Top Ten Episodes of The Sopranos #1: “Made in America” (Season 7, Episode 9)
What is there to be said that hasn’t been said about this finale? “Made in America” has become a blueprint on how to end a series without answering every question while at the same time presenting new ones. Directed by series creator David Chase, this episode has been analyzed by every critic and blog writer covering television and compelling arguments have been made for both sides of the “is Tony dead?” debate. I don’t often see this episode on lists of the top ten best episodes of the series and it’s somewhat perplexing to me. There is no doubt about the fact that upon airing, this episode was divisive: one side of the fandom blown away by the abrupt ending while the other side upset they’d be denied seeing the fate of the patriarch they’d spent years invested in. What makes it the best episode of the series is that “Made in America” is refreshingly and unapologetically Mr. Chase: an exquisite blend of Lynch and Hitchcock undertones with dark and moody color palettes and out of the ordinary editing techniques. Chase had quite a unique approach to directing that was somewhat unseen throughout the series run (he only directed this episode and the Pilot) and it benefitted the finale greatly. What better way to see the ending of a legendary series than through the eyes of its maker? There is no doubt about it, “Made in America” is an absolute masterpiece.
by: Steve Conzo