Watching The Sopranos in 2025: Does It Still Hold Up?
When I first heard about The Sopranos, I thought, Why would I watch a mafia show from the late ‘90s? I wasn’t even born when it aired. With all the modern high-budget shows out there, did I really need to sit through six seasons of old-school television?
But after watching Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders, and Money Heist, I kept hearing that The Sopranos was the blueprint. The "greatest show of all time." So, in 2025, I finally decided to give it a shot. And man… I was not ready for what I was about to experience.
First Impressions: A Different Kind of Mafia Show
I expected The Sopranos to be action-packed, full of shootouts and mob drama. But from the very first episode, it was clear this wasn’t The Godfather.
Instead of glorifying the mafia lifestyle, the show makes it look… exhausting. Tony Soprano, the boss of the DiMeo crime family, isn’t just dealing with rival gangs—he’s juggling panic attacks, therapy, family problems, and a crumbling empire. And that’s what makes him fascinating.
Does It Still Hold Up in 2025?
At first, the pacing felt slow compared to today’s binge-worthy, fast-cut shows. But after a few episodes, I realized The Sopranos doesn’t rush. It lets scenes breathe. Every detail, every conversation matters.
Even though it’s over 20 years old, the show feels timeless because it’s not just about the mafia—it’s about human nature. Anxiety, power struggles, toxic families, depression, and the search for meaning in life. Those things never get old.
That said, some things do feel outdated. The tech (flip phones, boxy TVs, dial-up internet) definitely reminds you that this is a late ‘90s/early 2000s show. And let’s be real—some of the dialogue wouldn’t fly today. But that’s part of its raw, unfiltered charm.
Tony Soprano: The Greatest Antihero Ever?
His therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi make the show even better. Seeing a ruthless gangster talk about his childhood traumas and inner demons? That’s not something I expected, but it made Tony feel real.
James Gandolfini’s performance is insane. The way he switches from calm to violent in seconds… I can’t imagine anyone else playing this role.
That Ending… What Just Happened?!
Even though I knew The Sopranos had a controversial ending, I still wasn’t prepared for it. One second, Tony is sitting at the diner, and the next—BLACK SCREEN. I thought my VLC media player stopped working.
After sitting there in shock, I realized: that’s the point. The tension in that final scene is unreal. The way the camera shifts, the sound design, the mysterious guy at the counter… it’s like the show is training you to expect something big. Then boom—nothing.
Did Tony die? Did life just go on? We’ll never know. And honestly, I respect that. No forced closure. Just pure, unsettling ambiguity.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Watching in 2025?
Absolutely. If you love deep, character-driven storytelling and don’t mind slower pacing, The Sopranos is a must-watch. It’s not just about the mafia—it’s about life, morality, and the things we hide from ourselves.
It’s crazy that a show this old still hits so hard in 2025. Now, whenever I hear "Don’t Stop Believin’" playing, I get nervous.
If you haven’t watched The Sopranos yet, do yourself a favor and start it. Just be ready for a journey that’ll stick with you long after the screen cuts to black.
That’s all for today. It took a little longer than expected to write the whole thing, but anyway, thanks for reading!
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