The following contains spoilers
By David Amoruso
Posted June 12, 2007
And so it ends... Or does it? If the decision is mine to make I say: it does.
The Sopranos is a tv show, but many people treat it as if it is a reality documentary. Some people even keep charts of The Soprano La Cosa Nostra Family, a bit much, but it shows how real these characters have become for millions of viewers.
Through the years Anthony Soprano and his two families have grown. Anthony started out as a rich, respected capo in the New Jersey LCN Family headed by Jacky Aprile. The funny thing about this powerful capo was that he was seeing a shrink. He had panic attacks. The panic attacks made him human, made us believe he actually wanted to quit "the life." In those early episodes, seasons even, Tony was a guy you could respect. He did right by many people, of course he was a criminal, but even then someone you could respect. Like the time when a girl on Meadow's soccer team had sex with the coach (episode: Boca.) We all hoped Tony would order the pedophile killed. He came close, but made a decision only 'decent' people made. He let the coach live, live and go to prison. That night he came home drunk, telling Carmela he "didn't hurt nobody."
And what to think of the time Uncle Junior sent a hit team to take out Tony. Like a genuine tough guy Tony took care of the hit men. And after that he refused to turn government witness, telling Carmela he "took an oath." Back home he organized his crew, and killed most of Junior's crew. What's not to like about this guy?
Well during the following seasons Tony showed his true self more and more. He abused his underlings, cheated on Carmela whenever she closed her eyes. He even killed his cousin Tony Blundetto with a shotgun to continue making money with Johnny Sack's New York Family. He became an annoying, selfish, violent boss. Pretty much what you'd expect, but didn't really want to see. In season 5 Tony ratted out oldtime wiseguy Feech La Manna by telling his parole officer of a stash of stolen plasma TVs. Nobody on the series complained though. Feech couldve been killed, that's worse no? Perhaps, but it would be the honorable thing to do, if you were a mobster. In season 6 Tony got even cosier with the feds. Giving info on two middle eastern men who frequented the Bada Bing. Of course Tony wanted something in return, making a lot of viewers think he would finally do the unthinkable: turn rat.
The most talked about episode of season 6 (before the final episode aired) was the one where Christopher and Tony have a car accident. A heavily wounded Christopher tells Tony to call a taxi, cause he wouldn't pass a drug test. Tony dials "91," stops and thinks about it. Before we realize what he is doing he holds Christopher's nose closed, making him choke in his own blood. Tony has hit an all time low. In my opinion it was the best Sopranos episode ever. "The life" is not pretty. The men who live there aren't either. In the mob you kill your best friend, your brother, your father, your son. The tv and writers made Tony a sympathatic villain, but his actions showed his true nature. And during the later seasons his actions became ever more dispicable. The Christopher killing was the action that made everybody hate Tony, no second thoughts. Killing Adriana was one thing, she was a rat, but Chrissie? Well, he was a junkie fuck up. Tony was better off without him. No doubt though that Tony could've used him in the war with Phil Leotardo.
And then there was the final episode. Would the Russian make a final appearance? Would Tony finally join the witness protection program, would he get whacked? Mr Chase leaves that up to us. A major Soprano Family criminal has decided to flip, and is testifying about Tony's criminal business. That much is clear. If Tony would get six more episodes he'd probably spend four of those in a prison cell. Or perhaps he'd join Carlo, and tell all to the feds.
Perhaps, but I like to think Tony's life ended there. Surrounded by his family. Meadow ran through the door, Tony looks at her, Meadow sees the man behind her father, pointing a gun at his head. Tony only sees Meadow, the last person he sees before a bullet goes through his head.
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