30 Something Baby Doc

Any who knows me really well is aware that I'm a huge fan of the HBO series "The Sopranos". I only recently started watching the show 3 or 4 years ago. Initially I had no strong interest in the series because I felt it moved to slow and the action (or a better word would be "carnage endured by the main characters") per episode was limited or even non-existent on some Sunday nights. But thanks to Comcast's On Demand, I was able to catch up on all the past episodes in an organized and chronological fashion.

I began to care about the characters and their fates.

I'm not interested in most dramatic television series. But the Sopranos, with it's strong Mafia undertone, drew me in. This show has elements of fear, danger and excitement not contained in other serial programming. There's also an aspect of realism that keeps me coming back each week for more. Tony Soprano is a believable anti-hero. He's a strong, confident and courageous leader with a laundry list of human flaws that have been magnified several time to accommodate his sociopathic character. Tony is extraordinarily violent, overcome with bouts of rage, capable of heinous acts of murder, fornicates/commits adultery at every possible opportunity and yet thru the help of his leggy psychiatrist, the audience discovers his strongly compassionate side.

I'm very sad to see this series end. Tony's now on the run from his arch enemy Phil. Held up in a safe house lying on a bare mattress clutching an automatic weapon. Several of his "Glorified Jersey Crew" have already been "whacked" and Tony's not sure who he can trust.

There has been several predictions of how the series will end. Some believe Tony will finally succumb to a violent end and be sucessfully "whacked" himself. Other's believe he will become an informant for the FBI in order to protect himself from Phil and the "NY Crew" . I believe personally Tony will rise to the top, take out Phil and gain control of both the NJ and NY families. Tony is a ruthless character, this is exemplified his by the demographics of his murder victims. Tony Soprano makes Micheal Corleone look like an altar boy. At least the Godfather only ordered the death of his family members. Tony has single handedly carried out most of the murders of those very close to him in a cold and calculating fashion. When is comes down to it, Tony's cares for himself above all else (including business associates, friends and even family). Tony would even "whack" Carmella if it came down to her survival versus his own. Phil has no ability to defeat a character of Tony's make up.

Now that I'm attached to many of the shows main character, it hard for me to watch them get "whacked" knowing that will never return to the show. It's funny, lack of violence to the main character is what initially slowed my interest in the show.