Monday, June 11, 2007

The Sopranos Finale?

Sunday was the much-anticipated finale of the HBO series, "The Sopranos." It was on HBO since 1999, and it became one of my favorite shows. If any of you have not seen the finale yet and will be seeing it soon, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU SKIP THIS POST.

It all came to an end tonight. I watched the show at midnight, as I was out playing softball tonight and didn't get home until 10 PM. When the show ended, I immediately ran for my computer to gauge the reaction to the finale.

If creator David Chase was looking for a memorable, controversial ending, he found it.

I didn't like the ending at all. And I'm not alone in thinking that either.

I won't go into every plot line, but Phil Leotardo gets whacked in this episode, so it looks like the situation has settled for Tony. But he's about to be prosecuted the feds, as one of his guys, Carlo, has turned on him. The final scenes have Tony meeting his family at a local diner, but Meadow is running late. They focus on a number of people in the diner, and a few look suspicious. As Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" is playing in the background, Meadow walks into the diner, Tony looks up, the words "don't stop" from the song are heard...and that's it.

The screen goes dark. At first I thought there was a problem with the cable or TV, but then the credits silently roll. It's over.

I was to say the least disappointed. The show left a lot of the plotlines hanging. I guess the very last seconds of the show are open to interpretation. It may have been Tony's last seconds on this Earth before he gets killed. (I'm sure this is exactly what Chase will say about it.) We'll never know for sure, if this indeed is the end of the show.

From the blog search I did tonight, it sounds like most Sopranos fans are let down by this ending. Some called it "brilliant," while some others said it "sucked." I'm sure on Monday the papers will be all over this, and everyone from the garbage man to President Bush will have their say on this. (So I'm glad I saw it tonight.)

This finale, of course, leaves open the possibility of a movie based on the series. That will be denied up and down by David Chase and everyone involved with the show.

But I was let down by this conclusion. I hate shows that leave the air for good so open-ended and up to "interpretation."

It was a lousy ending to a once-great show. Too many loose ends weren't tied up. And I'm sure the controversy regarding this ending has only just begun.

And I bet David Chase is laughing all the way to the bank.

10 comments:

Steel36 said...

What a cop out

Dave said...

This seems to be a problem with all great shows; how to end them. I think "Lost" is going to run into the same problem.

Michael Leggett said...

Who Knows?

It might end like "Dallas", eventually.

Dan Sullivan said...

No Way. Brilliant ending vintage Chase. We will discuss it soon over a beer at Thoms. Watch it again it gets better.

Peter N said...

But DC did the last "mini-season" of 8 episodes only after insisting his "vision" was not complete. And I've heard all the pros and the cons, and I loved it.
HBO also got everything they ever wanted....endless public discussion. Thanks....

Peter N said...

I wrote my comment without reading the previous ones.....Dan, I so agree.

Michael Leggett said...

The #700 Is up:

It's a bit "Apocalyptic" in its' linguistic tone;

& a Toast to Great & Sad Years Past, as it's 30 Years, Friday, since "Black Thursday".

BklynSoxFan said...

The finale had its moments, like Paulie's paranoia over the cat, Phil getting whacked and AJ's car catching fire and his revelation afterwards.

But I thought a better way to end it would have been when the screen went dark, shots ringing out. You wouldn't see anyone getting hit or killed. Just the sound would have been the perfect way to close it out.

HBO and David Chase got EXACTLY what they wanted: people talking endlessly about the finale. Check the two major NYC tabloids today to see what I mean.

BklynSoxFan said...

I look forward to talking to you about it next time you are in NY, Dan...

Unknown said...

Hey Sopranos Fans,

Tommorrow, October 11th 2007, Jamie Lynn Siegler of The Sopranos will be on Fox's Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. If you would like to be a part of the studio audience to see Jamie, please come to 133 West 47th St. bw 6th and 7th Avenues, no later than 7:45am. The show is free and so is breakfast, so come be a part of Sopranos history!