# Re-evaluating The Sopranos: American Decline, Younger Perspectives, Left-Leaning? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [September 29, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617 "2021-09-29T23:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/1 "2021-09-29T23:51:01Z")
I much enjoyed The Sopranos after it first came out. I have not rewatched it recently but am not surprised that during lockdowns many did. I am fascinated by this article in the New York Times on how far-sighted the series was. Apparently, it speaks in different ways to newer challenges being faced by younger people, who sympathize with AJ, see Tony as an “OK Boomer” and see the series as an allegory for modern failures, even grist for socialists. Is this true? Is it reasonable? > **[Why Is Every Young Person in America Watching ‘The Sopranos’? (Published 2021)](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/magazine/sopranos.html)** > > The show’s new audience is also seeing something different in it: a parable about a country in terminal decline. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/2 "2021-09-30T00:02:05Z")
Haven’t read the article–but have been watching Sopranos youtuber-sphere for awhile… That all sounds right. Haven’t seen much sympathy for AJ as a character, just younger people relate to having hypocritical, shitty, parents. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/3 "2021-09-30T00:06:20Z")
It’s a great article. Not familiar with the web sphere though (nor will be inclined to change this fact). ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/4 "2021-09-30T13:16:01Z")
Even at the time when it first aired it was seen as a metaphor for an America whose best days were behind it. It is clearly baked into the show. I am glad younger people are getting something from it but they didn’t just discover something brand new here. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/5 "2021-09-30T14:49:20Z")
I watched Sopranos for the first time earlier this year. I’m about the same age as AJ’s actor. So, I wouldn’t say I sympathize him (because he’s the worst) I definitely related to his experience in the early 2000’s. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/6 "2021-09-30T15:50:40Z")
Would say, if this show were released in these ‘woke’ times, it would probably be about Tony going to see a psychiatrist or some such shit. /s ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/7 "2021-09-30T21:28:58Z")
There is a Sopranos prequel coming, with young actors playing the younger versions of the crew in the 70’s and 80’s - including James Gandolfini’s son as a young Tony Soprano. Out in October. Same writers and show runner, too. > **[WarnerBrosCanada.com | The Many Saints of Newark | Movies](https://www.warnerbroscanada.com/movies/many-saints-newark)** > > \“The Many Saints of Newark” is the much‐anticipated feature film prequel to the groundbreaking, award‐winning HBO drama series The Sopranos.\ ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/8 "2021-10-04T01:02:43Z")
In Woke Sopranos it was too guys in MAGA hats who assaulted Little Paulie with a beer bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/9 "2021-10-04T01:12:39Z")
It’s a life balance between your gabagool, your goomah, and your waste management. But you will still never have the makings of a varsity athlete. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/10 "2021-10-04T01:16:07Z")
I dont agree with the argument that the decline of the Sopranos crew is a metaphor for the decline of America. For one thing if the Soprano Family were a country it would be s small nation and its existence would be tenuous. An argument could be made that the show could be a metaphor for small independent companies/nations being swallowed up by larger companies/nations as happens from time to time. Its one group of toxic masculinity being destroyed by a larger group of toxic masculinity. My real opinion is that Chase didnt expect the show to last so long and what was in decline was the storytelling and writing. Especially with the exit of Frank Renzulli. The first two seasons mixed the complex themes of the show very well and introduced a bevy of interesting characters. The last two seasons were relentlessly dark and the characters slid into two dimensional caricatures. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-evaluating-the-sopranos-american-decline-younger-perspectives-left-leaning/951617/11 "2021-10-04T02:19:19Z")
I don’t think it was the decline of the crew that was the metaphor. It was Tony himself. He projected an image of authority and power but inside he was soft weak and always always took the easy way out. But also the characters themselves constantly looked backwards more than forwards.