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Christine Nygren of Wrentham is planning a little party tonight. Its theme: death, dysfunction and good old-fashioned getting even.

What else would you expect when friends gather for the final episode of "The Sopranos."

Despite its occasionally controversial portrayal of Italian-American culture, the landmark HBO series has hooked viewers since first airing eight years ago.

Chronicling personal and professional happenings in the day-to-day life of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, the hour-long show and its 'howyadoin' nature first began gripping the country with a genre of intense violence and bloodshed in 1999, and has not loosened its hold since.

But - just like many of its characters over the years - "The Sopranos" will sleep with the fishes tonight when the closing credits roll. After six seasons of murder and backstabbing, HBO (reruns are featured on A&E) will pull the hit show off the air after the series finale, set for 9 p.m. And just like any other suspenseful, climatic ending, questions have enthralled "Sopranos" fans - the most pressing one of all being: Who, if anyone, will get whacked in the final episode?

That looming question is one that is eating up Soprano Nation with the same kind of "Who-Shot-J.R.?" aroma that struck fans of the show "Dallas" in the summer of 1980.

Nygren started tuning in a little more than a year ago because of her boyfriend - an avid fan - and says she was hooked in a matter of episodes.

She hasn't a clue what the last hour holds.

"I have no idea (what will happen). But I've heard some debating theories," said Nygren, a 19-year-old geology major at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

"Something is going to happen to Paulie and maybe Meadow," she said during a visit last week to Borders bookstore in North Attleboro. "I don't know what will happen to Tony, but I think A.J. is going to have a hand in (whatever happens)."

Tony could be toast, said Tom Karaniuk, a student at Attleboro High School.

"I think Tony Soprano dies in the end, but I hope not," Karaniuk said. "His son (A.J.) is going crazy, and tried to kill himself. His son may be his downfall."

Karaniuk, 20, thinks one of Tony's rival gang members may do him in, but hopes the character is spared. He says he first began watching the show about two years ago and the hard-nosed Mafia scene sucked him in.

"It's addicting, definitely," he said. But the show has not hit members of the younger generation, alone. "The Sopranos" have a wide array of fans who can legally drink, as well.

Case in point: Steve Segatore.

Segatore, a retired bridge inspector for the state of Rhode Island, is 63 years old and is as addicted to the show as anyone else.

The Warwick, R.I., native has been watching "The Sopranos" for two or three years and is fascinated with all the aspects of the show. He says the writing, the plots, the storylines are all top-notch.

When asked what he thought would happen in the series, Segatore said, "It's up in the air. Nobody knows, but everybody would like to know."

Since it first aired, the series has won 18 Emmy awards. The finale was written and directed by the show's creator, David Chase, who also directed the first episode.