The Sopranos was an epic crime drama centered around the DiMeo crime family and its complicated leader, Tony Soprano. Throughout the series, stress seems to arise from every direction as Tony assumes the position of boss of the entire mob family, with each episode telling multiple intricate stories about the DiMeo crime family and its intersection with Tony’s personal life.
The Sopranos brilliantly created a new type of television, making each episode feel almost like a mini movie contributing to a larger narrative. Many consider it the best show of all time, while others feel it inspired many shows that followed. Throughout its six-season run, The Sopranos released some of the most perfect, infinitely rewatchable episodes.
10 “Proshai, Livushka” Shows How Even Livia’s Legacy Was Just as Bitter as She Was
Season 3, Episode 2
After a lot of bickering, miserable phrases, and a hit put out on Tony, “Proshai, Livushka” provided the ending for Livia Soprano. The episode also demonstrated how important Tony felt about his family bloodline and just how racist he could be. When Tony meets Meadow’s boyfriend, Noah, he berates and insults him with ethnic slurs. Even though Livia didn’t want a funeral, Janice insists they do it all, which stirs up some trouble among the attendees.
Carmela disclaims that the entire gathering was nonsense and against Livia’s wishes, which is why it ended in such an awkward way. In the end, Tony watches an old gangster movie where he sees the touching love of the mother in it, and it brings him to tears. “Proshai, Livushka” provides a great exploration of Livia’s effect on people while showing Tony’s complicated relationship with her one last time.
9 “Whitecaps” Shows Carmela’s Boiling Point Over All of Tony’s Affairs
Season 4, Episode 13
«Whitecaps» was packed with mob stories at the forefront, which distracted the audience from the family story unfolding between Tony and Carmela. Previously in the season, Tony had told Carmela that he wouldn’t cheat on her anymore, but his ex-mistress calls and tells Carmela about his recent infidelity. While Tony’s family issues began to boil to the surface, Tony was about to kill Carmine Lupertazzi until the hit was called off.
Initially, the episode seems like Carmela and Tony are in a good place, but it quickly unfolds to their separation. After viewing a beautiful beach house that Tony wants to buy for the family, all hell breaks loose after Irena’s phone call. Tony and Carmela have the worst fights in the entire series, leading to their separation. «Whitecaps» brilliantly pulls a bait-and-switch from the mob storyline to the Soprano storyline.
8 “Employee of the Month” Is an Exploration of Moral Choices in Difficult Situations
Season 3, Episode 4
In «Employee of the Month,» Dr. Melfi is sexually assaulted on the staircase of her work parking lot, resulting in one of the most terrifying and graphic moments in The Sopranos. Thankfully, the police got a great description of the suspect and apprehended him quickly, but before Dr. Melfi could identify the victim, a chain of custody error put the criminal back on the streets.
As Melfi tries to recover from one of the most traumatic things in her life, she struggles to get back into her psychiatrist work and breaks down. In the final moments of the episode, Tony offers his help after he realizes something major is wrong, but she defiantly says no, sticking to her morals. «Employee of the Month» has one of the most poignant endings in the show, where Dr. Melfi stands her ground on not using crime for justice.
7 “College” Is the Perfect Episode To Show the Many Facets of Tony Soprano
Season 1, Episode 5
Early in The Sopranos comes «College,» during which Tony takes Meadow on her college tour in Maine so she can explore her options. While traveling there, Meadow outright asks if Tony is in the mafia, forcing him to address a question he doesn’t want to answer. However, the question provided a beautiful moment of truth between him and his daughter.
As Tony drops Meadow off at her college, he runs into an ex-mafia member who had informed on many of the DiMeo crime family, putting several behind bars. As Tony tries to be a caring father, his mafia side kicks into overdrive as he plays a cat-and-mouse game with the hiding ex-mafia member. After strangling the ex-mafia member to death, it’s back to business as usual. «College» showed the complicated balance between being a mob boss and being a family man.
6 “Funhouse” Is a Wild Ride of Fever Dreams
Season 2, Episode 13
«Funhouse» follows Tony after he gets a stomach virus, leading to cryptic fever dreams while he’s sick. As Tony lies in bed, his dreams allude to more realizations that Big Pussy is likely an informant to the FBI. Still fighting the stomach flu, Tony grabs Silvio and Paulie to seek evidence at Big Pussy’s home. There, Tony finds a wire and recording device hidden in a cigar box.
After finding the evidence he sought out, Tony tells Pussy to come with them since he needs their help with buying a new boat. As they set sail, Pussy humors them, but eventually confesses to being an informant for quite some time, leading to his execution. «Funhouse» showed the audience exactly what happens to rats regardless of how close they are to Tony Soprano.
5 “Pine Barrens” Perfectly Sums up What the Sopranos Is All About
Season 3, Episode 11
«Pine Barrens» follows the misadventures of Christopher and Paulie when they’re lost in the vast New Jersey pine barren forest. Tony puts Paulie and Christopher on a task to pick up an envelope from one of their russian associates after Silvio falls sick. Things quickly go awry when Paulie starts a fight with the Russian, so Christopher and Paulie attack him.
The Russian unexpectedly survives their attack, so they plan to kill him in the woods, but he escapes. As they try to find him, they end up lost and cold in the intricate forest. Luckily for them, Tony and Bobby come to their rescue. Not many know that this episode was directed by Steve Buscemi, who would later go on to play Tony Blundetto. «Pine Barrens» is often hailed as the best episode of The Sopranos.
4 “All Due Respect” Is the Beginning of the End of Peace Between the Mob Families
Season 5, Episode 13
«All Due Respect» was one of the most phenomenal season finales of The Sopranos, covering many conflicts that bubbled up throughout season five. The family tries to cope with Adriana’s disappearance while Tony keeps the truth to himself about her death. As things continue to get worse with the Lupertazzi’s over Tony’s cousin’s murderous actions, Tony takes it upon himself to kill Tony Blundetto.
After killing Tony Blundetto, Tony heads to Johnny Sack’s place to let him know everything has been worked out with his cousin, but Tony quickly leaves when the FBI raids Sack’s property. As Tony narrowly escapes, he wanders through backyards and woods until he makes it back to his own home. «All Due Respect» showed the important and difficult decisions Tony had to make as a boss.
3 “Everybody Hurts” Follows Tony’s Grief as It Manifests Into Guilt
Season 4, Episode 6
«Everybody Hurts» is a highly acclaimed episode written by Michael Imperioli, following Tony’s reaction to Gloria Trillo’s death. Carmela nonchalantly tells Tony that the nice lady at the BMW dealership had killed herself. Tony attempts to hide his shock from it, knowing she was his mistress for some time, but is emotionally taken aback by the news. Tony later takes it upon himself to confirm what happened to Gloria.
For the rest of the episode, Tony attempts to right some of his wrongs and attempts to do good for others. He gets Patsy to make a suit for Carmela’s cousin, he takes Janice out for dinner, and he helps his close friend Artie after a business opportunity goes wrong. «Everybody Hurts» takes its namesake from the REM song and is filled with astounding dream sequences stemming from Tony’s curiosity about Gloria’s death.
2 “Members Only” Has One of the Most Shocking Ends to a Season Premiere
Season 6, Episode 1
«Members Only» kicks off a new season with the simmering conflict between the Lupertazzi and the DiMeo crime family. Johnny Sack is in prison, so Phil Leotardo becomes the acting boss of the Lupertazzi family, causing a little trouble for Tony’s mob family. The episode also explores Eugene, one of the DiMeo soldiers, who was hoping to retire from the crime family and move to Florida. When Tony denies his request, Eugene dies by suicide.
Later, Janice and Bobby don’t make time for Uncle Junior, so Tony begrudgingly decides to check in on Junior instead. When he goes to see him, Junior gets confused due to his dementia, and he shoots Tony in the stomach. «Members Only» felt like a season finale for a season premiere due to the plot twist at the end of the episode.
1 “Long Term Parking” Brings Adriana’s Storyline to a Violent, Sad Close
Season 5, Episode 12
«Long Term Parking» starts with the growing conflict between Tony and Phil Leotardo after Tony Blundetto killed Phil’s younger brother. After Adriana continually gave the FBI little to no information, the FBI dug up information on her covering up a murder in her club. They then use it as leverage over Adriana to either get her to wear a wire or to bring Christopher in to inform, too.
Initially, the episode had a scene that gave too much away, but it was cut, which made it even better. After Adriana confesses to Christopher that she’s an informant, Christopher tells Adriana he’s going out for cigarettes. Tony tricks Adriana into thinking that Christopher is in the hospital, prompting her to take a ride with Silvio. While riding along, Silvio pulls over and kills her on Tony’s orders. «Long Term Parking» is one of the saddest episodes involving an informant and long-time character.
