The Sopranos is still changing television 25 years later

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 9 hours ago

It's a cliché to say, when looking back on a momentous event, that “no one knew the impact it would have”, but when we talk about The Sopranosthis cliché is not true at all. The impact of mob boss Tony Soprano's entry into Dr. Melfi's office had the force of an atomic bomb, and by the end of the pilot, television would never be the same. Yet what no one could have predicted was that 25 years later, the series that coined the term “prestige television” and introduced the world to a new type of anti-hero would be more popular than ever.

The timeless appeal of sopranos

From the iconic opening shots of New Jersey on “Woke up this Morning” to the series' infamous final shot, The Sopranos is the ultimate mafia series, a perfect detective series, and one of the best character-driven dramas ever filmed. But in 2024, this is how James Gandolfini portrayed a tough Alpha male character who struggles to take care of his mental health and is deeply ashamed of anyone finding out that he's in therapy that helps him stay relevant today. Millennials, now approaching their own midlife crisis, can look back on the series and appreciate Tony's struggles in a whole new light.

Younger generations celebrated The Sopranos all year through the use of memes, and it seems like the show has a screenshot or iconic moment perfect for every occasion, including Gen Z kissing Carmella Soprano in a way that no one has. did during the broadcast of the series. The “Mob Wife Aesthetic,” a celebration of over-the-top fashion and, above all, attitude, finds its basis in Edie Falco’s Carmella and Drea de Matteo’s Adriana. There was even a successful podcast to review hosted by Michael Imperoli and Steve Schirppa, Speaking Sopranoswhich featured many of the show's stars, including regulars like Loraine Bracco (Dr. Melfi) and Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) for Steve Buscemi and even Ariel Kelley, she was Tracee, the Bada-Bing dancer featured in the season 3 episode “University.”

More people streamed The Sopranos on Max. than having watched it when it first aired on HBO. The real reason is that beyond the memes, TikTok trends or nostalgia-filled podcasts, it was that it was well written, well acted and the result of the singular vision of a talented creator: David Chase .

The Mad Genius of David Chase

HBO recognized the importance of David Chase for The Sopranos with the recent release of Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos on Max, a must-see two-part documentary for fans of the series. Starting with Chase's childhood and personal life, moving through audition footage, and then, for the first time ever, footage of Chase speaking at James Gandolfini's funeral. It's short, with only two episodes, but the inclusion of archival interviews with Gandolfini and Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano), with new insights from Imperiolo, Lorraine Bracco, Steven Van Zandt and Edie Falco, makes it worth it the punishment. .

A highlight of Smart guy is insight into The Sopranos Season 1, including “College”, the episode that set the tone for the rest of the series by showcasing Tony as both a devoted father and a ruthless crime boss and how he forced the audience to reconcile their feeling of sympathy for a man capable of choking another to death.

The price to pay for starring in a series as successful and as dark as The Sopranos is a theme that David Chase returns to again and again when it comes to James Gandolfini. Playing Tony Soprano was difficult for the star who, according to the series creator, took the character home and ended up suffering for it. These parts of Smart guy may be difficult for fans to listen to, but they are still an integral part of what makes the series an all-time classic and why, even today, it is impossible to make a detective series or even a prestige drama without being compared to The Sopranos.

One of the greatest shows in history

Without The Sopranosthere would never have been Break the bad, Mad Men creator Matt Werner worked under David Chase as a writer for The Sopranos and even other dark dramas focused on anti-heroes, including The Shield, Save me, House of CardsAnd Sons of Anarchywould never have received the green light before Tony Soprano's explosive popularity. Years after its shocking end, its influence has been felt within HBO itself. Empire of the promenadethen a decade after the finale, it resonated throughout Peaky Blinders until today, with that of Sylvester Stallone King of Tulsathe most recent version The Sopranos formula.

Even other dramas owe a debt to New Jersey mobsters, including the critically acclaimed film. Successionwhose Roy family has more in common with the Sopranos than they would ever admit. Still, it shows how mob drama truly was ahead of its time. Before The Sopranoscable series were more exciting than thought-provoking, and despite the Bada Bing, David Chase infused his series with nuanced, multi-faceted characters who all had something to say about the human experience.

It was this level of intellectual writing and these Shakespearean themes set against the working-class neighborhoods of New Jersey and the lure of the mafia that made The Sopranos a greater success in 2024 than in 1999. Even The Many Saints of Newarka poorly received prequel film starring James Gandolfini's son as young Tony, could do no harm to the legacy of the original series. There are shows like this on the air now, but there is nothing better and there never will be.