There's an overall story, but its mostly just Tony. Whether he's a good or bad man, whether he wants to be, how he relates to the business that has been his entire life and the people around him...

There's not a "main arc" that doesn't depend on Tony, its more how the little things affect and change him, and how those consequences beget others, particularly inside of people.

Sopranos is a show about characters, the world they inhabit, and the way that world shapes them over time. That’s the story.

I truly envy you watching this for the first time. It’s that good!

It's a lot of true stories mixed with fiction and fictional characters. It's even a more fun show the 2nd watch through. When you appreciate the characters and actors more thoroughly. Who's the show stealer? For me it's Dominic Chianese (Uncle Jr).

It's a long story.

If you're looking at it with modern cerealized pressteege TV sensibilities and expecting every second to inform some grander plot, well, that's not happening. There's no universal threat that will be defeated at season's end or big bad. It's the lives of The Sopranos and their associates. Not everything will be resolved, not everything matters.

it's a show about Tony's life, not your typical "mafia movie" with the massive gang war at the end

w3w

Paulie was a legit criminal.

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Sirico was convicted of several crimes and was arrested 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting.[3][6] On February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found with a .32 caliber revolver on his person. In 1971, he was indicted for extortion, coercion, and felony weapons possession, convicted, and sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 20 months at Sing Sing.[7][8][9]

The show is about characters. There is no filler. Every scene tells you something about a character.

The main conflict is the characters struggling with balancing things that are not compatible.

IIRC David Chase said The Sopranos is just a show about how hard it is for a guy to get through the day.

Well the show is basically a character study of Tony. I guess from season 4 you could argue Phil Leotardo was built as the primary antagonist and Tony falling out of favor with the NY outlet and Phil rising and capitalizing was the big story arc of the show.

But it's really about the psychosis of a sociopath involved in organized crime and how that functions within a family life and how people cope.

I watched it over the summer because my son really wanted me to and I asked the same question, I watched a few seasons of it n gave up lol, it’s a good show but eh just not for me

Sopranos, along with equally prestiged shows are all about the characters. I'm sure people who grew up outside of the era the shows were created in, may not appreciate that type of story telling. But there doesn't really need to be an overarching story for 5 seasons, this isn't CW or disney

>cerealized

Great with milk!

"Where's my arc, Paulie?"

There are season specific storylines and smaller caracher arcs, but yes it has one large overall story too.

You know who else had an ark? Noah.