kevin's TV Reviews

Tell me honestly that your heart wasn't beating like a hummingbirds in that final 6 minute diner scene. David Chase knew everyone was expecting a violent conclusion in some manner, so instead of exciting some and angering others by writing his own ending, he left it to the viewer. This is not a cliffhanger as some are suggesting. There will be no movie. Gangster films historically make little at the box office. (The Departed won the Academy Award and barely broke even).
This was it and anything was possible. David Chase is such a master storyteller with subtle references throughout every episode, that my dad and i had probably guessed half a dozen possibilities by the time the screen went dark. As most know, the episode titles are clever references to key plot sequences. Last week The Blue Comet referred to the train Bobby was holding when he was killed in the model train store. My dad and I were guessing all episode where Made in America would come in. Then we noticed the suspicious man in the diner wearing the USA cap. Could this be the hitman? Then the other lone suspicious man, possibly middle eastern, who entered the bathroom and made us think that this could be some random bombing. (The last two episodes really upped the terrorist talk, and in real life, NJ has been the scene of some actual plots). It didn't help that they kept cutting to Meadow struggling to park, as if her inadequite parking skills would somehow save her live. (Bravo to the wide view of the front of the restaurant before she ran across the street. It was reminiscent of the restaurant firebomb scene in Goodfellas). To further add to the tension, they slowly played a classic late seventies rock song to a crescendo while the anticipated/suspected drama was about to unfold, ala 'Sister Christian' in Boggie Nights. Then they perked the stereotypes in all us Caucasians by having two urban African American youths enter at the end to suggest a possible take over robbery and a random killing. Anything was possible, including nothing at all. The Soprano's clan could have simply enjoyed their meal together as a family once again, and then continued on with their endless trials and tribulations like the rest of us. Well done.