Tony Soprano is one of the most enigmatic characters in television history. Every other episode tends to show him justifying his terrible decisions to his therapist, and just when he appears to be making progress in finding healthy ways to cope with his trauma, he performs yet another horrific act in his life. Throughout the whole run of the series, the cycle repeats itself until even the most optimistic fans admit that Tony Soprano will never truly find his way to redemption.
“The Sopranos” is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable shows in television history, and some argue that it ushered in the Golden Age of television. Everything about the drama, from the casting to the writing, has been a shining example of producing a TV show. One of the most significant ways it influenced not just television but also pop culture, in general, was by giving people an indelible taste of how captivating an antihero can be. It’s difficult to imagine programs like “Succession,” “Breaking Bad,” and “Better Call Saul” existing without David Chase’s magnum opus.
Tony’s absolutely was always at the heart of the show. The series went to great lengths to ensure audiences wouldn’t become enamored with Tony and his gangster lifestyle. So, in our attempt to deconstruct “The Sopranos” themes, here are the worst things Tony Soprano ever did.
Tony frequently argues with Dr. Melfi that his life in crime was preordained and that all he did was do with the cards life had dealt with him. Tony Soprano was born into a mob family and his parents exposed him to violent criminality as a kid. During one therapy session, Dr. Melfi and Tony experience a breakthrough, finally understanding that Tony’s panic attacks happen because he witnessed his father commit horrible crimes and his mother responded to them callously.
There are also hints throughout the show that life inside the mob isn’t always what Tony imagined for himself; before dropping out of college as a freshman, he pondered continuing in school and making a career in sports instead. As an adult, he still has nightmares about his former coach reprimanding him for not focusing on sports. It’s obvious Tony has a moral compass and, to some extent, regrets not following it.
After quitting college, Tony puts all his effort into being a made man in the mob. He organized a gang of goons with the intention of robbing card games and earning a reputation for himself inside the mafia. Still, Tony can leave this world behind until he commits an irrevocable deed by murdering Willie Overall at age 23. That’s when his journey down the dark path truly begins.
The portrayal of Tony’s family is one of the ways “The Sopranos” distinguishes itself from previous mafia narratives. Unlike in previous mob stories, Tony doesn’t even consider having his children succeed him in the mob, favoring a more legitimate path for them from the start. Tony also attempts to conceal his criminal activities from his family, mainly because he’s aware that his parents’ failure to do so affects him. Meadow, his daughter, is the best example of this progress. Meadow is Tony’s first opportunity to end the cycle. Both Tony and Carmela push her to take her schooling seriously and pursue her goal of becoming a pediatrician.
Tony’s relationship with Meadow is often strained because his attempts to protect her are often overbearing or based on lies, which she does not like. He also isn’t shy about expressing his opinions of her romantic life. When Meadow began dating in college, Tony expressed his bigotry after learning that her boyfriend was partly Jewish and Black. And thus the pattern of emotionally harming the Soprano children continues.
Tony’s first significant mob operation came when he joined up with Jackie Aprile and two other associates to loot a card game. The deed became legendary among the mob and forged a lasting friendship between Tony and Jackie.
As Jackie nears the end of his life, he attempts to keep his son, Jackie Jr., away from illegal activities, feeling that he just doesn’t have the stomach for it. After Jackie’s passing, Tony vows to keep his friend’s son out of the business.
Despite this, Tony never makes a point of becoming Jackie Jr.’s mentor, instead leaving that up to Jackie Jr.’s uncle Ritchie, who led him into minor mob activities. That doesn’t last long because Tony’s sister killed Ritchie during an argument. Jackie Jr. then falls under the tutelage of an even worse mentor: Ralph. While Jackie Jr. is looking for a father figure, Ralph tells him the famous story of Tony and his father looting the card game, which inspires him to do the same.
