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The Sopranos is often regarded as the best television series of all time by critics and viewers. This legendary American crime drama series, created by David Chase, has become the embodiment of the highest level of craftsmanship possible in the making of a TV show.
The Sopranos ran for six spectacular seasons from January 10, 1999, to June 10, 2007. The series is credited with igniting the Second Golden Age of Television, resulting in other acclaimed shows like Breaking Bad and Mad Men, among others.
The show deals with the New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano, who has to divide his time between his family and his role as the boss of a criminal gang. The cast is led by James Gandolfini, whose performance throughout the series has been widely praised. He is fittingly assisted by the likes of Lorraine Bracco, Steve Buscemi, Nancy Marchand, and others.
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The Sopranos: Full list of cast
Show creator David Chase introduced several characters in The Sopranos who have become iconic today, and some of the best actors around were brought in to bring life to the same. The cast includes:
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano: He is the patriarch of the DiMeo crime family. Gandolfini plays the role to perfection, bringing everything from raw violence and charisma to occasional moments of humanity to the character. The performance can be called the gold standard of acting on TV. He has also acted in films like Zero Dark Thirty (2012) and Enough Said (2013).
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi: Tony Soprano's psychiatrist. She is a calm, thoughtful woman who genuinely wishes to help her client. However, the notoriety of Tony's public life affects her too. Lorraine's performances in Goodfellas (1990, directed by Martin Scorsese), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), and others are equally noteworthy.
Edie Falco as Carmela: Carmela is Tony's wife and has a complicated relationship with her husband due to his constant infidelity and other factors. Falco's nuanced chemistry with Gandolfini has been unanimously lauded.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow, and Robert Iler as Anthony Jr.: The teenage Soprano children. They find it hard to accept their father's professional life.
Nancy Marchand as Livia: Tony's manipulative, scheming mother.
Dominic Chianese as Corrado "Junior" Soprano: Tony's uncle who has a tense relationship with him.
Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto: Tony's maternal cousin.
Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante: Tony's best friend. He runs the strip club and other businesses owned by Tony.
Tony Sirico as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri: A loyal friend to Tony.
Other cast includes:
- Vincent Pastore as Salvatore Bonpensiero
- Dan Grimaldi as Patsy Parisi
- Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri
- David Proval as Richie Aprile
- Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto
- Jerry Adler as Herman "Hesh" Rabkin
- Sharon Angela as Rosalie Aprile
- Toni Kalem as Angie Bonpensiero
Read more: What has 'The Sopranos' cast been up to?
The Sopranos: Plot of the series
Tony Soprano runs a mafia in New Jersey and is widely feared, if not respected. Due to his ill-famed actions, he is not short of dangerous enemies. Additionally, the balance between his personal and professional life is in turmoil as he struggles to juggle between the two.
Tony is often visited by bouts of depression. As a result, his physician instructs him to seek the help of Dr. Jennifer Melfi, a psychiatrist. The sessions with Dr. Melfi see Tony open up about his personal life, upbringing, and moral code. The interactions between the doctor and her client form some of the best moments of the show.
The show vividly portrays the character dynamics between Tony Soprano and his immediate and extended family. While he has complicated relationships with his wife and children, those between him and some of his extended family members are outright antagonistic. Tony constantly has to be on his guard as people around him have eyes on the power he has. The threat of the law is another recurring source of anxiety for Tony.
Read more: How many seasons are there of The Sopranos?
The Sopranos: Streaming options explored
Since the show originally aired on HBO, all six seasons are available for streaming on Max (formerly called HBO Max). It is also available for buying or renting on Amazon, Hulu, YouTube, and Apple TV+. The official Sopranos TikTok account has released some clips of the show as well, which could interest some fans to revisit their favorite scenes from the show.
Read more: How to watch The Sopranos on streaming?
