We Finished the Sopranos Again

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For the third time we finished ‘The Sopranos’.

The question Kathy asked when it ended should sum up what we thought of this viewing:

“Want to start it again?” She asked.

“You know, I loved ‘Breaking Bad’ and it was awesome, but if it’s in second place it’s not even in the same universe as ‘The Sopranos.’”

The relationships are so well-developed. Carmela’s and Tony’s marriage, the back and forth with their children, the men in the gang, Paulie, Christopher, Bobby and Janice.

Religion is front and center.

Mental health is discussed at length.

Aging and death and grief.

In the last episode, Tony sees Uncle Junior in the nursing home. Junior doesn’t recognize Tony as dementia has stripped him of all mental health.

“You ran all of North New Jersey,” Tony says.

“That’s nice,” Uncle Junior says, not remembering any of it.

That’s the scene that always punches me in the gut.

None of it mattered.

And I considered that James Gandolfini has died.

“I can’t believe he’s dead,” I said, as we watched an episode.

But people will be watching that series for another 50 to 100 years.

We’ll probably watch it 3 more times.

The best series ever.

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