Mr. S, Chris meant he was bumping the thread.

Fitting, entirely satsifying finale to what I still consider (and have done since about four episodes in) the best season so far!

Just when I thought he was out, they pull him back in--yes, I'm referring to Larry Boy Barese, who has seemingly resumed his position of Capo after beating the trial and having a whole season in absence ("House Arrest" they're calling it these days). So where's Albert?

Magnificent acting throughout this episode. Tony's character just keeps on getting more tortured and complicated. I was surprised by his lack of compassion when he whacked his cousin.

An odd, disjointed, out-of-place (Tony seemed to have a purpose, but then left without actually saying anything) visit to Paulie. Paulie's deliberate softening of the face with "You don't come round no more" brought a smile to my face.

It's tied things up nicely in my opinion, and if anything, too nicely: with Sack et al probably going to the can now (or at least under severe house arrest until their trials), where is next season's tension going to come from? The New York-New Jersey war was one of the most tense storylines ever, much more than the bickering between members of the same family (a la Paulie and Chrissy), though there are still some possibilities.

I'm still laughing a day later at Johnny Sack's slip. His snow-covered faced as they escorted him away said it all!

Just a question to those who know more about the Mafia than me: when he saw the FBI coming, what was the need in Johnny Sack running? If he got away, does that mean he escapes conviction? Or will they just find him anyway? I never really understood how he thought there was any reason to try and escape.

Gandolfini certainly has piled the wait on. Tony, at the end of the season, looked as debauched, decadent and (for lack of a better word) fat as ever. Highly fitting, considering what he's gone through. Tony's the most immoral man on the show, and yet he's my favourite character by far (he is also the most complex). Loved the moment when he hovered round before exiting Junior's place, knowing fine well his uncle's lost it, and when he and Chrissy finally showed some real emotion (those two are the only characters on the show who would show their "weaknesses" to each other); it's moments like this that make this the fantastic show it is.

It's a little ironic I feel that, of all the people round Tony, the only person who had any real significance on his decision to whack Tony B was Melfi.

An odd finale in the lack of family scenes (a stark contrast to Season 4's), and I suppose I would have liked a more of a cliffhanger ending, but none the worse for that. It simply caps off the best season so far.

Thoughts?
Mick

I agree Mick.

I would have to say Sack ran because he was not "prepared" to be arrested. As we saw with Tony throwing his gun. Sack never did so. He probably wanted to tie up a few loose ends and get rid of a little more evidence.

Plus a natural reaction might have been to "GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE!"

I was wondering what people thought about the Van Morrison song "Glad Tidings" being sprinkled throughout the episode, like when Tony killed his cousin and when Tony came out of the woods, "like the haunting bear (anyone else make that connection?)" I think the Bear/Tony comparison was quite a brilliant nugget on the hands of Terrence Winter, Chase and the other writers. I think the song worked so well with it's scenes. What do you guys think? What do you think about the Bear/Tony thing too?

Doc

What I always wondered was why Tony ain't give sac the heads up about the feds coming.

DonFerro, the bear connection is a very subtle and ironic reference. As a matter of fact, when the bushes were rustling, and the camera was in slow motion, I actually thought it was a bear (didn't notice Tony's overcoat ).

Songs in episodes are rare these days, so whenever I hear them now it alwats creates some kind of out-of-place, surrealist feel. Good job with the Buscemi hit though (they actually used the track as source music); created the tension beautifully.

Mick

I think it is a good possibility that Adrienna is alive...I heard that Season 6 is full of real surprises...Hey Bobby Ewing came back...I think it may depend on how " Joey "does..which I fell asleep to the two times I attempted to watch it!!