Some Incredibly Naive and Hopeful Thoughts About the Final Sopranos Episode

A sense of peril in every scene and nearly every character. A sense that things are turned inside out and upside down. For the whole series, music has played only at the very end – this episode starts with music and ends in silence. We don’t know who killed Phil Leotardo or how much jeopardy it puts Tony in. Is Tony “in” the family anymore, with his tight relationship with the FBI guy? Tony has forgotten he said “remember the good times” whereas AJ, normally undependable, remembers.

Meadow is a rising force – standing up to Tony, she could be his eventual downfall. She’s going to be a lawyer investigating crooked industry. She defends AJ and even calls Tony “Fatmouth,” in a nice return to earlier times.

AJ wants to join the army but is easily bought off by a film career dangled before him by his completely controlling parents. They don’t want him to get his legs shot off; they’re only half aware he’s in as much danger in NJ because of Tony. The Godfather is signaled over and over as people get into cars and the camera focuses on the ignition! We wait for the car to blow up and destroy AJ and his lost little girlfriend – instead they speed away in a burst of youthful energy. Even their lovemaking seems like a shoot of spring grass in an endless sprawl of garbage. They decide to throw caution – dysfunction, depression – to the winds and make love. Then the car starts to smoke and we’re certain they’re going to blow up. Chase lards the episode with the terror – real terror – of many people’s lives right now. AJ is right, the world is more with us than we know. Yet AJ joins his parents in eating the onion rings with a smirk of satisfaction. What rough beast, but with onion rings this good – it’s not so seldom you hear people make that argument.

Food can soften the worst situation as we see at Bobby’s funeral. Food is tenderly shot and spoken about.

Paulie is yet again haunted by a creature/painting whose eyes follow him.

Silvio lies in a coma, probably never to wake. Tony realizes how much he loves him.

Tony tries to connect with Junior. Age is claiming Junior. That means Tony’s father is no longer as alive either. Age and fate wipe people out as do guns.

In some sense the episode ended optimistically though there were several potential assassins picked out by the camera in the last scene. Meadow’s rushed, cut-off entrance seemed very highlighted as if she might, she just might interrupt a slaughter. Or be the victim? Is “Don’t Stop Believing” sardonic or honest at the end? Isn’t it partly heartfelt since Tony really does believe in loving and caring for his family? And we can’t help loving that part of him and not wanting him to die.