Internet Geek Girl

OK. We’re all a bit pissed about the ending. I suppose nothing ever ends well. I for one have never had a good break-up. But alas, all good things must come to an end. And this show was truly a classic!

I will say this…I’m not crying. In fact, I think David Chase gave us an ending that avoided “high sentimentality.” He went for the ambiguous close, as I knew he would. I was right about Holsten’s and Phil dying. Who knows if Tony will flip? We didn’t get that far. We were interrupted by what we thought to be a power outage of our cable provider. [How many millions of Americans said "WTF - The Cable went down!"]

Since I’m obsessed with spreadsheets, I’ll share this Soprano’s Matrix with you. I know it’s late, but it’s still cool.

Well – I don’t have a lot to say in close. There were some really good shots in this last episode (directed by Mr. Chase himself). We didn’t have time for a classic Sopranos sex scene; there was a good bit of build up though. And ending with the family, all together, eating onion rings…well, that made me happy. Like Meadow, I have my issues with parking (ask anyone!). I guess, it could’ve been worse.

Here are a few shots of my favorite scenes from Episode #86:

Alright friends – Sopranos RIP! Keep your eyes open for a blog re-launch. I’ve appreciated getting my sea legs with this topic.

And as always, I appreciate your support. Forgetaboutit!!

xoxo
Stephanie, aka InternetGeekGirl

It’s an hour before the final episode of my favorite show. Probably my favorite show of all time (so far). I’m drinking red wine and watching last week’s episode on demand.

Tony and family have been important to me. I’ve hosted many Sopranos parties (complete with amazing wine, antipast and lasagna). I don’t mess around. I own the calendar, T-Shirts, the coasters, the DVDs, frig magnets, the ringtone, and the Trivia Game. I’m a true-blue fan. And shaking James Gandolfini’s hand earlier this year in Asbury park was seriously fabulous. Who knows why certain movies and TV shows affect us? OK – for this one, it’s easy. I’m 100% Italian from North Jersey and my grandfather, father and brother are all named Anthony. While our family is quite different and otherwise employed, there were plenty of cultural and psychological similarities that cracked me up. Not to mention the mangling of axioms. Those are the best. Tonight’s episode will include a scene in Holsten’s in Bloomfield, NJ. It’s 2 blocks from where I grew up (in Glen Ridge, NJ) and it was the first place I had a real job (not including babysitting). I only worked there for 4 days though. That’s another story. Well….it’s the end of era and I know I will be sad. But alas, I’ve got my DVDs, and I’m sure HBO will find some other entertaining show for me on Sunday nights. God bless HBO.

Let me tell you a couple of few things:

PREDICTION TIME
The internet is overflowing with blogs and sites collecting predictions on how this show will end. I’ve spent a good portion of this week talking to friends and family about what we think will happen. Because I think it’s important to take a stand, I will make a prediction. But, I’ll probably be wrong. I ususally am when it comes to things like this. I never win bets. So – I won’t be risking any $$. The truth is, David Chase has given us a layered, complicated piece of art that could go a variety of ways. My good friend Joe predicted the importance of the gun Bobby gave Tony. My colleague and fab affiliate Mikey rightly pointed out that Tony has nothing left so it’s death or Witness Protection. (He favors witness protection). My Dad doesn’t think Tony will flip and correctly summarized the state of Tony’s crew – “he’s got stugots.” Gerry and Cathy (on their way over for dinner now) favor the death of Tony. We’ll soon find out!

OK – Placing My Bet
Alright – If I must, here is my prediction. I don’t think Tony will die. There’s enough money at stake that perhaps all involved want to keep the option of a movie on the table (cynical I know). I do think the last scene will be in Holsten’s, and I think Carm, Tony and Pauly will be there. I think they will be saying goodbye and I think Tony and Carm will head east and hop on the GSP. I think something bad is going to happen to AJ or Meadow (but not devasting). I think (and hope) that Phil is killed. That .. youknowwhat! I think that Tony flip (but not rat out Pauly) and will end up getting his paper in a robe in his driveway, somewhere in Arizona.. a la Henry Hill. Someone else will take over in Jersey. Someone always does.

Well – I gotta go stir the gravy and put out the olives and mozzarella.

I’ll be back after the show airs. Puffy eyed I’m sure.

Ciao mia amici!

Only 2 episodes left after last night. Are you ready for the end? I’m not. But I suppose I’ll get over it. After all – we lasted 21 months once.

Salon did a nice write up on last night’s episode. There are some very good predictions from their readers as well.

According to the NY Post Syl predicts a bloody war.

All I can say is that Tony has no choice: he must go to the mattresses! Prepare for battle my friends. The end has to include an attack on the NY crew. How could Tony be expected to tolerate the abuse and offrontery?

R J Escow wrote an excellent summary of the karmic catch-22:

Tony Soprano’s two sides are moving closer to the surface. Like Catholic kids everywhere, you can imagine him having imaginary dialogues with an angel on his right shoulder and a devil on his left. The power of his character has always been the childlike spontaneity that drives both his sweetness and his violence.

I have always felt comfort in the show’s dicohtomy. Being 100% Italian from North Jersey, I have often found strange solace in the show’s familial and cultural references, while also being jolted into repulsion by the acts of violence and abuse (both mental and physical). That combination, that complexity – well, that’s why it’s my favorite show. I am turned on by duality . Thrive on it even, and I do think that Chase gears his plot lines for those that understand this dynamic.

Here’s a game: In 140 characters or less, please state what will be the ending of the Sopranos:

Here’s mine:

The Sopranos finale will show all due respect to its ancestors. An execution-style blood bath, an escape to witness protection, and a gruesome demise!

I am fan of live blogging (I think). This is my first time, but perhaps this is the way to write more frequently. I’m working on that by the way. Stay tuned for big changes with InternetGeekGirl. She’s in the process of getting re-vamped. I do like being in front of the TV with my Laptop. (One of my favorite positions in fact). Not sure I’ll get the logistics right on this, but here goes.

I can’t take it. Seeing Tony lose is causing unbearable stress. They have me right where they want me. Mr. Chase wants me to beg for the end. Well, only 5 episodes left after tonight. I know I’ll regret saying it… but please put me out of my misery. I don’t like it when Tony and Carm fight like this. Tony needs The Secret. It’s all about the Law of Attraction my friend. Unfortunately – the negativity is threw the roof.

As for A.J. – All I can say is: Love hurts dude. I could go on here, but I won’t. Curious to see how this is going to play out! I don’t think A.J is going to take this well. I forsee “off_the_deep_end_text_messages.”

I’m gonna take a pass on the shower scene.

So I get it. We are building up. The suspense is mounting. How’s it all gonna end? What do you think? PLEASE SUBMIT A COMMENT WITH YOUR PREDICTION OF HOW THE SOPRANOS IS GOING TO END! Will Tony end up in Gambler’s Anonymous? Will he meet his demise among the tomato plants? (Would they even dare?) From the looks of it, he’s heading for a breakdown. Last week was dark. This week is ugly.

Vito Jr. is acting out. Dude – the lipstick isn’t flattering. Uncle Phil wasn’t exactly supportive. Tony used one of his classics: “You go about in pity for yourself.” Wondering whether the guys who picked up Vito Jr. were really from Utah!!

Tony is taking stock and going on the attack, and no one is immune. The season kicked off with his fight with Bobby; last week it was Pauly. Now it’s Hesh. (Christopher and Sil watch out). I gotta tell Tony – giving out “Cleaver” hats only goes so far. Dr. Melfi gets at the heart of the matter. What are you chasing? What are we all chasing? Therapy is an oasis for Tony. As Dr. Melfi reminds him, there are protocols that need to be followed. I believe in protocols.

As Nancy Sinatra says, “These boots are made for walking” and Tony is preparing us for the great big walk. Life without live Soprano’s.

Well – Entourage is on. That’s not ending this year is it? I’ll get to Vince and his “issues” soon.

Ciao ragazzi!!

Greetings friends. First off my apologies for my lack of blogging. Nate was right, I need to just make it a daily task. I promise to work on that. InternetGeekGirl needs to get her groove on. I’m thinking I should twitter and blog at night while watching TV. Twittering is much easier.

My lack of writing is not due to lack of inspiration. Solely lack of time.

Since so many of you are asking, yes, I did watch The Soprano’s on Easter Sunday night. And since so many of you are also asking, here’s what I think:

This final season is off to a good start. In its typically ironic fashion, the episode began with Carmela asking, “Is this it?” Yes, Carmela, the beginning of the end. I’m not sure how I will feel at the end. This show has impacted me in a unique way. Yes, TV still impacts me. Twitter or no twitter – I still need, crave and LOVE my TV(s). The TVs per person ratio in my house is way too high.

As for Tony and his deep thoughts about his future – let us first look at the past. Catch the kick-ass7-minute series recap on youtube. This is my all-time-favorite-so-far video on YouTube. Thank you Paul Gulyas and Joe Sabia. I hope they have gotten tons of job offers. With almost 250,000 YouTube views, they deserve it.

By the way – What a great example of using copyrighted material in an appropriate way. I think they should win the cutter of the year award.

Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times so eloquently summed up why I love this show.

“The series lowered the bar on permissible violence, sex and profanity at the same time that it elevated viewers’ taste, cultivating an appetite for complexity, wit and cinematic stylishness on a serial drama in which psychological themes flickered and built and faded and reappeared. The best episodes had equal amounts of high and low appeal, an alchemy of artistry and gutter-level blood and gore, all of it leavened with humor.”

(April 8, 2007)

I gravitate toward dichotomy.

Where does this leave us? The cultural zeitgeist is changed forever.

What does it take to do that? In a big way? In a minor way? More on that later. For now I know that these next 8 episodes will be cherished. Like watching a sunset on Maui…like a slow, amazing kiss… like a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine. Actually, like all three at once.