You’ll have to keep watching. 
Just to say, we’re into the third season of The Sopranos now and loving every minute of it. And worth a mention is the Writers Guild of America ranking it No. 1 on their list of the 101 Best-Written TV Series. It’s a shame it took Gandolfini’s death to get us finally to watch it.
I understand there are six regular seasons. But then they made some other seasons? Or specials or something like that? Didn’t I read something about that?
No specials. The final season – 21 episodes – was shown in two parts, with a long break between the two parts. I don’t know why they didn’t just call it season 6 and season 7.
HBO wanted the show to continue, but David Chase announced he would end the series with Season 6 and wouldn’t budge. They struck a compromise by making an extra-long final season split into two parts – kinda silly, as you note, but whatever.
There was speculation that the Sopranos would continue as a series of feature films (which would have clarified the ambiguous finale) but none ever came to fruition. It’s impossible now, of course. 
I’d watch if they had a series with Carmela trying to keep the family going after Tony’s death. Or maybe Meadow grows up fast and tries to lead?
Sounds like Breaking Bad.
Just popping in to say the wife and I watched the last of The Sopranos series last night (Monday night). An amazing show. Before Gandolfini died, we’d not seen a single episode. It’s sad that it took his death to prompt us to view it finally. But I’m glad we did. Been watching it steadily these past few months.
Is it good from the get-go or does it take time to get used to it?
I think this is a very difficult question. The answer - unfortunately - is yes and no.
It’s a great great series and I can’t recommend it to you strongly enough. But there are many things about the first two seasons that make them somewhat shabby.
For example - many people will disagree with this - but I found Tony’s mother to be an incredible waste of time. She was important to the entire show but it took a huge effort to follow along and it didn’t pay off very well. I think I am in the minority for this opinion. But I would almost like to watch a version of the show without his mother.
Things really started to pick up after the first two seasons.
So many of the episodes in the first two seasons were about the kids and their personalities and characters in S1 & S2 just had nothing to do with their personalities and characters after S1 & S2.
Again - many people will likely disagree with me. But I just didn’t find much of a payoff in all of the stupid story lines with AJ vandalizing his school or damaging his mother’s car and trying to get out of the responsibility for that.
This is a very difficult question you have asked and I sure wish that I could give you a better answer. I feel like this answer is not very good at all. But let me say that the series was good in the first two seasons. But after that, it became fantastic. That is the best answer I can give. It’s not very accurate. But I do think it’s true and it has a lot to do with Tony’s mother and his kids (especially AJ).
If you find yourself growing weary of the story lines concerning AJ and/or Tony’s mother, I would suggest that you might want to FF through those story lines during S1 & S2. I don’t recall which of Meadow’s story lines were shitty so I wouldn’t suggest you FF during her story lines as much as I would with AJ’s.
Gandolfini fans should note Enough Said is being released on DVD this week. It’s Gandolfini’s last completed film and it got a lot of critical acclaim.
I do mostly disagree with you, although I did find AJ just an annoying git. However, it was all done to emphasize that even mafiosi have the same family problems as the average joe. Normal people do have annoying gits for sons, and shrewish mothers, and the Mafia isn’t all just whacking people, raking in the money and then going home for a cold brew. I urge people not to FF through those story lines. They serve to show where Tony is coming from and are crucial parts of the story.
The wife and I are curious about the final 10 seconds in the final episode. Are we to assume someone in the diner whacked him? Just open to interpretation? What?
Open to interpretation – in spades. Come up with your own theory/explanation and there’s evidence you’re right – and wrong. One of the most open-ended finales I am aware of.
Agreed. Much hay was made, many quotes and interviews etc etc.
Think about the pilots for many dramas. We are dropped into a world already populated with characters large and small. Many of the endure the arcs, others go away. ( “Get whacked”, to use the parlance of the North Jersey Mob 
).
I found it incredibly smart and innovative to pluck us right OUT of that story as abruptly as we were dropped INTO those lives.
Pretty terrific way to do it, IMHO.
They could do the “early years” of Sopranos, bring back the same characters plus some others. That way they would hire all new actors. They could have Tony’s dad , young Uncle Junior, etc. I doubt it happens, but it’s possible.
Agreed. Here’s a Doper poll from four years ago: The Sopranos Finale - What Happened? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
Funny. At the time I voted the second option, but if you ask me today I’d say he was whacked. Guess I hadn’t fully processed my thoughts at the time.
That worked so well with the Star Wars franchise.
Thanks. After reviewing that thread, I’m leaning more toward the “Tony gets whacked” theory. But I’ll never know for sure. Wonderful ending.
I wish people would stop reviving this thread…first I’m shocked and sad to learn that Tony Soprano died, then I remember he actually died months ago, then I recall how shocked & sad I was months ago, when I first learned that he died. 
You should find a Middle Path. 
Yeah, you’re making a molehill outta this.