem I have with the idea of Tony dying at the end, is that as a rule, people in the business are never shot in front of family members. It's unlikely someone would have done a hit on him with his whole family there at the restaurant.
Personally I think he's still alive and the screen going black was just the end for 'us'.

Immaculate Pasta

That's true but it did happen to Phil Leotardo though in the same episode. Could easily have been revenge by New York for New Jersey breaking that rule.

Giruilla

Good point yeah. Only thing I'd say to that is that Phil was in hiding and they didn't really have a better chance to get him.

Tony was already in the restaurant on his own... and he wasn't in hiding. Could have done a hit on him without family there at any time. I don't think if it was a mob hit they would have broke that rule with Tony.

Its basically an open ending... which I didn't like at all. For the reason that this type of gimmick was never used in sopranos the whole way through. What I always liked was how they wrapped up everything each series. Unlike borefests like Lost **shudder**.

Akenny010

Personally, without goin to much into it.. I don't think he's dead, I've read up so much about it for ages, read most threads & discussions I could find, I think David Chase just wanted to keep us all guessing, That's just without goin into it, I'm after talkin about this subject so much since I finished watchin it.. I thought it was a great ending, I hope he's still alive! They still haven't ruled out a film.

murraykil

Meadow’s problems parallel parking and being late for dinner also confirm MOG’s actions and Tony’s subsequent death. Practically, it creates suspense in the scene. However, it has much more meaning then we might initially think. If Meadow was on time then she would be sitting next to Tony in the aisle seat. In other words she would be obstructing MOG’s clear shot at Tony from outside the bathroom (Chase clearly shows this when MOG walks to the bathroom). Secondly, her lateness gives the excuse for Tony to look up at the door one last time which Chase needs to make the last shot of blackness from Tony’s POV (as explained earlier). It also serves the purpose of distracting Tony to give MOG an easier shot.

I remember someone mention how she parked the car successfully on the third attempt. Up to this scene, there had been two attempts on Tony's life. Third time lucky . . .

SleepAtNight

The first time I saw the very last episode I had only ever seen one episode of Sopranos before it and that was in series 3. I was convinced on seeing it that way that Tony was killed. But then on watching the whole show from series one through I'm not so convinced. I think that last scene is done to give us the paranoia. But as posted above Tony had so many enemies clocked up there's always the possibility. Open ending it is.

Riddle101

I don't think he's dead. I mean there's no real evidence to prove he is other then the screen going black. But people say there are hints and clues, but I haven't seen them to be sure.

Riddle101

Just watched this interview where Vincent Curatola give his take on the ending of Sopranos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOUzLDOJIo4

**Vai**

Hate to be cynical here folks but wasnt it left open for a movie?

Ive had people (people with real brains and common sense) swear to me that theres an extra season that I just havent seen but of course theres not. It was ended either for a movie in the future or as an arty type thing.

GAAman

I can't remember but I think it was during a conversation between bobby and tony that bobby says something along the lines of "When you get it, everything just goes dark"

When I saw the end scene, as disappointed as I was (and have since hated that feckin journey song) my mind went back to that and that's what I got from it.

As for the not in front of the family thing, I think that is actually more that the family does not get touched. Look at italy and the fact that alot of "Dons" are now female, due to the men all being dead or locked up.

Just my take anyway

kryogen

Tony is alive and kicking. No doubt in my mind about it.

All the hints and stuff are too contrived to me, they are there purposely to make people think there is the possibility he was shot, what other reason is there for showing that flash back with him and Bobby on the boat?

If he was dead you wouldnt need to be led to believe he was dead if you know what I mean?

It was always going to be dissected anyway so someone would have brought up the bobby in the boat scene, the 3 times lucky thing etc.

There is no good reason for Tony to be killed at that time, no trouble with New York, sure he had pissed off a lot of people, but a lot of those people are either dead or in hiding! Also, he would have been shot before his family came to the restaurant, he is clearly shown waiting there alone. the hit would have been done then if it was a mob hit.

He is a boss, even with an assasination respect has to be paid in a way, killing someone in front of their kids is something done only as a last resort in the mob. No reason to think they would do it then.

I dont know how a film version of the Sopranos would work tbh so Im not gonna hold my breath for one

kryogen

Immaculate Pasta wrote: »

http://thechaselounge.net/showthread.php?t=2204 - This is the most complete analysis of the final scene which I've read. I think it sometimes goes too in depth but it's still a good comprehensive analysis of it.

This is an in depth analysis, but it is one that focuses purely on aspects that fit with the authors already held belief on what happened, it doesnt look in any way fairly or unbiased, it is making an argument for why TS is dead rather then analyzing the episode in fairness.

heres another one with the opposite view, not really the opposite actually but it doesnt share the belief that TS is definitely dead

http://hearthehurd.typepad.com/hear_the_hurd/2007/06/think_tony_died.html

SirDelboy18

The more I watch it the more I am convinced that he died. Although I doubt we will ever find out for sure.

enfant terrible

O/T but if you want to see a gripping end to a great tv series watch The Shield.

Talk about a show finishing on a high, never knew tv could be so intense.

kryogen

SirDelboy18 wrote: »

The more I watch it the more I am convinced that he died. Although I doubt we will ever find out for sure.

That episode or the entire show?

Really cant just go from the last episode, which is inconclusive of course, when Chase has been so methodical with how he has done things over the course of the 6 seasons.

The full circle theory is one I would most closely subscribe to

kryogen

enfant terrible wrote: »

O/T but if you want to see a gripping end to a great tv series watch The Shield.

Talk about a show finishing on a high, never knew tv could be so intense.

Havent ever seen an episode of The Shield, can you surmise all the series for me and detail the last episode if you dont mind?

SirDelboy18

kryogen wrote: »

That episode or the entire show?

Really cant just go from the last episode, which is inconclusive of course, when Chase has been so methodical with how he has done things over the course of the 6 seasons.

The full circle theory is one I would most closely subscribe to

The stuff that Bobby said, just the general foreshadowing. When I originally watched it I didn't think he had died, but now I definetly believe the opposite.

enfant terrible

kryogen wrote: »

Havent ever seen an episode of The Shield, can you surmise all the series for me and detail the last episode if you dont mind?

Watch the first episode, you'll know after that.

Wereghost

Tony is Schrödinger's gangster, but I like to think that at some point he reaped what he had sown.

kryogen

SirDelboy18 wrote: »

The stuff that Bobby said, just the general foreshadowing. When I originally watched it I didn't think he had died, but now I definetly believe the opposite.

I think I linked to a different view point on the last oage of the thread, instead of me going into it all, just have a read of it, pretty much covers what I think of it.

Full circle, family in the same place they were at the end of the first season, nothing changes, no matter how much Tony wants to or tries to change, he is stuck in a cycle.

The linked article really says it better then I will be able to anyway, my thoughts that it!

Biggins

An article about the ending: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108726/The-Sopranos-cast-tells-James-Gandolfini-admits-ending-left-baffled.html

Me? I think it was the viewer that got bumped off.

The viewer has seen so many deaths.
He/she in turn finally gets bumped off at the end - BANG! - blackout... gone!

DipStick McSwindler

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