The Sopranos success was pretty amazing. Nobody expected a cable series to become so hugely popular, nevermind a premium cable series...nevermind one that was based on a genra everybody figured for dead! Even the fact that a comedy starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal based on an almost identicle concept had already hit theatres the same year couldn't make this show seem anything less than fresh, or hinder people's fascination with it.

Creator David Chase didn't even see the success coming, and original only planned for his show to last a single season. And what a season that was...this show managed to be pretty riviting, shocking, hilarious, tragic & thought-provoking during it's first 13 episode run. But the writers did no favors for themselves in planning for a second season, perhaps because they didn't even expect there to be one. The first season finale was satisfying to watch, but must have been hell to write from under a few months later when success beckoned for more.

Fear not, they were up to the challenge. No, they couldn't create another masterpiece. Season two is hardly as brilliant and hard-hitting as the first, but nobody really noticed - because it remained an intensly well-written, well-acted drama. Far and away, the best show on television. But it was pretty much boiling down to a mafia soap opera, albiet a very good one.

Focus started to shift from the mind of Tony Soprano to the struggles of the people around him: his therepist, who angrily shuns him off at the start of the season, has a lot of inner-turmoil over abandoning her star patient. His nephew Christopher makes new attempts at leaving the family 'business' in order to persue a career in Hollywood. His son is dealing with the realities of life and death. And his best friend is caught between loyalty & law enforcement.

There are a LOT of running stories this season. So many that in order to give them all the necessary screentime, characters get pushed to the backburner for episodes at a time. It can be frustrating to see P-ssy's story arch get very riviting, then go without mention for three episodes.

But by the time the season finale rolls along, I can assure you that satisfaction will follow. The Sopranos threw to the wind the concept of making you think, and decided to focus on the other thing that it did quite well: keeping you on the edge of your seat. Theres sex, murder, deception, surprises, love, scandal - nevermind that you're not thinking as much, you're being very entertained.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age