LOL, Sopranos Ending
I admit, I was never that enthralled with this show called The Sopranos. I got through the first 3 seasons and by that time I was bored. I think maybe its creator, David Chase, was bored too. To me, there’s only so much you can show regarding the life of a mafia family before things become repetitive.
After seeing the series finale, I’m glad I didn’t get into the show like many others have. The last episode is a disaster.You may have your own opinions of the final scene - and there seems to be a consensus that Tony Soprano is finally killed, explaining the cut-off to black before the credits roll. But David Chase, relaxing in France with all the money he has made off the show, isn’t talking. It’s probably better that he doesn’t talk much - what he has said might just get him into hotter water with fans of the show.
“I have no interest in explaining, defending, reinterpreting, or adding to what is there,” he says of the final scene.
“No one was trying to be audacious, honest to God,” he adds. “We did what we thought we had to do. No one was trying to blow people’s minds, or thinking, ‘Wow, this’ll (tick) them off.’ People get the impression that you’re trying to (mess) with them and it’s not true. You’re trying to entertain them.”
Straight from the horse’s mouth - he isn’t trying to be audacious or blow your mind or even piss you off. He just wants to entertain you. This pretty much condemns Chase as a below-par writer - I mean, was anybody entertained by that finale?
“Meanwhile, remember that 21-month hiatus between Seasons Five and Six? That was Chase thinking up the ending. HBO chairman Chris Albrecht came to him after Season Five and suggested thinking up a conclusion to the series; Chase agreed, on the condition that he get “a long break” to decide on an ending.”
21 months to think up an ending, and the “surprise” for viewers is that he doesn’t give one. Ah, but it’s ambiguous because that’s trendy now. He’s subverted our expectations! We were expecting something to happen and nothing did! Or maybe something did! Choose your own adventure! Brilliant!
It’s perfect for lazy screenwriters because the hardest part - coming up with an actual ending to your story - is no longer required. So just call it “art” because you can interpret it just about any way you want. He dies. He doesn’t die. Deconstruct the scene over and over again and look for clues!
You’re wasting your time. You’re assuming certain qualities about a writer who doesn’t possess them.
There are no clues because Chase didn’t have any to give. There’s no resolution because he didn’t bother to create one. I have never seen a show before that actually ended with a manifestion of “writers block.”.
The aired Sopranos ending:
Chase’s original ending before changes:
“I don’t think about (a movie) much,” he says. “I never say never. An idea could pop into my head where I would go, ‘Wow, that would make a great movie,’ but I doubt it.
“I’m not being coy,” he adds. “If something appeared that really made a good ‘Sopranos’ movie and you could invest in it and everybody else wanted to do it, I would do it. But I think we’ve kind of said it and done it.”
Oh I don’t think there will be a movie, but just in case… hint hint wink wink.
You’ve been duped.
