NUMEROUS ERROR'S OF MEMORY , LOGIC

Where to begin? Well, I will begin by saying I just viewed Episode 86, The Sopranos. No internet posting, poker playing or porn. I watched the episode intensely, keeping in mind all I have read about certain segment's. For example the su####ious looks Tony Soprano gives each patron who enters the diner, the song selection and how it "relays" that life goes on, the 3 men who enter and are said to show interest in Tony Soprano, the "chimes", the no "chimes" when Meadow Soprano enters the diner, the cat who represents death, as do the chimes to some people on the Soprano's site, the reaching 3 times under the table by Tony Soprano as each of the ofore mentioned character's entered only to come up with another quarter to play another song and one person said he did this 3 times, Meadow Soprano parking difficulties, the choice of the song by David Chase and the sudden blackout and silence as the credits ran.

OK...I may have forgotten some, I don't think so, but if I did? Let me know.

I started watching with much trepidation of being totally whacked by a senseless storyline and follow-up to what I considered the true end of the series  as the work known as "The Soprano's" which was Episode 85, the exact preceeding episode. First, did you notice what was on the television when Tony Soprano was given the first "envelope" and the guy said it was "short"? Almost the very beginning...it was "The TwiLight Zone" then the cat appeared. Also, on second look, the opening scene might have thrilled some because the music had that funeral parlor sound and Tony Soprano appears to be in a coffin as it's a close up shot of Tony still sleeping.

I was pleased the story opened as it did with Tony Soprano waking from the exact place I last saw him. My FIRST (let's call them "irks) "irk" was seeing Tony Soprano waking uncovered. In this, I mean , the cannon he placed across himself as he laid down and rested his head back at the end of the season (last show) was not there. As Tony Soprano sat up, swinging his legs over onto the floor, you saw the cannon leaning against the dresser drawer. Also Tony Soprano made no attempt to take hold of the weapon to carry out of the room with him. I was in such a prediciment. I went to sleep with an M16, strap wrappd around my arm, across my body also having a bandolier of clips laying on a table I pulled up tight to the bed half out of their pouches ready to be snatched if need be. So this was a BIG FU by director, writer, James, somebody. In that state of mind and danger the weapon would not be 6 feet away leaning against the drawer's where if anything occured you would be cut in half before you sat all the way up. So far...so good but for that.

Now...when the "hit" was going down there was an all out blitz attack. Every member was fully behind the "hit" and it was carried out by themselves. Not "hired guns" from overseas. There was a plan, focus and ferocity to it. How it got to Tony Soprano sitting down with Phil's (whatisface) men and them bending backward to appease Tony Soprano I have no idea. Then willing to make their "commitment" to his sister for Bobby's death. Numbingly written and executed for the "regular" TV show people, I believe. (My opinion) Also Tony Soprano appearing with FBI guy right out of bed. That "irk" was irked. One goes from total red alert, best, top close friends killed, "down" in a safe house to jaunting about New Jersey. And the refusal, after ranting for ages about not being a "boss" Paulie turns the offer down. Also the quickness of coming out of the safe house for Bobby's funeral ties in with all I just said. TV show stuff. Not Soprano's Extended Family Member, We Saw Every Show, Lived And Died With Every Character viewer. All well and good. It was entertaining but I was watching with that "irk"but still enjoying the show but, as I said, with a little phrase popping in and out of my head "This couldn't have happened so quickly and easily". All I wanted was the "controversy" to be answered now. I could see David Chase was tieing things up and supplying a "neat" ending.

Some people are baffled and upset because for them there was no ending. I know not what they were seeking but "The End" was the previous week and this "End", for me, was fine.

Meadow's reasoning for law school instead of medical school was explained and explained well. A.J. was as A.J. always was duplicitous. He appears to be going the right way when he acts or speaks a moment after that you see he's still ignorant, selfish and immature. The "right way" verbalisation's turn out to be more excuse's to avoid responsibilty.

Now...the ending. There are NO chimes. For anyone who has ever worked in a small store years ago you would know that was a bell. You remember the little bell you see in "Bedford Falls" they flash on for a second as they tell the little girl when a bell rings that means an angel got it's wings? Well it's that exact type of bell. Brass, to be exact. And it makes a little jingle when you open and close the door. Each time I heard it I saw Tony Soprano look up then back to the jukebox list because he was sitting there waiting for his whole family to arrive. He was there alone. There was NO su####ion in any of the glances. He did NOT "eyeball" any of the men who entered. He went immediately back to looking for a tune.  I was looking at the titles. Just as the bell jingled and Carmella entered he started "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. Just above that was "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. The titles were cool. Check them out. But I expected to hear "My Way". When the music started and they show Carmella it was SOLID. My eyes welled (just a little) because he played it for her. As you watch each family member enter, that song is playing, and it all ties to them. Don't stop believing that A.J. will turn out ok, don't stop believing that Meadow will succeed and lose her clumsiness, don't stop believing that Carmella will ever stop loving him and A.J., once again, appeared "on track" reminding dad about Tony saying "to remember the good things" , which I remember him saying myself.

One moment after that, as they enjoy the onion rings, amidst the good conversation and plesantries the screen goes black without a sound. The Soprano's life is returned to them and all of us are forever "blacked" out of their lives, their private lives.

The credits role silently, unlike any episode preceeding it, leaving no impression or delivering no impression to our minds except the fact that it is over. Ended. Gone. Nothing that could invade the darkness of it all that we will not see them again. Nothing to hum or sing or have in your mind that "hey this was the ending song..yada, yada".

Chase did not even bring the sound up for his "Chase" Logo theme music/sound of the ramp at the end. No sound until HBO took over and that buzz came on. No relation to David Chase or The Soprano's.

It was the ending for TV Land. The Soprano's had ended the previous week. All the talk about the "trucker", the 2 guys the "chimes", the parking, is just that. Good for talk. But they were there to have something to eat just as the Soprano Family was there to eat.

There may have been some cool stuff. For example there may have been "stars" making cameo's. But that was it folks. I have no idea what you expected or wanted. I can not envision anything else that would work as well as this did for both Soprano's fans and TV Land fans. But I am going to watchit again, now, to see all those song titles because I noticed they were made large. Large enough for the viewer to read. Ever see that before?