The Sopranos: Does it Live up to its Fame?

It's been 22 years since ‘The Sopranos’ was released on Home Box Office (HBO). Is the series worth the hype?

Written and directed by David Chase, the show quickly became a commercial success and one of the most popular television series of all time. It follows the life of Anthony "Tony" John Soprano, also known as Tony Soprano, who is a captain in the DiMeo crime family; a New Jersey based mafia organization. The role is played by the late James Gandolfini who won three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and one Golden Globe Award for his performance.

The show navigates through the lives of Tony and his associates as members of the mafia. It certainly doesn’t glorify the lifestyle, showing the brutal reality and consequences that come with it. Throughout its six seasons it makes various cultural references like the then political climate, as well as paying homage to older mafia movies like ‘The Godfather’--all of which play a significant, practical role in how the plot plays out.

From left to right Paulie Walnuts [Tony Sirico] Silvio Dante [Steven Van Zandt] Tony Soprano [James Gandolfini] Christopher Moltisanti [Michael Imperioli] Salvatore Bonpensiero [Vincent Pastore] Credit: If it’s hip, it's here

The actors are where it really shines. While many of the actors who featured in the show were relatively unknown at the time, they each gave it their best performance. Michael Imperioli, who plays Christopher Moltisanti, offers a powerful performance as the relative of Tony Soprano. Their father-son like relationship is what differentiates the show from other mafia movies, which typically showcase cold killers with no emotion whatsoever. In comparison the emotions in ‘The Sopranos’ is a central factor in the show. We as the audience are given proper insight into what these types of men are thinking and feeling.

The series is still being talked about today, particularly for its controversial yet poetic ending that continues to leave fans in constant discussion. David Chase managed to create not only relatable characters in ‘The Sopranos’ but also sympathetic people out of ruthless mafia criminals. The show managed to go beyond its target demographic of mafia movie lovers and had the world glued to their television screen for eight years.

‘The Sopranos’ is a masterfully crafted television series with brilliant actors and a fantastic script. The series will be talked about for years to come, and its popularity won’t be burning out anytime soon.