Tony Soprano is an Italian-American gangster and mob boss in New Jersey. At the start of the show, Tony is visiting a therapist due to recent panic attacks. Throughout the series he constantly deals with depression and mental problem. At the same time he also has to deal with family problems and his work.
The Sopranos is one of the most well-received television shows in history. During its run on HBO from 1999 until 2007, it gained large numbers of ratings and several awards. In the past couple of years, the show has gone through as resurgence and has gained new fans and followers.
The show’s creator, David Chase, grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in New Jersey and a major part of the culture and traditions portrayed in the show are influenced from his experiences. In regards to the organized crime side of the show, The Sopranos paints a realistic and logical picture of the gangster life.
The characters are the most important parts of The Sopranos, and instead of focusing on a particular storyline, the show mostly spends its time fleshing out each character and developing them properly, and it uses the TV show format to its advantage by showing the lives of these people in long periods, which gives each of them enough depth and personality. The characters are what make the situations entertaining. For instance, the show has lots of scenes where people are just sitting at a table, eating lunch and talking, but are knowledge of these characters and the expertly written dialogue, make these scenes interesting and occasionally humorous.
Generally The Sopranos has a serious tone, with dark themes being explored in it; however one of the reasons it has gotten so popular, is the humor. Many of the most memorable scenes and quotes from the show are comedic. Blending comedic and dramatic elements together is one of the major strengths of the series.
Tony’s appointments with his psychiatrist are also some of the most notable parts of the show. In these scenes we can clearly tell how much research has gone to psychological subjects, so Tony’s conversations with his therapist feel as real as possible.
The Sopranos, which at first glance might just look like a simple mob flick, deals with themes such as the American dream, family life, existential dread and so on. It had a big impact on the television industry by creating a morally conflicted and even villainous main character, played brilliantly by the late James Gandolfini, who could make you forget Tony Soprano wasn’t a fictional character. Just by watching the opening credits, the quality of the directing, cinematography and soundtrack of the show becomes clear.
The Sopranos is a masterpiece among the countless media surrounding us, and an unforgettable landmark in the history of cinema and television.
