The Sopranos’ Finale: David Chase Literally Fades To Black

NOTE: TMV was down last night. This was written right after viewing the final episode.

So now “The Sopranos” is over. And the ending is likely to be talked about for years.

Some will love it. Some will hate it.

But it isn’t as if creator/writer/director David Chase didn’t warn us.

In an ending worthy of the late Alfred Hitchcock, Chase ends The Sopranos with Tony seemingly have triumphed on several fronts with bittersweet victories. He has his family. Phil Leotardo is dead. His son follows his parent’s wishes and doesn’t join the Army.

He was helped in his triumph by a federal agent — but he’s warned by his lawyer that he’ll likely be indicted soon.

But did he win? In a final scene that is reminiscent of Michael Corleone murdering his father’s enemies in a restaurant in “The Godfather,” all kinds of hints are dropped that something awful is about to happen to Tony and perhaps his entire family as they sit in a diner, seemingly a family now more than ever. It builds.

And then it fades to black.

It’s akin to a 21st century version of some vintage Hitchcock TV show endings. Do they live, do they die? Are they all wiped out? Or are we being paranoid? What’s certain: Chase uses point of view to manipulate the audience’s certainty — the grabs the certainty away.

Chase made it clear over the years that he felt the traditional story arc of gangster movies that shows “crime doesn’t pay” or all ends are neatly wrapped up a la “The Godfather” and “The Godfather II” aren’t necessarily the way things work in real life…and that Hollywood scripts have become trite and tiresomely predictable. And a cast member a few weeks ago said viewers might be disappointed because some things might not be resolved.

THAT was an understatement.

But was “The Sopranos” supposed to be just another gangster saga, or was it a higher form of art?

Why is it that dramas MUST end in a way to provide tidy “closure”? (Anyone who watched the old Hitchcock TV show when it aired or have rewatched those incredible half hour dramats with twist or suspense endings has experienced this kind of drama\ before).

And, if so, isn’t the surprise ending suitable for the way the series has unfolded?

And a long, “pregnant,” pause at the end — with a long fade to black.

What happened to Tony (and his family)?

What do you think?

Read our PREVIOUS POST and see how offbase virtually all predictions were on this.