J.R.'s Television Thoughts for Your Everyday Life: Introduction + The Sopranos Series Finale

Hello. I've decided to create a place where I can share my opinion about all the shows that I watch. While my original idea for this blog was that I could save a lot of time having the same conversations with all of my television buddies (Because I have quite a few. But I guess that's to be expected since I am invested in quite a few shows.), I doubt that anyone will actually take the time to read this... Really it's just me talking to myself. Organizing my thoughts, if you will. After all, I have seriously considered pursuing a career as a television journalist. And this could be a nice portfolio. I'd hand in a very professional collection of my blogs so that they (whoever they may be) could see a sample of my writing.

Oh. And in case, you (you, the hypothetical person who cares enough to be reading these words) did not catch the reference: the title, "J.R.'s Television Thoughts for Your Everyday Life," goes back to my early, carefree tv-watching days. All That. Lori Beth Denberg's Vital Information for your Everyday Life. That's seriously how my mind works. In references to television. It's quite sad, really. But I love it.

Alright, so this introduction also doubles as my first entry. Thoughts on Sunday night's series finale of The Sopranos. Gotta say, at first I was like, "Excuse me, but I'm still waiting for my ending. My nice little conclusion that resolves the questions of the whole show. Will Tony be arrested for his crimes as the mob boss of New Jersey? Or will he get whacked? Or will one of his family members get whacked, thereby sending him over the edge?" I did not expect a cut to black in mid-scene, with all of this tension still in the air about Tony's ultimate fate. But over the past 24 hours, I have come to understand and appreciate David Chase's version of a series finale. The whole point is that life for the Sopranos is not ending with the last episode of the show. Tony still might have to go on trial for everything he's done. Somebody still might order a hit on him. He will still deal with and learn from his emotional problems. Just like when the show started way back in January 1999. I think the fact that the final scene took place to the music of "Don't Stop Believing" made this episode for me. Plus the fact that everything ended with the words "...don't stop." Brilliant, if you ask me. I'm pretty sure that if any other show had a finale like this, I would be furious. I expect such a satisfying resolution from the series finale of LOST in 3 years that I will cling to that show for dear life until the very last second, always in anticipation of the amazing answers to come.

For the past week, I have seen about 3 or 4 "Farewell, Sopranos" articles with the writer's personal top 10 favorite episodes. Because I agree with some of each of them but all of none, I am making my own list. This will mean absolutely nothing to anyone who has not seen the show. Oh well...

1) "The Sopranos"- Season 1, Episode 1. How anyone can possibly overlook the freakin' PILOT is beyond me, but none of the "Greatest Hits" lists included it. I mean, it sets up the whole show. And it had little A.J.'s line at the end when he discovers that his grandmother isn't coming to his birthday party- "What? No fuckin' ziti, then?!" Classic.
2) "Long Term Parking"- Season 5, Episode 12. Adrianna gets killed by Silvio for being an FBI informant. Seriously great acting in this episode from Christopher, my favorite character, when he learns what she has done and realizes what has to happen to the woman he loves.
3) "College"- Season 1, Episode 5. Seems to be everybody's favorite. I like it a whole lot, but I don't think it embodies the entire show. Although the concept is really cool- Tony is taking his daughter to visit all these schools while he is hunting down a former mafia guy who became a rat. Plus, Carmela's intimate evening with her priest really intrigued me in the whole scheme of Carmela-her religion-Tony-his affairs-etc.
4) "Made In America"- Season 6, Episode 21. The finale. Already discussed it above.
5) "Funhouse"- Season 2, Episode 13. Very cool dream sequences. Plus, Big Pussy finally gets what's coming to him when Tony, Silvio, and Paulie take him out on a boat and make him sleep with the fishes.
6) "Members Only"- Season 6, Episode 1. Great season premiere. Story has advanced quite a bit since the end of Season 5, in a good way. Johnny Sack is in prison, leaving a power vacuum in the New York family, and Uncle Junior has lost his mind, which is hilarious, until he SHOOTS TONY.
7) "From Where to Eternity"- Season 2, Episode 9. Just an all-around good episode. Christopher is in the hospital after having been shot. This contains my favorite Paulie storyline when he becomes paranoid about what "3:00" means from Chrissy's near-death experience visions.
8) "Whitecaps"- Season 4, Episode 13. INTENSE. Everything comes to a head between Tony and Carmela. Some seriously amazing acting.
9) "Join the Club"- Season 6, Episode 2. Everyone sitting with Tony at the hospital while he's in a coma. Very emotional and heartfelt scenes with Carmela, Christopher, and A.J. Meanwhile, Tony is in an alternate world where he's a business man who has lost his identity.
10) "The Second Coming"- Season 6, Episode 19. Tony has some real insight in his session with Dr. Melfi about his relationship with his mother, one of the few times that he could actually come to some substantial conclusions about that crazy woman. A.J. feels the pain of the world too much and tries to commit suicide. In the mental hospital where he's getting treatment, he talks about when his grandmother told him that life ended with you dying alone in your own arms, but the end when Tony goes to visit his son sends a deeper message about the love in a family.
Runners-up:
"Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood"- Season 3, Episode 1. Completely new perspective as the federal agents observe the Soprano family and track them so that they can sneak into their house and plant a listening device.
"Pine Barrens"- Season 3, Episode 11. Hilarious. Chrissy and Paulie get lost in the middle of nowhere in South Jersey. In the snow.
"Army of One"- Season 3, Episode 13. Just because of the scene at the end where Uncle Junior sings a heart-breaking Italian song that brings the tough mob guys to tears.