10 Eye-Opening Realities of Rewatching The Sopranos, Decades Later

Summary

The Sopranos had many filler episodes that lacked substance and significance in the overall story, which can be boring and irrelevant to viewers.

The show failed to acknowledge the problematic age differences in romantic relationships, particularly when older men date significantly younger women, creating an uncomfortable viewing experience.

Tony Soprano exhibited a complete absence of remorse when inadvertently causing harm to children, exemplified by the destruction of his own son's life for personal gain. This showcased his lack of empathy and disturbing demeanor.

The Sopranos revolutionized television during its run from 1999 to 2007, demonstrating its impact on the medium. However, certain elements of the show may be challenging to watch in the present. The series introduced the concept of an antihero in its main character, Tony Soprano, a mafia member for the Dimeo family who grappled with balancing his criminal activities and family life. The show delved into the negative effects of Tony's demanding lifestyle, which included committing acts of violence, evading law enforcement, and engaging in extramarital affairs, leading him to seek therapy from Dr. Lorraine Melfi to address his mental health issues.

The Sopranos portrayed the toll of Tony's involvement in organized crime and his challenging relationships, particularly with his toxic mother, Livia Soprano, revealing his vulnerability through severe panic attacks. While therapy initially helped him, Tony gradually embraced his darker side as the family's leader. The show unflinchingly depicted the repulsive aspects of mob life, solidifying its reputation as one of the greatest series ever created. Nevertheless, there remain difficult truths that arise when viewing this revered show.

10. There Are Many Filler Episodes In The Sopranos

Although there aren't any bad episodes of The Sopranos, there are several episodes that may leave viewers questioning their purpose upon rewatch. While character studies can be valuable in providing insight into the characters, if they don't contribute much to the overall story arc, they can be perceived as meaningless. The Sopranos is not immune to this phenomenon. Episodes spanning from season 1's "A Hit Is A Hit," to season 4's "Christopher," to season 6's "Chasing It" are often regarded as the weakest in the series due to their lack of significance, dullness, or lack of relevance in the larger context.

9. The Age Gap In Certain Romances Never Gets Addressed

In The Sopranos, it is a recurring theme to see mafiosos involved with much younger women, regardless of their marital status. While it is a matter of personal preference, the show fails to acknowledge the significant age difference between Tony Soprano and Irinia Yeltsin, one of his many lovers and mistresses. Similarly, Ralph Cifaretto's affair with Tracee ended in her brutal murder, yet their considerable age gap remains unaddressed. Not only does this apply to older men in the series, but also to AJ Soprano, who dated Blanca Selgado, a single mother almost a decade older than him. In the first season, Brendan Filone, a grown man, flirts with Meadow and her friend Hunter, who are high school juniors. The show overlooks the uncomfortable reality of these age disparities in the romantic relationships depicted onscreen.

8. Tony Was Never Above (Indirectly) Hurting Children

7. The Show Never Shied From Showing The Mob's Blatant Racism

One of the most haunting storylines in the second season of The Sopranos revolved around the tragic downfall of Davey Scatino, a childhood friend of Tony's who struggled with a severe gambling addiction. Taking advantage of Scatino's vulnerability, Tony allowed him to accumulate a staggering $45,000 debt with the mob due to his compulsive gambling habits. Shockingly, a portion of this debt was derived from his own son Eric's college fund, which he mindlessly squandered. In a desperate attempt to repay Tony, Davey even resorted to giving him Eric's car, despite never having met the young man. Tony, devoid of any empathy, callously destroyed Eric's life, an act made even more repugnant when he flaunted his actions in front of his own daughter. This complete lack of remorse from someone who is also a father is truly sickening.

Although the main characters on the show did not hold bigoted views against other races in general, they did have concerns regarding the blending of their Italian culture with others. Furthermore, they did not hesitate to employ racial slurs and ridicule individuals from different races. As exemplified by one of the show's notable racist scenes, Tony expressed his unwarranted animosity towards Meadow's half-Black boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum. His dislike solely stemmed from Meadow dating someone who was not of Italian descent, leading him to use multiple racial slurs and insist on their separation.

6. Livia Soprano's Scratched Season 3 Subplot Changed The Show's Direction

Tony's relationship with his mother not only drives one of the most crucial storylines in the show, but it also has a direct impact on his struggle with mental illness due to her upbringing. Livia's toxic nature and her ability to antagonize everyone, regardless of their efforts to please her, made her incredibly detestable. Unfortunately, Nancy Marchand's death disrupted her character's arc in The Sopranos season 3, where she was meant to testify against Tony for stealing airline tickets. Given that Livia had indirectly ordered a hit on Tony, it is impossible to predict the extent of actions she could have taken had she lived to testify against him. While the show managed to continue without her, Livia's potential actions in season 3 had the potential to drastically alter the course of events.

5. No Matter What, Carmela Is Sentenced To A Life Of Misery

Carmela's storyline is undeniably one of the most tragic in the series. Despite being a devoted mother and wife, she bears the knowledge that Tony, her husband, is a ruthless mobster capable of taking a life without a second thought. Furthermore, she is well aware of his infidelity, which deeply affects her. Despite these hardships, Carmela tries her utmost to maintain a facade of happiness. However, her sorrow is compounded by the fact that if Tony continues to live, he will remain unrestrained, completely disregarding her feelings. Conversely, if he were to meet his demise, Carmela would potentially be left with nothing. Despite her materialistic tendencies and understanding of the circumstances, her life remains profoundly disheartening.

4. No One Was Punished For Committing Domestic Violence

The show emphasizes the human side of these tough criminals, while also highlighting their monstrous behavior towards their partners. Despite Christopher Motisanti facing consequences for his recklessness and drug use, he never received any punishment for physically abusing his fiancé, Adriana de la Cerva. Actor Michael Imperioli revealed that portraying Christopher's domestic abuse was the most challenging aspect of filming The Sopranos. However, he was not the only one guilty of such behavior. Tony, for instance, exerted dominance by forcefully grabbing Carmela in their relationship. Pussy Bonpensiero came close to assaulting his estranged wife, Angie. Ralph killed Tracee due to his wounded ego. Even when the abusive actions were exposed, long-term consequences were rarely, if ever, witnessed.

3. Tony Never Answered For What He Did To Ralph And Christopher

While Tony's direct murders of eight characters in The Sopranos were already shocking, his descent into full-blown sociopathy became even more evident when he displayed a willingness to eliminate his own comrades if necessary. Eliminating certain associates, such as Tony B, who caused trouble that could lead to a war with New York, or Pussy, after discovering he was an informant, seemed justified. However, Tony's decision to kill Ralph, his highest earner, based on a mere hunch, and his motive for killing Christopher remain largely unclear. Despite his crew suspecting Ralph's involvement, no action was taken, partially because Ralph was detested by his own peers. The fact that Tony could eliminate his own mob family, a grave violation in the mafia world, without any repercussions is truly unsettling.

2. Tony Drove Christopher Moltisanti To His Grave

With his own father deceased before he could even recall, Tony served as the closest figure of paternal guidance for Christopher throughout the show. Despite Tony's evident concern for Christopher, his familial favoritism propelled Christopher to prominence within the family, resulting in a lack of respect from others. To exacerbate matters, without the presence of a supportive parent, Christopher turned to drugs as a means of coping with the abhorrent actions he committed. While Tony would reprimand or mistreat him for his blunders, he made no effort to assist him with his problems. Even when Christopher managed to overcome his addiction, Tony ridiculed his attempts to maintain sobriety, thereby increasing the strain on his life. Shortly after Tony issued the order to murder Adriana, Christopher reverted to substance abuse, culminating in a car accident that Tony ultimately had to put an end to. Although Christopher may have been a ticking time bomb, it was Tony who ignited the fuse.

1. Tony Was Always Extremely Problematic In His Sessions With Dr. Melfi

Starting from season 1, Tony displayed a secretive fixation on Dr. Melfi, which led him to consistently disregard the boundaries of their doctor-patient relationship. Whether driven by a desire for intimacy or a need to harm, Tony shamelessly pursued his desires with Dr. Melfi, despite her repeated refusals and the discomfort he caused her. Tony's inability to control his urges, be it fueled by love or hate, resulted in some of the most unsettling moments in the series. This is remarkable considering that The Sopranos primarily revolves around themes of murder, violence, and betrayal, among others.