The Sopranos

A closer look at the story

Tony Soprano is the man at the top of an Italian-American crime organisation operating in New Jersey. His greatest battle, however, is not on the streets but within his own life. On one side are the expectations of his family, his wife Carmela and their children; on the other, the ruthless demands of the criminal organisation he runs, and the two worlds are constantly at odds. The contradictions Tony lives with come to light in his regular sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Tony's relatives and Mafia associates also play major roles in the series; Carmela and Tony's cousin and protégé Christopher Moltisanti are especially central. David Chase's crime drama debuted on HBO in 1999 and comprises six seasons and 86 episodes, starring James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco.