An ending, or at least, the end of "The Sopranos"

Spoiler alert: This article reveals key details about the final episode of "The Sopranos."

In the end, "The Sopranos" finale was a series closer that'll be talked about till kingdom comes. Wildly unconventional. Completely ambiguous. Yet as relatable as eating onion rings. Which is to say the landmark TV series ended just the way it should have.

Because this was never just some ordinary mob-centric drama. David Chase, it's been said over and over, revolutionized TV, taking an ever-popular subject — the mafia — and twisting it into something new. Here was a guy named Tony Soprano trying to balance home and work, talking it all out to a shrink. Except he was also a sociopath. And after eight seasons our beloved monster lives on — or so it would seem.

In this final episode, Tony, Carmela and A.J. sit in a diner and as Meadow walks in the screen cuts to black. It's unclear whether a couple of suspicious-looking characters, who had walked into the eatery earlier, were about to whack the Sopranos.

Certainly viewers, in recent weeks, had been given plenty of emotional ammunition (Christopher's death) to want to see Tony die.

And though the penultimate episode left us with a Phil Leotardo vs. Tony Soprano showdown, New York and New Jersey made nice (sort of). Phil did end up dead (in a scene reminding us of just how violent this series was).

But there was no offing of Tony; no Janice turning on her brother; no witness protection program nor federal indictments nor even passing reference to hollow bullets.

"Have a nice day" read a sign above a fireplace at the nursing home where Uncle Junior lives.

It's as if the sign, flashed upon ever so quickly towards the final of the finale, was what Chase was telling us: It's over. Now continue on.

In this final hour Chase gave us regular-guy Tony: irritable at times; compassionate at others. Remember, that's how this whole show started way back when. We couldn't stop talking about the first episode of "The Sopranos."

Now we won't be able to stop talking about this last episode and in that way, the show of all shows lives on.

Bravo Chase.

Florangela Davila: 206-464-2916 or fdavila@seattletimes.com