David Chase reflects on The Sopranos’ controversial finale, expressing his frustration with fans’ strong desire for Tony’s death.
In a past interview, David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos, shared his thoughts on the widely discussed finale of the series. The ending, which left Tony Soprano’s fate up in the air, created a storm of debate among fans. People were split, with some believing that Tony survived, while others felt that his death was the inevitable conclusion.
However, for Chase, there was a different part of the reaction that left him frustrated. Chase was particularly bothered by how many fans wanted to see Tony die, despite following his journey for seven seasons.
Why did David Chase feel bothered by fans wanting tony to die?
Creator David Chase has always shared his thoughts on The Sopranos’s big moments. He did the same on the Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast and talked about the 2007 finale and how it caused a lot of debate. The ending, which left Tony Soprano’s fate unclear made fans argue over whether he lived or died.
But what really bothered Chase was how many viewers wanted to see Tony die. He admitted:
I had no idea [there would be] that much of an uproar. And was it annoying? What was annoying was how many people wanted to see Tony killed. That bothered me.
He was bothered that after seven seasons of watching Tony’s complex life, viewers still wanted him to be killed. Even though he was a criminal, Chase thought it was unfair that fans didn’t appreciate the depth of his character.
Chase never confirmed if Tony died in the final scene, but he has hinted at it. In an earlier interview via The Guardian, he called the last shot “the death scene.” However, in the podcast, he explained that he was talking about his original ideas for the finale, not the version that actually aired.
Chase also explained that the idea for the diner scene came to him when he was driving near the airport in Los Angeles. He saw a small restaurant and thought it would be a good place for Tony’s possible death, even though this thought came to him two years before filming.
David Chase’s thoughts on the show presents how carefully he planned every important moment in The Sopranos. Whether it was the idea for Tony’s ending or the difficult choices he made as a mob boss, the creator put a lot of thought into each scene to make the characters more complex.
What challenges did James Gandolfini face while working on The Sopranos?
James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano in The Sopranos is considered one of the finest performances in television history. However, the demanding nature of the role took a significant emotional and physical toll on the actor. A new documentary titled Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos via People, sheds light on the challenges Gandolfini faced while working on the iconic show, with insights from his co-stars and creator.
In the same conversation, Steven Van Zandt who played Silvio Dante in the series opened up about the challenges Gandolfini faced while working on The Sopranos. He recalled how the late actor would often express his desire to quit, saying he was “done” with the show.
The actor also remembered how the two would meet regularly at a bar and have the same conversation. Gandolfini would say, “I’m not going back,” but Van Zandt would reassure him, reminding him of the many people depending on him.
Despite his repeated frustrations, Gandolfini always returned to work. However, there were moments when he would disappear for a few days to take a break from the pressure of the role. Van Zandt admitted that it had been a tough time for the actor, as the strain of playing Tony Soprano took its toll.
