‘The Sopranos’ Wraps It Up With Nail-Biting Finale

After ten years, seven seasons, and more awards than you can shake a gun at — it has all come down to this.

HBO’s “The Sopranos,” beloved by critics and a legion of devoted fans, is coming to a close with its series finale.

The groundbreaking series that showed the human side of organized crime has not only become a pop culture institution, it arguably changed the face of television, as we know it. The intricate serialized plots, fascinating characters, coarse language and graphic violence opened the door for cable shows to flourish in the modern media landscape, offering big-screen thrills on the small screen.

And Sunday night, it will all be over.

It’s not just fans who are sad to see it go. The “Sopranos” cast was quite choked up when they spoke to Access Hollywood about the end.

“I am really sad – it’s not even mixed emotions,” said Edie Falco, who plays mob boss Tony Soprano’s wife Carmela. “I think we’ve really come to believe that it’s over. You know we had these false endings a bunch of times and I think we’re realizing, oh wow, [series creator David Chase] really means it. We’re done.”

Aida Turturro, who plays Tony’s scheming sister, Janice, feels the pain as well: “Well, I came the second year. I mean I just fit right in. They wrote a great person and I’m so lucky that I got to be part of the family…I’m pretty emotional, but I’m… everybody’s sad about it.”

Perhaps not everyone is sad about it. ‘Tony Soprano’ himself, James Gandolfini, recently told Vanity Fair that it’s time to call it quits. “It’s been a great opportunity, but I don’t have much trepidation about it ending,” he said. “It’s more than time. Part of the fun of acting is the research, finding out about other people. As much as I’ve explored this guy, I don’t know what else to really do with him. I’ve been in one place for 10 years. That’s enough.”

The big questions, of course, are all about the finale. Who will live? Who will die? How will it all end?

The cast was mum on the details, but there was one thing they agreed on: there will be bloodshed.

“Bloodshed on ‘Sopranos?’” joked Steven Van Zandt, who plays one of Tony’s main guys. “You got us mixed up with ‘Sex & The City.’”

With Bobby gunned down, Silvio hanging on by a thread, and Patsy running for his life, Tony’s men are in sorry shape for the final showdown with Soprano rival Phil Leotardo. Not to mention that Tony ordered his wife and kids to flee their home while he holes up in a safe house – all without the emotional help from his therapist, Dr. Melfi, who broke ties with him last episode.

Theories abound as to what will happen in the finale. Will Tony meet his maker, or perhaps enter a witness protection program? Will Carmela be safe? What about Tony’s son, A.J. – will he inherit his father’s kingdom? No one knows for sure, but Steven Van Zandt offered Access a tidbit of secret information:

“I’ll tell you this one thing, but keep it between us. At some point during the last show, some of us sit down and have Italian food. Between us.”

Ah, well. It looks like fans will just have to tune in to HBO Sunday night at 9:00 PM to find out what really happens!