After some back and forth by Bloomfield Township, it seems that The Sopranos will indeed be allowed to shoot the final scene of the final show in Holsten's restaurant in northern New jersey.
This is of particular interest to me as Holsten's is a local hangout, and I was there only a couple of weeks ago with my family. It's an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor, with candy counters, soda fountain and family booths, and reminds me of nothing so much as a diner that hasn't been updated in 40 years. (See review here)
So - with that in mind, what exactly does that tell us about how The Sopranos will end? My thoughts...
One thing we've learnt from the show is that usually the Big Bang comes in the penultimate episodes, with the last show always being a quieter affair. So if The Soprano's IS to go out with a spectacular finale and, for example, major characters get killed, I doubt it'll happen in the final scenes, or even the final show. But even so....
If Tony WERE to finally sleep with the fishes, I could see the last scene taking place at a funeral home, or a graveyard, or maybe even at Artie's restaurant for a wake. But Holsten's? That makes no sense, as I don't think they've ever shot their before, or established the locale as a regular haunt.
So - a family outing, with Tony and the gang drinking down their sodas? Maybe - but again, why Holsten's?
The only thing I can think of that makes sense, is a flashback scene, which is why the relative period-feel of Holsten's makes perfect sense. Young Tony, with his Mom, Dad, Uncle and sister. Set maybe in the early 70s. And flashbacks are always a good device when most of the cast have bought the farm - remember the final scene from Godfather II? This could be a perfect homage.
I'm guessing the last thing we see of Tony is not a dead Tony, but a little Tony.
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I think you're dead on with the flashback idea.
Any bets on who could buy the farm beside Tony? I vote for AJ. Tony worries for five seasons about keeping him out of the business, and fails in the end.
I bet no one of significance dies. Every season I've expected some major death or tragic turn of events and aside from Adriana it never happens. I don't expect the series finale to be any different.