What was the fcuking big deal about the Sopranos?

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 2:25pm #1

Dare I say, how did it end up being considered the best show of all time by so many. Is it just that anything about mafia is always considered good tv? Do people pretend to like to look cool... like the way people pretend to think Brando was a good actor. I can't say I've watched the entire series from start to finish. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I get that there's the shock factor of the way they just murder some poor innocent fellow or the street and then laugh about. I mean that would grab anyone's attention, but it doesn't make it good drama. Especially when you always know who's going to get killed. When Christopher kicked the **** out of a fella in acting the acting class, I could see it coming a mile away.

I can a lot of people who know me well telling me "you'd definitely like it". All I think to myself is "you're so poor at understanding people if you don't if see that someone like me wouldn't be into that".

NOTE TO MODS - PLEASE REMOVE THAT POLL QUESTION. I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE

irishfeen · 12-01-2019 2:25pm

Because it’s absolutely brilliant... simples

Bada Bing!

Voodoomelon · 12-01-2019 2:27pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I take it by this statement you're not a fan of The Wire either. In which case you have no business commenting on what's good or bad TV.

greencap · 12-01-2019 2:28pm

Galdofinis consistently amazing acting across the dozens of episodes.

LessOutragePlz · 12-01-2019 2:29pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

It's a matter of taste and preference clearly a lot of people consider it great tv me included.

FTA69 · 12-01-2019 2:33pm

“You look like a Puerto Rican whore.”

Church on Tuesday · 12-01-2019 2:34pm

Great theme tune too

https://youtu.be/YDDkCiUhHCc

CalamariFritti · 12-01-2019 2:36pm

You have to get into it and its characters like with every other show. Rewatched Sopranos about a year ago and loved it even more than the first time around.

trashcan · 12-01-2019 2:36pm

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I take it by this statement you're not a fan of The Wire either. In which case you have no business commenting on what's good or bad TV.

Ha. Amen to that in my view. The Sopranos was a very good TV drama, the Wire is something else again. Best thing I've ever seen, or expect to see on TV or film.

If you don't like those shows, what would your version of good TV drama be ? Generic crap like CSI/Law and Order etc ? Mush like Downtown Abbey perhaps ?

Most mainstream TV drama is awful, which is why shows like the Wire and the Sopranos stand out. Honourable mentions to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Line of Duty, Narcos and Peaky Blinders (in no particular order as they say.)

Mr. Guappa · 12-01-2019 2:38pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Dare I say, how did it end up being considered the best show of all time by so many. Is it just that anything about mafia is always considered good tv? Do people pretend to like to look cool... like the way people pretend to think Brando was a good actor. I can't say I've watched the entire series from start to finish. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.

I get that there's the shock factor of the way they just murder some poor innocent fellow or the street and then laugh about. I mean that would grab anyone's attention, but it doesn't make it good drama. Especially when you always know who's going to get killed. When Christopher kicked the **** out of a fella in acting the acting class, I could see it coming a mile away.

I can a lot of people who know me well telling me "you'd definitely like it". All I think to myself is "you're so poor at understanding people if you don't if see that someone like me wouldn't be into that".

What do you consider good TV so?

Kimbot · 12-01-2019 2:38pm

Op why not give it a watch to see what the big deal is about it instead of asking here.

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 2:39pm

trashcan wrote: »

If you don't like those shows, what would your version of good TV drama be ? Generic crap like CSI/Law and Order etc ? Mush like Downtown Abbey perhaps ?

Nip/Tuck and The Mentalist.

I liked Mad Men just a little bit too.

facehugger99 · 12-01-2019 2:40pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

. And is it just a coincidence that anyone who likes it also likes 'The Wire'.
.

No, it's called having taste.

bnt · 12-01-2019 2:42pm

Never watched it, and have been considering it based on its reputation, but I don't know if I want to watch eighty-six episodes about Mafia gangsters.

James__10 · 12-01-2019 2:50pm

Move along fella

Pero_Bueno · 12-01-2019 2:50pm

OP obviously never had the makings of a varsity athlete.

kneemos · 12-01-2019 2:53pm

It's all deep and ****.

PropJoe10 · 12-01-2019 2:54pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

It's the combination of great characters, script, and consistently brilliant acting. And James Gandolfini was an absolute genius.

Back to watching Home & Away for you, OP!

Sleeper12 · 12-01-2019 2:55pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

First episode of the Supranos is 20 years old now. I think it still stands up as a great show.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 12-01-2019 2:58pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

You didn’t like it. Fine. There’s no requirement to. But you seem just as annoyed at people liking the show. Which is odd.

killbillvol2 · 12-01-2019 2:58pm

bnt wrote: »

Never watched it, and have been considering it based on its reputation, but I don't know if I want to watch eighty-six episodes about Mafia gangsters.

It's not about Mafia gangsters, it's actually a family drama.

TerrorFirmer · 12-01-2019 2:59pm

I think you are totally missing the point of the show as well. It shows us that even the most ruthless, horrible people going are still human at the end of the day, often very likeable in fact. Plus we often tend to forget that even the worst people have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, kids, or whatever, as well as somewhat 'normal' social lives, interests, problems, needs, etc outside of the job.

Everyone in the show had depth. Aside from James Gandolfini, I always think of Bobby, he's a made man and he extorts, blackmails, even murders in the show, but he's quite shy, reserved, doesn't cheat on his wife like the others and is obsessed with model trains.

Plus it was fascinating for people to find themselves actually rooting for the violent, aggressive, misogynistic thug with very few redeemable qualities outside of his charm that was Tony Soprano. It's what made Love/Hate so successful here, pretty much the same format - Nidge is pretty much an homage to Tony and portrayed in the exact same way.

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 2:59pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

First episode of the Supranos is 20 years old now. I think it still stands up as a great show.

In comparison to the **** there's been since, that wouldn't be too hard.

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:04pm

I see. So there have been no decent TV shows made in the 20 years since?

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 3:04pm

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Plus it was fascinating for people to find themselves actually rooting for the violent, aggressive, misogynistic thug

Yeah it just shows how stupid people are.

I'm not dumb enough to root for a murderer just because he cries when his tomatoes don't grow! Stupid Soprano fans

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 12-01-2019 3:04pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

I think you are totally missing the point of the show as well. It shows us that even the most ruthless, horrible people going are still human at the end of the day, often very likeable in fact. Plus we often tend to forget that even the worst people have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, kids, or whatever, as well as somewhat 'normal' social lives, interests, problems, needs, etc outside of the job.

Everyone in the show had depth. Aside from James Gandolfini, I always think of Bobby, he's a made man and he extorts, blackmails, even murders in the show, but he's quite shy, reserved, doesn't cheat on his wife like the others and is obsessed with model trains.

Plus it was fascinating for people to find themselves actually rooting for the violent, aggressive, misogynistic thug with very few redeemable qualities outside of his charm that was Tony Soprano. It's what made Love/Hate so successful here, pretty much the same format - Nidge is pretty much an homage to Tony and portrayed in the exact same way.

You know, I never really did root for Tony ever. I found the character fascinating of course but my opinion of him remained low throughout. The interest for me was in the show slowly revealing the depths of what a lowlife he was.

PropJoe10 · 12-01-2019 3:05pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Yeah it just shows how stupid people are.

I'm not dumb enough to root for a murderer just because he cries when his tomatoes don't grow! Stupid Soprano fans

What a strange and stupid comment. You obviously have totally missed the point of this show, so you should probably go and watch something that you enjoy, rather than something you clearly don't.

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:06pm

I hear Neighbours is better than Home and Away these days

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 3:06pm

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Nidge is pretty much an homage to Tony and portrayed in the exact same way.

Another stupid show. I could see it a MILE away that the guards would NOT be the ones to take down Nidge. I could see it a mile away.

A FCUKING MILE AWAY!

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:07pm

Slow Saturday afternoon, is it?

dulux99 · 12-01-2019 3:07pm

At the time it was great. It was before we were blessed with dozens of brilliant series at our fingertips at all times. If someone sits down to watch it now having not watched it at all it probably won't have aged well.

Sleeper12 · 12-01-2019 3:10pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote:

You didnâ€™t like it. Fine. Thereâ€™s no requirement to. But you seem just as annoyed at people liking the show. Which is odd.

I agree.
My brother and his wife walked out half way through Pulp Fiction in the cinema. (he must be adopted or something). That doesn't mean that it wasn't a great ground breaking movie

Personally I've seen Supranos three times over the last 20 years and I might go a fourth round yet.

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 3:11pm

PropJoe10 wrote: »

What a strange and stupid comment.

Why so? It's a perfect think with their hearts and not their heads and are therefore open to manipulation.

They'll make the same mistake in real life. They'll take back their husband who beats them, etc, etc. The same reason many people voted for Trump...

Pero_Bueno · 12-01-2019 3:11pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

First episode of the Supranos is 20 years old now. I think it still stands up as a great show.

Good article here
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20190108-the-sopranos-a-revolutionary-show-well-talk-about-forever

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 3:12pm

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I see. So there have been no decent TV shows made in the 20 years since?

Well there was Nip/Tuck

VeryTerry · 12-01-2019 3:13pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Nip/Tuck and The Mentalist.

I liked Mad Men just a little bit too.

There's no accounting for taste

einn32 · 12-01-2019 3:14pm

I loved the Sopranos. Everything in it just worked and was mostly clever in my opinion. Now parts of it were unbelievable in ways but I didn't care I just was totally entertained. I rooted for Tony at the start but in the end I just thought he was a low life as were most of these guys.

I tried the wire but never got in to it.

Women without Makeup · 12-01-2019 3:15pm

VeryTerry wrote: »

There's no accounting for taste

You're saying you don't think they're good.

kneemos · 12-01-2019 3:15pm

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I hear Neighbours is better than Home and Away these days

Both watchable with the sound off.

The high horse brigade · 12-01-2019 3:17pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

dulux99 wrote: »

At the time it was great. It was before we were blessed with dozens of brilliant series at our fingertips at all times. If someone sits down to watch it now having not watched it at all it probably won't have aged well.

It's actually aged very well

VeryTerry · 12-01-2019 3:21pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Women without Makeup wrote: »

You're saying you don't think they're good.

The Sopranos is like a well written broadsheet while the Mentalist is like the Sun.

Necro · 12-01-2019 3:23pm

Women without Makeup wrote: »

Nip/Tuck and The Mentalist.

I liked Mad Men just a little bit too.

LOL...

You dislike the Sopranos because it's about murders yet love a show (per wiki):

The drama is set in a plastic-surgery center, McNamara/Troy, centering on the
two doctors who own it. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) is often found
having problems at home due to being seduced by beautiful women on a daily
basis, and thus tries to keep his family together by patching up the rocky road
in which his family and he are living. Partner Christian Troy
(Julian McMahon), though,
uses his charm to bring in potential female candidates and conducts vain
business deals, almost never failing and ending up with dozens of women in
bed. Sean takes his job seriously; he is often found having to fix
some of Christian's mistakes.

About two womanising plastic surgeons. Go figure

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:24pm

It might just make me binge watch the pile of steaming manure that was Breaking Bad. What a crappy TV show that was.

Necro · 12-01-2019 3:26pm

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

It might just make me binge watch the pile of steaming manure that was Breaking Bad. What a crappy TV show that was.

Ugh, I dunno I go back and forth on that tbh. The first two seasons are pretty bad but it really amps up from season 3 into some pretty good TV.

For an all action, leave your brain at the door kind of show though Banshee blows it out of the water.

The high horse brigade · 12-01-2019 3:33pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

The Sopranos was responsible for killing two shows that should've been let run to completion as both were amazing, Carnivale and Deadwood. The Sopranos was such a success HBO dropped both and added their budgets to the Sopranos bringing it up to close to $1 million per episode

paw patrol · 12-01-2019 3:44pm

The high horse brigade wrote: »

The Sopranos was responsible for killing two shows that should've been let run to completion as both were amazing, Carnivale and Deadwood. The Sopranos was such a success HBO dropped both and added their budgets to the Sopranos bringing it up to close to $1 million per episode

I didn't know that.

pity cos deadwood was really good.

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:45pm

Necro wrote: »

Ugh, I dunno I go back and forth on that tbh. The first two seasons are pretty bad but it really amps up from season 3 into some pretty good TV.

For an all action, leave your brain at the door kind of show though Banshee blows it out of the water.

I was joking. I thought BB was a bit slow at the start but never ever did I think it was bad TV. The OP is obviously stirring things.

I've never watched The Wire but I'd certainly not declare it was a load of crap just because I've not seen it. Game of Thrones isn't my sort of TV and I know I'll definitely never watch that. But again, who am I to say it's rubbish?

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:48pm

The high horse brigade wrote: »

The Sopranos was responsible for killing two shows that should've been let run to completion as both were amazing, Carnivale and Deadwood. The Sopranos was such a success HBO dropped both and added their budgets to the Sopranos bringing it up to close to $1 million per episode

Ah that's a shame. I never watched Deadwood but have a friend who raved about it. They were probably victims of being created too soon. They'd stand a better chance of running their course nowadays.

batgoat · 12-01-2019 3:49pm

I'm an idiot who knows nothing.

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I see. So there have been no decent TV shows made in the 20 years since?

There's a handful of shows that basically created well developed and creative TV shows that has led to what we presently have. Eg Breaking Bad The handful that come to mind are Twin Peaks, Oz, The Wire and The Sopranos. Audiences weren't used to TV that you couldn't really dip in and out of. So yep, they revitalised TV.

Ursus Horribilis · 12-01-2019 3:50pm

Our OP might not agree

meeeeh · 12-01-2019 3:52pm

I liked Sopranos and Breaking Bad and I absolutely love Wire. But I also quite enjoyed Downtown Abbey or other costume drama. Yes Dowton Abbey became a bit of mush but I don't like when anything aimed at women is dismissed as inferior. Big Little Lies offered just as good acting as True Detective.

As for Sopranos it was well made but I am not overly into mafia stuff. For me The Wire is above everything else, brilliant characters, brilliant acting and (ignoring last season) brilliant storytelling.

What was the fcuking big deal about the Sopranos?

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