****Spoiler warning for the whole series****
For the last year, I've spent random weekends binge watching seasons of The Sopranos. I'd watch a season, then take a break for a month or two before digging into the next. As someone who was very young when this show started (I was 6 in 1999), I was completely blind to all the cultural significance of this show, as well as nearly all of the spoilers aside from the fact that the ending was controversial. At the end, I'm glad I stayed away from Google during my time watching this, because WOW some of the twists and turns in this show rival and exceed some of my personal favorite "oh shit" moments in fiction.
I often see The Sopranos cited by a lot of right-wing people in my life as "a real man's show," specifically regarding the attitude of the main character Tony Soprano (If I remember correctly, I think there's a conservative talk show host in my area that uses key art of Tony in his advertising, as well as a few people I've seen online). Some people see his machismo, actions before words, and refusal to get in touch with his emotions as a positive mindset that gets things done, which is funny because I interpreted the entire thesis of the show as the creators deconstructing that mindset and showing how much it hurts the people around Tony. I think the people in my life that have recommended the show to me almost missed the point of it entirely, which is super interesting.
It's a tough show to talk about, mostly because I have a hard time remembering specific episodes aside from the standouts here and there (College, Pine Barrens, the finale). The show exceeds in making really interesting characters and having significant moments for them that spark conversation, but none of those stories really affect the central plot of the show and the actual mob family. I'd say that the actual mafia content in this show is the worst part of it aside from some stunning, violent moments. I was way more interested in stuff like Christopher battling his addiction and making movies, Tony's kids growing up, Steve Buscemi's character trying to start up his own business, and Adriana managing her club...really, any story involving people trying to get away from the mob was really absorbing for me. The human drama is very similar to soap opera storylines (especially Tony and Carm), just executed way better than those types of shows.
And boy, what an ending! I watched the last four episodes in one sitting, and from Christopher's death to that end, I was enthralled in a way that's only been rivaled by a few other shows. I can't imagine how much talk there was around how the series ended. I knew it was weird, but that cut to black? I didn't expect that. I was pretty put off until reading up on it more and understanding that quote, "You probably don't even hear it." It makes sense, but I guess Tony's not dead according to David Chase?: https://www.vox.com/2014/8/27/6006139/did-tony-die-at-the-end-of-the-sopranos
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling but after that finale I had to put some thoughts down. Shame that Gandolfini died when he did, since he's just as awesome an actor in every else I've seen him in. I'm sure most here have seen the show considering how huge it was, but I'd highly recommend you watch it if you haven't. Seeing Christopher's intervention scene was what got me to start it:
For the last year, I've spent random weekends binge watching seasons of The Sopranos. I'd watch a season, then take a break for a month or two before digging into the next. As someone who was very young when this show started (I was 6 in 1999), I was completely blind to all the cultural significance of this show, as well as nearly all of the spoilers aside from the fact that the ending was controversial. At the end, I'm glad I stayed away from Google during my time watching this, because WOW some of the twists and turns in this show rival and exceed some of my personal favorite "oh shit" moments in fiction.
I often see The Sopranos cited by a lot of right-wing people in my life as "a real man's show," specifically regarding the attitude of the main character Tony Soprano (If I remember correctly, I think there's a conservative talk show host in my area that uses key art of Tony in his advertising, as well as a few people I've seen online). Some people see his machismo, actions before words, and refusal to get in touch with his emotions as a positive mindset that gets things done, which is funny because I interpreted the entire thesis of the show as the creators deconstructing that mindset and showing how much it hurts the people around Tony. I think the people in my life that have recommended the show to me almost missed the point of it entirely, which is super interesting.
It's a tough show to talk about, mostly because I have a hard time remembering specific episodes aside from the standouts here and there (College, Pine Barrens, the finale). The show exceeds in making really interesting characters and having significant moments for them that spark conversation, but none of those stories really affect the central plot of the show and the actual mob family. I'd say that the actual mafia content in this show is the worst part of it aside from some stunning, violent moments. I was way more interested in stuff like Christopher battling his addiction and making movies, Tony's kids growing up, Steve Buscemi's character trying to start up his own business, and Adriana managing her club...really, any story involving people trying to get away from the mob was really absorbing for me. The human drama is very similar to soap opera storylines (especially Tony and Carm), just executed way better than those types of shows.
And boy, what an ending! I watched the last four episodes in one sitting, and from Christopher's death to that end, I was enthralled in a way that's only been rivaled by a few other shows. I can't imagine how much talk there was around how the series ended. I knew it was weird, but that cut to black? I didn't expect that. I was pretty put off until reading up on it more and understanding that quote, "You probably don't even hear it." It makes sense, but I guess Tony's not dead according to David Chase?: https://www.vox.com/2014/8/27/6006139/did-tony-die-at-the-end-of-the-sopranos
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling but after that finale I had to put some thoughts down. Shame that Gandolfini died when he did, since he's just as awesome an actor in every else I've seen him in. I'm sure most here have seen the show considering how huge it was, but I'd highly recommend you watch it if you haven't. Seeing Christopher's intervention scene was what got me to start it:
