Akkam’s Razor

Full disclosure:  I haven't watched the Sopranos in three-years, but I can't help being intrigued by the buzz and outrage.

As you undoubtedly know, the Sopranos has ended.  And many who counted the show among their favorites are outraged at the ending.

But producer David Chase (IMDB) is no fool… 

In the last century or so of film making, we've largely been treated to cinema as morality play.  The end of the movie is supposed to bring closure, to tie up any loose ends, and ensure justice is done.  It's the question of justice in this case that's causing the controversy.

In all of the various Mob movies, there are certain recurring themes, especially as to their endings.  They are:

• The Protaginist is Dead (any of several).
• The Protaginist is in Jail (Al Capone in the Untouchables).
• The Protaginist loses his soul (and eventually dies - Godfather I, II, and III). 
• The Protaginist is in the Witness Protection Program (Goodfellas).

Chase added a complication that is not any of the above, but yet is also not a happy ending.  Tony is, well, we don't know, do we?

If you are a big mob movie fan, you may notice an intentional omage to an earlier restaurant scene.  Chase sets up the tension building elements like waiting for Meadow to park, the panning to the various people in the restaurant, the two black guys who walk in and are out of place.  Reading the scene closely, one is left to wonder if "the Tony" standing in the doorway is dreaming the entire scene.  Then you have the choices of songs in the jukebox.  And the show ending with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" [song lyrics, music video ]. All of these are things not processed consciously at the first viewing.

We expect Tony to pay.  We expect closure.  He is, afterall, a bad man.  But he is also a family man, a complicated one at that.  Is he hero, villain, or everyman.  As Chase has stated, at it's root, the Sopranos is not a series about the Mob, it's a show about families, both small-f family and "the Family".

The cynic may believe that Chase is setting up the series for a return to either the small screen (TV or video game) or big screen (as a movie), but I doubt it.  The story arc has run it's course, and there's nothing more to be done except revert to the formula and retell and reframe the same old stories.  What Chase has done is kicked the "water-cooler show" nature (where our person discussions of our experience of the show are shared) of the show up a notch, setting a new standard for all others, and most importantly, went out on top.

What do you think? 

PS.  Tony's dead.