Is this the end of Tony?

My prediction for the Sopranos denouement—that A.J.’s crisis will spell Tony’s demise (see 4/23/07 entry) is looking better. In this week’s episode, A.J. becomes involved with some college bookies. On a lark (their’s, not his) they kidnap one of their bettors, beat him and pour acid on his foot. A.J. isn’t just along for the ride; he’s driving the car. The victim has been introduced the “Anthony Soprano Jr.” as if he is a member of the gang. Thus, the feds can nail A.J. on serious federal crimes, including perhaps a RICO count. The sand and beautiful part is that Tony put A.J. up to it, insisting he go to a stripper party—and thinking even after the fact that A.J. doing so was a good idea. After all, it got the depressed and newly medicated scion of the family out of the house. Now when the feds grab A.J. the pressure will be on for him to give up Tony, and Tony can only tell him to do just that. Thus Tony will fall by his own hand. A perfect demise: surprising and inevitable at once.