The HBO hit drama series The Sopranos ended ten years ago today, and it remains one of the greatest television shows ever. Let’s take a look back at the top episodes of the series. [Note: there will obviously be SPOILERS for The Sopranos, and the videos are NSFW]
10. Kennedy and Heidi (Season 6, Episode 18)
Christopher Moltisanti was bound to die at some point, and the character probably did well to last until the fourth-to-last episode after all he had been through. As Tony said after the intervention in “The Strong, Silent Type,” Chris is lucky they are family or he would already be dead. People might have been upset that Tony killed basically his own son and successor in the family, especially after Chris showed loyalty with the Adriana situation, but Tony simply couldn’t trust him anymore because not only was he susceptible to flip as a junkie, but he also put Tony’s life in danger by driving, and perhaps more importantly, he could have been putting his kid’s life in danger as the scene showed.
9. College (Season 1, Episode 5)
The earliest episode on the list, “College” saw Tony take Meadow to visit colleges she is considering, and includes a humorous car conversation where Tony lies to his daughter about being involved in organized crime.
Of course, “illegal gambling and whatnot” is a bit of an understatement, and later in the episode we see Tony murder an FBI informant who had a chance—unbeknownst to the father and daughter—to takeout Tony the night before.
8. Amour Fou (Season 3, Episode 12)
Titled for the relationship between Tony and Gloria Trillo, “Amour Fou” (crazy love) concludes with a chilling end to the affair when Patsy drives Gloria and warns her to never contact Tony or his family again, telling her that his face—not Tony’s—will be the last she sees and her death “won’t be cinematic.” Before that, Jackie Jr.’s heist attempt does not go as planned when Chris is unexpectedly there and blood ends up being shed.
7. Full Leather Jacket (Season 2, Episode 8)
One of the times that Christopher could have easily met his demise was at the end of this episode when Matt and Sean, trying to impress Richie Aprile, attempt to assassinate Chris and end up putting him into a coma. Earlier in “Full Leather Jacket,” Aprile presents Tony a valuable (in Richie’s eyes, at least) jacket that he seems less than inclined to accept, but not before Junior berates Bobby, “Don’t put handprints on the finish!”
6. The Strong, Silent Type (Season 4, Episode 10)
The Sopranos did a great job of using humor to lighten up serious situations, and Christopher’s intervention is a perfect example. Tony, Paulie, and Silvio (and Chris) are all hilarious in their own ways during the scene, and the brutal honesty is a big reason why.
The scene actually foreshadows Chris’ death, when Tony says, “I outta suffocate you,” and tragically, James Gandolfini’s real-life death.
5. All Due Respect (Season 5, Episode 13)
In what was originally supposed to be the series finale, “All Due Respect” could have probably been a fitting end to one of the greatest shows of all time. Tony is forced to make the difficult decision to kill his own cousin Tony B (Steve Buscemi) so that Phil Leotardo can’t get his hands on him. Then, in a meeting with Johnny Sack, Tony is able to convince him that the feud is over, telling him, “I paid enough, John. I paid a lot.”
4. Made in America (Season 6, Episode 21)
And for the actual series finale, which is a point of contention for fans, “Made in America” ties up almost all loose ends, including getting rid of Phil. Tony’s fate, though, is less certain, but most believe he is dead, with the cut-to-black signaling a shot to the head. No matter how you feel about what actual happened at that diner, it was a masterful final scene and episode.
3. The Blue Comet (Season 6, Episode 20)
The penultimate episode of The Sopranos was undoubtedly one of the best. Two of Tony’s most loyal men are separately ambushed, as Bobby is killed in New York when he is just trying to buy a vintage model Blue Comet train, while Silvio is put into a medically-induced coma (which he is not expected to make it out of) after an attempted hit at the Bada Bing! “The Blue Comet” ends by showing that Tony still has loyal men with him, including Paulie, when they all want to stay at the safe house with him. Sitting with an assault rifle in the bedroom upstairs, Tony’s flashback with Bobby provides more evidence that he meets his end in the finale.
2. Long Term Parking (Season 5, Episode 12)
This episode is all about Christopher’s loyalty, as Adriana tells him that she has been cooperating with the FBI, which nearly leads to him strangling her before he decides his loyalty lies with her, or at least it seemed. The viewer was basically in the dark, just as Adriana was, when Silvio is “taking her to the hospital” because Chris “tried to commit suicide,” but it is eventually pretty clear that it was not true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzs7tSd4n1M
1. Pine Barrens (Season 3, Episode 11)
Can #1 be any other episode? Pine Barrens is The Sopranos at its best, as Chris and Paulie’s relationship is pushed to the limits in a snowy South Jersey (the only episode in SJ), and a bad cell phone reception with Tony leads to some hilarious moments. This scene speaks for itself.