 "Photo: Courtesy Photo")
Tony Soprano has survived countless brawls, assassination attempts, car accidents, and even a bullet in the gut from his own uncle. He has lied, cheated, and murdered his way to become the most notorious and most beloved TV crime boss to date. But one question remains, will Tony survive the last nine episodes of the award winning HBO mega-hit "The Sopranos?"
One thing is for sure, Tony survived the first installment of "The Sopranos" conclusion, which aired last Sunday at 9:00p.m., and the writers only complicated Tony's foreseeable future. What remains are countless avenues that could lead to the demise, incarceration or survival of New Jersey's psychologically troubled Don. So bust out the Excel spreadsheets, it's time to start the office/dorm/apartment "Sopranos" pool.
Given that we know "The Sopranos" fictional world is grounded in realism there are only four categories that the character Tony Soprano will fit into as the credits scroll down the screen of the final episode. Tony could end up dead, behind bars, alive but law biding or sticking with the status quo as a hotheaded mobster.
Many die-hard fans predict that creator David Chase will kill off Tony to wrap up the pay channel series once and for all, leaving syndication the only source carrying on the "Sopranos" legacy. This is a very likely situation given the array of enemies that Tony Soprano keeps close to him. First, there is Tony's feisty wife Carmela, played masterfully by Edie Falco, who may just get too fed up with Tony's habitual adultery and could easily snap. Carmela knows where the guns are kept and she has the wherewithal to use them. Another volatile family member capable of murder is Tony's sister Janice. anice (Aida Turturro) took out her abusive boyfriend a couple of seasons ago with Tony as the only accessory. Janice also has a stake in the family business now thast her up and coming husband, Bobby Bacala, has become a trusted captain.
While the threat from Tony's loved ones is disconcerting, the danger posed by his shady business associates also looms like a dark cloud overhead. As with any crime family there is the classic threat of the power grab or coup d'etat. Rifts have widened in Tony's crew with 'Paulie Walnuts' acting increasingly squirrelly and Bobby Bacala asserting himself as the new brother-in-law/capo. Even Christopher Multisanti, Tony's right hand man and nephew, has lost Tony's respect by stealing his love interest and continuing to fall in and out of addiction.
Yet another threat, and one that has been escalating since the row with Johnny Sack's crew over Vito's sexuality and subsequent murder, comes from the neighboring New York crew. he New York family and Tony's Jersey family have been working together with varying degrees of cooperation and bloodshed since season one. But since Johnny Sack's imprisonment, his captains have been itching to make a move on Tony and the Jersey family.
In any well written television drama these things are often unpredictable and we cannot rule out a creative and unexpected demise that might fall upon Tony Soprano. David Chase and fellow writers have been known to throw in the occasional act of God. And Tony's general health is certainly in question. He has recently overcome an abdominal gunshot wound; he has experienced bouts of stress related fainting; and he scarffs down fatty Italian meats by the fistful. So don't rule out a heart attack, stroke or fast moving terminal cancer… or maybe all three.
Another avenue open in Tony's future is incarceration. The Feds have been gearing up to take down the Jersey family for some time. They have already taken Junior (Dominic Chianese), Tony's uncle, to court and recently grabbed Johnny Sack in a scene in which Tony had to run from the Feds and ditch his sidearm. The ditched sidearm has already resurfaced in Sunday's latest episode with Tony being charged with possession of an illegal weapon. So far Tony's well-paid lawyer has managed to shield him from any substantial charges but the FBI continues to build a case against him. If the FBI can get their act together and possibly secure a new informant in Tony's inner circle then we may see Tony departing in the final episode wearing a jump suit and shackles.
The least likely conclusion for TV's most lovable Cosa Nostra family would be Tony leaving the life of crime. The Sopranos have built a dynasty based on crime, family, and trust and betraying any one of these things is a capital offense. More than one of Tony's closest allies including the beloved 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero and quirky Adriana, 'Chrissy's' former fiancé, has been brutally terminated for snitching to the Feds. Tony however, being the noble villain that he is, is more likely to stick the barrel of a 9mm in his mouth than become a turncoat for the FBI.
If Tony can miraculously avoid all of the aforementioned hypothetical prophecies then only one road remains. The minute but highly unlikely chance that Tony will remain unscathed and retain his throne as New Jersey crime boss, free to live another day extorting and intimidating as usual, after the final episode. This anti-climactic style of conclusion would surely be the most unsatisfying as dedicated fans of "The Sopranos" would forever be left hoping and praying that a new season might come along.
Whatever the outcome, the final episode set to air in June will surely chalk up some record pay-channel ratings. Until then, those of us waiting on the edge of our seats to find out the fate of Tony Soprano will have to be content with speculation. "The Sopranos" airs on HBO Sundays at 9:00 pm. Past episodes and seasons are currently in syndication on A&E and all past seasons are available on DVD. But if you're just discovering "The Sopranos" now "fo'get about it."
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