January 10, 1999 – this is the day television changed forever. That’s because the first episode of The Sopranos aired on HBO on this day. And television has never been the same again. The first season of the show itself was a work of art unlike any other, and it was revolutionary. But every show has its own special moments that stand out above the rest. So here’s a list of the best and most impactful moments from Season 1 of The Sopranos.
The Best Moments from Season 1 of The Sopranos!
Let me make one thing clear – this is not a ranking. Instead, we’re simply listing the best moments from Season 1 of The Sopranos that really made a big impact on those who watched the show for the first time and continued to watch it over and over again.
From the very first episode, you knew that The Sopranos was going to be something special. And this scene plays a big part in that. Seeing James Gandolfini go from caring uncle to crazed mafia boss in a split second really shows the audience what kind of person Tony Soprano really is. And it sets the tone for The Sopranos, not just for season 1, but for all the seasons to come.
This is the moment I knew I was really going to love The Sopranos. Because it just shows how good the writing and dialogue on this show is. After being beaten for hours, Schlomo’s son-in-law Ariel still refuses to give up the hotels. And he commits to his Jewish faith, when he recounts the story of the Siege of Masada and asks the crew, “And the Romans, where are they?”. Tony Soprano replies, “You’re looking at them, you son of a bitch.” It’s great.
This moment is one of the best in season 1 of The Sopranos because it shows how Tony is a master mafia boss. He knows things are getting out of hand with Uncle Junior. So instead of starting a fight, he simply gives up his ego to accept Junior as his boss. However, he does take away some very valuable territory in return. And in the long run, we all know who wins.
This moment perfectly sums up how a kid would react to finding out his father was a criminal. After Meadow tells him about his father’s work as Tony Soprano, Anthony Junior sees for the first time at Jackie Jr.’s funeral that she was actually telling the truth. As he rests his head against the tombstone, he sees his life falling apart before his eyes, realizing a reality that has changed his life. And Robert Iler played this scene perfectly. This is The Sopranos at its best.
Not only is this one of the best moments from season 1 of The Sopranos, it’s also one of the most iconic and influential scenes in television history. Tony Soprano killing the rat Fabian Petrulio on screen makes perfect sense now. But, seeing the main character of a show kill people on TV was unheard of at a time when television was dominated by sitcoms. Plus, HBO was initially reluctant to film the scene because they thought it would scare the crowd. However, David Chase was adamant and kept it. And boy was he right!
