‘The Sopranos,’ now 25, is the ultimate TV series about America — not the Italian mo

New York Post ^ | Jan. 7, 2024 | Daniel McCarthy

[nickcarraway]

“The Sopranos” debuted 25 years ago, but what makes it a masterpiece is how much older its themes are. In 1827, Goethe wrote a poem that begins, “America, you have it better.”

The German genius ended with the wish that America’s children, when they took up the pen themselves, wouldn’t write stories about “knights, robbers and ghosts.” He wasn’t just warning Americans to stay away from childish entertainments and fairy tales — though it’s easy to guess what he’d think of “Star Wars” and other Disney products.

America was a new land with new promise, and Goethe hoped it would grow up to tell stories that didn’t depend on the bloody feuds and status conflicts of Europe, as attractive as those might be to the romantic imagination.

[doorgunner69]

Too bad I did not watch TV back then, sounds like it was a good show; if you like east coast city based stuff.

[Bullish]

Yeah, if you like murderers and the people who enable them, you’d love it.

[whitney69]

I guess I missed something. Years ago they were talking about the Simpsons. I thought for sure they would say The View now.

wy69

[whitney69]

I guess I missed something. Years ago they were talking about the Simpsons. I thought for sure they would say The View now.

wy69

[rey]

No kidding. Glorifying absolutely despicable people.

[dfwgator]

The show didn’t glorify them at all.

[Celtic Conservative]

It was a show that glorified criminals. Hard pass.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

That may not have been their overall intent. But that’s what happened in the larger culture.

CC

[jmacusa]

I have a tremendous respect for the Italian people. They've given so much to the world in culture, art, music, architecture, medicine and cuisine.

I have none for the Mafia.

They're nothing but a bunch of asocial murdering parasites who produce no wealth, render no useful service and degrade everything they come in contact with and give a bad name to a great people.

[Rockingham]

The Sopranos showed mobsters to be violent, greedy, cruel, and petty, but the show was much more than that. It explored the profound contradictions between being a contemporary mobster and having a normal family life. In the end, normal family life lost.

[hotsteppa]

One of the best TV series ever made. In today’s woke culture, could not be made again. The world has gone soft.

[MayflowerMadam]

Wow. That long ago. Doesn’t seem possible. We’ve been looking for a series to binge watch on our down time and this could be good.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Glorifying absolutely despicable people.”

It really didn’t do that. They were despicable people, and it was clear that they were. However, they were much more honorable than any Democrat politician.

[BAN-ONE]

As our sacred concepts of the “rule of law” continue to be perverted, I’m expecting even more embracing of vigilantism.

If you can’t get justice from a court, maybe the neighborhood godfather can fix it for you...

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Groundbreaking for its time, and it still holds up well today, though the flaws are more obvious. David Chase's mommy issues, his tiresome "pebble in the shoe" antagonist for Tony every season (Richie, Ralphie, Tony B), the way characters would develop major personality traits that had never been seen before overnight (Tony has a major gambling problem out of the blue, Ralphie is suddenly into BDSM, Vito is suddenly Village People-gay and gets an entire arc devoted to his romance with a fry cook). Some really bad throwaway episodes. The final "war" between New Jersey and Brooklyn, which takes all of two episodes.

Again, the series is still quite watchable, and it paved the way for other great TV series, but The Sopranos is very lucky to have gotten James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - an amazing talent. The story lines certainly weren't what carried that show.

[stuckinloozeeana]

Never saw one episode.

[Demiurge2]

It’s OK if you’re into brutal, corrupt, not very bright people who use the F word at every opportunity.

[T.B. Yoits]

You can watch a three minute synopsis of 'The Sopranos' from MadTV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8FUUzmaCxc

[Ge0ffrey]

It’s very dark without a moral compass. Halfway through the second season I gave up.