[deleted] - The Sopranos (1999) Discussion

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

It's just stupid for him to still be so evasive about this. I've been certain that Tony died since I read this explanation of the ending:

https://masterofsopranos.wordpress.com/the-sopranos-definitive-explanation-of-the-end/

reply

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I know, I think he was hoping to milk it but for Gandolfini to die.

reply

[–] spurtle467 (1507) 5 years ago

I feel the opposite. I'd rather him not confirm he died or survived, as his confirmation makes it that much more definitive, and part of what has made this ending so good is that it's left open-ended and thus has led to all the speculation and debate on it all these years, even if you are strongly for him dying or not. I by the way, have always been for the former.

reply

[–] KBiker (777) 5 years ago

If it wasn't shown on the screen, then he didn't die. It was only implied that he might have. Gandolfini, however, really did, at a much too young age.

reply

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

He ate himself to death. He had a heart attack after stuffing himself with among lots of other things Foie gras, about the most fatty, disgusting, unhealthy thing one can possibly eat.

reply

[–] Stratego (29327) 5 years ago

"the most fatty, disgusting, unhealthy thing one can possibly eat"

Except for you.

reply

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I hate liver.

reply

[–] ShogunofYonkers (72391) 5 years ago

Liver is pretty gross

reply

[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

My mom used to cook us liver when I was a kid, also kidneys. Gross!

reply

[–] ShogunofYonkers (72391) 5 years ago

Kidneys sound even worse😵

reply

[–] SomeCodhopper (76) 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] catsidhe (1649) 5 years ago

Finally. I always thought it was obvious he died. I couldn't believe the dissertations and flame wars I saw on it since the final episode aired....

reply

[–] ShogunofYonkers (72391) 5 years ago

Agreed
I always took it that he got bumped off during onion rings

reply

[–] ADBruno1985 (3313) 5 years ago

I don't think it matters anymore. He's gone back and forth on this so often just to keep us guessing that each 'revelation' has less weight. Thank goodness it's an issue with only two options or we'd get even more of a run-around. I normally don't care for the 'make up your own ending' resolution, but that really is the best option here. To me, I've always thought Tony died. But it doesn't matter, because now that the actor is gone too, they either have to recast, or show him at a different age anyway. Either of those feels like a pale and forced imitation. I feel it's better for the character's legacy that he's dead.

reply

[–] brux (14666) 5 years ago

Until you see the body, and even then you can never assume anyone is dead in a movie, it's all nonsense ... and that goes double for these cheap gangster movies that someone can pick up later and wring some more bucks off in a sequel the suckers will pay more money for.

reply

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

It's only canon if it happened on screen, doesn't matter what they say after the fact.

reply

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

That's quite a strict approach. For example, do you doubt that Adriana was killed by Silvio?

reply

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

I'm not connected to the show and my opinions represent only me. If I say Tony is dead or alive, no one will assume it's canon. Obviously the intention was that Tony died, and I believe he died, but it wasn't shown on screen. The art is the art, Chase left it open to interpretation.

reply

[–] strntz (10934) 5 years ago

It was far less ambiguous to me anyway that Silvio killed Ade compared to Tony's "death", but they could have easily brought the actress back in the same role and come up with a fine plot to explain it.

Perhaps Sil might take pity in a moment of weakness and turn her over to the agents Sil was working with (hang on now). See, the federales had a rap on Sil that would have stuck so Sil was ready to roll on Tony. The series ended before that story board could be finished so that plot never made it to the screen.

I have to agree with McQ; if it didn't happen on screen, it's not canon.

reply

[–] Retromogul (1082) 5 years ago

"If it didn't happen on screen it's not canon". Are you kidding?? Then what was Silvio firing at; squirrels? That's exactly what Van Zandt responded with when some viewers were stupidly trying to posit that conspiracy theory.

And no Adriana surviving would not have worked and it would have massively cheated the audience.

reply

[–] strntz (10934) 5 years ago

Are you kidding??

No. When I'm kidding, I use a smiley face.

I said that Adrianna's death was far less ambiguous than Tony's (and admittedly, it's not really ambiguous at all). With nothing else shown, we assume that Sil did whack her even if we don't see it. And at least with Ade, we see Silvio taking her for that ride. I only saw that episode once and don't recall that Sil fired a shot toward's Ade, but assuming he did, without seeing her actually die, writers could have still brought her back with suitable motivation.

For instance, the writers could have written a story arc where Sil took pity on Ade and fired the gun over her head to scare her before hiding her somewhere or delivering her to anonymous safety. Is it good? Hell no, but again, I'm no writer and this is still fiction - if it's not on the screen, it can be changed. It's certainly better than when the Dallas writers brought back Bobby..

reply

[–] Retromogul (1082) 5 years ago

Why would he fire his gun over her head just to scare her while also having a change of heart and turning her into the FBI? That doesn't make sense.
If he had an unseen change of heart it would render all mute the day dream of Adriana escaping, Silvio pulling her hair and dragging her out of the car, shooting her, no sign of Adriana at the FBI office later, Tony and Christopher's grief, and the deterioration of their relationship. It would be on par with Dallas. It would render the entire gut wrenching set up and the clear as day indication that Ade was murdered worthless.

The writers clearly had Ade die. It's a major part of the series arc. Just because something is unseen didn't mean it never happened. It's like saying that an off-screen wedding never happened.That's an odd position. One must take note of the reality of a story and what the writers are conveying.

reply

[–] Retromogul (1082) 5 years ago

The set up was obvious. I've never blamed Chase for being pissed off at some fans that can't appreciate what the cut to black signifies. As if a cut to black has never been used to signify death before. As if there wasn't a flashback where death is described in the same manner.

Hopefully this seemingly legitimate reveal from the above article will put the matter to bed. But that's hoping too much since so many people need to manufacture their own realities.

reply

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Personally I always thought it was his death ...
Even if David chase said he lived in my mind he was shot at that diner

reply

[–] Boricanator (1376) 5 years ago

This doesn’t really confirm anything. He ended up being evasive.

I think we will never know what really happen.

reply

[–] GotWood84 (384) 5 years ago

Tony got shot in the back of the head....brain matter all over AJ and Carmela.

reply

[–] strntz (10934) 5 years ago

...brain matter all over AJ and Carmela

.... could have been lasagna...

reply

[–] strntz (10934) 5 years ago

Now that Gandolfini is dead, it doesn't really matter anymore.

With him still alive, there was always the chance they could have done a sequel movie and no one would be pissed. The only evidence people use to support his demise is the sequence of editing shots, but that's nowhere near conclusive. No one would have compared this to the Dallas debacle.

reply