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The Sopranos is a crime drama show created by David Chase, which features James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, and others. The show elevated the art of television storytelling and was one of the first highly successful shows by HBO. The series is about a New Jersey mafia boss, Tony Soprano (Gandolfini), who begins to have panic attacks and sees a therapist, Dr. Melfi (Bracco). The show focuses on how Tony tries to balance his personal and professional life and has plenty of mob drama. The show is known for its clever writing and direction and here are the 10 best The Sopranos episodes in no particular order.
Pine Barrens, Funhouse, and other best episodes from The Sopranos
1. Whitecaps
This terrific episode comes from The Sopranos’ 4th season and its 13th episode. The episode is emotionally intense and has high-quality writing. It even has some of the most dramatic moments in Tony and Carmela’s relationship in The Sopranos. The episode focuses on Christopher returning from rehab and being tasked with a hit instantaneously. However, the primary aspect of the episode focuses on Tony and Carmela’s conflict. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco deliver stellar performances as Tony and Carmela respectively. The conflict between the couple reaches a tipping point and Carmela and Tony have a memorable confrontation. The resentment that the two share for each other is brilliantly captured in the clever back and forth argument. Finally, it is revealed that Carmela has feelings for Furio. The episode’s title also has a double meaning and refers to the crest of a wave that breaks into foam, which reflects the breaking up of Tony and Carmela’s marriage.
2. Irregular around the Margins
This tense episode comes from The Sopranos’ 5th season and its 5th episode. The episode focuses on the feelings that develop between Tony and Adrianna. While the writers could have inserted this plot out of nowhere and it would have lost its importance, The Sopranos cleverly shows how the pair bond over medical concerns. Therefore, there is stellar writing in this episode. Especially, since Christopher makes fun of Adrianna’s IBS and Tony sympathizes with her, instead. Further, Tony and Adrianna get into a car crash on the way to pick up drugs and the episode builds up the conflict and the misunderstanding as a different version of the events reaches Christopher. The episode is fast-paced and portrays the dynamic between various characters. The episode has a lot of tension and build-up and is therefore one of those The Sopranos episodes that is highly-loved by fans.
3. I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano
The Sopranos knows how to end its seasons on a fitting note. The final episode of the 1st season follows the conflict between Tony and Uncle Junior, which reaches a high point. The episode has deaths and focuses on the aftermath of an assassination attempt on Tony. It also sees Uncle Junior being arrested and Tony is officially put in charge of the New Jersey crew. This is therefore, a turning point in the show’s story. The episode is vital and important as it builds the foundation for more high-stakes drama that is about to come in the later seasons. While the first season has a bit of a comedic undertone, the later seasons are grittier and this finale episode nudges the story in the right direction. The first season is quainter when compared to the other seasons where many important character deaths happen. Therefore, the first season’s finale is an interesting watch and avid viewers can compare how far the show comes as it progresses.
4. All Due Respect
This episode comes from The Sopranos’ 5th season and is its 13th episode. The fifth season is one of the most eventful seasons in the show’s entire run and its last two episodes are highly explosive. The present episode still reels under the massive penultimate episode of the season and still manages to give the viewers a few more surprises. While the Adrianna and Christopher plot is resolved, the episode now focuses on Tony resolving the troubles between his cousin and Phil Leotardo, who is a high-ranking member of the New York crew. Tony B. comes for a short time in the show but still manages to leave an impact. It’s even harder to say goodbye to the character as it is played wonderfully by Steve Buscemi. While the episode focuses on Tony resolving conflicts and preventing any escalating tensions from happening, the tense atmosphere between the crews still remains and this atmosphere continues to boil over the show’s next and final season.
5. Long Term Parking
One of the most important episodes in The Sopranos, this one is the 5th season’s 12th episode and is therefore the penultimate episode of the penultimate season. This particular episode has a high ranking and is one of the best yet most painful episodes. The episode delivers the most shocking and devastating death of one of the main characters on the show, Adrianna. Even though it has become inevitable that Adrianna would meet her end for becoming an informant, the viewers still hope that she gets out of the mob life. However, the episode delivers a tragic death. The episode is moody and has an uncanny tone as it creates a build-up for the character’s death. Even though the death happens off-screen, it is still shocking. It is one of those The Sopranos episodes that rank high on the list and is nearly perfect.
6. Pine Barrens
Another episode from The Sopranos that has received a lot of fanfare and catapulted the show’s popularity even further was this one from the show’s 3rd season and its 11th episode. The episode provoked one of the biggest unanswered questions from the viewers about what happened to the Russians. While the episode focuses less on the plot, it is thoroughly enjoyable and showcases the genius of the writers. It also has a lot of clever humor and excellent slapstick comedy that showcases the brilliance of the writing of The Sopranos. The episode is rewatchable and can even be watched on its own. The premise is about two comedic characters who are thrown into the snowy woods and have to deal with challenges. The episode therefore highlights the show’s comedic side. It is one of those episodes from The Sopranos that was aired during the show’s height of popularity and is extremely enjoyable.
7. The Knight in White Satin Armor
There are many shocking character deaths in The Sopranos and this episode, which is the penultimate episode from season 2, also has one. While it is not the first time that a supporting character dies, the episode is memorable because Richie had a violent and sudden demise and therefore, his death is something that the viewers of the show were not prepared for. Especially, since it happens at the hands of Janice, who is Tony’s sister and had got engaged to Richie a short while before. Richie’s death was also the first time in The Sopranos that someone from the main cast had been written out of the show. While viewers did expect his end to come as he clashed a lot with Tony and would therefore not have been able to stay during the duration of the whole show, it was still a shock. The episode highlights that no one is safe in the show and has many memorable quotes as well.
8. Funhouse
The Sopranos has always been inventive in its storytelling and this episode from the show’s 2nd season and the 13th episode, is memorable for its fever-dream narrative. While using dreams as plot devices can go wrong, the show was able to use it wisely. The writers use this device when they want to explore Tony’s psychology and when he has to make big decisions. The dream is therefore an important symbol in the show as it makes Tony realize that his friend, “Pussy”, is an informant for the FBI, and he has always been in denial about it. The episode is special as it uses surreal imagery and makes the show more cinematic in its scope. The episode therefore elevates The Sopranos and has brilliant cinematography. The episode is bleak yet humorous as it has a talking fish. The episode takes place on a constantly rocking boat and is one of the best episodes of the show.
9. Made in America
This episode from the show’s 6th and final season and its final episode, is a chapter that is still talked about to this day. The episode ties up a lot of loose ends and sends off various supporting character, before it gets to the controversial final scene of Tony and his family over dinner. The episode shortly cuts to black and it is up to the viewers what they want to make out of it. There has been much debate about this abrupt ending and many avid fans have not liked the manner in which the show ended. Viewers’ opinions range from Tony dying to living on but in an unhappy state. The ending is bold and has made its mark as it is still talked about till today. The Sopranos ends at a moment when Tony and his family’s fates are uncertain as the New York mob war is going on and many characters have become a shadow of their former selves.
10. The Blue Comet
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This episode is from The Sopranos’ 6th season and its 20th episode. The episode is the penultimate episode from the last season of the show and follows a pattern. The Sopranos is known for its penultimate episodes having the most shocking plots and this is true with this one as well. Phil’s conflict with the Sopranos comes to a boiling point and Silvio is shot, which leaves him in a coma. The episode also marks the ending of the relationship between Tony and Dr. Melfi, which was the foundation of the series. The writers therefore convey amply that things are moving fast. The client-therapist relationship ends because Melfi finds out that sociopaths often use therapy to enable their actions. However, the episode is also high on mob drama as there is an all-out war between the New Jersey and the New York crew. Tony’s is devastated as Silvio is in a coma and Bobby has died. The episode is frenzied and has a sense of finality. It is therefore one of the best episodes of The Sopranos.
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