Ten years later, ‘The Sopranos’ still lives on

Spoilers ahead for a show that ended 10 years ago this weekend … That’s right. It’s been 10 years since “The Sopranos” cut to black, and … and whoa. It’s been 10 years. Feels like it was yesterday. If you were a fan of the show — and if you weren’t, you can hand in your New Jersey card on your way out — that last image of Tony looking up, with Journey playing in the background, followed by 10 seconds of black screen is a moment that lives forever.

Ten years later, it’s worth investigating that famous ending, as well as a few other tidbits along the way.

But the ending comes first.

Is Tony dead?

I’ve gone back and forth on this one from the jump. My initial reaction was he was still alive. When the show ended with that cut to black, I will say this: I got it immediately. I didn’t think my TV was on the fritz; I got that creator David Chase wanted to leave us wondering. And at first blush, I thought the message Chase was sending was that Tony would always be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life, that he would find no peace, that that was his punishment.

Then I flipped. Then I figured the Man in the Members Only jacket went to the bathroom, then came out and shot Tony dead in front of his family. We didn’t hear the gunshot because neither did Tony; the bullet would’ve reached him before the sound. (This was discussed by Silvio Dante in a previous episode.)

Today? I don’t know. I really don’t. I can easily argue either side of it. But if I had to bet, if it came down to my own life and death choice, I’d err on the side of Tony being shot dead.

The Song

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey was just another classic rock song to me, probably coming in around #75 or so on the Memorial Day Top 500 lists. Nice song. Good beat. Uplifting lyrics. But now, whenever I hear it, wherever I am, I am transported back to sitting on the edge of my couch with my heart pounding out of my chest. And at the 3:39 mark of the song, after the “ohhhohhhhh-ohhhhhh!” when Steve Perry belts out “Don’t stop” — the point where the song ended on the show — that’s where the song ends for me, for evermore. I change the station. No joke. It’s practically a religious ritual at this point.

The Rewatch

I rewatched the show from start to finish a few years back. It remains the only drama I’ve ever done that with. And one thing stood out to me: Tony Soprano has zero redeeming qualities. First time around, I found myself kind of rooting for him. Sure, he was a bad guy, but he loved his family (more or less) and lived by his own code and all that stuff. On the rewatch, where I pounded out two or three episodes a day for a few weeks? I discovered I was wrong. He was just bad. If he wasn’t killed in the finale, he should’ve been.

That Last Scene

Tony ordered some onion rings for the table and Meadow was parking her car and somehow it was the most tension-filled five minutes in television history. Watch it again. It still feels like the end of the world.

The Death

As in, the real life death of James Gandolfini. While it was undoubtedly a tragedy for those who knew and loved him, you can bet every single fan of the show also had this thought: “Ah crap I guess that means definitely no sequel someday.”

The Prequel

Never happened, won’t happen, but I’d pay $1,000 right now to see a David Chase written and directed movie featuring Tony Sr. and Uncle Junior running the mob out of Newark in 1967. Maybe even $1,500. I’d start a GoFundMe.

The End

“The Sopranos” broke TV. The era of the prestige drama started with this show. And for us in New Jersey — especially those of us (like me) that grew up in north Jersey — the show was like holding up a mirror to our innate New Jersey-ness. From Sunday dinners to split-levels to the patterns of speech, the show was us (minus the murders and such). It was our show. I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.