Agreed. It was essentially Chase's farewell to Artie.  He showed up for like two minutes in 6b.

"There was no intentionality in me taking out the suitcase."

"There was no intentionality in me taking out the suitcase."

There is never a clear and articulated scene with Finn and Meadow explaining  why they break up because in real life things don't usually happen that way and Chase knows that.  It's pretty clear though from numerous scenes that Finn probably dumped Meadow and that it all had to do with Meadow's justifying the mafia…

There is never a clear and articulated scene with Finn and Meadow explaining  why they break up because in real life things don't usually happen that way and Chase knows that.  It's pretty clear though from numerous scenes that Finn probably dumped Meadow and that it all had to do with Meadow's justifying the mafia…

I can't argue that Chase perhaps could have made the same thematic points by excluding certain plots in 6a and 6b and shortening things up. But I would still argue that many of the stuff that people complain about are about are important to the unifying themes of the Sopranos in the final episodes:

I can't argue that Chase perhaps could have made the same thematic points by excluding certain plots in 6a and 6b and shortening things up. But I would still argue that many of the stuff that people complain about are about are important to the unifying themes of the Sopranos in the final episodes:

"Guys, it's a joke!"

John Macironi!

SPOILERS

"Cold Stones" is another episode where Melfi almost reaches him where Tony complains about what kind of man A.J. is becoming (laughing while in a chat room) and that his own father would be ashamed.  Melfi then flat out tells Tony that the whole reason he feels the need to "dominate and control" is because of his own…

Foreshadow alert:

I agree with this.  Tony has let go of his guilty feelings at that point.  Life is as arbitrary as the roulette ball.  He can let Christopher go.

@iseult: This is perfect.  I think what you see play out in the back half of season 6 is the "decompensation" that Melfi predicts will happen for Tony because he refuses to address those "root causes". I believe Melfi discusses the inevitable "decompensation" either in this episode or the next.  She says that Tony…

You forgot to mention that hysterical exchange with Tony and Chris when Tony tells him John has requested that Tony take out Rusty Millio and Chris tells Tony that he shouldn't do it:

Really Dwigt?  Actually David Chase has said the answers are there and they are not very subtle.   I will take his words over yours thank you.  It certainly isn't an "enigma".  Chase actually said there is no Davinci Code and elaborated that there ARE CLUES but they are just not that complicated.  He cited two…

Tony doesn't "feel like he's ten seconds away from getting killed" in the final scene.  In fact, he looks pretty happy and is not paying attention to the guy staring at him.  The whole scene is the anatomy of how a normally wary mob boss is able to get whacked.  Your interpretation makes no sense with how the scene is…

Agreed.  But that is your interpretation of why that lyric was used.  My explanation was simply another interpretation. 

The ending of "In Camelot" is structurally and contextually completely different then the end of the finale.  Again, if you don't see that then I can't convince you of anything.  That scene naturally comes to an end.  There is no previous rhythm establishing that the scene was not finished. There is no lyric that is…

I think there is something to be said for Paulie's line "I don't even know who I am" when he tells Tony about Nucci not being his mother.  The line sounds just like Kevin Finnerty and Chase is again saying something about identity.