When Sopranos hit HBO, the station had only waded in the idea of "original series" and did not coin their phrase, "Its not TV, its HBO". In 1999, most people going to see Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal in a comedy of a mafia hit man seeing a psychiatrist, didn't know the premise was already being done on HBO.The story of Tony Soprano trying to live a normal life in an far from normal business has been told over the last 7+ years in classic HBO fashion (on 6 months, off 18 months). In a life style built on Hollywood cliches and media headlines, Tony lived to be the capo of a prominent New Jersey family, while trying to raise his family out of the f'd up mold he was casted in.
The 7 years have been a three ring circus of mafiosos, Hollywood elites and intertwining story lines that were picked up and dropped off as if they never existed. Sopranos didn't always deliver compelling stories or dialog, but like all HBO shows, gave us intriguing characters that we grew to love. Unfortunately most of them were killed, which gave us even more reason to watch. Who thought Jackie Jr would have gotten it. Thank god! But still, I thought he would walk.
Earlier, last year, they announced that Sopranos would write its final chapter and from the moment of that announcement the speculation began. Who will live, who will die, how will they live, how will they die and when is the movie!
The final chapter was broad casted this evening and like many other evenings I sat in front of the TV to watch. I missed a lot of season 3 in its initial airing but I've seen about every episode to date. The episode starts off at the apex of a family war pitting our "Home Team" the Sopranos against New Yorks Leatardo's. The episode follows through in standard Soprano fashion showing us how business is handled in the underworld during a war. The families are put into hiding and the guys mount up at a safe house. Slowly as the episode progresses the members are picked off one by one and movements are done to bring an end to the war. All the while Tony's family does everything in their power to make his life even more impossible.
To be the highest point of debate is and will be the ending. Again, the hype has gotten larger with every passing moment it comes to the end. Will he live. Will he die. Will the movie happen.
The last 3 minutes were by far the most enjoyable of the whole season. From the first time I watched the show in 99 to now I only knew a few people that watched the show. The fan base quadrupled when the DVDs were finally released but up until the finale I had never known that others were watching. The past week everyone was talking about who was killed, how they were killed, what they were doing, who were they banging. Now I knew a large chunk of America was watching and I could hear them salivating for blood.
But thats not the premise of the story.
Tony brought down the head of New York and brought order back to his rag tag army. All while managing a spastic wife, selfish dependent sister, care free know it all daughter, and suicidal son. Oh by the way, he's clinically depressed too. Tony brought peace and unity to his family as he did at almost every ending of every season. We all know it is hardly real. He didn't solve their problems, he just shut them up. He gave to his family and in return he gets a few moments real time with his family. And you want to see violence.
The roller coaster that Sopranos gave us for 7 plus seasons was great and the ending was more intense then the prior 88 episodes combined. We didn't know what would happen because Sopranos never stopped surprising. They didn't draw lines in the sand, just kept going beyon them. In the end, the idea of what could've happened to Tony's family was nerve racking. Will they all be killed? That was just a touch of what Tony goes through every day. Every time that door opens, every time an unexpected laugh arises from a crowded restaurant, every time a stranger passes by. We were on pins and needles the whole time and we were never going to be at the end of the barrel. But Tony only gave us a blank stare. Because thats just another day in the life of a mob boss trying to run a family, while running a family.
Though I loved the ending I do have........
Final thoughts:
1. I miss the ducks.
2. I think a special montage should be done of all the girls of the Badda-Bing. Over the years we saw them grow as the story did. They were the story behind the story. Whatever happen to Courtney (season 1) or Lulu (season 3)?
3. The cat was Adriana
4. Oh Pauli, you are a luck M'rF'r.
5. I don't care what ever happened to the Russian in the woods
6. The cat was Christopher
7. I really wish Christopher got busted on the blood stained note he gave his mom.
8. Adriana deserved it
9. Cats do lots of stupid things. Thats why they are cats. Let it be.
10. Best ending of a HBO series ever.
