Now, second point: people fearing Monica's death is a sort of tool to give Tony some redemption
(First discussion, about Monica and Tony's relationship, is here)
This is I think the worst take of them all. And something I kept encountering... so let's address it!
The writers are actually trying to accomplish the complete opposite
Monica represent's Tony's only tether to any kind of morality. She reigns him in, she keeps him in check. Without Monica Tony is even more of a monster. Removing her hurts him, yes, but this pain is no path to redemption, it's a path to more violence, more lashing out, more evil.
He will gets way worse.
In a way he's even more powerful without her because there's no limits now. She was also keeping him grounded so now he's going to be unhinged without her... because his sanity also took refuge in that stable home life with Monica.
Removing Monica allows for Tony to completely gets off the charts with the evilness - it also probably allows for a tallest fall at the end too. Which we will all applaud by then I'm sure.
I'm not saying that this couldn't have been done without killing her. It would be close enough if she left and divorced him I think? Although, thinking about it, I wonder if they are going to use the guilt of it (being responsible for her death) to fuel even more nastiness? Tony is the sort of shit guy who would definitely lash out around him instead of directing the violence inward if he was to feel very guilty about something. We'll see.
Oh God....
