Ty Webb wrote:I thought the whole episode including the ending was brilliant. It was a note-perfect way to end the show because it wasn't neat or conclusive. The whole show has been about the psychology of the characters. Such a thing can't be tied up with a bow.
From the very beginning of the series, you knew Tony's end could only take 1 of 3 roads: arrest, flipping, or getting killed. I love that the ending of the show left all 3 of those a possibility.
That pretty much sums it up for me. I took the very end as kind of like, hey, we ran out of film. The shit will just keep going on - Tony escaped with his family and job intact again. One day he won't, but for now, that's it.
I have to say, that this episode was one of my favorites from the entire run. Classic AJ, all over the road, trying to be thoughtful, caving into his lowest common denominator whims again. Meadow has also completely rewritten history in her mind at the thought of making a boatload of cash. Paulie was KILLING me the entire episode with the cat business, not wanting to head up the Cifaretto crew due to his simple-minded superstitions, Butchie finding himself in Chinatown - awesome how they did that scene - you can read his thoughts about Phil changing and by the end of the conversation he's pretty much "Man, this is going to be SO much worse than dealing with New Jersey." I think the FBI dude was kind of used as a mouthpiece for the viewing public. He wants to do the right thing and be on the side of law and order, but he can't help cheering for this murdering, sociopath monster.
Mike G.