Bobby's last words are a heartbreaking testament to his character. I instantly remembered that scene from the beginning of last season, in which Bobby was meticulously working on his little universe of trains and attempting to engage his son to no avail. His death ranks with Adrianna's as most discomforting.

Very true.  But how come Bobby was # 3?  Why not Paulie?  I know he was playing both sides of the fence at one time but did that allow him to stay off the hit list?

Paulie is a soldier, but not someone who was ever being

groomed to have management potential.

Chase has been making most all of the deaths surprisingly sad this season. Jerks like Sack and Chris were more sympathetic and helpless.

Bobby toughened up and killed a man, but went out pretty much the "sweet gangster" he came in. And his children, who lost their mommy early, lost their daddy not much later. And are left with Janice!

Interesting: Ade's getting avenged: Chris is dead, Sil's as good as dead. Tony remains for targeting.

But a nice guy like Bobby's dead, too. Thus, the fates encompass vengeance in a greater veil of death. No favorites.

Of course, Bobby was a murderer, too.

I can see why everyone missed you so much today, luca. Beautiful insight here...

There are suspicions that Paulie was spared because

he's on Phil's side. Too obvious, I think.

Tony was pretty clear about moving Bobby up, and

then Chris died. Phil's "insider" probably read this

as Tony's choice for a new "heir." Paulie's just

an old soldier...who, Phil might know...worked Sack for

awhile. Irony: Tony seemed fed-up with Bobby, telling Janice he was "Eixlc

"Exile on Main Street."

Because they wanted to kill the top 3 guys and Paulie is not one of them. Never has been. You never see Paulie at a high-level sit-down with New York or whatever. And at the end it was Tony giving the orders to Sil and Bobby, who then passed them down to Paulie, etc.