Spoilers are all over the place, and everyone who watches the show has a theory on how this luscious ode to sociopathology concludes, on what may be the biggest night in cable TV history.
So, here's mine... and please note, I've been a fan from the very beginning,
check out my review of the show way back in 2000!
So, here it is: Tony's crew is squashed -- Chrissy Moltesanti, gone, Bobby Baccala, gone, Silvio, good as gone, Uncle June, broke and in a mental ward, Dr. Melfi "fires" Tony, his wife and kids hiding out.
Essentially, every major character, outside of Tony has had the end of their character arc drawn out.
Even Artie Bucco and his crazy wife got in their final shots.
Everyone except Paulie "Walnuts" Gaultieri, the most paranoid gangster ever.
And why is he so paranoid?
Well, my theory is, he's paranoid because
he's an informant, who may be playing both sides of the fence, and he's going to give Tony a chance to get out of "this thing of ours" and start a new life as "Kevin Finnerty."
Where'd that name come from?
Remember last season, when Tony was in the coma after being shot by Uncle June?
He imagined he was some traveling salesman, named Kevin Finnerty, and along the way, he had lost his wallet (i.e. his "identity.") Paulie is the key to this whole scenario.
I refuse to believe that this wonderfully complex story, that has awed us for years will simply end with a gunfight between the remaining Sopranos and the NY crew.
It's been a masterpiece in television history, it should not end with a cliche.