This is where it really begins: the final countdown. All the things that have been set in motion at the start of the season are coming together, lining up for the end of the greatest show ever created for television. The last four episodes are basically a four-part finale, one that kicks off with a real bang.
In the previous episode, Christopher Moltisanti was seen drinking, doing drugs and eventually shooting his friend JT Dolan - all clear hints of a bad outcome for Tony's nephew. Kennedy and Heidi begins with Tony and Chris meeting Phil for a deal. As usual, Phil's behavior is all but helpful, meaning everyone leaves with a sour aftertaste in their mouths. In the case of Tony and Chrissy, the evening ends particularly badly as they have an accident on the highway (the episode's title is also explained on this occasion) and Chris dies as a result. Struggling with contradictory feelings, Tony snaps at Dr. Melfi for her not being able to help him and deals with the aftermath of his nephew's death his own way. Also unable to cope with his emotions is AJ. Who falls back into depression after realizing his "friends" are no different from the mobsters his father works with.
Over the years, a lot of recurring characters have bit the dust because of their involvement with Tony: Pussy, Ralphie, Adriana and Tony B. Are just a few of them. And yet seeing Christopher leave the series in that way is almost too overwhelming: those other characters had "about to die" written all over them from a certain point on; Chrissy, on the other hand, looked like someone who would make it to the series finale, and as a consequence his departure is a lot more shocking. Michael Imperioli knows this and uses his final minutes of screen time like no one else, lending massive emotional power to his last "confrontation" with Gandolfini. As for the latter, his performance is staggering to say the least: just watch the closing scene and you will wonder how on Earth James Spader managed to get the Emmy he should have received.
In the previous episode, Christopher Moltisanti was seen drinking, doing drugs and eventually shooting his friend JT Dolan - all clear hints of a bad outcome for Tony's nephew. Kennedy and Heidi begins with Tony and Chris meeting Phil for a deal. As usual, Phil's behavior is all but helpful, meaning everyone leaves with a sour aftertaste in their mouths. In the case of Tony and Chrissy, the evening ends particularly badly as they have an accident on the highway (the episode's title is also explained on this occasion) and Chris dies as a result. Struggling with contradictory feelings, Tony snaps at Dr. Melfi for her not being able to help him and deals with the aftermath of his nephew's death his own way. Also unable to cope with his emotions is AJ. Who falls back into depression after realizing his "friends" are no different from the mobsters his father works with.
Over the years, a lot of recurring characters have bit the dust because of their involvement with Tony: Pussy, Ralphie, Adriana and Tony B. Are just a few of them. And yet seeing Christopher leave the series in that way is almost too overwhelming: those other characters had "about to die" written all over them from a certain point on; Chrissy, on the other hand, looked like someone who would make it to the series finale, and as a consequence his departure is a lot more shocking. Michael Imperioli knows this and uses his final minutes of screen time like no one else, lending massive emotional power to his last "confrontation" with Gandolfini. As for the latter, his performance is staggering to say the least: just watch the closing scene and you will wonder how on Earth James Spader managed to get the Emmy he should have received.