The Sopranos’ Greatest Hits: The Best Episode from Every Season Ranked!

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The Sopranos is one of the most iconic shows ever made. It transformed the mafia genre through hyper-realistic storylines. Additionally, it revolutionized television and ushered in the Golden Age of Television, inspiring other acclaimed series such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Boardwalk Empire. The Sopranos followed the life of Tony Soprano, the mafia don and head of the DiMeo Crime family.

Throughout its six seasons, The Sopranos depicted Tony Soprano’s many ups and downs as the boss of the major New Jersey crime family. He faced numerous tough decisions and personal challenges while clashing with friends and enemies alike. Each season of The Sopranos was exceptional, yet each has an episode that outshines the rest as the best.

“College” Showed the Family Side and Murderous Side of Tony Soprano

Season 1, Episode 5

In “College,” Tony Soprano goes on a road trip with Meadow so she can see her options for colleges in Maine. While they’re traveling, Meadow asks Tony if he’s in the mafia, which catches him by surprise. Tony uses the opportunity to let Meadow into his world and confides some truths about his life. Unfortunately, during his time in Maine, Tony notices an ex-DiMeo crime family associate, Febby, who snitched on many past members.

“College” largely functions as a standalone episode of The Sopranos, but it’s a very telling exploration about the dual life that Tony Soprano lives. He juggles being a good father while knowing what he has to do as a mafia boss. “College” showed that The Sopranos was more than a mafia show.

“Funhouse” Explored Tony’s Suspicions of Big Pussy Being an Informant Through Intense Dreams

Season 2, Episode 13

“Funhouse” follows Tony Soprano having hallucinogenic dreams induced by food poisoning. Tony’s dreams even come with Silvio’s poor impression of Michael Corleone from The Godfather Part III. Tony Soprano isn’t sure where his food poisoning came from, but the dreams address recent suspicions about Sal Bonpensiero as well as his inner insecurities. Tony fights off illness as he confirms Sal has been working for the FBI after finding a recording device wire hidden in Bonpensiero’s cigarette box. The episode also follows Livia being held at the airport after she uses the stolen plane tickets that Tony gave her.

“Funhouse” concludes with Sal Bonpensiero confessing how long he was an FBI informant, leading to a heartbreaking assassination at the hands of Tony, Paulie, and Silvio. It is one of the many episodes with vivid dream sequences, but “Funhouse” made Tony’s dream sequences a staple of the show. This episode flawlessly showcased mortality, family bonds, and the difficulties Tony has to face as the boss of the DiMeo crime family.

“Pine Barrens” Is Widely Considered the Best Episode of The Sopranos

Season 3, Episode 11

In “Pine Barrens,” Tony enlists Paulie and Christopher to do a money pick-up on Silvio’s behalf after Silvio gets the flu. When they arrive, Paulie picks a fight with the Russian man they’re supposed to receive money from, resulting in a deadly fight. After trying to dump the Russian’s body in a remote area of Jersey, the Pine Barrens, things go awry when the Russian reveals that he isn’t dead. While this is going on, Tony attempts to smooth things over with his mistress, Gloria, but Tony realizes how emotionally unstable Gloria is after she angrily throws a steak at him.

Christopher and Paulie wander into the freezing forest in hopes of finding the escaped Russian, only to get lost. After Christopher and Paulie spend the night lost, Tony and Bobby Baccalieri luckily come to their aid. “Pine Barrens” is brilliantly directed by Steve Buscemi, who did a perfect job of demonstrating the atmosphere of being lost. The witty and comedic conversations between Christopher and Paulie tie the episode together perfectly.

“Whitecaps” Showed That Carmela Reached Her Fill With Tony’s Infidelity

Season 4, Episode 13

“Whitecaps” starts with a worried Johnny Sack after the Esplanade project is shut down. After troubles in negotiations with Carmine, Johnny angrily puts a hit out on Carmine. Tony cancels the hit after Carmine agrees to negotiate monetary terms that benefit all parties. Tony surprises Carmela with a trip to a house on the Jersey Shore that he plans to purchase. Irena, Tony’s ex-mistress, calls Carmela and tells her about Tony’s recent affair with her cousin. It enrages Carmela, which makes her kick Tony out of the house.

Initially, Tony refuses to leave his home, but eventually agrees to do so and sleeps at the Jersey Shore house that he was planning on purchasing. However, he backs out of the deal, which creates issues with the owner of the home. This episode stands out because it puts the mafia drama in the background and brings the marital problems of Carmela and Tony to the forefront. “Whitecaps” is an emotional roller coaster and a beautiful conclusion to a great season.

“Long Term Parking” Brought Adriana’s Dramatic Story Arc to a Violent Close

Season 5, Episode 12

“Long Term Parking” starts with Tony having a rough negotiation with the Lupertazzi crime family after he finds out where his cousin, Tony B, has been hiding. Tony B previously killed Phil’s brother as a personal retaliatory measure but unintentionally started an escalating conflict within the rival crime families. As negotiations falter, Tony storms out of a sit-down with Johnny Sack. The FBI digs deeper for dirt on Adriana, telling her that she has to either wear a wire or bring in her fiancé to avoid jail time. When she confesses to Christopher that she’s been informing to the FBI, Christopher attacks her but stops and apologizes.

Christopher ultimately tells Tony about Adriana when he steps out for gas and cigarettes, betraying Adriana. Silvio ultimately kills her on the orders of Tony, after he pretends to drive her to the hospital. “Long Term Parking” brought Adriana’s complicated character to a sad and violent close. “Pine Barrens” is a perfect mix of suspense, terror, and brilliant acting.

“Members Only” Kicks off the Start of a New Season With a Twist Ending

Season 6: Part I, Episode 1

“Members Only” follows the simmering conflict between the Lupertazzi family and the DiMeo family. With Johnny Sack in prison, Phil Leotardo is acting boss, but his associates attack Hesh’s son-in-law, Eli. Phil and Tony thankfully came to an agreement of $50,000 for Eli. Eugene Pontecorvo, a soldier of Tony’s soldiers, wants to retire after inheriting some money. However, Tony denies his request, so, feeling trapped, Eugene tragically kills himself.

Tony visits Uncle Junior and is surprisingly shot when Junior mistakes Tony for Pussy Malanga, an already deceased man, due to his Dementia. “Members Only” succinctly ties all the subplots and main plots together, giving each story its time to breathe in this season premiere. The episode ends with a shocking surprise and on somewhat of a cliffhanger after Tony successfully calls 9-1-1 before passing out from a stomach wound.

“The Blue Comet” Has the Final Appearances and Several Deaths of Main Characters

Season 6: Part II, Episode 20

“The Blue Comet” starts with Dr. Melfi deciding she doesn’t want to be Tony’s therapist anymore. Tony is taken aback, especially after seven years of therapy. Later, Tony receives a tip from FBI Agent Harris that Phil Leotardo has put hits out on the DiMeo family. Tony tries to get ahead of Phil by putting a hit out on him, but the hit goes wrong and the hitmen kill Phil’s goomar and his goomar’s father instead. Tony tries to warn Bobby Baccalieri about the pending hit but doesn’t reach him in time, and Bobby is gunned down in his toy train shop. Silvio is shot several times as well, ending up in a permanent coma.

The episode ends with Tony in his bed with a rifle in hand after sending his family to a safe location. “The Blue Comet” provided important yet bleak conclusions to some of the conflicts occurring in The Sopranos. While most of the conclusions were heartbreaking, they were met with thrilling visuals in the episode. “The Blue Comet” was the beginning of the end of The Sopranos and the last appearance for several of the characters.

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