As The Doors' The End eerily played during the most recent episode of the Sopranos, the "penultimate episode," as it has been reported, the thought of Tony being killed as the series comes to a close seemed all the more likely. But if Tony Soprano does die, will it happen in the first ten minutes, with the fallout and how the family carries on as the main plot line, or will the lovable mob boss die in the last ten minutes, with a series of near-misses along the way, like some action movie that has no ending (see Con Air)? I guess if Tony does meet his maker, the event occurring somewhere in between would be the most logical, because how the family reacts would have to be a major storyline, and him dying in the first few minutes, a la Christopher Moltisanti, would be very unpleasing. Then again, this is the Sopranos, and the series' creator has never done the expected.

I do feel that the Sopranos will end with the theme that it began with. That every man born into the mob has almost no chance of escaping it, outside of death. We have seen characters "flip," or become informants to the FBI, with dire consequences. We've seen characters murdered young and old, some who've returned from retirement or jail, and others fresh out of school. And we've even seen characters take their own lives as the only way to truly escape the family business.

Another theme has been the hidden control women have had on their mob husbands (and sons). Livia kept Johnny Boy in the mob, despite his desire to flea to the west coast with a young Janice, Tony and Barbara. Livia contrived with Uncle Junior to have her son taken out because she felt disrespected. Janice has used her control over a series of men, in some cases to try and undermine Tony. And even Carmela, despite her oft-expressed complaints, has greatly enjoyed her lifestyle, and she has used her power to realize her own means.

The familial theme that one "grows" into the mob has also been a focus of the series. Tony grew up to become a mobster, seemingly without a choice. Many members of Tony's crew's children have come and gone in the family, namely Jackie Aprile, Jr., among many others. In the first season we saw Anthony Junior shed the doubt around the family secret, and Meadow take on her mother over the hypocrisy. Over time, however, both AJ and Meadow have shown reluctance to formally denounce the family business.

So what will happen? I'd like to see Tony live, but it would be a fitting end for him to die (which would be a very realistic approach). However, Tony has always escaped, from his mother, his sister, his enemies, in New Jersey and in New York.

I think Tony Soprano will survive the night; he might be in the hospital, but the crime boss of New Jersey will still be breathing.

I think Phil Leotardo will be gunned down, and not by Tony, which would be a major cop-out, meaning it would never really happen in real life -- oh wait, this is television. (No it's not, it's HBO.)

I just thought of something. Wouldn't it be awful if David Chase decided to leave us empty, meaning Tony was in the hospital with Carmela in tears, Meadow crying and AJ confused, looking through a window at a collapsed Tony, and the screen goes black, the end?

More predictions: AJ or Meadow (please, no) will be killed in the ambush, or maybe Carmela, but someone. Janice will seek revenge, she is a killer and mobster at heart, she was daddy's little girl, and mommy's too. Silvio will die in the hospital, and the Bada Bing will be converted to a convent. And Tony will consider hiding out with the FBI, but will ultimately decide against that idea, nearly costing him his life, if he does in fact survive.

Other observations...

- It was nice to finally see Artie Bucco again, however the Vesuvio appearance was nothing more than a curtain call. (Artie Bucco had his major plot in season six, or the first half of season six, depending on how you look at things.)

- Tony probably wishes he had a true blue gangster like Christopher, well, a young Christopher, not the drugged out sappy post-AA Christopher, stationed with him in his temporary hideout, machine gun in hand.

- On that note, it seems that Bobby Bacala's gun (from episode one) will actually come in handy.

- It would have been much better if a major storyline centered on Meadow and not AJ this season.

- And I hope that we get to see Ally Boy Barese in the finale. Whatever happened to the other Jersey crews, anyway?

Labels: sopranos