The Sopranos: Season 1
Meet Tony Soprano: your average, middle-aged businessman. Tony's got a dutiful wife. A not-so-dutiful daughter. A son named Anthony, Jr. A mother he's trying to coax into a retirement home. A hot headed uncle. A not-too-secret mistress. And a shrink to tell all his secrets, except the one she already knows: Tony's a mob boss.
These days it's getting tougher and tougher to make a killing in the killing business. Just because you're "made"...doesn't mean you've got it made.
Member Reviews
Sopranos- Season 1 - zipper2010
"The series begins with Tony Soprano collapsing after suffering a panic attack. This prompts him to begin therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Gradually, the storyline reveals details of Tony's upbringing, with his father's influence looming large on his development as a gangster, but more so that Tony's mother, Livia, was vengeful and possibly personality-disordered. His complicated relationship with his wife Carmela is also explored, as well as her feelings regarding her husband's cosa nostra ties. Meadow and Anthony Jr., Tony's children gain increasing knowledge of their father's mob dealings. Later, federal indictments are brought as a result of someone in his organization talking to the FBI and his own Uncle plots Tony's death.
After ordering the execution of Brendan Filone and the mock execution of Chris Moltisanti, Tony's Uncle Junior is installed as boss of the family (following the death of previous boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. from cancer), even though Tony actually controls most things from behind the scenes. Furious at Junior's plan to have him killed, Tony responds to the attempt on his life with a violent reprisal and confronts his mother for her role in plotting his downfall. She has a psychologically triggered pseudo-stroke and Junior is arrested by the FBI on non-related charges."
Good season. But a lot of the characters aren't quite developed yet.As Good As It Gets - Cruel_Intentions
There's this wonderful paradox in the gangster genre that as the gangsters are committing incredible atrocities and crimes, they have a fidelity that is truly touching and magnificent. It creates a love-hate relationship between the characters and the audience. We admire what we revile.
Because of its constant attention to the gangster genre, The Sopranos is simply one of the best show on television. Consistently brilliant and unexpected plotlines, beautiful acting, and incredibly vivid writing are present during each episode. The most amazing aspect of the show is that every episode is like a film - I don't think there is any other show that makes such a conscience effort to utilize different motifs, camera angles, and cinematography to determine the characters' present state of mind.
It's no wonder the show manages to grab the attention of directors like Steve Buscemi. The show takes the standard, tired cliches of the gangster genre and infuses new meaning into them.
Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. I encourage any fan of the gangster genre or family dramas to pick up the box sets. You won't regret it.Excellent!!!! - Arash
Very well written, episodes from "The Sopranos" oftentimes feel more like a mini-movie rather than a television serial. The distinctive delineation of the characters, the witty dialogues, the performances, the subject matter and of course, the top notch acting put "The Sopranos" well above the rest of regular TV dramas. But also in a cinematic sense, the series feels more cohesively shot with a visual style in mind. "The Sopranos" is a serial drama with a good number of funny moments, and as the title suggests it revolves around Italian themes... the Mafia to be exact
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Sopranos- Season 1 - zipper2010
"The series begins with Tony Soprano collapsing after suffering a panic attack. This prompts him to begin therapy with Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Gradually, the storyline reveals details of Tony's upbringing, with his father's influence looming large on his development ...As Good As It Gets - Cruel_Intentions
There's this wonderful paradox in the gangster genre that as the gangsters are committing incredible atrocities and crimes, they have a fidelity that is truly touching and magnificent. It creates a love-hate relationship between the characters and the audience. ...Excellent!!!! - Arash
Very well written, episodes from "The Sopranos" oftentimes feel more like a mini-movie rather than a television serial. The distinctive delineation of the characters, the witty dialogues, the performances, the subject matter and of course, the top notch acting ...