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You've ignored the Christian fundamentalist thing. When Tony was recovering, he was visited a few times by this fundamentalist minister type who seemed to impress him. One could interpret Tony's reticence about Vito as, perhaps, an emerging (non-fundamentalist) Christian ethos -- a stretch, I know, but still -- and his indulgence of Artie seems perhaps part of an emerging conscience on Tony's part. Who knows what this might amount to by show's end? Could we see a movement by Tony away from the mob and its ruthless demands, especially as the alternative is to become increasingly brutal to maintain his image as boss when he is increasingly challenged -- as in his nearly pointless beating of a minor subordinate?

-- Francis P. Ferguson

I'll take a whack (pun intended) at where I think David Chase is taking my favorite North Jersey family. Over the past two months, we have been presented with a similar theme playing out with two characters. In the season opener, Gene receives a $2 million inheritance and longs to escape with his family to Florida, leaving the mob life behind. Silvio eventually passes along Tony's decision that the "Florida thing is out." Gene, squeezed by the feds, who would not have allowed him to leave town, even if Tony had, hangs himself. This seems to be Gene's only solution to his problem, since his family can now take the money and run with no interference from Tony or the feds. Remember that one of the reasons he wanted to get away appeared to be his fear that his son was joining Gene on the wrong side of the tracks. This wasn't a selfish act. He sacrificed himself for those he loved most.

This same theme played out with Vito. Trapped between his family (in both senses of the word) responsibilities and his increasing need to embrace his true sexual desires, Vito reacts like a caged animal. A handgun is never far from his side, but is it for protection or suicide? The little town he accidentally discovers opens his eyes to a whole new world. For the first time, Vito begins to suspect that he can indeed escape his past and start a new life.

This is the most important theme of the season. Even Tony's dream world presented us with a reimagined life for him far removed from the sanitation business. Notice that the Stugots II has popped up repeatedly as a location that Tony retreats to. Take a look at the magazines that Tony has occasionally been seen flipping through, all with a boating theme. I say Tony finally loses his stomach for mob life and escapes to a sunny climate, maybe reinventing himself as a charter boat captain. Anything that will allow him to enjoy boating, the only activity that brings him some sense of peace. The question becomes, will he succeed at reinventing himself or will his past come back to haunt him in a literal sense?

-- Bill Ladd

I think Tony was shot in the opening episodes for two reasons:

1) To get the "Tony gets killed" story out of the way. It's not going to be the finale. Instead I think he'll go to jail and that will be the ultimate punishment for him. Rotting in jail will be much harsher than being put out of his misery forever with a bullet. I don't know how Tony will end up in jail. Perhaps Johnny Sack's guys will set Tony up. But I see Tony going to jail and the whole Soprano dynasty withering.

2) I also think Tony was shot in the stomach as a metaphor, and a rather obvious one at that. He just doesn't have the stomach for the business anymore. As you pointed out, he is going soft and he struggles so much with what to be. That will lead up to his "demise," as he isn't strong enough for what the capo job requires, and he will go down.

-- Jeff York

"The Sopranos" has mainly been about family. Season 1 involved the inexorable series of events that led Tony's mother (and Uncle Jun) to try to kill him. The only way to bring this thing full circle is to return strongly to the theme of parent-child conflict. And the only way to underscore the tragic nature of this show is to end it on the saddest, most pointless and destructive possible note, AJs death.

-- Jim Pharo

Tony will be arrested. Dr. Melfi will testify that he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. In the last scene, Tony will be at a prison hospital, feeding the ducks.

-- Bruce Reznick

* * * * * *

So what will it be? Will Tony die, or spend the balance of his days in prison, feeding the ducks? Will Christopher or AJ or Meadow or Carmela take over as the new head of the family? Will someone in Tony's immediate family die, sending him into a downward spiral? Will Tony join the witness protection program and tool around on a yacht somewhere, or take on a new life as Kevin Finnerty? Your guesses are as good as mine.

Regardless of the finer details, it's clear that this lovable but shady tribe has been getting away with murder for years, and soon they're going to have to pay the piper. Will it feel satisfying, to see them get what's been coming to them, or will it just be sad? Only one thing is for certain: There won't be hand-holding and smiles and sweet alternative ballads playing while a Prius drives off into the sunset. Or, as Tony once put it, "Truth and happiness? Come on, I'm a fat fucking crook from New Jersey. What truth and happiness?"

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