As the final season of hit Mafia TV series The Sopranos hits screens here in NZ, the last episode ever has just aired in the US.
Millions of viewers tuned in to learn the fate of head mobster and main character Tony Soprano.
And after eight years and
86 episodes, Sopranos fanatics eagerly anticipated the answer to the burning question: "What exactly happens to Tony?"
And of course, not wanting to spoil it for you, we won't tell you either.
Initial reaction to the final episode in the US has been mixed - with many describing the ending as a cop-out which failed to bring the show to a logical conclusion.
Whatever your views, what can't be denied is the sheer popularity and originality of The Sopranos.
With the final episode of the mob drama done and dusted in the US, and soon to air here, we thought we'd take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on the ten best moments from the seminal series. Oddly enough, some of them involve murder...
And if you really, REALLY have to know, a re-cap of the final episode can be found here.
Pine Barrens
In a freestanding episode, Paulie and Christopher get lost in the snowy New Jersey Pine Barrens after driving to bury a "dead" Russian mobster who jumps out of the trunk, hits them with a shovel and escapes. This episode infuriated some fans because the fate of the missing mobster was never revealed.
Kill Me
The women in Tony Soprano's (James Gandolfini) life drive him up the wall, so when his affair with seductress Gloria Trillo goes south, it's no coincidence that she bears some of the same character traits as his dear, departed mother Livia. Gloria makes the near-fatal mistake of telling Tony she'll call his wife Carmela, and before she knows it, Tony's hands are locked around her throat amid the wreckage of her dining room. "Kill me," she hisses to his face, but Tony stops short - because he knows that's just what she wants.
Janice shows she's a Soprano
Despite appearances to the contrary, we all knew that underneath all the new-age nonsense, Tony's sister Janice was a true Soprano at heart. But who knew she had a trigger finger, too. Tony plots to bump off Janice's fiance and nemesis Richie Aprile, sending Janice off on a gun hunt to send her hubby-to-be straight to hell.
"I Heard the Tapes, Ma"
Tony's relationship with his elders - namely his Uncle Junior and mother - hits the rocks and goes down in a flaming crash. After hearing the tapes on which Livia and Junior discuss whacking him, Tony heads to the hospital where his mother has just had a stroke. Bending over her stretcher, he whispers sweetly, "I heard the tapes, Ma," and is answered by a hideous smile that only the devil could love.
Big Pussy Goes Overboard
"Why'd you do it, Pussy?" Tony asks his lifelong friend Sal "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero while onboard his new boat. Everyone's got problems, and Pussy's no exception. Aside from having the worst mob name in history, he's also got money problems, is the FBI's new best friend, and meets with a watery end at the hands of his bosom pals.
White Caps
After a confrontation with Carmela seems to spell an end to his marriage, Tony backs out of a deal to buy a house. When the owners get ratty, Tony retaliates by navigating his boat near the house and giving the property owners a sonic dose of Dean Martin, Live at the Sands Hotel.
University
Tony develops a bond with a dancer, after which the violent and volatile character Ralph Cifaretto beats her to death. The resulting scene takes violence to another level, but serves as a reminder of the ugly reality of the true nature of one of the show's 'lighter' characters.
The Big Showdown
Tony and Carmela are at war. They've fought before, but this time it's serious. Tony comes within an inch of hitting Carmela, but resorts to punching the wall instead. Years of vitriol spills over, resulting in Tony leaving home. But, predictably, the separation is short-lived.
Christopher's Intervention
Christoper Moltisanti seems to have an aversion to success. Every time he's given more responsibility in the business, it all turns to custard. An intervention is staged, and as with most things in Sopranos, the situation turns both nasty and humorously grim.
College
Tony's daughter confronts him about his business, while Carmela confesses to a priest that she's scared of being punished for the life she's chosen. Tony, on the other hand, is busy with an act of vengeance against a rat. This is the defining moment that shows Tony's first on-screen killing, and reveals him to be a complex and dangerous character.
* The Sopranos Season Six, Part Two returns to NZ screens at 8.30pm, Thursday on TVONE.
- NZHERALD STAFF 
