I will miss the strong writing that wasn't afraid to go against the hollywood grain and take risks that storylines might make viewers uncomfortable or even ticked off (i.e. not everything works out for the "best" in the end, bad guys aren't consistently evil, and good guys are capable of doing very bad things). I'm mean how many times when watching it did everyone sit there stunned at what just happened--the unexpected turn of events is what we all talked about Monday morning at the office.

For me, Sopranos didn't lower its expectations of the intelligence of the audience for the sake of appealing to the broadest possible demographic. Ironically, in not dumbing itself down, it DID appeal to the broadest audience in recent times.

I'd have to agree with Sweet Tea. The writing on this show is so amazing. The acting is definitely tops too; you can just tell the scenes have been carefully crafted.

I still can't forget Christopher falling to his knees after stumbling home from a bender and propping up a tree Paulie knocked over with his car. It was a moving moment.

I'm going to miss this show, and I can't wait to find out what happens tonight!

I'll miss the chemistry between the actors. Even though I love this show, the characters are all truly hateful -- yet the actors made me care about these selfish, immoral, often despicable people. I'll miss the great dialogue and suspense. I don't think The Sopranos has changed TV, though. I can't name any show like it that is as good and bold. Survivor had more of a mainstream impact (How many shows now have alliances, voting, backstabbing and some version of the tribal council? Dozens.) But this was one of the best dramas ever on TV and the greatest in HBO history (challenged, in my opinion, only by Six Feet Under). Nothing will take its place this coming fall season. But I have hope for HBO to get back that swagger someday...

I've watched this show from the very beginning. I'll miss it, but I'm ready to let go. The writing is genius. The bad guys are good and the good guys are bad. Tony dying won't be a fitting end. Tony flipping won't be a fitting end. Tony getting whacked won't be a fitting end.... can't wait to see what they cone up with!

I'm sad it's ending, but I hear Chase is in talks about a Sopranos film. I think maybe Tony and fam will go into witness protection... we'll find out tonght! My original theory that Christopher would assasinate him obviously didn't pan out.

I didn't set out to like The Sopranos; in fact, I resisted subscribing to HBO until I saw the first episode of Six Feet Under. But then I watched my first episode of The Sopranos and was immediately drawn to the clever dialog, the complex characters and the smart writing that challenged viewers to love and hate the families, both at the same time. I'll miss watching every Sunday night, but I also think the show is ending at a perfect time: the plots are not worn, the characters are not predictable and I suspect tonight's ending will leave much unanswered--a mark of smart writing, indeed. Can't wait!

i didn't originally like this show bc of the violence, but it's also hilariously funny and i will miss that.

What the Sopranos did was offer a much-needed alternative to broadcast TV dramas and put Cable on the map. the big 4 Networks got a serious wake-up call when HBO took over Sunday nights. It made them step up their game. And for a while, it did. And the Sopranos prompted other basic cable companies to loosen the purse strings and not be afraid to challenge network tv. Without the Sopranos, we'd have no Battlestar Galactica, Desperate Housewives, Law & Orders, or Gray's Anatomy...

Will there ever be another show to 'break the mold' like Tony & the Family did? Maybe. But since I know a pendulum swings both ways, the 'next big thing' will probably come from an unexpected direction...

i agree sweet tea! i will miss it so much but like other great shows f course it cannot go on forever. 10 minutes!! breaking out the canolis!!

someone help me! i dont get it!

anyone on east coast just watch - explain please!

that was terrible!

maybe the ending is for us to decide, mom2, b/c the scene was set up.

what the flip was that!!! i think i just wasted an hour of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have heard that they are making a movie and the season finale was not supposed to tie up any loose ends, the movie will do that.

well that would be great if there was a movie b/c i need closure!

they cant have it end this way!

i am sooooooo excited for the possibility of a movie. for some reason, well, ive always loved tony but i really really want him to live. that guy in the bathroom better not end up doing something...though i guess that would not be a long movie if he did. whoops too many cannolis and mojitos for me

well maybe we are supposed to be satisifed that its a happy ending?!

i would havebeen very satisfied with a happy ending but nooo david chase has to leave us wondering hbo message board crashing lol

This was the worst ever ending possible for such a great show. Six Feet Under left me weeping and wistful. This truly ticked me off. I could SLAP David Chase. HARD!!! This is all we get after 8 years of loyalty??? It sucked, sucked, sucked!!! It wasn't even as good as a regular night in the series! Sad. Sad. Sad.

Like I said before, Chase has been in talks about doing a film. I was shocked for a minute at the way it ended, but it makes sense to leave a cliffhanger for the film.

i agree! it is perfect for a movie...id be disapponted if there is no movie though

I disagree that it was a terrible ending, or that it was left open for the possibility of a movie. I think a) the show ended like it started - a slice of life type thing and b) it was left open as a service to viewers - that we can interpret it how we like. There are some, like me, who choose to believe that Tony lives on, and the family continues to have as normal a life as that family can have. And there are others who will hang on to Bobby's words a few episodes back - that when you die, it's probably silent, and things just go black. Maybe the last few minutes were Tony's last moments - just as he realizes what's important in life, his family, he dies. Or maybe he's just becoming paranoid that the next guy who tries to kill him is just around the corner, buying baked goods, or going to the bathroom. We can all go back and watch the DVDs and know that the way it ends will be up to us. I think it's pretty smart!

as much as i love the idea of a movie or tony living...the more i think about it the more i think it might be more relevant what bobby said at the lake....ah who knows!

that does make sense. I like that.

well im glad that it didnt end with tony getting shot at least. Id like to think he went out living

me too uacosj...imagine it ending with tony and/or some of his family shot up at the diner? ugh terrible last scene(to me)! this is far far better...i love imagining all the possibilities.

OMG I thought I lost television power or that my Tivo didn't continue taping...but, that said, leave it alone and let our minds work...I vote for no movie...leave it alone just like they did for Sex in the City!

i keep posting because i cant stop thinking about it i now think...well, phil living and tony dead would have pissed me off, actually showing tony and one or more of his family whacked would have not sit well with me, having tony hauled off by the feds would have been sorta predictable and cliche....i love love loooove how Phil died and the more i think about it, i love the ending. leave it as it is.

yeah id leave it as it is, but I have to disagree with Sex in the City, I want a movie!

haha i totally want a SATC movie!

Sex and the City is much more light-hearted and fun, so I think it would be ok.

me too, i really hope it happens...so much to look forward too not the least of which are possible carrie's shoes (bit of a shoe junky!)

i have to admit the cat and paulie was hilarious and it was pretty funny how carmela lit up at the sound of a 175k starting associate salary

I loved the scenes with the cat as well...being a cat lover myself I found it hysterical that they were so crazed over the cat staring at the photo of Chris...cats do what they want when they want to do it!!

When the screen went black for those long 10 seconds, I was screaming at the television and DVR and at my local cable provider for messing up yet once again. When I realized the black screen was intentional, I was disappointed...at first. But, now that I've thought about it, I'm not sure that Chase could or should have done anything differently. My husband's conclusion is that for eight seasons we've been invited to watch an extraordinary group of people engage in both outrageous--and ordinary--events. The "family gathering" last night was one of those ordinary moments. Life is seldom neatly tied up and so we're left to wonder what happens next. The final scenes seem to be filled with so many red herrings, all skillfully done to create tension--especially Meadow's repeated attempts to park her car and to cross the busy street. While I suspect that Tony lives , I do love pidgeyoki's reminder about Bobby's observations about what might happen when you die. And then there's that cat...

I thought it was great, especially the more I thought about it. Kind of poetic. David Chase knew exactly what he was doing. I was sad last night hearing the opening song that we aren't going to have that anymore.

Similar to NEJulie, I've been a huge fan for years, but I'm ready to let go. It's not the powerhouse it was in its heyday, and the end really didn't do it for me. How can it be a successful series end if such a huge part of the viewing audience spent it sitting there screaming at our cable companies for glitching? Meh. The cat and Chris' picture was great though.

I don't have the words to explain how PERFECT this finale was, so I'll let Seth at Pajiba.com say if for me: http://www.pajiba.com/tony-from-jersey.htm

cgmaetc, thanks for posting that article... great stuff!