Classic Ending to a Classic Show
I thought this final episode could've gone a few ways:
1. Paulie kills Tony - I think a lot of people were betting on this one.
2. Janice kills Tony - outside shot, but could've been interesting.
3. Tony lives and all is happy and well - boring, but many Tony fans were hoping for this.
4. He gets arrested - would have been a stupid way to go, I think.
5. He gets killed in the restaurant the way his dad did in front of his family (looked like it was about to happen).
What actually happened - nobody could have predicted or had as an option, but after thinking about it, I think it was a GREAT way to go.
The last scene sets up after Tony knows he has an 80 percent chance of indictment. Then the quick meet with Uncle Junior and off to the restaurant. They set this up great. The suspense and waiting for something to happen were gripping. The whole set up of him looking up every time someone walks in, checking the guy at the counter, the timing on Meadow being late with the parking looking like it will set up some kind of coincidence, and the guy getting up to go the bathroom (ala The Godfather). It was freaking perfect.
And then the screen goes blank...
I reviewed this part. The screen goes blank for a good 7 seconds or so. That is a long time. Almost long enough to call the cable company. Long enough to process that it went blank, think something is wrong with the TV and then just as the credits come on with no sound realize that they just left the ending up to you. The following silence allows you to contemplate.
My thought process went like this:
1. What the...?
2. That was it?
3. What a stupid ending.
4. Wait a second...
5. What were they going for?
6. Freaking brilliant.
7. (About 10 minutes later) - I loved that ending and think it is classic!
Beautiful. This ending is perfect. It is exactly the point. The last 5 minutes just had all of us viewers experiencing the same feelings and emotions that Tony will be living with (if you choose to decide that he lives) the rest of his life.
You see, this ending did three things:
1. It allowed you to experience Tony's emotions. He is with his family trying to enjoy a normal family moment. The music is playing, his family is there. He is waiting for his daughter (who he is suddenly extremely proud of) to arrive. He has his son who seems to have a new and more positive outlook on life sitting across from him, along with his wife, who - through it all - he cannot live without. Yet, every single time the door opens, or someone gets up to go to the restroom, he has to wonder if that serenity he is experiencing will suddenly come to an end. The show gives you the attachment to his family, along with the suspense, and then leaves you wondering... the same way Tony is... if he will make it through the night.
2. The ending allows you to decide. Does Tony make it? The 7 second blank at the end invites you to fill it in. Does he get killed and therefore bring closure to the uncomfortable feeling you have as a viewer while he is sitting in the restaurant? Or does he survive the night only to experience many more like it in the future? Your call, whether you like it or not.
3. This ending ensures that people will discuss it, which of course makes sense for the show. People will argue, analyze and over-analyze... This is fascinating to me because in general I HATE television shows and have no interest in thinking about them. This is why I watch only a few things on TV. Sports, Family Guy, and HBO. That's it. I have no interest in Lost, ER, West Wing, or any of these shows that I'm sure people love for a reason. They just don't capture me. Sopranos, and this ending in particular, actually captured my attention and made me think.
1. Paulie kills Tony - I think a lot of people were betting on this one.
2. Janice kills Tony - outside shot, but could've been interesting.
3. Tony lives and all is happy and well - boring, but many Tony fans were hoping for this.
4. He gets arrested - would have been a stupid way to go, I think.
5. He gets killed in the restaurant the way his dad did in front of his family (looked like it was about to happen).
What actually happened - nobody could have predicted or had as an option, but after thinking about it, I think it was a GREAT way to go.
The last scene sets up after Tony knows he has an 80 percent chance of indictment. Then the quick meet with Uncle Junior and off to the restaurant. They set this up great. The suspense and waiting for something to happen were gripping. The whole set up of him looking up every time someone walks in, checking the guy at the counter, the timing on Meadow being late with the parking looking like it will set up some kind of coincidence, and the guy getting up to go the bathroom (ala The Godfather). It was freaking perfect.
And then the screen goes blank...
I reviewed this part. The screen goes blank for a good 7 seconds or so. That is a long time. Almost long enough to call the cable company. Long enough to process that it went blank, think something is wrong with the TV and then just as the credits come on with no sound realize that they just left the ending up to you. The following silence allows you to contemplate.
My thought process went like this:
1. What the...?
2. That was it?
3. What a stupid ending.
4. Wait a second...
5. What were they going for?
6. Freaking brilliant.
7. (About 10 minutes later) - I loved that ending and think it is classic!
Beautiful. This ending is perfect. It is exactly the point. The last 5 minutes just had all of us viewers experiencing the same feelings and emotions that Tony will be living with (if you choose to decide that he lives) the rest of his life.
You see, this ending did three things:
1. It allowed you to experience Tony's emotions. He is with his family trying to enjoy a normal family moment. The music is playing, his family is there. He is waiting for his daughter (who he is suddenly extremely proud of) to arrive. He has his son who seems to have a new and more positive outlook on life sitting across from him, along with his wife, who - through it all - he cannot live without. Yet, every single time the door opens, or someone gets up to go to the restroom, he has to wonder if that serenity he is experiencing will suddenly come to an end. The show gives you the attachment to his family, along with the suspense, and then leaves you wondering... the same way Tony is... if he will make it through the night.
2. The ending allows you to decide. Does Tony make it? The 7 second blank at the end invites you to fill it in. Does he get killed and therefore bring closure to the uncomfortable feeling you have as a viewer while he is sitting in the restaurant? Or does he survive the night only to experience many more like it in the future? Your call, whether you like it or not.
3. This ending ensures that people will discuss it, which of course makes sense for the show. People will argue, analyze and over-analyze... This is fascinating to me because in general I HATE television shows and have no interest in thinking about them. This is why I watch only a few things on TV. Sports, Family Guy, and HBO. That's it. I have no interest in Lost, ER, West Wing, or any of these shows that I'm sure people love for a reason. They just don't capture me. Sopranos, and this ending in particular, actually captured my attention and made me think.
posted by EDS | 9:49 AM
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