by Jonathan Klotz
| Published
It is fashionable to say when we look at a momentous event that “no one knew the impact it would have,” but when we talk about… The sopranoThis cliche is not true at all. The impact of mob boss Tony Soprano walking into Dr. Melfi's office lands with the force of an atomic bomb, and by the end of the pilot, television will never be the same again. However, what no one could have predicted was that 25 years later, the series that coined the term “prestige television” and introduced the world to a new kind of anti-hero would be more popular than ever.
The timeless appeal of the soprano
From the famous opening shots of New Jersey set for “I Woke Up This Morning” to the infamous final shot of the series, The soprano It's a perfect mafia series, a perfect crime series, and one of the best character-driven dramas ever made. But in 2024, it's how James Gandolfini portrayed a tough alpha male character who struggles to take care of his mental health and is extremely ashamed of anyone who finds out he's in therapy that helps him remain relevant to this day. Millennials, now approaching a midlife crisis, can look at the series and appreciate Tony's struggle in a whole new light.
Younger generations celebrate The soprano Throughout the year through the use of memes, the series seems to have a screenshot or iconic moment perfect for every occasion, including Gen Z embracing Carmela Soprano in a way that no one did while the show was airing. “Mob Wife Aesthetic,” a celebration of high fashion and, more importantly, behavior, has its base in Carmella played by Edie Falco and Adriana played by Dre Di Matteo. There was also a successful Rewatch podcast hosted by Michael Impiroli and Steve Sherpa, The talking sopranowhich featured many of the series' stars, including regular actors such as Loren Bracco (Dr. Melfi) and Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) to Steve Buscemi And even Ariel Kelly was Tracy, the bada-bing dancer who appeared in the season 3 episode “University.”
More people have flocked The soprano on Top From watching it when it first aired on HBO. The real reason this is so, unlike nostalgia-filled memes, TikTok trends, or podcasts, is that it was well-written, well-acted, and the result of the unique vision of a talented creator: David Chase.
The Mad Genius of David Chase
HBO recognized the importance of David Chase The soprano With the latest version of The Wise Man: David Chase and the Sopranos On Max, a two-part documentary that fans of the series should watch. From Chase's childhood and personal life, to test footage, and then, for the first time, footage of Chase speaking at James Gandolfini's funeral. It's short, just two episodes, but the inclusion of archival interviews with the likes of Gandolfini and Nancy Marchand (Livia Soprano), with new insights from Imperiolo, Loren Bracco, Steven Van Zandt, and Edie Falco, makes it well worth the investment. .
Highlight The wise man It is insight into The soprano The first season, including “College,” the episode that set the tone for the rest of the series by highlighting Tony as a doting father and ruthless crime boss, and how it forced audiences to reconcile their sense of empathy for a man capable of choking another to death.
The toll of starring in a hugely successful and dark show like The soprano It is a theme that David Chase returns to again and again in relation to James Gandolfini. Playing Tony Soprano was difficult for the star, who, according to the show's creator, brought the character home with him and ended up suffering as a result. Those parts of The wise man It may be hard for fans to listen to, but it's still an integral part of what makes the show an all-time classic Why, even today, it is impossible to make a crime series or even a high-profile drama that cannot be compared The soprano.
One of the greatest shows in history
without The sopranothere will never be Very bad, mad men Creator Matt Werner worked under David Chase as a writer on The soprano And even other dark dramas that focus on anti-heroes, including The shield, Save me, House of cardsand Sons of Anarchycould not have been greenlit before the explosive popularity of Tony Soprano. Years after it came to a shocking end, its impact was being felt at HBO Boardwalk Empireand then a decade after the end, it resonated throughout Peaky Blinders Even today, with Sylvester Stallone Tulsa Kingthe latest The soprano formula.
Even other dramas owe a debt to the New Jersey mafia, including critically acclaimed successionin which the Roy family has more in common with the Sopranos than they would ever admit. However, it shows just how ahead of its time the mob drama really was. Before that The sopranothe cable series was more thrilling than thought-provoking, and Bada Bing notwithstanding, David Chase infused his series with nuanced, multi-faceted characters who all had something to say about the human experience.
It's this level of high-level writing and Shakespearean themes set against New Jersey's blue-collar ghettos and the allure of the mafia that makes… The soprano A bigger hit in 2024 than in 1999. Even Many Saints in Newarka poorly received prequel film with James Gandolfini's son Tony as a young man, couldn't do any damage to the legacy of the original show. There are shows like this on the air now, but there is nothing better, and there never will be.
