I'm not going to say you're wrong, just that I disagree. You are certainly correct that many viewers are not tolerant of ambiguity, as we have seen in this thread. That doesn't mean David Chase is wrong to have chosen realism over "traditional storytelling."

What I don't understand is why any long time Sopranos fans are surprised that there wasn't a tidy ending. The show has been ambiguous from the word go. The whole premise is "mob boss goes to shrink." Tony was at many times a sympathetic character and at others a despicable brute. Most of the other characters were also a mix of different, even contradictory, traits. To me this was the strength of the series. I would have considered it a sellout if everything had been tied up in a bow in the finale.

PS -- From now on I will only recommend chick flicks to chicks <g>.


>Interesting point.
>
>Yes, life is not like that but this is entertainment, not life. I would expect the staff to resolve issues for the faithful in the vein of traditional storytelling. I'm not sure audiences will ever be completely tolerant of ambiguity when a show or movie is ending with no sequel. It cheats them of an ending. Am I wrong?
>
>>In all the David Chase interviews I have seen (and I read all of them I see) he has specifically thrown cold water on the notion of a movie. James Gandolfini has done the same. A cynic might say they are just priming the pump but I believe them. The show has now said what it had to say. Maybe it has had a more long term impact in making viewers more tolerant of ambiguity and less expectant of tidy endings. Life's not like that.
>>
>>
>>>The Lake House? Ack...puke inducing.
>>>
>>>Notice the song playing at the end of the episode was "Don't Stop" by Journey? I thought that would set a mood for a hit...that didn't happen.
>>>
>>>I heard a rumor a while back that there were plans for a Sopranos movie. To me, that's the only reason to leave so many plot issues unresolved. If there is no movie than I'm a little annoyed at all the false tension scenes with no true action - except for Phil getting whacked.
>>>
>>>>Oh, the deals we have to make in life - for me to get the downstairs TV tonight to watch the Sopranos, I'm currently sitting through "The Lakehouse". Please God, take me now!