Release Date: 10/23/07

The Show

Love it or hate it, the finale for HBO’s The Sopranos finally came, and with as much controversy as most had expected with a series of this caliber. I mean, how exactly do you end a series that has taken over most of our lives for the most part of the last 8 years without pissing off some viewers. Personally, I hated the finale immediately, crying that series creator David Chase copped out with the easy way, providing no final answers. However, after spending a few days mulling it over, I came appreciate the open-endedness of the ending, truly understanding the full strength of Tony’s paranoia as a result of his dangerous moves.

The final half of the sixth season brought to us 9 episodes of non-stop action and forward moving plots (with an exception to a few revelations) that many fans clamored for after lackluster 4th and 5th seasons. No longer would we be subjected to drawn out stories of Carmella’s (Edie Falco) wandering eyes or Meadow’s (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) lukewarm love life. This was the time that the big boys would get to take the stage as Bobby Baccala (Steve Schirripa), Silvio (Steven Van Zandt), Christopher (Michael Imperioli), and Paulie (Tony Sirico) would get to show their true colors and worth to the family. As the ending approached, the audience suspected something to happen; no, the audience expected something to happen. As Tony Soprano (Jame Gandalfini) continues to deal with his own demons while handling the pressures of being family boss, the world around him seemingly begins to crumble. Friendships are tests, those in the inner circle are wearing fake smiles, and most importantly, a man on the inside is threatening to testify in a court of law.

For the most part, it was really business as usual for the series, picking up where the first three great seasons left off. Every action had a reaction that was felt harder than before with finality looming overhead. And because of that many viewers felt cheated with the ending that didn’t answer any questions. However, like any good series, some answers are better left unanswered. That might sound like television drama blasphemy, but the continued debate that occurs as a result of David Chase’s decision to leave the door wide open is a testament to his brilliance.

The 4-disc set includes all 9 episodes from the second part of the final season with a Play All option found on each disc.
Disc 1
1. Soprano Home Movies
2. Stage 5
Disc 2
1. Remember When
2. Chasing It
Disc 3
1. Walk Like A Man
2. Kennedy and Heidi
3. The Second Coming
Disc 4
1. The Blue Comet
2. Made in America

The DVD

The main menu comes with a nice introduction and animated backgrounds with music that plays throughout. The transitions utilized make the entire experience very seamless and overall, this is a very well executed system that scores on style and functionality.

The video transfer is offered in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Format. The picture looks brilliant with vivid colors and strong details. This transfer is free of flaws and grain. With the stylistic direction that the show contains, it would have been a shame if the picture wasn’t perfect, and it’s definitely nothing short of that.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish Dolby Digital. 2.0. The sound certainly surprised me as there was plenty of positional sound. The 5.1 actually gets some use and it wasn’t entirely frontloaded like I had expected. The dialogue is crisp and clear while the music and sound effects come through with sharp clarity. Those last few minutes with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” never sounded so sweet. Subtitles are offered in English, French, and Spanish.

The Extras

The 4-disc set comes in a fold-out digipak encased in a great looking glossy cardboard box with lid that is reminiscent of past releases. Episode guide is found right on the digipak.

There are 4 Audio Commentary tracks, with one commentary residing on each disc. The track for Soprano Home Movies is provided by Steve Schirripa, Dominic Chianese speaks on Remember When, Robert Iler talks on The Second Coming, and Stevie Van Zandt and Arthur Nascarello rounds out the tracks on The Blue Comet.

Making Cleaver runs about 8-minutes and features a spoof piece taking behind the scenes of the fictional horror movie.

The Music of The Sopranos offers a 19-minute piece featuring interviews with the cast and crew about the musical selections found within the season.

Final Thoughts

This is it, folks, The Sopranos – Season 6, Part II on DVD. I don’t need to say it, but this is an easy purchase for fans. It’s the big white whale we’ve all been waiting for, and to pass on it would be a grave mistake, my friend.

- Morris Tang