‘The Sopranos’ and Unforgettable TV Finales, For Better or For Worse

By Natalie Mokry

Ten years later and we’re still talking about it. 

Although The Sopranos finale will hit its 10^th anniversary on Saturday, the age-old question remains. Did Tony Soprano die in the last scene of the finale? Were we experiencing Tony’s POV when the screen cut to black, meaning he was killed? The answer to that question is perhaps something we will never exactly know. After all, director David Chase seems to be leaving it up to individual interpretation, even after all of these years. However, that does not keep fans from continuing to dissect that last scene in the hopes of coming to some universal conclusion.

In honor of the 10^th anniversary of The Sopranos finale and its disputable ending, we look back at a few other controversial TV finales that have intrigued, bothered, and conflicted fans over the years. There are of course many reasons why a finale might not reach its expected potential, such as budgetary reasons, early cancellations, etc. This piece though will focus on TV finales from shows that led full lives.

Spoilers Below

Spoilers for The Sopranos finale along with spoilers for Roseanne, Lost, Castle, and How I Met Your Mother.

The Sopranos

The Sopranos was HBO’s most watched show of all time, receiving 18.2 million views during its peak season until Game of Thrones surpassed it. The popularity of the show when it was on the air was intense. For it to end on such an abrupt and puzzling note was inconceivable for fans, some of whom preferred a more definitive ending. According to director David Chase in an interview with the Director’s Guild of America, he says that “Life is short. Either it ends here for Tony or some other time.” So, there are hints that Tony did die in the finale. The swelling music to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” along with the pace of the scene make it seem as if something is going to occur. There are also hints that he did not die. Impending death may just be the theme of the last episode, as Chase implies. Tony looks up, and then the screen cuts to black. The next moment is ambiguous. No matter the ending, The Sopranos will most likely remain in history as one of the best shows of all time, as it gave a name to the HBO that we know today.

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