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Just finished the Sopranos. It’s a bit overrated IMO (spoilers)
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:05 pm
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:05 pm
First of all, I think season 1,2, and 6 were excellent. But seasons 3-5 were average IMO. I loved the entire Junior vs Tony subplot and how Livia affected it.
I liked season 2. Richie Aprile was a good character. The story with Pussy was ok. I never found him to be an intriguing character.
But Season 3-5 wasn’t all that impressive to me. It was kind of repetitive. I thought Ralphie was a great character, but it was basically the same story as Richie Aprile. Oh look, there’s a guy who’s back around after being gone for a while. Oh look, he’s causing some issues, let’s find a creative way to kill him.
Tony B was the exact same. None of these guys were bad characters, but as soon as I saw “and Steve Buscemi” pop into the credits in the first episode of season 5, I knew he was gonna die before the season ended.
I mean, am I wrong that it’s not the exact same plot for all three of these guys? A guy that used to hang around is back in town. Now he’s causing problems. He’s gotta go.
Also, why does everyone think Pine Barrens is such a great episode? There were at least 10 better. Chris and Paulie go to make a collection, have to kill the guy, take him out to Pine Barrens, he escapes, and they get lost and argue. What’s so incredible about that.
Anyways, 8/10 from me. Good show but not top 5 for me.
I liked season 2. Richie Aprile was a good character. The story with Pussy was ok. I never found him to be an intriguing character.
But Season 3-5 wasn’t all that impressive to me. It was kind of repetitive. I thought Ralphie was a great character, but it was basically the same story as Richie Aprile. Oh look, there’s a guy who’s back around after being gone for a while. Oh look, he’s causing some issues, let’s find a creative way to kill him.
Tony B was the exact same. None of these guys were bad characters, but as soon as I saw “and Steve Buscemi” pop into the credits in the first episode of season 5, I knew he was gonna die before the season ended.
I mean, am I wrong that it’s not the exact same plot for all three of these guys? A guy that used to hang around is back in town. Now he’s causing problems. He’s gotta go.
Also, why does everyone think Pine Barrens is such a great episode? There were at least 10 better. Chris and Paulie go to make a collection, have to kill the guy, take him out to Pine Barrens, he escapes, and they get lost and argue. What’s so incredible about that.
Anyways, 8/10 from me. Good show but not top 5 for me.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:07 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
What’s so incredible about that.
Because the guy was an interior decorator and his apartment looked like shite.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:09 pm to diddlydawg7
All fair points. I used to feel similar, but once I started re-watching it, it just got better and better. It's easily top 3 for me now.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:09 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
It’s a bit overrated IMO
It's not.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:12 pm to diddlydawg7
It changed television forever
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:15 pm to RLDSC FAN

This post was edited on 3/26/21 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:15 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
Just finished the Sopranos
quote:
It’s a bit overrated

Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:15 pm to diddlydawg7
I'm not sure about it being overrated but I must say I can only watch so many episodes in a row before it begins to wear on me. I still enjoy it, just have to take it in small doses
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:16 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
why does everyone think Pine Barrens is such a great episode? There were at least 10 better

Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:18 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
seasons 3-5 were average

Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:29 pm to kciDAtaE
quote:
It changed television forever
You cant watch Sopranos through the 2021 lens. Thats the OPs problem.
Sopranos and The Wire are the Citizen Kane of TV in that they revolutionized the modern era of premiere TV.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:31 pm to kciDAtaE
Yeah, there was a novelty to the Sopranos that blew people away 20 years ago but that's going to be lost on new viewers who have been spoiled by great episodic TV series that followed.
Kind of like Star Wars. If you saw it in the theater in the 70s, your jaw dropped. But if you tell young pups today how amazing the special effects were they don't see it.
Kind of like Star Wars. If you saw it in the theater in the 70s, your jaw dropped. But if you tell young pups today how amazing the special effects were they don't see it.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:37 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
Sopranos a bit overrated

Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:41 pm to kciDAtaE
quote:
It changed television forever
As others have noted the impact was far larger if you watched it when it first came on. The two decades of TV it spawned have reduced its impact on a first watch.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:45 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
But Season 3-5 wasn’t all that impressive to me. It was kind of repetitive. I thought Ralphie was a great character, but it was basically the same story as Richie Aprile. Oh look, there’s a guy who’s back around after being gone for a while. Oh look, he’s causing some issues, let’s find a creative way to kill him.
Tony B was the exact same. None of these guys were bad characters, but as soon as I saw “and Steve Buscemi” pop into the credits in the first episode of season 5, I knew he was gonna die before the season ended.
I mean, am I wrong that it’s not the exact same plot for all three of these guys? A guy that used to hang around is back in town. Now he’s causing problems. He’s gotta go.
You're not wrong. They could have been more creative about this.
The thing that makes it the best show ever for me is the acting and the characters. It can be funny, sad, thrilling, poignant, triumphant. Tony, Carmela, Paulie, Silvio...there are SO many characters on this show and 90% of them NAIL it.
I watch it like the kids watch The Office these days. I've probably watched it through 5 times at this point and it never disappoints.
Breaking Bad, which I think is a contender for GOAT, was thrilling during the first watch. But more of a grind on the second, and I don't intend to revisit it. Structurally, it is better than the Sopranos in that it doesn't have the same "lull" or "circular plot" problems that you brought up.
And the setup for BB was brilliant--how far down the abyss were you willing to go before you stopped rooting for Walter? It's a rare and ingenious setup and I respect the hell out of that show.
Tony, by comparison, is pretty much the same guy in Season 6 he was in Season 1. I love the hell out of him, but there wasn't really an arc.
Still, Tony Soprano paved the way for all these characters.
Sopranos is still the GOAT for me. GoT could have taken that spot, but they didn't stick the landing.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 12:50 pm to diddlydawg7
quote:
I mean, am I wrong that it’s not the exact same plot for all three of these guys? A guy that used to hang around is back in town. Now he’s causing problems. He’s gotta go.
that is a legitimate gripe.
the appeal (for me anyway) is more about the characters (especially buscemi and pantoliano) than the plot around them
that said, thats pretty small gripe. its not like those three were the main plot driver arc for the series. all three were subplots
Posted on 3/26/21 at 1:11 pm to diddlydawg7
Seasons 3-5 are actually my favorites. The first two have become a bit dated.
Posted on 3/26/21 at 1:14 pm to diddlydawg7
Each time you watch it from now on you will like it more. You just can't catch everything the first time through. I've watched the thing 8 times and still see new stuff each time.
You are right about the seasons. Though I kinda give them a pass for Season 3. The actress playing his mother died while they were filming the season and they had to wing it.
Seasons 4 and 5 have shifted a lot since I first watched them. I didn't really like season 4 and loved season 5 at first. Now I don't really care for season 5 because it seems kinda canned. They stretched it out for an extra season with little narrative purpose and just added in some star power to hype it up.
You are right about the seasons. Though I kinda give them a pass for Season 3. The actress playing his mother died while they were filming the season and they had to wing it.
Seasons 4 and 5 have shifted a lot since I first watched them. I didn't really like season 4 and loved season 5 at first. Now I don't really care for season 5 because it seems kinda canned. They stretched it out for an extra season with little narrative purpose and just added in some star power to hype it up.
This post was edited on 3/26/21 at 2:07 pm
Posted on 3/26/21 at 1:24 pm to V Bainbridge
Did ya'll know Philly Leotardo did 20 years in the can?
It's a minor detail that he doesn't bring up often.
It's a minor detail that he doesn't bring up often.
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