[Members-Only guy gets up and goes to the restroom.]

As others have also suggested, this is a legitimate homage to the Godfather movie in which Michael Corleone goes to the restroom before returning and murdering everyone seated at the table.

[Carmela, AJ and Tony each take a single onion ring and eat it by placing the entire onion ring in their respective mouths.]

Eating the onion rings is arguably the most important symbolism in the whole episode. Having each character eat a single onion ring this way required specific direction - it is intentional. Consuming the onions rings in this manner is symbolic of each character receiving the Sacrament of Communion - sometimes referred to as the Eucharist. The origins of the Eucharist date back to the Last Supper. Hence this interpretation of the onion rings and the reference to the Last Supper from the previous scene are mutually supportive. Furthermore, there is a special form of the Eucharist reserved for a person who is facing death. This version of the Eucharist is called Viaticum - a Latin word which translates as: provisions for a journey.

So here we find the primary significance of the song chosen by Tony. That significance lies neither in the song's title, nor in its lyrics, but rather in the name of the group performing the song: Journey. The song is supporting the interpretation that all three people seated at the table are receiving Viaticum - they are moments away from death at the hands of Members-Only guy.

Numerous times during the final scene, we observe the following sequence of events.

1. The bell rings as somebody enters the restaurant.
2. We observe Tony seated at the table.
3. We see the person who entered the restaurant from Tony's perspective.

The last person to enter the restaurant is Meadow. As she does, we again observe the first two parts of the sequence. However, at the moment we should be seeing who entered the restaurant from Tony's perspective, the screen goes dark. This is a clear indication that we are observing "darkness" from Tony's perspective. Tony is the first to be hit. He is dead. Carmela and AJ follow.

Conclusion

In the foregoing I have described the dramatic irony, symbolism and implied meaning in much of the dialogue and many of the scenes from the final two episodes of The Sopranos. Upon understanding the meaning of these various pieces, Made in America becomes an even more impressive work of art. It is a true masterpiece. Unfortunately, the key conclusion from the above analysis is that Tony, Carmela, and AJ are all dead. We, the audience of The Sopranos, should not expect anything in the way of a reunion episode or a movie - unless, perhaps, it centers around Meadow exacting her revenge on the Lupertazzi family...

Revision History