When it was announced that the final 9 episodes of "The Sopranos" were set to air in the spring and summer of 2007, I was both excited and worried. In my opinion, the show had been highly uneven after the award-winning first three seasons. Plus, it didn't help that many of the show's best characters were killed off or let go and that a few story arcs were nothing but filler (Christopher's never ending drug use, Meadow in college, and the Vito adventures come to mind). Thankfully, David Chase restored my faith in the series with a truly exciting, riveting, unforgettable conclusion.

The story: Where do I even begin? Without giving away too many spoilers to those fans who have yet to view this batch of episodes, these final 9 episodes are an emotional roller coast ride. To give you a taste of what happens: A brutal gang war is brewing between Tony's New Jersey clan and Phil Leotardo's New York gang, AJ falls into a severe depression and attempts suicide, several shocking deaths occur, the FBI are tightening their grip, Tony becomes more psychotic than ever, Christopher continues to struggle with drug use, Uncle Junior is slowly losing his mind, and much more. The final 9 episodes are by no means perfect. The Tony/Paulie vacation episode "Remember When" is obnoxious and event-less and the series finale "Made In America," was forced and rushed when dealing with the Leotardo storyline (the final 5 minutes are pure genius however). Luckily, the remaining 7 episodes more than make up for the show's flaws. My personal favorites include: "Soprano Home Movies"- Intense arguments between characters + powerhouse acting by James Gandolfini and Steve Schirripa + foreshadowing= Classic "Stage 5"- Christopher's dream of getting a film off the ground is realized, Johnny Sack's health wanes, and Phil Leotardo rises to power. "The Second Coming"- A shocking event and Tony's soullessness makes this a painful, albeit engrossing 60 minutes. "The Blue Comet"- The final 20 minutes had me glued to my seat. In conclusion: The show's final moments will certainly not please all fans looking for a clear, straight forward wrap-up, but that was to be expected. To me, these final 9 episodes surpassed any and all expectations that I had. Rich and complex characters, deep stories, nail biting action and drama- what more could one want?

The widescreen picture quality looks even better than the original broadcast. It's not hard to see that the colors look sharper. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is also equally impressive. Unlike some television shows, the sound quality of "The Sopranos" is full of life. The gunshots, dialogue, music, all sound crystal clear. My only complaint with the audio is that there is no Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 track. Viewers should always have a choice when it comes to audio.

* An 8 minute behind-the-scenes look of the fictional movie Christopher creates titled "Cleaver." * "The Music Of The Sopranos" (17 mins.) is a typical short featurette on a subject that warrants a longer extra (especially considering how integral the music is to the show.) * Four commentaries on episodes "Soprano Home Movies," "Remember When," "The Second Coming," and "The Blue Comet." Commentators include Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt, Steven Schirripa, Robert Ller, and Arthur Nascarella. While the commentators offer some interesting tidbits here and there, I have to express my disappointment with the commentary tracks. Why isn't there a commentary track for the show's final episode "Made In America"? You would think the cast would have a lot to say about filming the final episode, but apparently we don't get to find out about it. It would have also been nice to hear a track with David Chase as well. I know he believes that the episodes speak for themselves, but a little insight or a recollection of set experiences is something many "Sopranos" fans would like to hear.

For the most part, these final 9 episodes are simply great television. A must buy for all "Sopranos" fans.