The Sopranos: Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 10, 1999
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
The Sopranos Image
Metascore
87 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 111 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, James Gandolfini
  • Summary: Meet Tony Soprano: your average, middle-aged businessman. Tony's got a dutiful wife. A not-so-dutiful son. A daughter named Meadow. An uncle who's losing his marbles. A hot-headed nephew. A not-too-secret mistress. And a shrink to tell all his secrets, except the one she already knows:
    Tony    's a mob boss whose troubles are wrapped up in his two families. These days, it's getting tougher and tougher to make a killing in the killing business. Just because you're 'made' doesn't mean you've got it made.… Expand
  • Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Lee Winfrey
    Apr 1, 2013
    100
    Home Box Office has telecast several of the most scintillating series of this decade, notably The Larry Sanders Show, Oz, Arli$$, and Sex and the City. You can safely add The Sopranos to that glittering gallery. [10 Jan 1999, p.F01]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Marvin Kitman
    Apr 1, 2013
    100
    It's a great show, the best new series of the year. It's so - dare I say it? - original. It catches you off guard. Basically, it's everything I'm always looking for in drama. It's beautifully written, authentic, without the plastic Los Angeles look. The acting is marvelous. It's funny in a darkly comedic way, involving as a soap opera, and quirky. I never quite know what's going to happen, even though the subject matter is by no means unprecedented for television. [10 Jan 1999, p.D35]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: David Walker
    Apr 1, 2013
    80
    The Sopranos, which lovingly embraces its debt to The Godfather movies,offers TV viewers an option they should not refuse. [10 Jan 1999, p.7E]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Apr 1, 2013
    50
    The series has some potent black humor and good acting, especially from Nancy Marchand as the mobster's mom and Edie Falco as his wife...But a gangster's midlife crisis is a weak, unpalatable premise for a series. The Sopranos makes an offer you can refuse. [10 Jan 1999, p.F1]
    All this critic's reviews

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. donutboy
    10
    The show deserves 11 but metacritic limit at 10. I bet James shows up on the street and people start calling him Tony Soprano. The script, the acting all top notch second to none. A must-watch for all TV zealots.… Expand
  2. ReaIistiC
    10
    Best TV show of all time. Loved this! such good twists. Every season gets better and better as it progresses. Loved it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¬!!!!!!!!!!!… Collapse
  3. Aquazi
    10
    This is the best show ever made. It's not just a tv show about mafia filled with clichè, it's a story of real people making real choices, perffect acting, standing ovation screenplay, the show just gets better and better with time. There are some weak fillers episodes but generally Gandolfini is such a real and magnificent character. All his family, and friends and other bosses are just perfect. This is the highest point a tv show ever reached, "Lost" had his chance but some weak seasons and very confusional screenwriting in season 3 and 4 ruined a bit the magic it had.… Expand
  4. Bunny
    10
    Arguably the best television drama ever filmed, with Breaking Bad now nipping at its heels. What works is that all the characters in the show are realistic and relatable, especially the show's antihero, Tony Soprano. Despite being a powerful mob boss, he is an everyman. You want to cheer for him, turning a blind eye to his nefarious secret life. The acting is great and the show's writing is sharp and brimming with dark humour and the viewer vacillates between laughter and cringing at the show's uncompromising violence. As stories unfold and characters develop The Sopranos just gets better with each episode.… Expand

See all 17 User Reviews

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