The Sopranos Sessions Kindle Edition

I love that this book is faithful to its title "The Sopranos Sessions" in that it focuses primarily on the backbone of the series, i.e. the Doctor-patient sessions featuring Tony and Melfi. When I first watched the show, I found the sessions in season 1 fascinating, but beginning with season 3 my mind started drifting away every time I listened to Tony unload to Melfi in her office because I thought that the writers had made their point clear: Tony has issues (to say the least) and Melfi is trying to help. The purpose of this book is to urge viewers of the show that they can't take these sessions for granted, and moreover is in these conversations where the meaning of the series can be found. The book invites the reader to take a second look at the show if you thought that there's nothing special to the sessions. Furthermore, Zoller-Seitz and Sepinwall do a great job of walking the reader through the symbolism of the show in order to establish connections between what is discussed in Melfi's office and what happens in Tony's life (both as a husband/parent and as a gangster). The reader should keep in mind that Zoller-Seitz and Sepinwall are not so interested in describing the context surrounding each episode or why it was such a cultural phenomenon, but they are more interested in pointing out why every single detail and every single word in the interaction between Melfi and Tony is important to understand the rest of the show. I decided to read this book when I started listening to the podcast "Talking Sopranos" with Steven Schirripa and Michael Imperioli as a way to contrast their anecdotes as two actors who appeared for most of the series (they do focus on context) with the take of two journalists who worked for the Star Ledger and wrote about the show when it was running. It is also worth pointing out that Zoller-Seitz and Spinwall provide a critical view of the series in the sense that they voice their honest views about some choices made by the writers that in theri opinion could have been better thought out (the writing of the show is still superb nonetheless). The book starts with a summary of every single episode in the series (86 in total) followed by a conversation between the two authors where they speculate about the interpretation of the controversial ending of the show, and it continues with a series of interviews with David Chase and a collection of essays written by the authors (mainly for the Star-Ledger ) that contain reflections about the show while it was running, as well as a few words written by the authors when they first learned about the premature death of James Gandolfini. All of these sections are worth reading in full but I especially enjoyed the transcripts of the interviews with David Chase.

This book is incredible. The first chapter with the analysis of Tony’s initial session with Dr. Melfi had me hooked. I’ve been reading as I rewatch the series for the 163 time and it’s a great way to gain new insight and see new symbolism in this show that never fails to continue giving no matter how many times you’ve watched it. The authors are shrewd, perceptive, and delve into the psychology of the series but they keep their text articulated and highly readable. They also lend historical context to the series and it’s place in time and have great senses of humor throughout. I’m also loving the occasional sprinkles of acting critique and attention to detail. The interviews with David Chase are candid and illuminating and in points truly touching. If you’re a true fan of the show for the art of it, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 10/10 will definitely re-read as often as I rewatch the series.

Thank you for allowing to relive and to further live the Sopranos. It meant so much to me to be back with Tony and to learn more about the people who made his world. Fabulous read!

Makes me want to go back and bingewatch the series all over again! Lots of details and pretty cerebral. Need to focus at times and would be helpful also to watch each episode before sections to understand all of the details and allusions. Film buffs will especially enjoy the book with countless references to movie styles, directors and producers

David Chase basically a long time writer for television's The Rockford Files certainly knew his way around a script; what worked and what didn't and more importantly what was cliched and useless. So when he went to HBO to sell them on this idea about a New Jersey gangster who sees an analyst, Chase knew that this was his chance to land the big one, and thank goodness that he did, because he laid the ground work for shows like The Wire and Mad Men and countless other serial dramas now on our screens. Because Chase knew that the story he had to tell was an important one; it was about what was important to all of us: family, friends, being loved, the concept of loyalty, and how far would we go if pressed. Chase knew that this was his big chance and it paid off in spades. The importance of casting the right actors in the correct roles, the importance of long range scripting, the weekly payoffs and the long plot arcs. This book gives an in-depth study of the show in its complex entirety. An important book that really looks at what is happening and takes a deep dive, giving us a satisfying overview of a incredible series.

... because I was so engrossed reading this.I've watched the series a few times, but it's great to have this recap and breakdown. It's like having a friend to 'compare notes' with. Really, crazy that it's been 20 years since this first aired. Back then, we only used our TV for our 'VCR' and mostly played back Blockbuster rentals. I had heard the buzz, but having grown up living in an area with wiseguy families, I just figured it was going to be cliche mafioso fare. A bout of homesickness around 2000/early 2001 led to my renting the first season at Blockbuster. After 9/11, I wanted to hook up the TV again for news coverage ... but of course I also wanted to catch the next season of The Sopranos, so we got HBO and there we still were in 2007 watching that finale. I really thought the power went out. Can't wait to get to the part with Chase discussing it all, including the ending. Personally, I always felt Tony was killed and it was foreshadowed a few episodes prior when Baccala opines that when you die "everything just goes black." To me, that would be a brilliant ending. And no matter what this book concludes, I won't "stop believing".