So, care to offer up a prediction on the final episode? Does Tony live to see another day? Before a couple of days ago, I thought he would. Suddenly I'm just as sure he won't.

Per my brother's prediction....Paulie rat's out Tony. Tony gets out of jail time by ratting out Phil. Tony and family go into the witness protection program under the name Kevin Finnerty.

"He clearly blames Carmela for what happened to him and he's trying to reverse some of that now."

I think Tony blames himself, his genes, more. The reason he tried Carmela's methods is because of the way he himself turned out. Since that didn't work out is part of his frustration and anger.

"that her work was helping him be a better criminal."

but did it really? Of course, they aren't going to detail a psychological report on television, but who exactly were the subjects? Were the sociopaths in jail or did they seek help themselves like Tony did? Of course, those in jail would be looking to beat the system, which would help get them out sooner. I believe what transpired

"Does Tony live...?"

In what sense? Life as he knew it is over. There's no way he can go back to running things, so it's either death or isolation, which end up being the same thing.

I'm predicting Tony will live, but Carmela will not ... Soprano Predictions

I don't think there's enough time to have that much ratting out. My guess is Tony kills Phil then retreats back to his house realizing that he's completely failed at creating any kind of sustainable organization. All his close friends are dead, the people in his crew are just out for themselves, his son's a failure and even Meadow's just following a low level gangster's son. So, every myth he told himself is sunk and he's left with little hope for the future.

I think Tony blames himself, his genes, more. The reason he tried Carmela's methods is because of the way he himself turned out. Since that didn't work out is part of his frustration and anger.

There's definitely a lot of personal guilt in it for Tony, as we saw in "The Second Coming" when he told Melfi that this depression is his gift to his son. But, I think he blames Carmela for AJ's inability to deal with the world. Tony, for all his issues, can at least be a leader, AJ can't. But, I pretty much agree with you, he hoped that Carmela's way would work, and it apparently didn't.

And, regarding Melfi, I haven't read the study so I can't deal with that, but a lot of early season episodes were all about the way he used what Melfi told him to run his crew better. We saw that again in "Mr. and Mrs. Sacrimoni Request..." last year when Melfi told him something like "Act like the man you always were," prompting him to attack Perry.

I think apart from the classic "Pine Barrens and the Interior Designer from Czechoslovakia" episode, Blue Comet is the best episode of the series, and mayeb the finest 49 mintues of television drama ever.

There is so much going on here, I had to watch it three times to pick it all up:

The sense of impending demise- Agent Harris warns Tony of "the Rapture", Tony tears out from Departures magazine, The Doors' tune "When the Music's Over" playing in the strip club.

The botched hit on Phil- The Neapolitans, usually spot on, fail the one time it really mattered. They can whack Frankie Valli, but can't get Billy Bats.

Anthony smacking down AJ- Partly reprehensible, partly admirable.

So many other little moments from Carmela's reaction to having to go on the lam (looks like she expected it), to the scene with Artie and his wife in the restaurant (so uncomfortable you almost want to change the channel- almost).

No matter what the last episode brings us, this one brought it all home.