Okay, so I am years behind everyone else, but I've had a good mooch around here and can't find any discussion over how the greatest tv series I've ever watched ended. I know 2007 will probably be phoning me shortly asking for its discussion back, but what the hell, here goes anyway.
I watched the last two episodes back to back last night and was on the edge of my seat the whole time, knowing that any or all of the central characters would be killed at any moment. The trademark Soprano's balancing act - on one hand, the pressure felt by Tony, frightened for his life and that of his family; on the other, the surreal comedy of Paulie's relationship with the orange cat - had me glued to the screen. Not to mention the direction being handled in such a calm, assured manner - so subtly ratcheting up the tension all the way through the episode, you're practically bursting by the end waiting for something to happen.
The meat of the story - did he or didn't he die? I know it's intentionally left open-ended, so any comments can only be speculation, but to me all the signs point to Tony being whacked. There's the flashback to him and Bobby Bacala on the boat, discussing how when it happens, you don't even know it - to me this ties in perfectly with the way the screen abruptly turns black. Then there's all the Catholic/religious stuff - the three family members eating onion rings like Holy Communion (each framed in a separate shot, each eating in the same way); the long shot of Tony framed like the painting The Last Supper; Tony talking about his Judas, Carlo. Also, the Godfather link - Tony's favourite scene being Michael Corleone killing Solozzo and the police chief - and the way the suspicious-looking "man in member's jacket" goes to the toilet just before Meadow approaches the restaurant. The angle that Tony's sitting at means that the guy could emerge from the toilets and shoot him without Tony knowing a thing about it.
Anyway, I realise I'm not saying anything new here - it's been discussed to death on other forums. However, I thought it would be interesting to get some thoughts from my fellow AVFers.