Reviews Series / TheSopranos

Series HBO's Magnum Opus

• Arguably one of the most influential TV Dramas ever made, The Sopranos is definitely one of my favorite shows of all time. Despite after nearly two decades following its original run and numerous other drama shows mirroring a few similar tropes, the series still remains a timeless classic that shows television at its absolute best.

• The writing in every episode is almost one of a kind, giving the characters unique and realistic conflicts to respond and react to. The dialogue especially is almost written to pure perfection, as every line feels real, authentic, and in-character, always dripping with nuance. Many scenes, even ones with just only dialogue, are deeply memorable and entertaining due to the rich writing and acting. Also, the humor in this show is darkly hilarious, it honestly can be funnier than most comedies today.

• Complimented by the writing are the amazing performances of nearly every actor. The whole cast try their damnedest to portray their character as an actual human being with good and bad qualities. Every character have noticeable flaws, some having more than others, that are shown and occasionally discussed, making nearly every character memorable and complex, even relatable at times despite the fact that most of the main characters are despicable people.

• The emphasis on moral ambiguity and complexity makes the show honestly even more entertaining, as it really forces you to form your own conclusions on certain situations and character actions. Not everything is given a definitive answer, and the allowance for the audience to form their own interpretations on many of the characters benefits the series tremendously. The show is arguably even better on a second watch, as the copious amounts of foreshadowing and knowing exactly who is who can sometimes make certain scenes have an entirely different interpretation.

• With that, the show has A LOT of dialogue-only scenes, prioritizing character interactions over action. Justified as it is a character-driven series at its core, however most of Season 4 is relied on solely dialogue. I personally prefer it, but it can seem pretty dragging at points. Another potential turning off point is the seemingly unrelenting introductions of characters and plot points that can on occasion seem overwhelming on a first watch. Lastly, the show can get pretty damn bleak, especially in the later seasons with many of the characters becoming less sympathetic and more Jerkass as it goes on. With the show having an unbelievably dark tone and a majority of the characters being reprehensible people, it's really up to you on whether this is something that's appealing or not, as it can sometimes get pretty hard to care about the characters and their situations.

• Regardless, The Sopranos is a must-watch for any crime drama fan. The brilliant writing and moral ambiguity leaves this a phenomenal ride from start to finish. You should definitely give it a watch.

Series Great Show

The Sopranos may very well be my favorite show ever. I'd hate to compare it to my other contender, The Wire, because The Sopranos broke down all previously set conventions set a template for the modern HBO-esque drama.

At the risk of sounding pretentious, I find it strange that I hold this show in very high regard since I usually dislike watching shows at all; I find it difficult to commit to dozens of hours revolving around what I perceive to be the same, basic repetitive plotlines and characters.

The Sopranos isn't like that all; it's quality television, with each episode being almost like a movie on its own, and with the first two seasons being engaging, funny, and well produced. There is a great soundtrack from all conceivable genres and decades; couple with certain scenes, certain songs are associated with the show forever and the series even led to me listening to new musicians. The story is intriguing and there are actual stakes, and more so in the first two seasons; people are endangered and you get the feeling that anyone can die (and many major characters do).

The writing is its greatest strength, both in its complexity and realism. Unexpected, almost trivial moments and plot points are referenced and brought back throughout the show, while other elements sort of fizzle out. The dialogue in and of itself is witty and immensely amusing, heavily relying on dark humor, malapropisms and mistakes in speech that everyone can relate to, and is placed in contrast with death and drama.

The Sopranos is also a fascinating show to watch since it encapsulates American popular culture and society as it was before the turn of the millennium, during the aftermath of 9/11, and in the midst of the War on Terror.

However, as the series went on into the mid-2000s, the latter seasons grinded to a storytelling halt and devoted countless hours to boring, useless characters whose stories never went anywhere nor ended on a satisfactory note. This was an unfortunate side effect of the series' biggest sins; introducing far too many characters and thinking the audience cares about them. It's made even more egregious when by the end of the series, there is an entirely new, blank, and forgettable cast around a small number of great actors who were there from the beginning.

In spite of this, I don't regret watching The Sopranos. I consider it to be one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever made and I felt like a different person after watching it, and I highly recommend it - it's on Amazon Prime in its entirety.