The Sopranos ending is without doubt one of the most divisive TV finales of all time, and whereas it is confirmed that Tony Soprano dies after the ultimate scene cuts to black, a brand new idea suggests who was accountable. While Tony’s destiny on the finish of The Sopranos season 6 has been confirmed, there are nonetheless questions on who kills him. Given Tony’s place within the mafia and his more and more hostile enterprise dealings, it is not all that shocking that somebody places successful on him. And one idea reveals that Tony was betrayed in The Sopranos season 6, resulting in his inevitable demise.

The Sopranos is a collection stuffed with betrayals, which appear to be par for the course inside the world of organized crime. Tony himself is betrayed on a number of events, and it causes him to grow to be tougher and fewer trusting because the collection continues. This finally results in him shedding the loyalty and respect of a few of his males. One stunning Sopranos idea means that Paulie is liable for Tony’s dying on the finish of the HBO present.

Why Paulie Would Set Tony Up In The Sopranos

Tony Was Probably Going To Kill Him (And Better Opportunity Lied Elsewhere)

Following The Sopranos collection finale, it has been posited that Paulie set Tony as much as be killed over the last episode. Paulie Walnuts is considered one of Tony’s longest and closest pals, and the considered him killing the present’s lead appears outlandish early on. However, The Sopranos drives dwelling the truth that no relationship is just too nice to get in the way in which of enterprise, with the characters turning on family members on a number of events. And as Paulie and Tony’s relationship evolves, it is clear that the pair are sometimes at odds with one another — particularly throughout The Sopranos‘ later seasons.

While issues develop tense between Tony and Paulie towards the center of the present, Tony is outright questioning his pal’s loyalty throughout The Sopranos season 6, sufficient in order that he appears ready to kill him through the episode “Remember When?” While Tony does not really undergo with it, Paulie possible realizes his days are numbered.

If he actually does betray Tony in the long run, the boss in all probability had precise trigger to kill him, making it an inevitable selection between Paulie’s life and Tony’s. Saving himself is sufficient purpose for Paulie to betray his previous pal, however there’s additionally the likelihood that he was lured by new alternatives.

As James Khubiar notes on Medium, Paulie seems to be demoted between The Sopranos seasons 2 and 6. Tony refers to him because the underboss through the second outing, however New York states Bobby Baccalieri is the underboss through the ultimate season. This means the ability dynamic shifts sooner or later through the present, giving Paulie purpose to resent Tony. It additionally may very well be sufficient to make him look to New York for the next place, betraying Tony and staging a coup in alternate for a greater function.

Clues That Paulie Walnuts Betrayed Tony Soprano

Paulie’s Dealings With New York & His Spotting Tony Talking To The FBI Could Be Factors

Paulie definitely has motives to betray Tony in The Sopranos season 6, however the probability of his function in Tony’s dying goes past that. There are a number of clues that Paulie is the one who orders successful on Tony, probably the most notable being that he is weirdly pleasant with New York even through the conflict, particularly New York underboss Johnny Sack. Paulie’s identify can also be conspicuously absent when New York declares conflict, an odd omission contemplating how shut he’s to Tony. Knowing Paulie’s unusual relationship with New York, there is a good likelihood this element signifies an settlement of some type.

Paulie additionally sees Tony chatting with the FBI throughout The Sopranos season 6, and there is not any purpose to incorporate this element except it is vital. Paulie possible suspects that Tony would activate his individuals and works with New York to take him out earlier than this occurs. This would defend Paulie, and it could additionally pave a path for him to grow to be Jersey’s chief. Additionally, as one Redditor factors out, the finale exhibits a shot of Paulie standing exterior of Satriale’s Pork Store. He appears unbothered by what’s occurring with the conflict, suggesting he is aware of that he is protected from the fallout.

There are smaller hints at Paulie’s betrayal as properly, like him bringing scissors to Satriale’s only one episode after there is a dialogue about killing Tony in a barbershop (by way of The Chase Lounge). His ominous dream about Pussy additionally suggests he fears an analogous destiny — maybe as a result of he is a rat as properly.

How Paulie Betraying Tony Changes The Sopranos Season 6

This Theory Changes How The HBO Show Is Viewed

Paulie betraying Tony modifications the way in which viewers will watch The Sopranos season 6, because the character’s actions appear much more suspicious in hindsight. Knowing what turns into of Tony, it is arduous to not pay additional consideration to Paulie’s habits main as much as the collection finale. Additionally, it makes a few of Tony’s paranoia appear warranted, as there’s really a traitor in his midst. As such, the speculation that Paulie units up the hit on Tony in The Sopranos‘ ultimate episode sheds new gentle on the final season and the collection total.

Other Major Sopranos Theories

Is Tony Dead After All?

Part of what makes The Sopranos such a enjoyable present to rewatch is that it’s dense with subtext that permits the viewers to provide you with their very own solutions about issues that aren’t explicitly proven on display. This has resulted in countless fan theories over time with lots of them being enjoyable prospects. Similar to the speculation of Paulie being behind for Tony Soprano’s dying, there are quite a lot of theories about others who might need been accountable.

One of probably the most believable theories is the concept Patsy Parisi was liable for the ultimate hit. Patsy was proven to be distraught after Tony killed his brother and even contemplated killing Tony solely to again down. However, some recommend he was simply biding his time and eventually struck within the finale. It would make sense that one of many many individuals Tony killed in The Sopranos ended up being what received him whacked in the long run.

There are additionally wilder but enjoyable theories about some memorable characters within the present. Adriana was a fan-favorite character and her dying is without doubt one of the most heartbreaking ones within the collection. However, many followers level out that she isn’t really proven being killed, which led to some speculating that Silvio did not undergo with it and she or he went into witness safety.

However, whereas there are quite a lot of theories about who killed Tony on the finish of The Sopranos, probably the most attention-grabbing suggests that he’s not useless. The ultimate scene within the collection builds rigidity with every individual coming into the diner and the rising sense that Tony is at risk. With the display chopping to black, many individuals take that as signifying Tony’s dying, however one idea suggests Tony does not die however the scene as a substitute highlights the fixed feeling of Tony having to look over his shoulder that can observe him for the remainder of his life.

(*6*)

Source: Medium, Reddit, The Chase Lounge

Considered to be a quintessential drama collection to look at, The Sopranos is a crime-drama collection that follows Tony Soprano, who tries to handle the expectations of an Italian-American patriarch whereas appearing as the top of a prolific New Jersey crime household. Burdened by the stress of the expectations thrust upon him, Tony usually visits a therapist all through the collection run. This helps give context to Tony’s actions as a ruthless boss with violent tendencies.

Release Date

January 10, 1999

Cast

James Gandolfini , Lorraine Bracco , Edie Falco , Michael Imperioli , Dominic Chianese , Steven Van Zandt , Tony Sirico , Robert Iler , Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Seasons

6