Letters to the Editor
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Hoping for Hamlet ending
Especially if A.J. assumes the Rosencrantz role, and is offed as soon as possible. I've despised that whimpering snotnose from the outset, and he's only become more odious with every passing episode. Last night he exposed his raw emotional depth: about 1 millimeter. Tony should blame himself for not drowning the kid at birth.
But I love the misanthropy at the heart of this show -- as Heather points out, everyone's a sociopath. Last night's final scene with the oft-appealing Christopher was a kick in the face, one of the most brutal "turns" ever. I'm hoping for a final bloodflood -- less Hamlet than Titus Andronicus -- because none of them deserves a soliloquy.
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A thematic masterpiece of an episode
A die hard fan to the end, since this final installment began, I've been re-watching the previous seasons in order. Last night's episode, in my mind, rivals the best of the best (Isabella, Long Term Parking are the two that pop immediately to mind -- the latter of which is really saying something since I've not yet re-watched it). I was absolutely blown away... the major themes of the series were all on full-but-fine-tuned blast.
For starters, for some time, I've felt that the crux of the series was in the Tony-Christopher-AJ relationship, and last night, while everything seemed inevitable, I was still surprised (which to me, is a sure sign of brilliant writing). However, unlike so many posting on the board, I felt for Christopher. He's destroyed, and yeah, he's done some horrible things (as they all have)... but that scene on the steps? You can just see where it's going internally for him. I actually wanted him to turn if only in that it would begin the owning of what he did to Adriana. Meanwhile, Tony's therapy session was so brilliantly acted I practically cried. How is it possible that despite everything we can care what happens to him? Nevermind that therapy continues to feel like his last refuge -- the last possibility that he'll hold it together; even though we know he won't! And, lest we forget, AJ has gone in and out of existential crises since the show began (remember that brilliant moment on the baseball field where he quoted Master P?)... I could not have been more invested.
Meanwhile, I have to agree with a few people and say I think somehow, Carmela and/or Meadow (and possibly even Janice) will come into this "thing..." (harkening back to the first season's female boss in Naples and Tony's absolute disbelief "this would never happen" at home)...
Lastly, I've always expected a Meadow's wedding episode (I guess I'm imagining some kind of Godfather homage, which is probably ridiculous) and that throw away comment at the dinner table when AJ and Tony had just come home, sent me further down that road.
I love this f*cking show. I've left this episode in the Tivo so I can watch it again tonight.
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Spider redux
conway49 - I honestly thought Christopher was going to shoot Paulie when they were making fun of him, just like HE was shot by Joe Pesci in Goodfellas at the card game. It would have been a great twist.I guess I am more creative than David Chase.
Chase already referenced Michael Imperioli's GoodFellas role in Ep. 1.8 "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti," when he has Christopher shoot a bakery clerk in the foot for ignoring his demand for service.
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CHRISTOPHER HAS ADRIANA'S BLOOD ON HIS HANDS
Christofah clearly has a self-serving memory. Does he forget that he fingered Adriana to Tony? He could have sent her off to the islands.
Christofah will get caught for killing JT (JT's gal pal will recount the earlier confrontation or the building security cameras will reveal his comings/goings), and he will have to rat out to save himself (or he will kill himself from shame). Christofah will take out Paulie and perhaps Silvio. He will also tell Carmen who will crush/leave Tony. Tony is headed to the slammer.
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CHRISTOPHER HAS ADRIANA'S BLOOD ON HIS HANDS
Christofah clearly has a self-serving memory. Does he forget that he fingered Adriana to Tony? He could have sent her off to the islands.
Christofah will get caught for killing JT (JT's gal pal will recount the earlier confrontation or the building security cameras will reveal his comings/goings), and he will have to rat out to save himself (or he will kill himself from shame). Christofah will take out Paulie and perhaps Silvio. He will also tell Carmen who will crush/leave Tony. Tony is headed to the slammer.
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Tony Raskolnikov
I find one letter writer's suggestion intriguing, about how the middle-east guys could be plants to snare Tony. An interesting possibility, though I have an idea there will be some actual terrorist incident toward the end.
As for last night's episode, I was taken by the fact that Tony actually co-operated with the feds - isn't that a first? Not much information, but perhaps the precedent has been set.
Which leads me to my thought about how the series, just maybe, will end: remember the therapist who counseled Carmela a few seasons ago, who suggested that Tony's only hope of redemption would be to sit in his prison cell, contemplating his misdeeds, and reading Crime and Punishment? I realize there are some difficulties inherent in such a conclusion, owing to omerta, and all the people who would have a problem with Tony confessing anything, but perhaps Tony will come to see giving himself up as his only way out. Maybe for some crime only he is guilty of (or he and someone already dead?).
I think killing him off would be too obvious, too expected. But pulling a Raskolnikov, that would be something . . .
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You didn't mention what I thought was a key scene.
When Tony went to the feds to tell them about the Arabs, that was HUGE. They've been asking him for a couple of years now to share information on them, and he's flatly, unequivocally refused. He's not a rat. Only now, maybe he is. I turned to a friend during last week's episode and said "Tony's going to be the rat." That obviously remains to be seen, but I think that scene with the agents was a finger in the wind for Tony; it'll be interesting to see if the agent comes back now with a subtle overture to invite Tony to talk. Since he's burning all his bridges, it isn't that improbable.