Why would they "go to the mattresses" in a relative's house? Not too smart.

(Kinda pissed me off that Sil didn't use that phrase, btw)

As for Melfi, obviously they're "wrapping it up" and cutting some corners to fit everyone in. It may not be as neat and tidy as it could've been, but, at least they're fitting them in...

BTW - I noticed that "nobody" character I met at the ALS Walk a couple weeks was in the credits - and I still don't know which character he is!

Yea, I noticed that too Geoff. It would have been exactly like his character to use that phrase. I wonder why not? Poor Sil!!!!


TIS

I hope they include Uncle Junior in the final episode maybe giving tony advice about what to do with the Phil situation b/c noboby in tounys crew except Paulie has seen as mob war.

I don't know why they would use junior's house and they certainly didn't sell it. Who would sell it; he's still alive.

I noticed the cutout of Sil, but Tony's not about to commit suicide.

Melfi is calling a spade a spade. Tony wants relief; he doesn't want to get better. Melfi has finally recognized that and does not want to facilitate his destructive bevahior. Remember the line by Billy Crystal in Analyze This: "What's my goal here? To make you a happy, well-adjusted gangster."

Don't give up on Ade.

My fear for this episode was realized. It's terrible to see Sil go...this guy I've been watching for nearly 10 years and the embodiment of The Sopranos for me. I always thought it would have been Paulie first..

I am fairly sure that was Livia's house. Again, I'm not sure that's the wisest place to stay. I suppose we'll see. Hopefully Tony gets to use his AR-10 machine gun.

I want a cardboard cutout of Sil!

Bah, why did Sil have to die?

Something is up with Paulie. I question his loyalty.

He hasn't... not yet at least...

He is done...

Forget about Uncle Junior.... his cheese has slipped off his cracker.

It was the smart move. Sil was always smarter.

Sorry Olivant, it's pretty clear she won't mke an appearence.

Very good episode, but you'd think Chase could have given us a little more than 53 minutes for the next to last episode?

Anyone else wondering why Paulie wasn't on the "hitlist"?

That idea is right on the money..I loved the episode where they featured young Johnie and Junior...They could get anybody to play young Tony, Janice and Livie..put a toupee on Artie and there you go....

I remember in season five when Tony had a sit down with Johnny Sac, Paulie was not present, only Chris and Sil were with him. Paulie doesn't really effect their buisness, as Butch said, "only management". Paulie was Underboss in name only, Bobby was in fact Tony's left hand man (as Sil was his right). Phil may reach out to Paulie as he is like Phil, both old school mafiosos.

I think Paulie survives this series, which even furthers my belief that Chase will attempt a movie.

Best line in the episode is when Silvio confronts Burt Gervasi...
"There are some things you can't do over the phone."

Looks like paulie might be the last man standing. On the subject of Bobby, if he had a gun it might have made no difference at all. One of the hitters from Phil's crew looked like Danny Aiello's son. I always knew that if T tried to take on NY he would lose. T's crew are a mickey mouse operation. Well one more episode to go.

The real shame is that Sopranos never will reach its 100th episode. That means the show can never be in "syndication," and channels like A&E will not be broadcasting the show in the future

What was I going to say? Oh yeah - Phil's biggest mistake was not specifically ordering the destruction of Tony Soprano "as 1st Priority!" Above Sil and Bobby - kill the head, just like they did with JFK. Kill the brains, and the tail will swivel up (except in the case with the Kennedys, where I think younger brother Bobby was the real brains - they killed JFK because they thought it would simultaneously kill Bobby and his ambitions. They were wrong, and I digress).

They left Tony alive, which was stupid. You'd have killed Tony first, everyone else would be scrambling. Just like you kill Vito Corleone first. Just like you kill Tony Montana first. The first hit should have been Tony, then the rest would have been easy pickin's. Heck, even if they weren't easy pickin's, at least they could have fallen into line eventually. You can't hide forever.

Sil on life support? What's the point? And Tony's hide-out - might it belong to Silvio Dante? After all, that cardboard cut-out of Silvio is something else, and I don't think anyone would have had the time to decorate the hide-out with Silvio cut-outs - unless the cut-out was already there? Must be Sil's house.

i loved how during a very serious and life threatening situation, during their discussions the sopranos find time to still joke and laugh. ie: the raging bull mimic, and paulie pointing out AJ's lady friends tits being perky haha. shit cracks me up how even in the worst of times they do the stupidest of things.

Good episode, not quite as powerful as some of the other next to last of the season episodes, but still wildly entertaining.

Poor Bobby? Well, he did become a murderer just a few short months ago, so.... Those poor kids of his! Now they're stuck with Janice, that's if she sticks it out with them.

AJ? MAN UP for God's sake. Tony going off on him was absolutely the right thing to do. I feel bad for anyone with mental illness but could you grow a pair?

Sil, ah, Sil, so old school and seemingly loyal, but that's the life... Well, you did kill a defenseless woman in the woods, so whaddaya gonna do? What comes around goes around.

Paulie may very well be the last man standing, which is something I never would have guessed. Maybe when they're all gone he can be the boss of himself.

Cardi is DEAD ON in his assessment - what a Mickey Mouse crew! Even if they were to win this battle, you'd go to sleep after next week's finale just knowing that the characters would not be long for this world. I hate Phil's crew, too, but at least they resemble real wiseguys.

Melfi abandoning Tony really came out of nowhere, and realistically speaking, would be a severe breach of ethics. I don't give 2 shits for Tony Soprano, it's just that the show started out with their therapy sessions as one of the show's foundations, so if this is the last we see of her, I don't think it's really fair to the character. She's really been all but forgotten over the last few seasons.

I found it telling how Silvio is seen murdering "some guy" (I still haven't figured out who that person was), then having Sil gunned down in the same episode.

Seems that Chase was saying, "don't feel any sympathy for Silvio - he's just a killer, remember that."

I mean, you hardly ever see Silvio getting his hands dirty, but you do on the episode where he's whacked.

When Meadow was drinking orange juice I thought she was a goner.

I was thinking that Tony, without a crew anymore, might join the program to save himself and his family. When Tony looks at the computer in AJ's room is when this clicked in my head.

Do we REALLY know if he killed her?

(/olivant imitation)

I think it could happen. I can easily see Tony reaching out to Agent Harris to save his real family, when he realizes his crime family is done. There has to be a reason why the terrorism angle with Harris has been in several episodes. I bet Tony ends up helping Junior out too.

It was Burt Gervasi, Carlo's cousin. He was "made" with Gerry Torciano last season and made collections with Patsy.

LOL... I posted that a few weeks back too... HERE!

Ok, GREAT episode!
My thoughts:
1. If Tony didn't kill Chris, he would have been dead by now, even if Bobby usurped him.
2. I am pretty sure that was Junior's house. It just seemed familiar.
3. It seems as if Bobby's fate was sealed in the first episode. If he said, "No Tone, I am not killing this guy," Tony would not have thought as highly of Bobby and groomed him as his number 2- thus Phil wouldn't have put a hit on him. Just goes to say, live by the sword, die by the sword.
4. When I think of Paulie lasting so long- he lasted through the Columbo wars too- I am reminded of Scarface: "The people who make it in this business are the ones that lie low, fly straight." He will definately survive the finale.
5. If the show bases itself on history, if I am not mistaken, a New York family did overtake the NJ family.
6. Phil is a total prick. I think that truely, if Tony B didnt kill his brother Billy, Phil wouldnt have ordered the takeover of Jersey. I think the second biggest factor in his decision was his personality. He cant come to grips with the fact that, in his business, some people get caught and others dont. He resents the fact that he spent 20 years in jail, while Tony didnt. Phil, thats life, learn to deal.


Finale predictions in the finale thread.

Oh yeah, loved the appearance of Mangenius!! Top that Herm Edwards!

Another Godfather reference, imho, when Tony mentioned that Doctor Soprano had a nice ring to it. It reminded me of Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone.