to find the Sopranos flipping hard going?

[Lottapianos]

Ok, I know that devoted fans will probably be horrified. Let me explain

The good:
James Gandolfini. Fabulous portrayal of an extremely unlikeable, at times downright hideous, character
Edie Falco
Some very funny, sharp dialogue
Unflinching look at greed, self-interest, narcissism, unchecked patriarchy
Uncle Junior aka the most miserable git on the planet (but quite funny with it)
The Adriana-Christopher relationship - really upsetting at times but gripping and really well done. You cannot understand what she sees in him but she can't see a way out.

The bad (IMHO):
Lorraine Bracco. Dear god - wooden doesn't even describe it. She's always been utter rubbish. I wish they could have had an actor who was as good as JG so they could really spark off each other.
Every woman seems to be gagging to jump into bed with Tony. I know he's got a bit of an alpha male charisma going on but please, enough now.
The stupid Paulie subplots. Another wooden actor and I don't care about his mother or any of his other madcap escapades. Go away.
The number of episodes that seem to be filler. I'm halfway through season 5 and about 90% of it has been filler so far.

I am watching it as a box set so sometimes watch 2-3 episodes in an evening, but I am finding the relentless greed and ripping people off and threatening people and maiming people and general willy-waving a bit exhausting. I will stick with it to the end but TBH I do find it over-rated and I don't think it's something I will ever watch again.

Share your thoughts, got my hard hat on!

Nurse Jackie gets better and better each series.

I was disturbingly drawn to watching it, though felt tainted, as if watching a car crash, because of the horrifying violence and in particular the degradation of some of the women in it (hated the Bada Bing bar scenes with the pole dancers, viewed by the men as not real humans. Not expressing this very well, but as I understood it even the wives had a name for those women - less than mistress IYKWIM)

I loved Pine Barrens, wouldn't have fancied Tony if he was the last man on earth, thought Christopher was a knob, thought Carmella was a piece of work, and had to rewind the skyplus innumerable times to make out what they were saying!

Through a glass darkly, indeed........

Yes to everyone who says about Bad-a-Bing and the back-room entry pass and Ralphie. It's horrible, isn't it? I'm not going to object in the context of the whole show, but it really distrubed me, possibly more than other things should.

The scene that always sticks in my mind with Bad-a-Bing is in the early years, where the man with cancer dies and one of the dancers blesses herself. It's just so undescribable, and I was never sure if it was supposed to be funny or what.

I also find Tony horrifying attractive.

He snuffles a lot in the show, though.

On balance he was always going to snuff it.

Okay. I am a bad person. I'm going to leave right now.

It is one of the most amazing tv shows ever made im currently re-watching it I dont think u can truly appreciate it until the end there are moments that im still amazed with the on the second watch. Its so well thought out I was beside myself when he died last month ive not felt that way about a set of characters on tv or in any book before and honestly dont think I will again and that makes me very sad!

For those who liked the wire there is a series called the corner which is amazing.

I don't find him at all attractive but then all the women he gets involved with don't see him murdering people like we do.

dollybird - yes The Corner was amazing! Like the wire but based on real life stories of the drug addicts in Baltimore. I wish they'd show it again on TV.

I can't get into it at all, I've tried many times. I find it boring.