Tony looking up in The Sopranos
By
Ben Sherlock
Published 20 minutes ago
Ben Sherlock is a Tomatometer-approved film and TV critic who runs the massively underrated YouTube channel I Got Touched at the Cinema. Before working at Screen Rant, Ben wrote for Game Rant, Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop. He's also an indie filmmaker, a standup comedian, and an alumnus of the School of Rock.
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James Gandolfini gave one of the greatest performances in TV history as Tony Soprano in HBO’s The Sopranos. Tony was the first great TV antihero. Every iconic performance from Bryan Cranston as Walter White to Michael Chiklis as Vic Mackey has been an attempt to recapture what Gandolfini did so well.
No one could’ve played Tony as effectively as Gandolfini did. Gandolfini captured Tony’s toughness and the fear he strikes into his gangland rivals, but he also captured the vulnerability of his anxiety and his compassion and his Oedipal complex. These classic Sopranos episodes are the best showcase for his iconic work.
Soprano Home Movies
Season 6, Episode 13
Tony looking beaten and bloodied in The Sopranos
Tony has to swallow his pride when he and Carmela take Janice and Bobby on a trip to their cabin in the woods in “Soprano Home Movies.” Bobby has never enjoyed listening to his boss mock and belittle his wife, but when Tony’s ball-busting goes a bit too far, he physically attacks him.
After Bobby beats him in a fight, Tony plays his cards close to his chest. He acts like everything’s fine, but he clearly resents Bobby and starts playing mind games with him. Gandolfini does an incredible job of conveying Tony’s ulterior motives under his unassuming facade.
Amour Fou
Season 3, Episode 12
Tony grabs Gloria in The Sopranos
Tony and fellow psychiatric patient Gloria had one of the most volatile relationships in the series, and it came to an ugly end in season 3’s “Amour Fou.” After Gloria meets Carmela, Tony angrily breaks up with her, and she becomes more and more obsessed with him.
To see Tony go from fawning over Gloria to deeply despising her is really disturbing. Gandolfini conveys this stark emotional switch with shocking aplomb.
Whoever Did This
Season 4, Episode 9
Tony grabs Ralph in The Sopranos
Season 4’s “Whoever Did This” is a showcase for Joe Pantoliano’s turn as Ralph Cifaretto above all. After making Ralphie one of the most hateable characters on the show, the writers used an unexpected tragedy to make him surprisingly sympathetic.
But Ralphie’s too-little-too-late redemption arc gave Gandolfini some great opportunities, too. When Ralph burns his horse for the insurance money, Tony mourns the loss like it’s a close friend — and erupts in violent rage.
Kennedy & Heidi
Season 6, Episode 18
Tony in a casino in The Sopranos
Gandolfini had to pull off one of his toughest scenes in season 6’s “Kennedy and Heidi.” After getting into a car crash with Christopher, Tony realizes his nephew (who’s actually his cousin-in-law) has relapsed. Tony is about to call for help when he sees the child seat in the back of the car and makes an executive decision.
Fearing that it’s just a matter of time until a heroin-addled Christopher kills his own child, Tony decides that the best thing to do is to put Chrissy out of his misery. Gandolfini cycles through being concerned for Chris’ safety, being angry at him for relapsing, and being heartbroken at having to kill him.
The Knight In White Satin Armor
Season 2, Episode 12
Tony stands with Pussy in The Sopranos
In the penultimate episode of The Sopranos’ second season, Tony has to spring into action when Janice murders her husband Richie in the heat of an argument. Tony will do anything to help his sister, but it means he has to go into the belly of the beast and see his mother for the first time since her stroke.
Livia takes sick pleasure in watching a distraught Janice cry over her dead husband. She laughs like a maniac when Tony falls down the stoop on the front step. This whole sequence exemplifies that, despite how tough Tony is, his mother is always capable of tearing him down and making him feel small.
The Second Coming
Season 6, Episode 19
Tony sits with AJ in The Sopranos
Tony finds AJ attempting to drown himself in the family pool in season 6’s “The Second Coming.” He rushes over to drag his son out of the water, get the plastic bag off his head, and untie the cinder block from his ankle.
In the aftermath, Gandolfini captures a tricky balance of anger and compassion. He’s mad that AJ would be so reckless, but he also recognizes that his son must’ve been in a lot of pain to go to this extreme.
Made In America
Season 6, Episode 21
Tony and his family at the diner at the end of The Sopranos
The final episode of The Sopranos is one of the most polarizing series finales in TV history, but no one ever complained about the acting. The closing cut-to-black might have divided fans, but everyone can agree that the finale is beautifully performed by the cast.
Gandolfini gives his best performance in the finale when Tony goes to see Junior in his nursing home. He realizes that Junior has lost his mind and doesn’t recognize him anymore. He instantly lets go of his resentment and regrets not making amends sooner. They have a touching final conversation, showing the softer side of Gandolfini’s performance.
College
Season 1, Episode 5
Meadow (Jamie Lynn Sigler) and Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) walk across a college campus in The Sopranos
Season 1’s “College” was the first truly great episode of The Sopranos. It perfected the show’s blend of relatable family drama and gritty, violent mob drama. When Tony takes Meadow on a college tour, he spots an old turncoat living in witness protection and has to balance Meadow’s higher-education ambitions with his own desire for revenge.
This episode captured the dichotomy that made Tony such a fascinating character. He can be a sweet, loving dad when he’s driving with his daughter, and he can be a ruthless, cold-blooded killer when he catches an old rival.
Whitecaps
Season 4, Episode 13
Tony confronts Carmela in The Sopranos
Tony and Carmela’s separation storyline comes to a head in the season 4 finale “Whitecaps.” They have a nice moment when Tony takes Carm to a Jersey Shore beach house he’s thinking of buying, and it seems like a reconciliation is on the horizon. But back at home, they get into a vicious argument that almost turns violent.
This episode is a perfect showcase for Gandolfini’s chemistry with Edie Falco. You fully believe every interaction between Tony and Carmela, whether they’re taking a romantic walk on the beach or screaming in each other’s faces — it’s like watching a real married couple.
Funhouse
Season 2, Episode 13
The Sopranos standing together at Meadow's graduation
The Sopranos’ iconic season 2 finale combines the silliest humor with the darkest tragedy. In “Funhouse,” Tony suffers food poisoning and faces a days-long bout of vomiting, diarrhea, and delirious hallucinations. Gandolfini nails the absurdist comedy of racing to the toilet and cursing his dinner, but he also nails the rage that grows within him when he suspects Pussy of being an FBI informant.
The episode builds to a tense conclusion when Tony and his friends get Pussy out on a boat in the middle of the ocean to whack him. Only an actor with Gandolfini’s gravitas could capture the pain of a betrayal and the loss of a lifelong friendship in between rushing to the bathroom.
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The Sopranos
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