What was the fcuking big deal about the Sopranos?

Women without Makeup · 13-01-2019 12:25am

Deleted User wrote: »

The Wire and The Sopranos are simply the best TV ever made in my opinion.

hAVE YOU seen NIP/Tuck or the Mentalist?

AndrewJRenko · 13-01-2019 12:26am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Silentcorner wrote: »

Above all else the soundtrack was superb in my opinion

Check out this compilation from the early series - some amazing music. It turned me on to Kasey Chambers, Tindersticks and more. Lovely tracks from Nils Lofgren and Keef

https://www.amazon.com/Sopranos-Peppers-Eggs-Music-HBO/dp/B00005AR37

Even Uncle Jun got in there, showing his musical roots

batgoat · 13-01-2019 12:29am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

hAVE YOU seen NIP/Tuck or the Mentalist?

Nip/Tuck would never have come about if it weren't for The Sopranos, it's highly entertaining but it's closer to the soap opera bracket of tv. The Mentalist is nothing special.

Women without Makeup · 13-01-2019 12:30am

batgoat wrote: »

Nip/Tuck would never have come about if it weren't for The Sopranos, it's highly entertaining but it's closer to the soap opera bracket of tv. The Mentalist is nothing special.

What's the connection between Nip/Tuck and the Sopranos?

Necro · 13-01-2019 12:33am

Women without Makeup wrote:

What's the connection between Nip/Tuck and the Sopranos?

The mob fund all plastic surgery clinics.

Duh.

AndrewJRenko · 13-01-2019 12:33am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Billy86 wrote: »

In a queue right now so I'll be brief, but it basically changed the story structure from being inherently inferior to movies to being inherently superior, by ending the need for 24 or 48 minute plots and replacing it with multiple overlapping arcs lasting dozens, even hundreds of hours that when done right bring a sense of realism and depth to the stories and characters that just simply is not possible to do in the 1.5-3 hours a movie lasts. Most top tv shows follow this formula now, but nobody was even really entertaining it before Tony visited Dr. Malfis office.

Chase says that he was trying to do a mini movie each week, and wasn't really into the continuing story line
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/david-chase-on-the-sopranos-donald-trump-and-yes-that-ending-1.3751168

batgoat · 13-01-2019 12:45am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

What's the connection between Nip/Tuck and the Sopranos?

You had Oz which was the initial edgy tv show, that got on moderately well the point where The Sopranos seemed worth taking a risk on. The success of The Sopranos opened the gates to a far more adult generation of tv. It became worth taking the risk.

troyzer · 13-01-2019 12:47am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Dare I say, how did it end up being considered the best show of all time by so many. Is it just that anything about mafia is always considered good tv? Do people pretend to like to look cool... like the way people pretend to think Brando was a good actor. I can't say I've watched the entire series from start to finish. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I get that there's the shock factor of the way they just murder some poor innocent fellow or the street and then laugh about. I mean that would grab anyone's attention, but it doesn't make it good drama. Especially when you always know who's going to get killed. When Christopher kicked the **** out of a fella in acting the acting class, I could see it coming a mile away.

I can a lot of people who know me well telling me "you'd definitely like it". All I think to myself is "you're so poor at understanding people if you don't if see that someone like me wouldn't be into that".

NOTE TO MODS - PLEASE REMOVE THAT POLL QUESTION. I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE

This fūcking guy.

SlowBlowin · 13-01-2019 12:55am

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rob316 wrote: »

It the greatest drama of all time IMO and Tony soprano is one of the greatest tv characters. Television was looked down on by Hollywood until the Sopranos, now it's as big as the movies.

I rewatch the entire series every year without fail. The depth and quality of gandolfini's acting brought Tony Soprano to life. You felt you knew him, you loved him, you hated him.

Sopranos wrote the blue print for all the shows we enjoy today.

Me too, I have watched the full set at least a dozen times.

I have never known a TV show with such depth, I enjoy the last viewing as much as the first.

As I watch more and more Carmella increasingly comes out as the true villain of the family...

SB

Sardonicat · 13-01-2019 1:00am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

^^^^^
Really?
Always thought that was Jackie.
The only truly decent human being was the shrink Carmella went to once. Ade was probably most guilty of being as thick as two planks but she knew where Chris' money came from. The cops were just as ruthless.

Ah, I'm gonna have to watch it all again.

Strumms · 13-01-2019 1:01am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

SlowBlowin wrote: »

Me too, I have watched the full set at least a dozen times.

I have never known a TV show with such depth, I enjoy the last viewing as much as the first.

As I watch more and more Carmella increasingly comes out as the true villain of the family...

SB

She starts of as a victim to an extent but becomes clearly the chief enabler of Tony and while not at the coalface of the dirty goings on she is enabling for her own wants and desires for the most part.

5uspect · 13-01-2019 7:59am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

I’ve heard it said that the Sopranos is Shakespearean while the Wire is Dickensian. Both are incredible works of story telling.

Recent Guardian article on the Sopranos.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/13/the-sopranos-glorious-pioneer-of-todays-tv-golden-age?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

mr_edge_to_you · 13-01-2019 8:14am

The Sopranos is the best TV show ever - incredible acting, characters, story lines, music, humour. The Wire is up there too but I think they're very different though.

I find that I can watch one-off episodes of Sopranos and get great satisfaction from them - I would watch Pines Barrens every couple of weeks. That episode alone is an outstanding piece of art.

However I don't think I could do that with the Wire. The Wire requires a bit of investment. In saying that if you take the Wire as a complete series from 1-5 it too is masterpiece.

Fiftyfilthy · 13-01-2019 8:19am

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I see. So there have been no decent TV shows made in the 20 years since?

I tried watching it 5 years ago, gave up after the 3 episode.

Didn’t know if it was supposed to be serious or a comedy and in both categories it failed in my opinion

Found it very boring too

People told me to stick with it and it gets better, I’ve already wasted 3-4 hrs on it.

Similar With the wire, I watched this to the end and found it ok

I would never have watched it when on tv as one episode was mcnulty drunk trying to assemble his kids bunk beds

troyzer · 13-01-2019 8:52am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Special mention to the West Wing which has also doubled as escapism therapy since January 2017.

smurgen · 13-01-2019 8:59am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

tritriagain wrote: »

I tried to watch sopranos 2 or 3times and couldn't get into it. I watched breaking bad and loved it. Then tried to watch the wire and didn't like the 1st couple told me to watch first few with subtitled on to get the lingo. Did this and Wow what a series. Then went and watched sopranos and now if you asked me to pick between the wire and sopranos the answer could be different every day. 2 remarkable shows and i have yet to see better.

I watched all and found breaking bad to be terrible.too cartoonish,it seemed to be made for teenagers or those in early 20's while sopranos was more mature.
bb always went for the cheap thrills or easy/predictable storylines while sopranos was just more understated in that respect.prime example of this was the death or christopher.i was expecting an all guns blazing scenario.such fantastic story telling and it unfolds a little bit more with every watch.

Dyr · 13-01-2019 9:26am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Necro wrote: »

The mob fund all plastic surgery clinics.

Duh.

imagine, gettin' a face lift and one week later you're in jail!

McMurphy · 13-01-2019 1:08pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Sopranos is way ahead of the wire by a country mile, I watched both series from beginning to end, and both are excellent series.

However, I watched the wire, and enjoyed it immensely, but never watched it again, whereas I'd guess I've binge watched sopranos from beginning to end on at least a dozen times at this stage..

Another show to get an honorary mention from me now would have to be Narcos. Especially when it featured Pablo, some pretty complex characters in that show too, another series I've decided to rewatch from front to back again.

The Enbalmer · 13-01-2019 1:18pm

A load of crap. It reminds me of the Godfather in that everybody feels they "have" to like it.
Generally if you tell people you don't like the sopranos or the Godfather,they will try to explain to you why you're wrong.

Family guy did it very well.

The Enbalmer · 13-01-2019 1:20pm

For anybody who thought the Wire was a good show check out Gomorrah La Serie on Sky Atlantic.

Gwynplaine · 13-01-2019 1:36pm

The Enbalmer wrote: »

A load of crap. It reminds me of the Godfather in that everybody feels they "have" to like it.
Generally if you tell people you don't like the sopranos or the Godfather,they will try to explain to you why you're wrong.

Family guy did it very well.

Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that it's crap.
Tell us what you think is an excellent tv show.

TiGeR KiNgS · 13-01-2019 2:13pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Dare I say, how did it end up being considered the best show of all time by so many. Is it just that anything about mafia is always considered good tv? Do people pretend to like to look cool... like the way people pretend to think Brando was a good actor. I can't say I've watched the entire series from start to finish. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I get that there's the shock factor of the way they just murder some poor innocent fellow or the street and then laugh about. I mean that would grab anyone's attention, but it doesn't make it good drama. Especially when you always know who's going to get killed. When Christopher kicked the **** out of a fella in acting the acting class, I could see it coming a mile away.

I can a lot of people who know me well telling me "you'd definitely like it". All I think to myself is "you're so poor at understanding people if you don't if see that someone like me wouldn't be into that".

NOTE TO MODS - PLEASE REMOVE THAT POLL QUESTION. I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE

... because Meadow Soprano

Guy:Incognito · 13-01-2019 2:17pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Another stupid show. I could see it a MILE away that the guards would NOT be the ones to take down Nidge. I could see it a mile away.

A FCUKING MILE AWAY!

I think I see the problem. You're sitting too far away from the telly.

Mad_maxx · 13-01-2019 4:46pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Dare I say, how did it end up being considered the best show of all time by so many. Is it just that anything about mafia is always considered good tv? Do people pretend to like to look cool... like the way people pretend to think Brando was a good actor. I can't say I've watched the entire series from start to finish. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I get that there's the shock factor of the way they just murder some poor innocent fellow or the street and then laugh about. I mean that would grab anyone's attention, but it doesn't make it good drama. Especially when you always know who's going to get killed. When Christopher kicked the **** out of a fella in acting the acting class, I could see it coming a mile away.

I can a lot of people who know me well telling me "you'd definitely like it". All I think to myself is "you're so poor at understanding people if you don't if see that someone like me wouldn't be into that".

NOTE TO MODS - PLEASE REMOVE THAT POLL QUESTION. I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE

I feel the same way you do about The Wire

Ken. · 13-01-2019 4:49pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

NOTE TO MODS - PLEASE REMOVE THAT POLL QUESTION. I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE

EM, NO

Samuel T. Cogley · 13-01-2019 5:20pm

Ever seen Band of Brothers, OP?

trashcan · 13-01-2019 6:56pm

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

The Sopranos is the best TV show ever - incredible acting, characters, story lines, music, humour. The Wire is up there too but I think they're very different though.

I find that I can watch one-off episodes of Sopranos and get great satisfaction from them - I would watch Pines Barrens every couple of weeks. That episode alone is an outstanding piece of art.

However I don't think I could do that with the Wire. The Wire requires a bit of investment. In saying that if you take the Wire as a complete series from 1-5 it too is masterpiece.

My view would be the exact opposite. I liked the Sopranos, but wouldn't really re-watch it. The Wire on the other hand, you can pick up little details with every re-watch. I do agree about the individual episodes point though. The Wire has a Novelistic structure for each season, you wouldn't pick up a novel and dip into a chapter here and there. I think that, and the detail in the storytelling and the huge amount of characters,none of whom seem like filler, is why I prefer it. And to the person who said the Wire went downhill after Season three, Season four is I think the best season of any show I've ever seen. It was epic and heartbreaking. Ok, Season five did dip in standard (McNulty and the fake serial killer storyline just seemed a bit off) but that's only in comparison to its own incredible standard.

The Wire/Sopranos debate is a little bit like the Beatles/Stones one. I'm a Beatles man all the way, but. I prefer the Sopranos to the Stones.

Mad_maxx · 13-01-2019 7:51pm

trashcan wrote: »

My view would be the exact opposite. I liked the Sopranos, but wouldn't really re-watch it. The Wire on the other hand, you can pick up little details with every re-watch. I do agree about the individual episodes point though. The Wire has a Novelistic structure for each season, you wouldn't pick up a novel and dip into a chapter here and there. I think that, and the detail in the storytelling and the huge amount of characters,none of whom seem like filler, is why I prefer it. And to the person who said the Wire went downhill after Season three, Season four is I think the best season of any show I've ever seen. It was epic and heartbreaking. Ok, Season five did dip in standard (McNulty and the fake serial killer storyline just seemed a bit off) but that's only in comparison to its own incredible standard.

The Wire/Sopranos debate is a little bit like the Beatles/Stones one. I'm a Beatles man all the way, but. I prefer the Sopranos to the Stones.

I liked season two of the wire the best

TomSweeney · 14-01-2019 9:23am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

You are not gonna f'ucken believe this ....
Vitto Spatafore is an ASS MUNCHER!!!

Owwwwwww!!!

Ken Tucky · 14-01-2019 9:25am

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I take it by this statement you're not a fan of The Wire either. In which case you have no business commenting on what's good or bad TV.

Nail on the head...very well put;)

Dyr · 14-01-2019 9:29am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

TomSweeney wrote: »

You are not gonna f'ucken believe this ....
Vitto Spatafore is an ASS MUNCHER!!!

Owwwwwww!!!

****in slander, you ask me!

tigerboon · 14-01-2019 9:32am

The Enbalmer wrote: »

For anybody who thought the Wire was a good show check out Gomorrah La Serie on Sky Atlantic.

Series 4 begins 29th March so plenty of time to catch up

Paulzx · 14-01-2019 9:38am

troyzer wrote: »

Special mention to the West Wing which has also doubled as escapism therapy since January 2017.

I personally have The West Wing ahead of The Wire and the Sopranos. For me The Wire is second and The Sopranos a close third.

Jim Bob Scratcher · 14-01-2019 9:38am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Bambi wrote: »

****in slander, you ask me!

Tell you one thing, if it was me this kid was spreadin' rumors about, he'd have somethin' up his own ass. And it wouldn't be no cock either

marieholmfan · 14-01-2019 9:47am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Pero_Bueno wrote: »

OP obviously never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

But some of those guys at Seaton Hall were seven feet tall!

Dyr · 14-01-2019 10:04am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Jim Bob Scratcher wrote: »

Tell you one thing, if it was me this kid was spreadin' rumors about, he'd have somethin' up his own ass. And it wouldn't be no cock either

Yeah? Maybe you're a flambé!

The Enbalmer · 14-01-2019 10:32am

Gwynplaine wrote: »

The Enbalmer wrote: »

A load of crap. It reminds me of the Godfather in that everybody feels they "have" to like it.
Generally if you tell people you don't like the sopranos or the Godfather,they will try to explain to you why you're wrong.

Family guy did it very well.

Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that it's crap.
Tell us what you think is an excellent tv show.

Oz.

That was an excellent TV show

The Enbalmer · 14-01-2019 10:35am

tigerboon wrote: »

The Enbalmer wrote: »

For anybody who thought the Wire was a good show check out Gomorrah La Serie on Sky Atlantic.

Series 4 begins 29th March so plenty of time to catch up

Unfortunately series 4 is a load of pap.

It has one or two decent moments but it's a mere shadow of the greatness of series 1!

Sleeper12 · 14-01-2019 11:21am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

20th Reunion

w/s/p/c/ · 14-01-2019 11:25am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

My favourite TV show of all time without a doubt.

The writing, direction, acting ability of the main and supporting cast, the drama, the comedy ... for me it has everything.

Have watched the series at least 7 times over and will watch the Blu Ray set this year having recently purchased it.

Even did the tour about 10 years ago in NYC, well worth it if you are a fan of the show and plan on visiting the states soon. Met Joseph Gannascoli (Vito!) at the start of the tour and visited the locations such as the diner from the last scene (Don't Stop Believing was being played on loop, they gave free onion rings to all). Tour ended in Satin Dolls aka The Bada Bing. Dancer on stage but not topless, the show lied to us, its illegal in the state of New Jersey to serve alcohol while topless... who knew!!

Dyr · 14-01-2019 11:30am

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Sleeper12 wrote: »

20th Reunion

Paulie still wearing those white shoes

_Kaiser_ · 14-01-2019 11:35am

It was good, occasionally very good, but wouldn't class it as "the best of all time". Once they ramped up the secondary characters as opposed to teenage angst and the wife it got much better though.

IMO shows like House of Cards (forgetting the generally abysmal final season), Game of Thrones, or The Shield are far better. Get you hooked from the start and far more consistent quality-wise.

chrissb8 · 14-01-2019 1:31pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

dulux99 wrote: »

At the time it was great. It was before we were blessed with dozens of brilliant series at our fingertips at all times. If someone sits down to watch it now having not watched it at all it probably won't have aged well.

Nah, I mean I watched it in 2014 for the first time and was blown away. Had a friend who only watched it last year and thought it was one of the best things he's watched. It's ageless really. As most master pieces are.

andekwarhola · 14-01-2019 3:29pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Wouldn't consider myself an expert by any means but for me, it has some of the best writing of any TV show I've watched.

Boom_Bap · 14-01-2019 3:34pm

The show was all about James Gandolfini. Such a powerful actor.
One moment he could be a soft family-man buffoon sitting in his favorite chair eating ice cream. The next scene he could be the most violent, angry and imposing person in the world.
I bought into every scene that he was in. Unbelievable.

Secondary is the story and writing.

Finally is the ensemble cast who were all really strong actors that brought the writing to life.

Motivator · 14-01-2019 11:51pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

trashcan wrote: »

My view would be the exact opposite. I liked the Sopranos, but wouldn't really re-watch it. The Wire on the other hand, you can pick up little details with every re-watch.

The Sopranos is the same. I watched season 4 again a while back and noticed little bits and pieces that I never did the first time. I’m going to rewatch season 5 in the next week or two and I can’t wait. It’s just an incredible show.

Vincent Vega · 15-01-2019 12:01am

Sopranos was pretty great, but best TV?
Nah.
Bad poll is bad.

Encouraged · 04-02-2019 5:00pm

Gwynplaine wrote: »

The Mentalist is rubbish. Same format for every episode.

You could say the exact same thing about any other crime program. Anything from Midsomer Murders to CSI.

You could learn a lot more about life from the Mentalist's powers of observation than you could learn from the Sopranos.

Epic Eir Epic · 11-02-2019 10:15pm

Necro wrote: »

LOL...

You dislike the Sopranos because it's about murders yet love a show (per wiki):

About two womanising plastic surgeons. Go figure

That womanising plastic surgeon was certainly more of a man than Tony Soprano, a man who asked his shrink out and then cried when she said no!! Lol

Christian Troy is a God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hDRQzFESrM

Ipso · 11-02-2019 11:06pm

Vincent Vega wrote: »

Sopranos was pretty great, but best TV?
Nah.
Bad poll is bad.

Not for nothing, but what the f***.

What was the fcuking big deal about the Sopranos?

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