‘Sopranos’ Star Lorraine Bracco Thought Divisive Ending Was ‘Bad and Wrong’: ‘How Do You Invest 5 Years Into Someone’s Life and Just Walk Away?’

As a long-time fan and admirer of Lorraine Bracco‘s captivating portrayal of Dr. Jennifer Melfi in HBO’s “The Sopranos,” I find her thoughts on the series finale to be intriguing. Having invested years into this compelling narrative, I can understand her desire for a more definitive conclusion. However, as someone who has also spent countless hours pondering the mysteries of Tony Soprano’s fate, I must admit that Bracco’s theory of Tony and Melfi reuniting in secret does have an enticing ring to it.


The finale of HBO’s “The Sopranos” has been one of the most contentious series endings in television history, sparking intense discussions and interpretations among viewers since its broadcast in 2007. Now, Lorraine Bracco, who portrayed Tony Soprano’s therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the show, shares her thoughts on this much-debated ending.

The series ‘The Sopranos,’ starring James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, ended mysteriously. In the last scene, Tony is sitting in a diner booth, waiting for his family, when the restaurant door swings open. However, we never see who enters before the show abruptly ends with a black screen. This sudden conclusion has been a topic of debate since then due to its lack of resolution. Throughout the show, there was a close relationship between Tony and his psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi. Despite knowing about Tony’s criminal activities as a mobster, she continued their sessions. However, after her professional colleagues discovered the truth, Dr. Melfi was forced to sever ties with Tony. The final scene between them shows her shutting the door on him, symbolizing their separation.

Bracco offers a unique perspective on the ending’s events, speculating that perhaps Tony is still alive and continues to meet with Melfi.

Bracco stated on ‘The Spotlight With Jessica Shaw’ on SiriusXM that it seems like they might have run into each other at restaurants and similar places. He added, ‘I’m not sure, but a part of me hopes that she briefly separated from him, then they reconvened in therapy.’ I can imagine this happening.

She expressed her displeasure about how David concluded things, stating that she found it unfair and inappropriate. She was frustrated and exclaimed, ‘Five years of someone’s life, just to walk away? That’s not right!’ She added, ‘That’s not cool.’ And with that, the conversation ended.

Chase confided to EbMaster back in 2015 that he hadn’t anticipated the finale would spark such intense disagreement among fans.

He commented, ‘I expected the conclusion to be a little abrupt, but not as much as it turned out to be, and certainly not sparking this much debate.’ He admitted, ‘I never anticipated the black scene as a shot. I simply thought it represented darkness or the ceiling at that moment.’ His main intention, he explained, was to evoke a sense of hopefulness. ‘The message was quite straightforward,’ he said, ‘I wanted people to believe that even when life ends and death approaches, one should not lose faith. The connections we create in life, though temporary, are incredibly valuable, and we’re fortunate to have experienced them.’ He emphasized, ‘Life is brief, it may end for Tony now or later, but the experiences are worth every moment. So keep believing.’

Watch the interview with Bracco below:

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2024-09-28 20:48