Is that all there is?

Ambiguity was brilliantly employed by David Chase in the final scene of "The Sopranos." The possible conclusions that could be drawn are almost endless. I am tempted to say the final episode was unsatisfying, but then how could it have met the high bar of expectation set by an audience that regarded the story of North Jersey's crime family so highly?

Tony's stroll down the last hour of memory lane was very much a standard day at the office for the head of the Sopranos; good food, a funeral, visits to other dysfunctional family members (Janice and Uncle Junior) and his latest shrink, whacking another crime boss, bribing A.J. to forego service to his country and browbeating poor Paulie with his bad prostate into greater service for his "liege." One of my favorite scenes was this thug, with the famously bad hair and so much superstition, sunning his face in front of Satriale's as his nemesis-cat lay down and shifted its constant gaze from a picture of Chris, to Paulie. Priceless.

So we are all able to ponder the future of the Sopranos in our own mind. There will be a hundred scenarios drawn (they already have been) and who is to say one is more likely than the other. Chase was merciful to the national psyche by not showing the family's demise though there was something clearly ominous in the focus on the unknown men in the diner, and the Godfather-like entry into the bathroom.

There was a certain purity with the Sopranos going out while still at the top of their game, and we were spared the diminished capacity of all of the players and writers as the well ran dry of passion and creativity, which always seems to be the case. But is that all there is? The temptation to take more from this goldmine on the big screen may be too great to resist.