Endings are hard to write, as the writers of the season finale of both 24 and Heroes have discovered. This episode of the show, "How to Stop an Exploding Man," hit the wall walking, and the impending doom of the final big boom fell flat as Sylar, the best villain ever, seems to have forgotten that he has at least a dozen super-powers, and died with barely a whimper. I must say, I'm going to miss this bad guy. Still, since the show features only intermittent logic, it's possible 
that he'll be resurrected next season.
The Sopranos is also winding down, or up, to a super-dramatic series finale. I hope. But this show can be unexpectedly funny, in the midst of horrible violence and despair. In this week's episode, "The Second Coming," Anthony, Jr. tries to drown himself by placing a plastic bag over his head and tying a cinderblock to his foot. His father saves him at the last minute, and his therapist, Dr. Melfi, comments that maybe the boy was crying for help by deliberately making the rope too long to keep him on the bottom. Here's Tony's response, as a not-so-proud father of a seriously-depressed son:
"He could just be a f***ing idiot. Historically, that's been the case."
Later in the show, another mobster, Carmine, tells Tony that " after this alteration you had with him, you're at the precipice of an enormous crossroad." It's mixed-metaphor, dialogue like this that makes this show great.
I hope these writers have a better grasp on how to write an ending than the ones who mangled the denoument of 24 and Heroes.
