08/15/2026
One thing The Sopranos did better than almost every other show is that it never tried to convince you Tony was a good guy.
There are moments where you genuinely feel bad for him.
The panic attacks.
The constant pressure of running the family.
The fights at home.
The feeling that everyone wants som**hing from him.
Then, just when you're starting to sympathize with him, he does som**hing that reminds you exactly who he is.
That's what made the show so different.
Most shows want you to root for the main character.
The Sopranos never really cared whether you liked Tony or not.
It just showed you who he was and let you figure it out for yourself.
Some days he felt like a victim of his circumstances.
Other days he was clearly the cause of most of his own problems.
And somehow, that's what made him feel more real than almost any character on television.
Even after all these years, I still can't decide whether Tony Soprano was a bad person with moments of good in him, or a good person who kept making bad choices.
Which side are you on?
1. Bad person with occasional good moments
2. Good person who kept making bad choices