Arguably one of the most influential TV Dramas ever made, The Sopranos is definitely one of my favorite shows of all time. Despite after nearly two decades following its original run and numerous other drama shows mirroring a few similar tropes, the series still remains a timeless classic that shows television at its absolute best.
The writing in every episode is almost one of a kind, giving the characters unique and realistic conflicts to respond and react to. The dialogue especially is almost written to pure perfection, as every line feels real, authentic, and in-character, always dripping with nuance. Many scenes, even ones with just only dialogue, are deeply memorable and entertaining due to the rich writing and acting. Also, the humor in this show is darkly hilarious, it honestly can be funnier than most comedies today.
Complimented by the writing are the amazing performances of nearly every actor. The whole cast try their damnedest to portray their character as an actual human being with good and bad qualities. Every character have noticeable flaws, some having more than others, that are shown and occasionally discussed, making nearly every character memorable and complex, even relatable at times despite the fact that most of the main characters are despicable people.
The emphasis on moral ambiguity and complexity makes the show honestly even more entertaining, as it really forces you to form your own conclusions on certain situations and character actions. Not everything is given a definitive answer, and the allowance for the audience to form their own interpretations on many of the characters benefits the series tremendously. The show is arguably even better on a second watch, as the copious amounts of foreshadowing and knowing exactly who is who can sometimes make certain scenes have an entirely different interpretation.
With that, the show has A LOT of dialogue-only scenes, prioritizing character interactions over action. Justified as it is a character-driven series at its core, however most of Season 4 is relied on solely dialogue. I personally prefer it, but it can seem pretty dragging at points. Another potential turning off point is the seemingly unrelenting introductions of characters and plot points that can on occasion seem overwhelming on a first watch. Lastly, the show can get pretty damn bleak, especially in the later seasons with many of the characters becoming less sympathetic and more Jerkass as it goes on. With the show having an unbelievably dark tone and a majority of the characters being reprehensible people, it's really up to you on whether this is something that's appealing or not, as it can sometimes get pretty hard to care about the characters and their situations.
Regardless, The Sopranos is a must-watch for any crime drama fan. The brilliant writing and moral ambiguity leaves this a phenomenal ride from start to finish. You should definitely give it a watch.
HBO's Magnum Opus