FAQ for
"The Sopranos" (1999) More at IMDbPro »

The theme is from "Woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3

Nobody knows what happened to the Russian. He is never heard from again.

Many people believe that he is dead though. Being in pajamas with a bullet wound to the head in the freezing cold wouldn't have a favourable outcome for anyone, even a hardcore military expert as the Russian apparently was. He probably covered enough ground to get away from Paulie and Chris from finding him, and knew how to cover his tracks and lose them. But never made it out of the woods to be found by anyone. Then again, given that Paulie's car disappeared, it is likely that the Russian took it and drove himself to safety, so he's probably still alive (or, given that there was no retaliation of any sort, he might have crashed due to his critical injuries in a remote location) Or since nobody reported him missing, he had no I.D. on his person he could have fallen into a coma and is laying brain dead in a hospital somewhere.

This question has been debated in great length, but there is no clear answer.

NOTE that this is a FAQ, not a discussion board. If you want to discuss the topic, please do so on one of the many threads on the board. This FAQ is intended to list the arguments for each theory.

There are several clues in the episode indicating that Tony was killed:

* The previous episode contains a flashback to a scene from "Soprano Home Movies" in which Bobby and Tony discuss what it's like being killed, saying "in our line of work, it's always out there. You probably don't even hear it when it happens". While the flashback may or may not be referring to this scene, the cut to black and complete silence would be exactly what Bobby described.

* The screen abruptly cuts to black and all sound mutes as opposed to the fade in most other episodes that keeps the soundtrack running (which goes hand in hand with the above-mentioned discussion).

* The person staring at Tony and walking to the bathroom is significant enough to be credited, with a special mention to his "Member's Only" jacket. "Member's Only" is the episode in which Tony got shot, and is a reference to being in the mob.

* A hitman walking into a bathroom to retrieve his weapon reminds of a famous scene from The Godfather.

* The scene has been edited in a way that builds up tension, which naturally leads the audience on to believe something momentous is going to happen (which may or may not be the case).

* Many of the patrons in the diner represent an event from previous episodes that involved killing someone.

* Tony often spoke of in Soprano Home Movies, All Debts Public and Private, and The Happy Wanderer, that there are only two ways out for a boss. Dead or in Jail. We saw Johnny Sack, another boss, go the route going to jail. We also saw Little Carmine step away from the title of Boss to enjoy and live his life. So it would make sense that we see Tony take the other path, death.

However, there are also several things hinting that [spoiler]nothing happened to Tony:

* We never actually see anything happen other than suggestive editing - we don't even see a gun. Or to put it more simply, we do not see Tony die, therefore when the show ended, Tony was still alive.

* The lyrics of the infamous Journey song indicate that life goes on despite all the trouble.

* The jacket of the Member's Only guy doesn't have a logo on it. Maybe that means that he - like the jacket - is an imitation, not the real thing.

* There was no reason for Tony to be killed - the hit on Phil had been sanctioned by the Lupertazzi Family. (even so this is discussable because there where many variables in the way the hit went down. Phil was killed in front of his family and other witnesses and his head got crushed by his own SUV. This method of killing may have angered the Lupertazzi Family prompting a possible violent retaliation.)

The general consensus that most people can agree with is that the last scene shows the audience how Tony is feeling every day: In an everyday situation like eating dinner, everybody around him could be out to kill him. He is constantly living in paranoia and the fear that anybody who looks at him or brushes past him could be a killer. Whenever anybody enters the diner, Tony looks up to glances up to see if that person is a threat. The last season has had an emphasis on the downside of the mob life - Johnny Sack dying in prison with no money, leaving his widow penniless, people even in high ranks getting killed, Tony killing his own nephew in a despicable way. The final scene shows the sad life of those who survive - living in constant fear, facing death or prison.

There have been talks about a Sopranos movie being made as well, which suggests Tony is still alive at the end.

David Chase has said that he wanted to make a film. But he cannot find a way to properly do the series justice. So until/unless he finds a way; the answer is no.

Christopher is Carmella's cousin. However it is mentioned by Adriana that Tony and Christopher are actually related way down the bloodline "like way back in the old country". Although Tony Blundetto and Tony Soprano are cousins and they both consider Christopher their little cousin.

Tony never officially becomes the boss.

In the beginning of the series, Tony and Junior have a brief spat over who will be boss (while Jackie is sick). In season 1, after Jackie passes, Junior officially becomes the boss of the family. Tony lets Junior have the position because he doesn't want the heat that comes with the title, but most of the Capos and Lieutenants respected Tony more and actually took orders from Tony behind Junior's back. When Junior was arrested, Tony became "acting boss". However he was always acting boss anyway, just now it was official. It can be implied that when Junior's mental health worsened, Tony became the official Boss though.

ATTENTION: Given the amount of reading in this FAQ entry, Spoiler tags will NOT be present, so if you have not seen the entire series, read at your own risk. This entry is for people who have seen the whole series but might not remember what happens to the characters.

The Soprano Family

Tony Soprano: See above FAQ question 'What happens to Tony in the last scene of the series?'

Carmella Soprano: Stays with Tony until the end. She keeps with her job of building and selling houses.

Meadow Soprano: Splits up with Finn and winds up dating Patrick Parisi. She drops out of Med school and decides on becoming a lawyer

A.J. Soprano: After trying to kill himself, he seeks treatment, meets a girl he connects with. Tony sets him up with a job working in the film industry.

Janice Soprano: A widow by the end of the series, tries to get the last of Uncle Junior's money but Tony tries to ensure the money goes to Bobby's kids.

Corrado 'Junior' Soprano: After shooting Tony he winds up in a mental health facility until he runs out of money. At which point he is moved to a Federal Facility where he basically is left to waste as his alzheimers consumes him.

Christopher Moltisanti: Critically injured in a car wreck while high on cocaine and not wearing his seatbelt. Tony, realizing that Christopher will never be anything more than a hateful junky he smothers Christopher to make it look as if he died in the accident.

Adriana La Cerva: Confesses to Christopher that she has been working with the FBI, Christopher tells this to Tony and she is killed by Silvio.

Livia Soprano: Dies in her sleep.

New Jersey Crew

Paulie 'Walnuts' Gaultieri: Pretty much the only character who survives from the first season to the last season unscathed. He survives, and takes over Vito's crew. (Paulie was reluctant to accept this position because everyone who is running this crew winds up dead or missing.There is a cat that sat inside and stared at a picture of the recently deceased Christopher. This gave Paulie the creeps as he is very superstitious and paranoid about ghosts and the like. When he accepts the position in Vito's crew, the cat is seen to appear beside him and stare at him. This is either a foreshadowing of his doom or meant to be funny as he was so reluctant to accept the position and would continue to be freaked out by a cat.)

Silvio Dante: Survives, shot in the back and in the shoulder which puts him in a coma. The doctors say he might not regain consciousness.

Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri: Marries Janice, becomes Tony's captain. Is shot multiple times and killed inside a hobby shop while buying a train set.

Pasquale 'Patsy' Parisi: Survives. He escapes the shootout in which Silvio gets wounded. His son starts dating Meadow which moves him closer to Tony.

Philly 'Spoons' Parisi: Patsy's twin brother. Shot in the face by Gigi for spreading rumours about Tony. He was also running Junior's crew while Junior was incarcerated, which may have been the real motivation for Tony wanting him taken out.

Vito Spatafore: It's discovered that Vito is gay. Phil Leotardo takes it upon himself to brutally beat Vito to death for disrespecting his family (Vito's wife was Phil's cousin)

Furio Giunta: He falls in love with Carmella but rather than betray his honor, and risk his and Carmella's life he flees to Italy and goes into hiding.

Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero: After it's discovered that Pussy is working for the FBI, he is shot multiple times by Tony, Silvio and Paulie. Then dumped in the ocean.

Carlo Gervasi: Survives. He goes missing in the final episode, it is mentioned that his son got busted for ecstasy distribution and that Carlo was flipped and will testify against Tony.

Benny Fazio: Survives.

Ralph Cifaretto: Gets in a fight with Tony and he beats Ralph to death. He's decapitated and his hands are chopped off by Christopher to prevent identification of the body. He's then buried.

Eugene Pontecorvo: Gets a large inheritance from his Aunt, he asks Tony if he would let him retire to Florida. Which Tony refuses. Also his son is a heroin addict, and he gets flipped by the FBI and they put pressure on him. So he commits suicide by hanging himself.

Little Paulie Germani: Gets thrown out of a window by Christopher. He survives however.

Tony Blundetto: Kills Billy Leotardo and wounds Phil Leotardo without Tony Soprano's permission. Sending Phil on a rampage of vengeance. Tony Soprano shoots Blundetto in the head with a shotgun in order to give him a quick death. Instead of handing him over to Phil who would have tortured and then killed him.

Raymond Curto: Dies of a stroke.

Larry Boy Barese: Survives. Arrested in the first season, is unseen in prison for most of the series. He appears in the final season but is re-arrested for violating parole.

Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin: Survives. Him and Tony have a bit of a falling out about some money he loaned Tony. Hesh's wife dies mysteriously, likely from an overdose of perscription drugs and after Tony pays his respects to Hesh, we don't see him again.

Richie Aprile: Tony sanctions a hit on him, but after he punches Janice (to whom he was engaged) she shoots him. Furio and Christopher dispose of his body.

Georgie: After taking his final beating from Tony which causes permanant hearing damage; He quits the Bing and is never seen again.

Gigi Cestone: Dies of heart disease while sittin on the toilet.

Jackie Aprile Jr.: After trying to make a name for himself by robbing a card game that went horribly wrong he is shot in the back of the head by Vito.

Mikey Palmice: Shot multiple times by Paulie and Christopher.

Chucky Signore: Shot by Tony down at the docks during Tony's war with Junior, Silvio and Tony take his body out on his boat and presumably dump him in the ocean.

Jimmy Altieri: Discovered he was a rat. Shot in the back of the head by Silvio.

Burt Gervasi: confesses to Silvio he's been playing both sides between New York and New Jersey. In the hopes that Silvio would join him in betraying Tony, Silvio strangles him with a garotte wire.

Dino Zerelli: Shot in the face by Eugene and Christopher for trying to rob the poker game.

Matt Bevilaqua: Shot by Tony and Big Pussy multiple times for trying to kill Christopher.

Sean Gismonte: Shot in the head by Christopher while Sean attempts to kill Chris

Donny K: Beaten Severely by Johnny Sack but he survives.

Brendan Filone: Shot through the eye by Mikey.

Jackie Aprile: dies of cancer.

Feech LaManna: Set up by Tony's crew and sent back to prison for violating parole.

Walden Belfiore: Survives.

Terry Doria: Survives.

New York Family

Phil Leotardo: Starts a war with New Jersey. Shot in the head and chest by Walden. Then Phil's SUV runs over his own head.

Jonathan 'Johnny Sack' Sacrimoni: Dies of cancer in prison.

Carmine Lupertazzi: dies of a stroke.

'Little Carmine' Lupertazzi Jr.: Has a small War with Johnny Sack over control of the New York family after his father dies. Eventually he bows out and moves to Florida to produce films.

Rusty Millio: Killed by Italian hitmen hired by Tony at the request of Johnny Sack.

Joe Peeps: Killed by Tony Blundetto.

Angelo Garepe: Killed by Phil Leotardo.

Miscellaneous

Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Learns there is a study about how sociopaths use therapy to hone their skills of deception. So she uses this as an excuse to end her sessions with Tony once and for all. She isn't seen again after that.

Artie Bucco: In the final season, the indication is that Artie has dealt with his personal issues and worked to restore his business, with Nuovo Vesuvio even playing host to renowned New York Jets coach Eric Mangini.

Charmaine Bucco: Reconciles with Artie and continues to help run the restaurant.

Rosalie Aprile stays close friends with Carmella after Rosalie's husband and son die, she remains very close and supportive to Carmella through all her hard times and goes on a trip to Paris with her.