Was The Sopranos ahead of its time?

The HBO hit crime drama The Sopranos is considered to be one of the greatest television series of all time. The characters are complex, and the storyline delves deep into the psychological impact organized crime has on its participants and their family members. The Sopranos also commented on social stigmas around Italian-Americans and mental health during the late 1990s. Many of the recurring characters in the show were therapists, and they discussed mental disorders at great length, including personality disorders, mood disorders and neurodevelopment disorders.
Many of these mental health topics were considered taboo at the time as psychology was still making its way into mainstream healthcare. The fact that The Sopranos even discussed borderline personality disorder and attention-deficit disorder showed how ahead of the times they were as those two disorders still have a stigma in today’s society. Tony’s mother was suspected to suffer from BPD, but she died in Season 2. Tony’s son AJ is diagnosed with ADD early in the show, and it stands as a crucial moment that impacts AJ’s behavior throughout the seasons .

According to the Child Mind Institute, ADD is an outdated term for ADHD because it didn’t include a huge portion of people who showed similar symptoms of the disorder. At the time, the disorder was highly questioned as many people in society saw ADHD individuals as displaying their symptoms purposefully. There seemed to be a societal belief that people with ADHD can control the disorder and are simply choosing not to, but many of these kids were never given the tools to combat their disorder. They simply faced punishment which pushed a major radical acceptance of ADHD much later in today’s culture.
These children grew into adults who sought therapy and mental health resources, now feeling validation for the first time in their lives. The Sopranos did an amazing job of showcasing this element of society for AJ even in the first scene where his disorder is introduced. AJ’s school called for a conference with the Sopranos, and they explained that AJ had been behaving poorly in class, but they believed he showed significant signs of ADD. Tony received the information openly (showcasing a rare moment where he was a good and present father) , and he asks for suggestions on what to do next.

The school didn’t have suggestions for Tony as they insisted AJ still be punished. This confused Tony, and he confronted them about their lack of help, claiming the concept didn’t make sense to him. How could his son have a disorder he can’t control but also be punished for displaying symptoms of that disorder. The school didn’t have an answer for him, so Tony decided the entire diagnosis wasn’t valid or real. He claimed it was just “another excuse.”