I thought the ending was brilliant. (Was anyone else reminded of the diner scene from Duel?)

That whole scene was so tense I thought I was going to climb out of my skin. Personally, I don't think Tony was killed. I think the scene simply evoked what it feels like to be Tony - always looking over your shoulder, always on edge. Everyone is a potential enemy. Even the car passing by in the street when Meadow was crossing was ominous.

I think everything in the scene was a red herring - because that's how Tony lives every day.

Another interesting thing is that this is the first time (to my memory) that we see the Soprano family eating in anything less than a top-notch restaurant. This suggests that they've had to make a few lifestyle changes - either due to money or to keep a lower profile.

Before finale ran, I told my wife that I thought it would end the way the series began, with Tony going down the driveway in his bathrobe to get the paper. Life as usual. In a way, I was right - the ending does depict life as usual in the most mundane of situations. Only this time, we FEEL what "life as usual" really means to Tony Soprano.

I thought it was the perfect way to end the series.