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June 08, 2007
Sopranos Predictions
Ross's predictions for the final episode of the Sopranos seem pretty sound. "The show isn't about the life and death of Tony Soprano," he writes, "in the end; it's about his soul, and the audience's (increasingly-vain) hope that a criminal they liked might be able to escape his pathologies and find redemption. The end of Tony's therapy, which closed off this possibility once and for all - with Melfi closing the door on him, in a scene that echoed the closing door at the end of the original Godfather - is the only ending that story needs. Killing him would be superfluous."
The final shot of last week's scene left me wondering if Tony wasn't going to turn the gun on himself, but somehow, that doesn't seem to fit. I'm also outside the camp that thinks Tony is going to die. Rather, my guess is that the final pivot will be AJ. He'll either have a moment of redemption in which he proves himself capable of the cruelty and violence that have sustained his father, or his paralysis before danger and threat will lead to death of his mother and/or sister. In the end, Tony's punishment isn't that he couldn't save himself, but that he couldn't save them. If Tony dies, though, I'd guess it would be at the hands of Paulie, who flirted with New York in the past and has, in recent months, felt acutely endangered by Tony's mercurial interpretation of his underling's loyalties.
Meanwhile, I was slightly disappointed in last week's show. Does anyone really think Phil would have allowed Vito and Bobby to be killed before Tony? You take out the underlings but you give the head of the family time to escape? Not terribly believable.
June 8, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
You mean Paulie? Silvio is in a coma.
I chalked up the hitting of Bobby and Sil (not Vito) before Tony to just logistics. THey all seemed simultaneous, it's just that Tony reacted quick and bolted.
Posted by: G | Jun 8, 2007 2:22:49 PM
But there was nothing that Tony seemed to shake up, no hit he avoided. The other guys all had a bead on them -- nothing missed Tony. It just seemed that nothing happened...
Posted by: Ezra | Jun 8, 2007 2:26:18 PM
"Does anyone really think Phil would have allowed Vito and Bobby to be killed before Tony? You take out the underlings but you give the head of the family time to escape? Not terribly believable."
One of the themes of the show since the beginning has been how amateur and stupid all these guys fundamentally are at the core.
Posted by: Petey | Jun 8, 2007 2:32:34 PM
I'm of the opinion that the finale of the show was the episode where Tony killed Christopher and went driving around Vegas in taxicabs. We're strictly in epilogue territory now.
The final three episodes feel flat because there are no more stakes. There is no longer a chance of redemption after Kennedy and Heidi. The roadrunner has already gone off the cliff, and we're just waiting for him to hit the bottom of the canyon.
In other words, it doesn't matter if Tony lives or dies. We already know we've got an unhappy ending.
Posted by: Petey | Jun 8, 2007 2:38:53 PM
I'd take the show more seriously as about Tony's soul if he had changed any way over the course of 6 years. Year 1 was a really well contained story, but since then it's been doing the same things ad infinitum until random events (Melfi reads an article, Leotardo gets angsty) intervene.
Posted by: Tony V | Jun 8, 2007 3:04:56 PM
the real point here is the mind-game the show plays with you. The viewer is going to be sad that A MOB FAMILY is basically taken out...it's that weird feeling like in Pulp Fiction where you kind of laugh when the guy gets shot in the head in the car...you know you shouldn't be laughing. With this, you know you shouldn't be sad....
My vote is that Meadow's going to rock star this finale. Otherwise, it will be a bunch of sad women folk with only the therepist "taking a stand"---I think Meadow is going to show us a little muscle at the end and vow to make things right as Tony gets hauled off to jail and they all stand over AJ's body. Meadow doesn't have a goal in life right now, but this will give her one...
Posted by: mdub12 | Jun 8, 2007 3:36:19 PM
Any ending that doesn't include Phil Leotardo's death will be unsatisfying. Of course, life can be unsatisfying at times, so...
Posted by: Rich | Jun 8, 2007 5:38:20 PM
Did Phil specifically say that Bobby and Sil should be killed before Tony? If so, I'm not sure that makes sense, but then, the impression that I've gotten is that we're supposed to believe these things are happening all at once. Then again, the last time I saw the episode was Monday, so maybe I am forgetting something.
Now, as for Paulie... I think it's possible he could be the one behind some of the bad stuff, both because of his past, but because of one thing someone else mentioned: the fact that he sped away from the Bing after he learned of the attempt to take out Phil. On another blog, someone said that years ago, this was mentioned as a sign that this person wasn't really with you. That's not the exact quote from this person, but basically, it's taken to mean that Paulie is working with New York. If he had driven away normally, this person said the show once mentioned, you could take that as a sign he was still with New Jersey.
I'm not entirely sure how it's going to end, but I can't wait. It's going to be a very entertaining hour.
Posted by: Brian | Jun 8, 2007 5:44:15 PM
You take out the underlings but you give the head of the family time to escape? Not terribly believable.
I'm sure there have been botched mob hits before. It's not that unbelievable.
My guess is, whatever happens, Tony survives, because of the long term money-making potential of a Sopranos feature film.
Posted by: Jasper | Jun 8, 2007 9:32:16 PM
The end of Tony's therapy, which closed off this possibility once and for all - with Melfi closing the door on him, in a scene that echoed the closing door ato the end of the original Godfather
I disagree.
The "closing door" in the Godfather was all about reality- Clemenza and a remaining leader of "The Five Families" show up to literally kiss Michael's ring---while "Al Neri" closes the door-- and in that very instant, Kay should know that she has 'lost' Michael to the "Family"- and that she can never change that fact.
OTOH, Melfi is a nothing more than a "Livia substitute" (Mommy/Madonna/Whore?), who exists only to compare/contrast/confirm Tony's suspicions about all women.
Posted by: fletch | Jun 9, 2007 1:37:49 AM
One story line that I have expected to play some role in how the show is wrapped up involves the revelation to Carmella of how Adrianna "disappeared".
I have been waiting all season for this to happen. One episode left.
As for whether or not Tony Soprano dies, I expect him to commit suicide in one form or another. If redemption comes to him, then it may come in the form of saving his son at the cost of his own life.
Posted by: Yancey Ward | Jun 9, 2007 12:44:46 PM
And the door closing scene was a direct reference and homage to The Godfather, as are numerous other scenes during the show's entire run. However, the scene has the characters reversed, but the meaning is ultimately the same.
Posted by: Yancey Ward | Jun 9, 2007 12:48:44 PM
OTOH, Melfi is a nothing more than a "Livia substitute" (Mommy/Madonna/Whore?), who exists only to compare/contrast/confirm Tony's suspicions about all women.
Excellent point. And she shut the door on him, validating Tony's opinion of women in general. Tony never really had a clue why she dropped him.
That being said, Melfi's out of the picture now. We won't see her in the close.
My only prediction is that there will be no true "closure" in the finale, and that will be the most disappointing aspect. Viewer beware.
Posted by: Richard Blair | Jun 9, 2007 12:53:31 PM
Richard Blair,
I, too, have the same suspicion about the lack of closure in the finale.
Posted by: Yancey Ward | Jun 9, 2007 1:34:38 PM
I'm of the opinion that the finale of the show was the episode where Tony killed Christopher and went driving around Vegas in taxicabs. We're strictly in epilogue territory now.
It certainly seems that way - but what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?
Posted by: Toadmonster | Jun 9, 2007 8:36:05 PM
In the end Tony will be retired or in witness protection... The very first show was Tony killing a mob guy that was under witness protection...I bet they go full circle... It seems like everybody is forgetting about the FBI... The FBI is going to have a huge part in the ending... The FBI will save Tony because of the info on the terrorist... I think Paulie gets killed because of playing both sides...I also think AJ gets killed at home because only Meadow and Carm got out of the SUV at Janice's house...The hit on Tony will happen at the house and AJ dies...One more thing that I always wondered... What happened to the Russian...? He was never found dead in the woods and after all he was an interior decorator...LOL Those who have watched that scene with Tony on the phone with Paulie will understand...
Posted by: Avery | Jun 10, 2007 2:19:06 AM
Another thought to back up my theroy... Tony always says he has money hidden away in off shore accounts... I think he skips town without the family... Carm has her spec house and investments... Meadow has school...AJ, Paulie, Phil and crew will all die in the fallout... I will miss the Bing...!
Posted by: Avery | Jun 10, 2007 2:47:20 AM
Does anyone have any thoughts on Meadow's relationship with Patsi's son. There is a little histroy there, with Patsi suspecting Tony of killing his broter, and last episode showed Patsi running through a river, which seemed like the same river into which Tony emptied the water from his pool. Is there any symbolism there? And how about Junior, is he completely done?
Posted by: Fabs | Jun 10, 2007 3:21:57 AM
"Did Phil specifically say that Bobby and Sil should be killed before Tony?"
I'm not really sure about Sil, but Phil did specifically mention "the brother-in-law." I don't think Patsi will play a part. There has been nothing leading to that. Paulie, on the other hand, is definitely the red herring!!! He's been straddling the fence for many years and its time for him to get "busted" (literally).
I agree with the prediction that Tony will live and Carm and AJ will die. I read on another blog site that "families don't get touched. that's the rules;" and that Phil's brother is the key. I think people are forgetting that Phil's brother Bill was also a made guy. He wasn't the mark (Phil was), but he was a member nonetheless. Tony will have to live forever with his sins, whether in jail or on the lam.
As for Meadow... She is, by far, the only choice. She has shown since Episode 4 of Season 1 (College) that she would be able to run the show if necessary. To whatever end Tony meets, I believe Meadow will order the hit on Phil and Patrick Parisi will pull the trigger with Meadow looking on.
We'll find out in about 25 minutes.
Sean
Posted by: Sean | Jun 10, 2007 8:35:51 PM
Award goes to Richard Blair for the most correct comment.
What a colossal disappointment the final episode was.
Posted by: Yancey Ward | Jun 10, 2007 10:17:49 PM
