Which two episodes of The Sopranos are most about family?

September 21, 2007 6:55 PM

If you had to select two episodes from The Sopranos' first three seasons that best embodied the series' themes about family, and can also be understood and appreciated by people who may have never before seen a single episode, which two would you pick?

I know it's horrible to remove episodes out of the series' larger narrative arc, but I'm showing two episodes in a college class that's currently discussing the effects of family on individuals (the class itself focuses on how the self is shaped by society), and I want to introduce them to the series with two strong episodes. I have the first three seasons on DVD, and can probably track down seasons four and five if I need to (but the last season is definitely out because it's not yet on DVD).

Right now, I'm leaning heavily toward "College," the fifth episode of the first season, but I'm sure there are better options from those first three seasons that I'm just not remembering. Thanks.

posted by realityblurred to media & arts (11 comments total)

I always thought Episode 26, "Funhouse" was both emblematic of the series, and pretty interesting cinematically.
posted by paulsc at 7:20 PM on September 21, 2007

Episode #29: Fortunate Son
posted by glibhamdreck at 7:34 PM on September 21, 2007

"College" (season 1, ep. 5) was the moment where I really sat up and took notice of The Sopranos as something far, far more significant and profound than just a TV series about the mob. It was the moment when the show became, for me, a brilliant nightmare.
posted by scody at 8:14 PM on September 21, 2007

Hard to beat "Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office."

First: as a season premiere (Season 2) it generally has more of a wrapping-up-and-moving-on quality than the average episode, and would thus likely be more comprehensible to the uninitiated.

And second: hard to beat this for density of family plotlines. Tony's made boss of his professional family. Janice makes her first appearance, introducing the maddening co-dependent mutual hatred that governs her relationship with Tony. Carmela's leaning on Tony about therapy. Christopher's screwing up and needing correction. Big Pussy returns, prodigal-son-like, but mistrust surrounds him like a bad smell.

Damn I love that show.
posted by gompa at 8:39 PM on September 21, 2007

I'd say "The Knight in White Satin Armor" because of the Janice-Tony-Richie dynamic and "Pine Barrens" because for one it's probably the best standalone episode in the series and secondly because it illustrates how much of a father figure Tony is to his subordinates.
posted by thelongcon at 9:06 PM on September 21, 2007

All my choices are from the first season.

College: it's pretty much the early show in a nutshell

The season finale of season one, with Tony learning about the hit ordered from her mother, is another good one.

And then, I dunno, Boca has a real conflict between Tony the mobster and Tony the father, and also has the hilarious Uncle Junior cunnilingus storyline.
posted by Bookhouse at 9:49 PM on September 21, 2007

I'd suggest the very first episode, and then either "College" or the season one finale.
posted by la petite marie at 10:41 PM on September 21, 2007

Can I just say that I completely misread the question as being about The Simpsons and was busily coming up with examples (and wondering why you wanted to limit it to the first 3 seasons)? Then I read the rest of the suggestions and realized my mistake....
posted by gingerbeer at 3:30 PM on September 22, 2007

'College' is the single-serving standout from that first season.
posted by waxbanks at 5:27 PM on September 23, 2007

Thanks. All great options. Now I get to have fun and rewatch these episodes.
posted by realityblurred at 6:01 PM on September 23, 2007

Honestly, the first episode of the series is a good one - it lays out the groundwork for much of Tony's problems. College is also a good suggestion (it is, the first episode they shot after the pilot, I believe).
posted by agregoli at 11:02 AM on September 24, 2007