Monday, June 11, 2007

Farewell Anthony

I spent my Sunday like a lot of people - counting the minutes until the final Sopranos episode. And of course, I used the occasion as an excuse to bake a Dutch Apple Pie. With Ice Cream and Pie in hand, I settled down in front of my 61" HDTV at 8:55 EST ready to close another TV chapter of my life.

50-ish minutes later, I wasn't quite sure what to think. At first, I actually thought my cable had gone out - it couldn't possibly end like the!!! Then anger set in. If I wanted to choose my own adventure, I'd be a script writer. I tune in to TV to be entertained, and in most instances I want closure, and I thought I had none.

At the end of the day, this show has always been about Tony. All the other story lines are great, but the one question everyone had last night - What is going to happen to Tony? I watched the last scene again this morning, and I have one word - Brilliant.
Why was it brilliant for me? Throughout the entire last scene, I was on the edge of my seat. Each time Tony looked up when the door opened, was this going to be it? No, just Carmela. Is Tony going to get whacked in front of Carm.

Is Tony going to be indicted?

Who are those 2 guys coming in. Oh, just some guy and A.J. Wait a minute, that other guy is very shady. Who is that other guys sitting alone drinking coffee. Oh wait, the onion rings are here - things are good again.
Who are those black guys. No doubt hired to kill Tony?

Why can't Meadow park? Why is it taking her so long? What is going to happen to her? Okay, she parked. Is she going to get hit crossing the street? Oh, that SUV almost hit her.

Then the door opens and Tony looks up.

In my ending, Tony lives. He has the joy of his family, but the tension and anxiety that I felt during the final scene is exactly what Tony feels everyday of his life. So, while he goes on living - is he truly living?

I have also seen a few other theories out there. Earlier in this season Tony and Bobby Bacala are talking about being shot while they are fishing. They speculate that "you probably don't even hear it when it happens right?"

Then, last episode at the very end, Tony is holding the gun Bobby gave him in that episode and flashes back to that scene of Bobby, again saying, "you probably don't even hear it when it happens right?"

If you remember a while back, Silvio is having dinner with someone, who gets shot, and in that scene things go in slow motion and all we see is Sil getting blood splattered on him.

The theory out there, is that Tony is actually shot and killed. Every time the door opens up, we see Tony look up, and then the camera shifts to his perspective, as we see who is walking in the door.

The final time though, we are led to believe Meadow is walking in. We see Tony, with a strained look on his face. Then, as the camera shifts to his perspective, we see a black screen with silence. He has been shot and killed. He never saw it coming.

Adding to this theory is that the guy at the bar is also credited as Nikki Leotardo. The same actor played him in the first part of season 6 during a brief sit down concerning the future of Vito. Apparently, he is the nephew of Phil Leotardo's nephew.

And if you pay close attention to the show's history (I do, but not close enough to know this - I saw it somewhere else) - The trucker was the brother of the guy who was robbed by Christopher in Season 2. Remember the DVD players? The trucker had to identify the body. The boy scouts were in the train store and the black guys at the end were the ones who tried to kill Tony and only clipped him in the ear.

I have tried to confirm all this through looking at casting lists, but have not been able to verify yet.

Similar to this line of thought, another theory I saw, was that the audience has actually been whacked. I can see Tony being killed, but cannot really see this one.

I truly think things are left for us to decide what happened. We are left with a lot of things to consider, but the set up and the final scene is fantastic.

Consider the 2 Journey songs that were on the jukebox - "Don't Stop Believing" and "Anyway You Want It."

Baba Ganoush, OUT.

45 comments:

Dann DeMaina said...

That guy at the bar couldn't have been Nikki Leotardo - it was his first time on the show:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06092007-1360360.html

Anonymous said...

No one was credited as Nikki Leotardo in this finale episode. Check the credits. Complete nonsense.

Eve Grey said...

I didn't know what to think! At first, I felt totally ripped off but then I thought of all the possibilities. I think too that what we saw was through Tony's perspective & he got whcked & it was just all silent & black for him. Plus he either said his goodbyes or had a last one on one meal with almost everyone in his life: Silvio, Meadow, Janice, Uncle Junior, Carmela, Paulie...I think it was a great finale as it had me thinking about it for hours after.

Baba Ganoush said...

Damianpbnj - Thanks for the link. Clears up that little piece of rumor. It looks like it was also the trucker's and the black guy's first time on the show as well.

Wagonmaker - I think the person that raised the Nikki theory was saying the same actor was credited as Nikki in another episode. I believe he was just credited as "Man In Members Only Jacket."

Either way, this man being Nikki Leotardo is nonsense - I agree.

Evil Spock said...

I like to call Tony "Gelato Bear". Choco Bear and Gelato Bear should get together and discuss bears barbecuing and their love for meat of pigs.

Baba Ganoush said...

Sassy Brown - I agree. There are so many possibilities. This can be discussed and debated for year. Well, at least until the DVD comes out.

I've heard they actually filmed 4 endings, and that they will all be part of the DVD. Looks like that'll be another $80 to HBO.

ES - If you want to make this bear thing stick, you'll have to change your name to "Yellow Bear," and lose this Trekkie thing you have going on!

Until then, Baba Ganoush will do just fine Yellow Bear.

Evil Spock said...

I prefer Lemon Bear.

Choco and Lemon Bear,

Driving into the sunset.

No, we are not gay.

Jenny! said...

People have told me I am from another planet since I haven't seen even one episode of The Sopranos...but your dutch apple pie sounded delicious!

Baba Ganoush said...

Lemon Bear - Well, Baba Ganoush is not gay, but one might say you have some feminine qualities - with the purdy flowers in your picture and all.

Jenny - I can see not be a devoted viewer of the show, but surely you've seen at least 1 episode!!!

The Dutch Apple Pie is the gift that keeps on giving. Made a nice afternoon snack.

JLee said...

I don't have HBO! damn it all.

Evil Spock said...

Lemon Bear remembers a time when you tried to get Grumpy Bear and Lemon Bear to go into video games, shrimp rings, and . . .

Lemon Bear has said too much.

HeatherLynn said...

So you are one of the ones who "loved it" there was a whole debate on msn about this today...I, myself have not watched the show since season 1..lame I know..but it's interesting to read the way people either loved or hated this ending.

~hl~

Baba Ganoush said...

JLee - Do you have cable, or are you still using an antenna to get your TV.......jeesh!

Lemon Bear - Yes, you have said too much.

HL - I think the speculation over the ending, was it good or not, what did it mean, is what makes the ending great.

It's been fun debating it.

Jenny! said...

Seriously, not even one episode...I think I have have seen a few minutes but I wasn't paying attention! Sorry to upset the family, please don't have me whacked!

Baba Ganoush said...

Jenny - We'll give you a pass on this one, but when the movie comes out, The Family will expect you front and center!

Evil Spock said...

Choco Bear, do you think Grumpy Bear is still Lemon Bear's friend?

Jenny! said...

I will be there! I don't want to get stuffed in some old fat diego's trunk!

Jenny! said...

Oops, I think I just put Diego...as in Dora The Explorers cousin...well, you know what I meant!

magickat said...

I love reading all the speculation about the show. I watched it on tape and then watched it as it aired on reruns tonight. I thought it was fantastic. Well done, excellent ending with enough closure and enough windows to satisfy true fans of the show for what it was: a man in a battle between loyalties to two parralel familes.

Baba Ganoush said...

Lemon - I think you have been cut out of Grumpy's life 4ever!

Jenny - I think Fat Diego would be a fun city to visit.

BTW....I find Diego much more tolerable than Dora!

Kat - Very well put. The fine line between "Mob Dad" and loving family Dad has always been compelling. Especially as I've had kids of my own.

I have watched the last scene about 5 times. Great Ending!

Evil Spock said...

At least I have you Choco Bear, at least I have you.

Jenny! said...

Me too...I hate Dora!

Angel said...

hey Baba...where you be at? the last time you wrote anything was JUNE 11!!! HELLO! get back to business here!!

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