Comments on: The Sopranos Last Episode "Made in America": Don't Stop Believing!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 22 May 2008 05:12:36 +0000

what was the deal with Meadow taking so long to park and that they focused on that for a while.

By: lippy

lippy — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:19:57 +0000

WOw! just saw the last season now. Incredible ending! I think it was pure genious, and there is so much symbolism in the series that forces you to think. But i believe they purposly wrote the final endind to create controversy. i honestly believe that tony is killed in the end. However, there are many strong points that suggest otherwise. Great series, hopefully HBO comes out with another jem!

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:22:34 +0000

There was another very subtle Godfater image in the final episode where Tony was eating an orange. Oranges symbolised death in the Godfather trilogy, so this tells me that Tony was killed in the restaurant.

By: Cody Simms

Cody Simms — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:44:34 +0000

Another great point of view:
http://jeffstrabone.blogspot.com/2007/06/dont-stop.html

By: Cody Simms

Cody Simms — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:50:03 +0000

Brian, I completely agree with your statement that there’s “something good in Tony worth experiencing”. The last episode was full of those moments — the look on his face when Meadow told him that she’s going into law due to having watched him be arrested rather than become “a boring suburban doctor” — which is what he wanted — was crushing. I completely appreciate the perspective that “when you die, all you see is blankness” and thus he was indeed killed. But just because it is a work of fiction, and I can, I also like to entertain the subtext that he didn’t die but his glory did. The blankness is the death of his pride. It is his moment of realizing that nothing he has really matters…he’s stuck with a family he feels depressed about, a job that he realizes is never going to actually end in a positive way and doesn’t provide anything good to society (see Junior’s malaise and Dr Melfi’s decided lack of faith in her ability to help him), a life that is full of the constant fear of being hunted (which we felt for those last five minutes), and a reality that he is probably going to go to prison for a long time even though he supposedly “won”. I actually feel that this interpretation is almost even more bleak. About 10 minutes prior to the ending, Tony was talking with AJ, and AJ said something like “you once told me to try to focus on the good things”. Tony said something like “I did? Umm, yeah…”

By: Brian Monroe

Brian Monroe — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:16:01 +0000

The perspective of the series has largely been 3rd person. That is we watch the characters and plot from an outsiders point of view. For the most part this is the perspective. However, every once in while it becomes a sort of 1st and 2nd person perspective. Every once in while we are thrust into the perspective (usually just visually) of Tony. There are many instances which I will bring up later, but this has been the basic pattern of perspectives for the series. Let us say that those 11 seconds of nothing was really being suddenly thrust into that Tony perspective. What would this nothing mean? Well, it would mean he is dead. Suddenly, without warning, Tony is dead. Well, how would he have a died? I don’t know about you, but did you notice that guy who barely touched his food at the counter go to the bathroom? We know how they do it. Inconspicuous. Methodical. Without warning. Headshot. Dead. So, Tony is killed in front of his entire family. Some may say how do I know if this is what the nothingness is? Okay, let’s say you’re right and Tony is killed, why wouldn’t they just show it. My reply is that I guess I’m not as heartless as you. I really don’t want to see Tony get offed. It seems a little perverse. And for you fans who would want to see it just to know, you really aren’t fans. A real fan would relish the opportunity to experience that last moment rather than merely witnessing it. A real fan (unlike Dr. Melfi) believes there’s something good in Tony worth experiencing. And for those fans who refuse to step into Tony’s world, David Chase gave you the ending you deserved: nothing. As for the true believers who have made it a habit to empathize and understand, we have the special treat of truly experiencing who the man is, his essence, and his purpose. And if you need any further encouragement to accept this interpretation, remember what Bobby said to Tony on the boat: When you die, all you see is blankness. Coincidence–probably not. For those who are now ready to step inside the world of Tony, remember that at the heart of understanding The Sopranos lies the viewers’ willingness to infer. (check out more on my blog jakjonsun.wordpress.com)