I am devastated that Richie is gone. Proval's performance was of the greatest I've even seen on TV. I don't know how they can hold my interest to the same level -- Richie made up for the absence of Livia this year . . .

I don't think you're going to have overwhelming support on this one. About one of every one hundred emails I receive had something good to say about Richie. Most people couldn't stand him and wanted to see him get what's coming to him. This of course was intentional. He was made to be not liked. He was Tony's rival and a constant thorn. Did he pose much of a threat? For most of the season I don't think he did. He was a nucience and a constant thorn but until he made the decision to take Tony out, he really didn't have support.

I think that janice killing richie was a good idea. it would have been great to see furio whack richie but too obvious. great writing and great show. but too much of the russian chick

She sure did have a big role in the script. Did any of us really care what happened to her? I don't think so.

Well, I must say I was in shock also. But I think deep down, Janice knew that Richie and her would have no fairy tale life. Also maybe in her sub conscious she felt guilty for turning on her brother and thought that this would make her brother's life easier and Don't you think Tony sent her packing with a nice FAT envelope. I mean he gave his Russian whore 75Gs just because he stopped banging her.

As far as Christopher and Furio grinding Aprile up, it just goes to show you that they are stone cold hard hearted Criminals!!!! I don't think Tony could have done that. Remember when he killed Matt Bevilacqua and then thought about him saying "MOMMY" after the fact. I think Tony has a little heart!!

I love the way Carmella is mouthing off at Tony now!! But I think next week something big is going to happen!!

One of the great lines that Carmela had was "This was not a wedding made in heaven". I laughed out loud. I think we felt sorry for her in some way after it happened and liked the way the family pulled together afterwards. I'm not sure about her feeling guilty sub-consciously though. It was such a quick turn of events that it's going to take some time to get it sorted out. Why now? Everything was going well. This is taking pre-mariage second thoughts to the extreme!

Good Grief!!!!! Totally unpredictable that Janice would blow Richie away right after Tony gave the orders to snuff him out. Whew!!!!!! It was so cruel the way Richie socked her with his fist and then acted
the way he did. I think she really snapped!!! EVERYTHING is supposed to happen on the last episode....???????????? Christopher is pretty low key right now.

My thoughts as well. What else can possibly happen in the last episode?

What the heck was that all about? Am I the only one who thinks that episode 25 was way mediocre?

You're going to have to explain yourself. A one-liner is not a good way to sum up this entire episode.

Not only did I think Janice shooting Richie had to be a dream, I thought the opening sequence with the ballroom dancing, the music and then the guys in the room with the big TV all had to be a dream.

Random thoughts:

• was Nancy Marchard's voice a "voice-over?" It didn't sound really right.
• Tony really comes through in big brother style.
• How pathetic has poor Carmella become?
• I loved the touch of the housemaid screaming at the "Russian whore."
• And best line really has to go to - "Yeah, we buried him on a hill, overlooking a river, with little pinecones raining down on him."

Yes, I agree, this show seemed to be missing something, but perhaps they wanted us pretty low so things can really explode next week!

Another best line was one of Carmela's when she was talking to Tony about the marriage. She said "This was not a marriage mad in heaven". That sure is the understatement of the year. The housemaid and Tony's Russian friend's phone conversation was hysterical. As you know Nancy Marchand's health is quite poor and she's had a difficult time all season long. I imagine that it really was her voice but with her health in the state it is, it's probobly the best she could do.

Good for Janice. The look on her face when she got punched was something. You knew she was mad. Richie says nastily, "you gonna cry now?" and out comes the gun. Tony has unbelievable good luck. He tells Silvio to get rid of Richie, Junior sets up Richie to "sell a deal" and Richie can't sell it. Junior decides to go with Tony and Tony ups his ante to 7.5%. I think Tony and Janice make amends at the bus station, "I buried him on a hill with little pine cones all over". Carmella is striking out on her own just has Tony gives up his mistress. Many things coming full circle. And what's the story with Pussy? What is he doing turning "Joe Gun"?

Twisting and turning, the Sopranos is now more intriguing and beguiling than
most 2-3 hour film epics. I CANNOT WAIT for more episodes of this HBO drama/dark comedy!

Richie was going to get it. We all knew that. Just that we didn't all know that Janice was the murderess. Good for her! Janice was fore-warned as to how Richie would behave after marriage and Janice was looking through 'rose colored glasses' thinking that her 'Richie' would be different. He wasn't.
Richie showed his true colors last nite and he got what he deserved and was probably going to get anyhow.

Loved how Junior showed his business side and came to grips with taking Tony back into the fold of long-term business planning. If Junior has issues with you, then it probably means you going the way of the 'fishes'.

Not sure where the Carmella angle is going. Never cared for her character anyhow. Maybe, the screenwriters will have her axed in Rome.

Cannot begin to think about season finale.

That was a hell of an episode. As far as I'm concerned, it could have been the season finale. Sure, there are still some loose ends that need to be tied, but there always gonna leave you wanting more. Thankfully, though, we have one more episode. Is Big Pussy a riot or what? I got such a kick out of him and his little tape recorder. "Suspect identified." Gimme a break! What is he thinking!? He really thinks that he's going to be some kind of FBI consultant from his witness protection program. I think there's a strong chance that the Fed's investigation of T (with or without Big Pussy's help) will play a big role in the finale. I can picture Season Three opening with T in the big house. Or, maybe Big Pussy is playing the Feds? I doubt it though. He seems to dopey to outsmart the Feds.

For my second prediction, I'm guessing that given Nancy Marchard's poor health there is going to be some kind of closure regarding Livia in the finale. Speaking of Livia, was she laughing or crying when T ran out of the house, tripped and dropped his gun? Maybe she was laughing AND crying. I wouldn't put it past that heartless women to laugh at her son.

Why did T put Janice on a bus to Seattle? That must be an awful trip from New Jersey. Does flying leave too many traces?

This episode had my jaw hanging until I woke up this morning! tony was at his finest! He had this youthful glow about him, it was so apparent during his conversation with Livia. Richie is gone - and hope fully Janice too forever! This episode cleaned up some loose ends, just waiting for a big explosion for the finale. Carmella was amazing the last scene, she finally is starting to realize whether she cares or not, things won't change. I did feel bad for Tony while he sat on the couch....really thinking he was the day's do-gooder. Classic!

This episode is going to be one that will be remembered for a long time to come. Still hard to believe that it ended the way it did. I wrote in the "Comments and Impressions" page that I was waiting for someone to wake up from a dream they were having. Someone else sent me an email adding that the whole dancing scene at the beginning had sort of a 'dreamy' feel to it. I still wonder if there is more to this than we think.

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Great episode. Junior just became one of the scariest characters on the show. It was chilling how quickly (and coldly) he calculated who he was better off with, Tony of Richie, and then how quickly he sold Richie out. It has been pretty obvious that both Junior and Janice were playing Richie and trying to get him to make a move on Tony. I think Janice's change of heart about Richie started when she realized he couldn't put together enough support to make a move on Tony. You could almost see the wheels turning in her head when Richie told her that they would have to watch their cash because "things" didn't work out for him. Looking back, Richie's fate was probably sealed right then and there since Janice didn't have use for him anymore. It is interesting to wonder how she would have reacted to him hitting her two weeks ago, before it became clear that he couldn't challengeTony.

I thought for sure that Livia would be written out at the end of this season due to Nancy Marchand's health; and that Richie and Janice would be the antagonists next season. Now, I don't know what to think, but I can't wait to see how this plays out.

As goofy as Junior comes off, he's certainly no fool. He was going to be on the side that's winning and for a while he was listening to Richie. We'll never know how seriously he took Richie since he never really committed. When he realized that Richie didn't have the respect he needed to muster up support for Tony's hit, he changed horses. It's hard to imagine Livia being around much longer. Without Janice to take care of her, there's no one left... unless Tony steps in again. Very unlikely though.

David Proval did a wonderful job playing the part of Richie, he made us truly hate his guts and cheer when Janice shot him. I was in shock when she pulled the gun and can't imagine what surprises are in store for the last episode. Pussy is a great character and I'd hate to see him out of the series, I'm hoping he's scamming the FBI by making himself sickening to them. I thought I saw Livia laugh when Tony fell off the step and I flashed back to a "happy memory" Tony had when his father fell down the steps and the entire family laughed (a warm Soprano moment of bonding). I can't stand the thought of waiting until January of 2001 for the next season. Every Monday a few of us get together at work and discuss Sunday's episode--what will we do after next week?

You guys must be kidding about Carmella. She is just about ready to snap on Tony. She is STRONGER than ever. She decided that she was going to go to Rome and spend money, screw Tony. She will never leave the show. She is way to important to the story. Tony will get one last chance to keep her. I think he will.

I also think big pussy is going to turn against the FBI. He is trying to do anything possible not to implicate Tony in anything extremely serious.

Wow. Double wow. I thought it was absolutely brilliant that Janice killed Richie. And if you think about it, the whole Richie holding a gun to Janice's head while they made whoppee was some sort of ironic foreshadowing that I definitely think was deliberate on the writer's part. People brought up it might have been a dream, and maybe it still is, but not likely.

I liked the closure with the Irina, although I will miss her simply for what she brings asthetically. Yeah, yeah, it's a shallow reason to like a character but so what. Carmella was great. I also think it was intentional that she was wearing bright read in the final scene, which conveys an image of power and strength. Tony just sat there like a lump while she told him what's what. Will she meet Sophia Milos in Rome?

Junior was great; strategically aligning himself w/ Tony as he bides his time during his legal problems. I think Nancy Marchand will be written off the show because of her health problems, which is sad because she is such a great character.

I have NO idea what to think about Pussy. He obvioulsy doesn't want to go to jail, but he's been told explicitly no violence but he's killed 1 1/2 people this season: THe Elvis guy, and he was there when they killed Matthew. He'sgot to be concerned about that because the two years he's facing could turn
into life if the Feds find out about that.

No one mentioned the best line of the show, and perhaps the season: "You should read the Italian version, 'Tomato sauce for the ass." Classic.