What is the darkest episode of The Sopranos?
HBO’s hit series, The Sopranos, starring James Gandolfini, reigns as one of the greatest television dramas of all time and earned countless awards and praise throughout its six-season run. Created by David Chase, The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, who lives a double life as an average middle-class family man and a ruthless gangster. The show consists of top-notch episodes like Christopher and Paulie being stranded in “Pine Barrens” and the first attempt on Tony’s life, but some of the show’s best are also some of the most shocking.
other gangster content, The Sopranos never relied solely on violence to shake up their fans, and even though there is a fair share of kill shots, the show also consists of intense fights and shocking events that are sometimes worse than death. Between Tony and Carmela’s climatic fight in “Whitecaps” and the show’s iconic series finale, “Made in America,” these are 10 of the most shocking episodes from The Sopranos.
While Tony tries to make peace with the Leotardo family, his problems only get worse after Carlo (Arthur J. Nascarella) flips to save his son from drug charges. Tony mentally prepares for potential prison time, and when he breaks the news to his family at dinner, he’s unaware that he isn’t out of the woods just yet.
Let’s be honest, the series finale, “Made in America,” is without a doubt the show’s most shocking episode. Its abrupt cut to black left the fate of Tony up for debate and continues to be discussed among fans today. While Chase has never officially confirmed the details of how or what exactly happened to Tony, allowing fans to make their own interpretation is one of the reasons why The Sopranos is such as iconic series.
Dr. Melfi (played by Martin Scorcese alum Lorraine Bracco) and her ex-husband have recently reconciled, but they continue to have opposing views about Tony benefiting from cognitive therapy. After discussing the option with Tony, Melfi leaves the office, and while she’s walking through the parking garage, she’s attacked from behind and brutally raped in the stairwell. Despite the police catching the perpetrator, a technical error forces them to let him go causing Melfi to debate telling Tony what happened.
Melfi’s sexual assault in “Employee of the Month” came out of nowhere and is one of the show’s most stunning moments, which shook audiences to their core. Almost everyone anxiously waited for the good doctor to tell Tony the truth about her injuries. When the opportunity presents itself at the end of the episode, she bites her tongue, knowing that if she crossed that line, there would be no going back.
