Customer Reviews
One of TV's best series builds to a surprising conclusion 
2008-05-24
"The Sopranos" created one of the most entertainingly vivid and flawed cast of characters - both major and minor - ever for a television show. We tuned in to see what was going to happen to Tony, Carmela, and dozens of others because we cared - often too much. There are those still broken over Adriana's exit and scarred by Steve Buscemi's untimely end.
That's good writing.
So what else could Season Six, Part II offer but resolutions over its nine episodes? There are resolutions aplenty, including Chris-ta-pha's final mano-a-mano with his drug use and Bobby Bacala's extra devotion to trains, but there are plenty of new stories to uncover. A.J. struggles with matters of the heart and with nihilism. Carmela still carries the demons of marrying Tony. Dr. Melfi finally confronts the question of whether she has helped Tony heal or made him a better criminal. And Tony must face down both Phil Leotardo and dissension among his own ranks.
Some of the series' finest writing can be found in these nine episodes - including the word "miffled" and a death scene involving an SUV and two grandchildren in child seats that will go down as one of the great gangster death scenes ever.
Much has been written about the enigmatic ending in the diner. I have my own theories on what happens to Tony, but there are others . . . and many other folks who thought David Chase copped out. The fact that there is such a furious debate over the ending just tells us how important this family has been to us over the years . . . and how much we'll miss them.
Life's not always about closure, and neither is TV 2008-05-08
I normally don't listen to audio commentary on DVDs, but I did with this set. The best of the lot is on Episode 8, "The Blue Comet," featuring Little Steven and Arthur J. Nascarella. Little Steven makes an observation about the AJ character that is so apt, so hilarious, so spot-on accurate that I won't spoil it here. Both actors seem to have the most fun of all with their commentary.
One of the gems from the commentary is the revelation of David Chase's intention with the series: He did not want to portray mob life as glamorous, and he did not want to portray it as NOT glamorous. I think he found his balance.
Take the AJ character, for example. Could anyone who's watched the show for 7 seasons really expect redemption? In his final scenes, tooling around with his model girlfriend in his brand-new Beemer and laughing like an idiot on the sofa, stuffing his face with chips and enjoying the antics of "MC Karl Rove" on the TV...anyone surprised? Did you really think that he'd enlist and go to the front lines in Afghanistan or Iraq, or that he'd become The Donald's helicopter pilot? The genius of Chase is found in the fact that AJ is a bum, no doubt...but we see Tony and Carmela as his chief enablers. There's a point in everyone's life where the parents turn their kids loose in the world. AJ's 20 and they have no intention of letting him go. Listen to the Little Steven remark. He sums up AJ in 25 words or less.
What about Christopher? Somewhere around the first or second season, TV Guide featured an interview with "real-life Jersey Wise Guys"...actual mob figures who rated the show's cast for accuracy. One of them called Christopher "one for the trunk"...meaning that if it were real ife instead of TV, he would have easily been whacked within the first few episodes. In this instance, Tony received closure...he expressed his gratitude for the way he was portrayed in Christopher's movie, "Cleaver."
Janice takes one last sniff around Uncle Junior to see if she can locate his "hidden money," but it is to no avail. Carmela still longingly looks at architect drawings and floor plans, but she's still not the real estate diva she's dreamed of becoming. Phil Leotardo's feeling a little run down (literally), Paulie's going through the "every time I think I'm out they pull me back IN" angst, and Tony claims he can no longer eat eggplant.
It all comes down to onion rings and Journey on the jukebox. I applaud David Chase for defying expectations, upsetting more than a few "fans," and sending out one of the strongest series to ever hit the airwaves on a high note indees.
The Best Show Ever Goes Out On Top 2008-05-04
On the first run-through of Season 6B, I thought it was really good, but a bit underwhelming at times, especially early on, but after watching the season a second and then a third time, I can safely say that The Sopranos went out on top. Was it their best season? I cannot say that, as it is hard to anything to top Season 2, which is arguably the best season of any television show ever, but Season 6B was outstanding, nonetheless. It was definitely a darker season than we were used to, but the high quality was still there, in spades.
For me, one of the highlights of the season was the continuing buildup and the eventual resolution to the Tony/Christopher arc. Animosity between the two had been building for several seasons, and it finally came to head. At the end of "Stage 5," when they hugged following the baptism of Christopher's daugher, you could see it in both of their eyes...there was nothing left. Both were empty inside towards the other, and I thought, this is not going to end well. And it didn't, as we all saw in "Kennedy and Heidi." Without going into too much detail, I can honestly say that no episode of the show shocked me as much as this one, not even "Long Term Parking," which I still regard as the best 60 minutes of television ever. In fact, no matter how times I see "Kennedy and Heidi," I am still shocked and amazed at how everything transpired. The feel of the episode is unlike any other in the series, and it was at that point where you knew that there would be no redemption or salvation for Tony Soprano.
Which brings me to "Made in America." What happened? We will never know for sure, thanks to the creative mind of David Chase, who left it up to us to decide what Tony Soprano's fate was. Personally, when I watched the ending live as it happened, like so many other fans, I was not happy with it. I was like, "that is it?" But after watching it again, and after taking everything into consideration, there was enough there for me to draw my own conclusion as to what Tony's fate was. Sure, David Chase could have made it nice and easy, but most fans of The Sopranos know that he was never about wrapping everything up in a nice and neat little package. Chase always liked to make his viewers think, and he ended the show by making us all think. Kudos to him for not doing the "typical" ending. He took a chance, and the finale is now one of the most talked about television shows in history, and will probably remain so for a long time.
Ultimately, while I would have loved for The Sopranos to go on and on, the show went out on top. Very few shows can say that, but to me, it is only fitting that what I consider the best dramatic television show ever did in fact go out on top.
Great Season! 2008-05-02
This was a fitting end (well, not the non-ending)to a wonderful series. Never anything like it before and nothing will ever match the cleverness and depth of the Sopranos.
The Sopranos Season Six Part II 
2008-04-28
I still wonder why Season Six turned out to be the last season.
The parties who took charge in deciding the fate of The Sopranos have
made the classical mistake of "lets get the hell out of here while we are
ahead".
I am pretty sure Mr.Chase and Mr. Gandolfini will make a comeback.
The Ride of a lifetime 2008-07-12
Watching the Sopranos season 6 part two was bitter-sweet. It was nice to get to a conclusion, but it was sad to see the show end.
I know many people were disappointed with the ending, but you know, I liked it. I thought it served a purpose in what it was telling us as viwers about life. And I thought it was original, as I can't think of another show who has done anything similar. In all of the episodes this season we're put on a rollercoaster of emotions, we see a lot of things happen in a short time. We see lose ends tied up and questions answered. It's engrossing. By the last episode, we're coming off of that rollercoaster and the ride is winding down. It was a great ride, but it's over now.
I can't say enough good things about this show. Although it's hard to find something that hasnt' already been said. So I'll just say, The Sopranos has earned a spot near the top of my list for my favorite shows of all time. Kudos to the cast, crew and writers. I'll look forward to the chance of a movie!!
Overall Excellent but not perfect 2008-07-09
I loved the last season. It was excellent. As much as anything I was thrilled with the last scene. Chase is telling us that life goes on for Tony. There is no definite end, as in real life there is often no definite end. Unlike what some people believe, there is no Michael Corleone coming out of the bathroom to kill Tony.
There is one objection to the last season. The way that Chase ended the relationship between Melfi and Tony was very poorly done. From the beginning of the series, there was no belief expressed by Melfi that she could change Tony's way of life. Her goal was to make him as comfortable as possible in the life that he had. Thus, it was ridiculous to dismiss him due to the theory that she had discovered.
scratched discs 
2008-07-03
I bought this as a Father's Day gift, supposedly new. The product was sealed but the second and last discs were scratched enough to where they skip during play. I have not checked on returning. I only reviewed this purchase because they requested me to. Make sure you are not getting a used item!
The long ending 2008-06-12
This is the best season yet, I believe. Unbelievable rich and unpredictable. So much is made of the final scene, however, that I wanted to point out that this whole last season is one long ending. To really understand The Ending of The Sopranos we must first acknowledge that were are in fact several endings, & that the final diner scene is just the last of many curtains being drawn on this sprawling saga.
I think that Christopher's murder and Tony's triumphant proclamation of "I get it!" brings many things to a close. His trip through therapy and the hope of some enlightenment ends at that haunting moment in the desert. He is so deluded and spiritually vacant at that point, it's clear the emotional/psychological journey he began ends here.
That scene also bring the long awaited punch line to season 6, which could be described as "Tony get shot by his uncle, and kills his nephew."
We've been waiting for the answer to the question "How does Tony ultimately respond to the shooting?" We get our answer when he becomes for Christopher what HIS uncle was for him.
"Blue Comet" ends with what many saw as a cliffhanger - Tony in bed with a big machine gun, waiting for his enemies, but I think it too was another curtain being drawn on the story.
We are meant to ask "What is Tony's reaction to this disaster (Bobby & Silvio shot)?" The answer? He goes to sleep. There can be no coming back from this, but he has achieved the emotional numbness that is the only answer to his emotional problems. He will not change, so it is a victory in a way for Tony that he can endure the last pillars being kicked out from under his little NJ empire without panic, or despair, or any real feeling whatsoever.
Notice that at this point, as "Blue Comet" ends, even Dr. Melfi has gotten off this ride. The classic story of The Gangster has been told at this point. The gangster rises, and then he falls. Tony is now in permanent deline, never to rise again. Only we stick around for one more episode, just because we have to see what, if anything, can happen now.
I'll leave "Made in America" to be discussed by others, but I want to point out the social commentary involved in Tony pulling himself out of his tailspin by employing his "war on terror" card, still stashed up his sleeve.
It's agent Grasso, and Tony's terrorist tip, that does Phil in and solves Tony's Phil problem. Despite this, he and his family sit together at the diner in what feels like greater danger than they have ever been in.
great price!!!!! 2008-06-07
this is the cheapest i have found for this season i think i paid 51.00 with free shipping and it came fast so i would recommend it.
