Although the final episode of “The Sopranos” aired in 2007, well before many of the students at Jesuit High School Sacramento were born, the critically acclaimed HBO (Home Box Office) series remains relevant nearly two decades later.

“The Sopranos” follows Tony Soprano and his mafia family in the North Jersey sect, and all the murder, racketeering, extortion, fraud, and drama that surrounds them. The show’s characterization of Tony is what makes it a masterpiece.

Tony is a man constantly faced with tough decisions. He frequently uses his belief in “family values” to justify horrible actions. However, this attitude is nothing more than a facade that Tony uses to fool people in his life – such as his therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi – as well as the viewers. Instead of making Tony into a better man, the therapy is often used to justify his cruel actions.

Spoilers ahead: in the final moments of the show’s last episode, the consequences of Tony’s actions finally come crashing down on him. His brother-in-law is shot dead, his consigliere (or advisor) is in critical condition, and his children are left figuratively paralyzed, devoid of all life skills and meaning. 

But does Tony Soprano, the supposedly family-loving man, care? Ultimately, no. Tony never truly cares about those around him, only himself. He was never someone who valued loyalty and family over all; rather, he cared about what made him the most money and slashing down those who came in his way, including his family. 

The final five minutes of the series further proves this. As a result of not spending enough time with his family, he never taught his kids important life lessons. His daughter, who is late to the dinner, is struggling to parallel park, a consequence of Tony never giving her the time of day to teach his daughter how to drive. His son, who is suppressing his depression, can’t find his own meaning in life by himself: a consequence of Tony’s neglect. Tony is one of the best written characters in fiction because of how insane and unpredictable he can be, based upon the idea that he does not care what happens to everyone else. 

This is why the series is a contender for best ever written, in my opinion. By denying Tony Soprano a redemption arc and highlighting how he is just like a child, we finally let go of any sympathy towards him and see Tony for who he truly is: a pathetic psychopath with power and no regard for the lives of the people that trust him.