So, is Tony Soprano going to die?

[LastTycoon]

This nice little article about the show says that the voice was just a generic female, not anyone who had been on the show. It also says that, "On one end of town is a shining beacon (Heaven), on the other, a raging forest fire (Hell). Then he steals the identity (sin) of Kevin Finnerty -- a heating salesman who lives in one of the hottest states of the union (Arizona) -- checks into another hotel, and falls down a red staircase, at which point he learns he has Alzheimer's (eternal damnation). And while Carmela's busy in the real world telling him he's not going to Hell, Tony's in Purgatory debating whether to tell his wife this is exactly the fate he has in store. "

 

[olena]

My brother called me last night with this theory:

"Maybe the Feds find out that Vito is gay and use that as leverage to flip him."



It sounds interesting, but who knows. This show is sometimes difficult to predict. When I saw AJ pledging to kill his uncle, I wondered if some Star Wars or Godfather music should have been playing in the background.

In the previews for future episodes, did you notice the brief shot where Vito and Finn meet up? Vito puts his hand on Finn's shoulder and Finn looks down at the hand and quickly snaps his head back up.....

 

[Disney Deb]

"On one end of town is a shining beacon (Heaven), on the other, a raging forest fire (Hell). Then he steals the identity (sin) of Kevin Finnerty -- a heating salesman who lives in one of the hottest states of the union (Arizona) -- checks into another hotel, and falls down a red staircase, at which point he learns he has Alzheimer's (eternal damnation). And while Carmela's busy in the real world telling him he's not going to Hell, Tony's in Purgatory debating whether to tell his wife this is exactly the fate he has in store. "

I loved this episode, even though at times it was hard to watch. I especially love the symbolism involving Heaven and Hell. For example, the fact that Tony could not take the elevator up........only the stairs down.

Also the "bear" in front of the out-of-order elevator......remember the bear from last season?

The woman he kissed.........seemed to have the voice of Dr. Melfi when she said "this will never happen".

I'd really like to see this episode again..........only to hear James Gandolfini's normal voice.

 

[airhead]

I loved this episode because of all the symbolism. I like shows that MAKE you think! Great writing.

 

[buddy&wooz]

Me too about the symbolism! I'm tempted to get OnDemand so I can watch the episodes a few times (no TV and my VCR and I have never had a good relationship.)

Good catches, Disney Deb!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Its funny that you all should mention these things.....watching last night I just kept saying there has to be something about that flashing light out the window.....about the red stairs....but I just did not figure it out. I am going to watch this episode again Wednesday night. I think I was to annoyed that it was a dream episode and I did not pay attention to a lot of it.

 

[AMcaptured]

I thought the show was GREAT last night with the symbolism!

The monks prevented Tony from going up, he fell down the stairs, he is a salesman from AZ selling heating units, etc. It was probably purgatory.

David Chase is of Italian descent and he totally hits the nail on the head when it comes to all the incredible Catholic guilt that he writes subliminally about on this show. I don't think many other religions teach purgatory but it is a place so ingrained into your head from early childhood on that it becomes a bigger place in your head subconsciously than Heaven does.

Every week at Mass you are asked to pray for the souls in purgatory. And in our hearts, many Catholics think we are all going to purgatory, that few of us go to Hell and that only our precious mothers are guaranteed a place in Heaven.

Honestly, Tony can only HOPE to get into purgatory. Even though I love him and the character is AMAZING. Tony, as a human being on this planet, if judged by HIM would be facing an eternity of damnation.

Maybe when Tony comes out of the coma he is going to have a change of heart. Want something more for him and his family. Remember the first episode of the season was about one of his crew wanting "out" and Tony didn't allow it. Perhaps Tony is going to want "out" too and it won't be allowed. He will be forced to face a life with no chance of redemption.

Again, how David Chase explores the Catholic phenomenon of guilt is great and I totally get it. Last night was a fantastic episode.

AM

 

[marymrg]

This is one of those episodes that the more I think about it, the more I have to think about it! There are so many minute details that I missed that I will have to watch it again.

Tony's ideal concept of family never really happened for him. He has spent the better part of his life trying to either deny that or make it happen through violence. The reason he goes to Dr. Melfi to begin with is because he can't handle the truth. I think he will recover, but will be a changed man. He might be more evil as a result - if his fate has been sealed, or he might try to redeem himself. Either way - it's gonna get gruesome.

Uncle Jun - we'll have to see what happens next week. It wasn't clear if he was being held in a jail or a psychiatric hospital.

edited for an extra word!

 

[btass]

I think the last show is going to be the Mallards coming back to the pool and then Tony will be dead.

 

[Apothecary]

I learn so much from all of you guys!!

I got most of the symbolism, but the falling down the stairs bit eluded me

I think T will be down and out for 1 more episode, maybe 2 at the most. The infighting amongst the rest of the guys will be interesting to watch. As will how T deals with it when (if?) he recovers.

Best line of the night was by my old favourite, Paulie, calling AJ Van Helsing

 

[PooohBear]

I didn't catch half of the symbolisms that you all did, I think I may have to watch again

 

[Micca]

Does anyone remember the finale of the show St. Elsewhere? At the end of the final episode, we learn that the entire storyline of the show existed only in the mind of an autistic child. Do you suppose that Kevin Finnerty is real, and that all of the previous seasons stories exist only in the mind of Kevin Finnerty as he succumbs to alzheimers?

 

[AMcaptured]

Does anyone remember the finale of the show St. Elsewhere? At the end of the final episode, we learn that the entire storyline of the show existed only in the mind of an autistic child. Do you suppose that Kevin Finnerty is real, and that all of the previous seasons stories exist only in the mind of Kevin Finnerty as he succumbs to alzheimers?

I love it! What a great idea.

I do remember the last episode of St Elsewhere. Wasn't the autistic child one of the main characters children? I vaguely remember but ever since Dallas and Bobby not really being shot, these types of storyline theories keep coming up.

PS. The Van Helsing reference was hysterical. I hope Paulie is never whacked, I love that character.

AM

 

[Figment22]

I do remember the last episode of St Elsewhere. Wasn't the autistic child one of the main characters children?

Yes. He was Dr. Westphall's son (character played by the late Ed Flanders).

Will Tony die? I'm not certain but the one thing I know for sure is that Edie Falco won herself her fourth Emmy award last night. Her performance was positively amazing!

Van Helsing
Fabio

 

[Micca]

Figment I thought the same thing about Edie Falco

 

[zippeedee]

I loved all the symbolism too. I was so busy trying to pay attention to the details that I have to go back and watch it again.

Did anyone else think Christopher was drunk when he was talking to the FBI agents? It seemed like he'd fallen off the wagon there.

I kept hearing "Kevin Finnerty" as "Heaven Infinity". More symbolism!

I think Jamie-Lynn DiScala has aged a LOT in the time since the last episodes. She just seemed really uncomfortable or something.

Edie Falco was AMAZING. I too wanted to strangle Janice.

At the beginning I was wondering if we were watching the last episode and they were going to work backwardsfor the rest of the season, but then Tony didn't die. I don't think Chase is going to kill off Tony. Letting him live leaves a nice moral ambiguity (and room for a reunion movie or two).

 

[momrek06]

I agree with allot of the Posters about Jamie. She has gone through a BAD divorce from her husband and has taken her name back SIGLER. I saw her on Broadway in late 2003 in Beauty and the Beast and she played Belle and she was FABULOUS. Unless, it is part of the acting for the depressing situation..she seems rather pre-occupied and not with the Sopranos....hhmmm! She was only married a short time. I saw her with her hubby on a few of the Newlywed's with Jessica Simpson(MTV) and she looked so happy in those few episodes. But how quickly events change in peoples lives and how these events change people.

 

[Marseeya]

I agree with allot of the Posters about Jamie. She has gone through a BAD divorce from her husband and has taken her name back SIGLER. I saw her on Broadway in late 2003 in Beauty and the Beast and she played Belle and she was FABULOUS. Unless, it is part of the acting for the depressing situation..she seems rather pre-occupied and not with the Sopranos....hhmmm! She was only married a short time. I saw her with her hubby on a few of the Newlywed's with Jessica Simpson(MTV) and she looked so happy in those few episodes. But how quickly events change in peoples lives and how these events change people.

Not to mention she battled an eating disorder. I saw an interview with her where she talked about how weird it was for her to do that striptease scene in her underwear in front of the filming crew. I seem to remember her saying she wrote a book about it! I'll have to look for it.

 

[RUDisney]

At the beginning I was wondering if we were watching the last episode and they were going to work backwardsfor the rest of the season, but then Tony didn't die. I don't think Chase is going to kill off Tony. Letting him live leaves a nice moral ambiguity (and room for a reunion movie or two).

That's what I said to my DH when the episode started. A lot of time has past since we were last invited in to the Soprano's lives. I wondered if we were going to be caught up in reverse.

Since it's available on demand now, I'll have to watch it again.

Where were all of you when I was in HS and struggling to come up with all of the symbolism in the novels we had to read? Oh, but then again, many of those "classics" were mind-numbing and the Sopranos surely isn't, IMHO.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

He is ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!