Letters to the Editor
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Second Viewing: Tidbit of Integrity, Transubstantiation, Tipping the Viewer Scales
Just a bit of fun, from my second viewing.
When I watched the diner scene on Sunday night, I was hyper-aware of the potential danger in each patron, nook & cranny of the place. (Actually, as I'm writing, it strikes me that it's no accident that the Soprano table is lined up with the hallway to the bathrooms...) The second time through, I noticed that Tony's face isn't projecting the wariness we know he was, out of routine, exercising. I consider that a bit of integrity to let Tony be Tony in this scene.
I noticed AJ, Carm & Tony all placed their onion rings into their mouth whole, the way a Catholic receives the "host" at Communion. (No interpretation here... :-)
Finally, while I believe Chase wanted Tony's status at the end of the series to be ambiguous, I wonder if he figured most of the audience wanting to believe that Tony is not shot, stacking the deck gently towards his demise. Consider the FBI recording Tony's conversation setting up the truce meeting with the NY family. If they taped that call, might they not have also heard Carm pick the restaurant that night? After all, agent Harris seems to be refering to some sort of wager... (Then again, maybe it wasn't Tony's phone that was tapped during the NY call, as he uses his pre-paid card for business... Then again, Carm probably didn't use his pre-paid phone regarding the restaurant pick... Then again
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Kudos to erlik9's "interpretation"
Just saw erlik9's fascinating alignment of the Sopranos cast with the nation. It's called "My interpretation", about 5 pages back. Very nicely done!
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Tony's End Was One of Three
David Chase has already spelled out clearly in this season three specific ways that Tony may end his days. None of them are pleasant: John Sacrimoni's end, dying in prison, regarded with contempt by his former crew. Phil Leotardo's end, violent and bloody. And should Tony survive either assassins or legal woes, there is the tragic specter of Uncle Junior, dying alone and confused in a state-run institution. In his coma earlier this season, Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimers, a likely fate given his paternal uncle's medical condition. Chase may have left the Tony's ending up to us, but none of his prospects are happy.
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Tony's End Was One of Three, Part Two
Correction: Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer's during his dream sequence while in his coma. Sheesh, the excitement is still affecting me.
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these letters bring up a "meta" subject I've been pondering for several years now with no resolution ...
which has to do with the sheer number of movies that on first viewing are unimpressive, disappointing even, but which "grow" on me ... to the point where their flaw (which are real) are overwhelmed by their virtues or shining moments.
It's made me look at movie reviews and reviewers in a different light ... I have found a couple of movies that I really disliked on first viewing (The Golden Bowl comes to mind) that I now enjoy often.
The flaws in other movies (the recent Pride and Prejudice and Vanity Fair come to mind) become harder to ignore ...
All of these movies I've mentioned -- like the Sopranos -- have very good to excellent performances. It is as if the core understanding of the story/subtexts is pivotal ...
It's easy to get caught up in great performances and/or great production values (sets, scenery, cinematography, music) ... but usually, eventually if hollow spots and chinks reveal themselves.
So -- as it relates to these letters and this finale -- do we judge (and decide the outcome) based on our first naive viewing ... or after much discussion and multiple viewings?
(the same dilemma is true for theatre and most of the arts -- there have been a couple articles recently on how our prejudices wrt music shape our appreciation -- fascinating stuff).
On my first viewing Gosford Park was confusing and muddled -- on my second, it became one of my most favorite recent movies... and I can detail it's virtues ...
We live in the time of DVD and VCR and Tivo ... how does this technology color our appreciation?
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Series sequel idea: The Finnertys
Too cute? Well then the Kevin Finnerty and talking fish eps were as well.
Why? Those sequences were revealed as dreams (and contained much more obvious indications); to end the series with an episode-that's-really-a-dream-only-we-don't-really-know - yeah, too cute. (Actually, it might have been interesting to have ended in the Kevin Finnerty world; could have been a neat head trip, though maybe not so popular).
OTOH, being it's a series finale, rules/patterns/expectations can be broken.
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Buckshot; plus, the value of a dream, a gift from Chase
I said in my letter that maybe Tony was killed in his sleep and that is why he doesn't wake up. We know a venal murderer and known betrayer was in the house with him.
After thinking it through, I am now convinced the finale was a dream from which Tony did not awaken.
But more than that, the dream gave us a truly deep insight into who Tony really was (as a character) deep inside. He adores his family as much as we thought he did. He wants the very best for them, for everything to work out. He has compassion, as evidenced by his treatment of June and Janice. He thinks the best of Paulie despite his prior doubts. The thought of Sil in such a condition is almost to much for him to witness. He hasn't forgotten Christopher and harbors deep regrets. He worries about and is charmed by children and pets and seeks always to take care of them. He knows he deserves to be indicted. There is much more if you watch the ep with a view towards discerning Tony's true nature.
Chase gave us a great gift. He is saying he loves Tony and that it's perfectly understandable and permissble if we do as well.
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Open Letter to David Chase
The screen went black with the static sound. "What the ****!" I yelled, while my roommate went running to his room. Before he reached it, the credits began to roll and I realized what happened. I was angry. I've been angry for days. I read the blogs, listened to the talk-show host comments. Among my peers, the opinion was that it was b***s***. Among the media, it was brilliant. I read FOX and CNN and learned about "the symbolism" and how it was all neatly tied together. After reviewing the information, this is what I have to say to Mr. Chase.
Sir:
I have an IQ of between 112 and 116. I am not proud of it, but that is where it lays. When the Sopranos first came on it was exciting. I didn't have to follow the "symbolism" or catch the tricks. I am not putting it on the same level as WWW wrestling. It was intelligent, witty, touching and exciting. It reached my level of intelligence and seemed to be having fun doing so. Apparently it reached people with much higher IQs than mine, but I was grateful that you came down to at least mine. The last two seasons Sir, you seem to have grown weary of coming down to my level, rising higher and ever higher so that you left me behind. I only held on to the show and HBO because of the carrot which was dangled before my eyes of the final season.
Maybe you began to be more interested in impressing your peers than your audience.
The Sopranos started off with a bang and ended up with a whimper. Other than Entourage, it was the only show that I faithfully watched. I never even watched American Idle or any of the other series on any of the other premium channels.
We wanted a bloodbath and you refused to provide it. We wanted the bad guy to die and that didn't happen.
We were neither appeased nor fooled by the "pick your own ending" that could allow Tony to continue his sociopathic behaviour. We don't want sociopaths to exist. We want justice.
I do, however, admire you sticking to your guns, though, although I disagree with your choice of weapons.
Mr. Chase, you said a big fungu to us. I can't really blame you. Everyone wants to be strong enough to stand up against all opposition for what they believe in. But I think you were wrong to forget why the show was so popular and who was your audience. Now, there is nothing you can do to make amends.