Sorry Sopranos’ Fans — Use Your Brains
Irate Sopranos fans have been sounding off about their dissatisfaction with the show’s untidy ending. They were so ticked off they actually crashed HBO’s website with a tidal wave of angry traffic.
Hey, folks, get the #)%&#! over it. The ending was brilliant. It gave us leave to imagine what happened, setting up a series of scenarios that we’ll tumble around in our brains for weeks ahead. That’s not lazy. It’s the most demanding conclusion possible — one that makes a histrionic mafia family culturally indelible.
What happened when Lt. Zach Garber (the peerless Walter Matthau) walked back in to Longman’s apartment in The Taking of Pelham 123? Where did Charnier go when Popeye Doyle chased him into “that room” at the end of The French Connection? Did Mr. White shoot Mr. Orange at the end of Reservoir Dogs, or did the cops shoot Mr. White first? Does Deckard ever realize he’s a replicant after Blade Runner ends?
We. Don’t. Know. Still, there are plenty of possibilities that I, as the viewer, relish resolving on my own. These types of speculative conclusions exemplify what makes these films (and similar cable programs) appealing; lack of predictability fueled Sopranos authenticity for almost a decade.
If you’re upset because the show lived up to its unpredictable expectations, go buy yourself a Golden Girls boxed set and clam up already.
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Deborah Ackerman said,
on June 12th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Okay, like, I don’t know what kind of alternate reality you live in or what show YOU were watching, man, but as far as I’m concerned…
The final scene in Golden Girls rocked. The way Beatrice Arthur stared down Estelle Getty before pulling the trigger? Chilling.
Brian Monroe said,
on June 12th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Made in America, the name of the final episode, is a common phrase used in many contexts. We often search for it when buying something. It’s a phrase which has come to mean genuineness, durability, authenticity. In addition, to be ‘made’ connotes the ritual one goes through to be initiated as a true gangster. Put together the phrase offers a sort of ironic twist to the concept of being made. What was once thought of as achieving true identity and purpose has in a sense been a fraud– all the ritual, all the pride and supposed comradery, all superficial. The process of being made is a fraud, it is not the genuine process of becoming. Notice what Phil says about the NJ crew, ‘they don’t even make people right, they don’t even prick the finger.’ Notice what the NJ crew says about Johnny Sack and the NY crew, ‘he created a sort of insecurity’ (referring to Phil). After the death of his brother, and his near death experience, Phil made it his calling to reaffirm his ‘made’ gangster identity. But in the end it led nowhere. Did anyone else catch the brand of vehicle which ran over Phil’s skull. It was a Ford. 100% Made in America. In a sense, this symbolizes the true process of being made overpowering the fraudulent ‘made’ one. So, if we recognize the symbolic judgment passed on the fraudulent ‘made’ identity, than where is the real process? In the final episode, who is Made in America? — This is where it gets a little fun.
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Alex said,
on June 13th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Even though he really messed up every Sopranos season after Season 2 (except the last couple of episodes during this final season), David Chase (the creator of The Sopranos) is not a complete idiot.
While I would love to say that he ended the series in an open ended manner for artistic effect it is far more likely that he is keeping his options open for a pay day down the road.
While I am not opposed to a movie or even movies, I would prefer if Mr. Chase picked an alternative distribution, like web based. I am not sure what HBO’s rights are but imagine how cool it would be if he continued episodes online in 20 minute shorts. He could charge a subscription fee and even sell product placement advertising. And to the artistic purists, do not yell at me about my recommendation of commercialization. David Chase already licensed all types of merchandise including action figures…entertainment is a business…all I am saying is that he can continue the gravy train and it does not have to reside on traditional broadcast (censors would kill this show), cable (Sopranos on A&E is just not the same) or on a premium network (does anyone else think HBO’s programming is getting worse?).
Mr. Chase, be bold…for your loyal Soprano fans and for your own wallet…launch another round of episodes online! I’ll pay!!!