"The Sopranos:" A really good show

A still from the series finale of "The Sopranos" titled "Made in America." This famous scene has been widely and wildly disputed and discussed.

Growing up Italian-American is no easy feat. Growing up with a father who owns his own business with your last name plastered everywhere is another challenge. It lets your classmates, friends and strangers alike ask if your dad is in the mafia simply because he runs his own business and we are Italian-American. After watching "The Sopranos" I sorta wish my dad was the king of organized crime.

After watching nothing by six straight seasons of "The Sopranos" it's hard to think of anything else but that show. Daily life reminds me of certain scenes and characters from the show. At the beginning of this summer geese were wading in my family's above ground pool and I couldn't help but think of the first episode of "The Sopranos" and the ducks that haunted Tony in his very own pool. There's an Italian restaurant in my area that has an entire room dedicated to caricatures of the legendary characters. "The Sopranos" are everywhere to me.

"The Sopranos" is a show about an Italian-American mafia family set in various parts of New Jersey. The show was created by David Chase and premiered on HBO from 1999-2007 with six seasons and 86 episodes. The show acknowledges, but does not enforce, the stereotypes based on Italian-American mafia families. The show follows Anthony “Tony” Soprano (James Gandolfini), his literal family and his mafia family. "The Sopranos" has significant societal impacts because it explores nontraditional family values, has complex, three-dimensional characters and defies what was once known about gangsters.

"The Sopranos" is a modern-day mafia story that also has aspects of modern-day family. The show takes place in the not-so-modest suburbs with family being the central theme of the show. Mafia and gangster films are quick to become pop cultural phenomenons and "The Sopranos" was no different. "The Sopranos" was executed, made and produced like a major film with dramatic endings, dark characters and storylines that follow characters throughout the entire six-season show. Tony has panic attacks and other problems that follow him throughout the entire show that later attack his son, A.J, (Robert Iler) in an episode. The audience can relate to Tony, his family and how he runs a business.

There is a complex narrative and character development within every character as the show progresses. A viewer can even notice that Tony changes within a season. Season five brings Tony’s "cousin," Tony (Steve Buscemi), who is released from 15 years in prison. Tony is extremely happy and jovial during their time together but when his cousin gets out of hand and Tony does not like it he is forced to kill his cousin. The show conveyed what could be accomplished with continuing storylines that led throughout the entire show.

The American Dream is also associated with "The Sopranos." Mobsters live their entire lives to be a part of a “family,” mafia, and to be respected by their boss. It is a different sort of American Dream that immigrants, and Italian-Americans especially can relate to. The mafia is never the main theme in the show but how the family lives and grows based on how they live – the American Dream. 

"The Sopranos" can best be recognized for the representation that is given to Italian-Americans. Italians play Italians with Italian values, lifestyles and concerns. "The Sopranos" is an iconic and fast-paced show with larger-than-life characters. In a weird way, I admire Tony Soprano.