The Sopranos - Series 2 - Complete (DVD)

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If the first season of the Sopranos was landmark TV then Season 2 took the concept a stage further, it is in my opinion and many others the best of the 5 ½ seasons so for shown.

So what makes season 2 so good? There are many reasons a few of which I will try to explain in this review. First and probably foremost is the writing, good as the writing was in season 1 it reached new heights in this season. This is ...
...co-writes a further 2 including the brilliant season finale. The rest of the writing is shared out amongst many others including Michael Imperioli who plays Christopher Moltisanti, Tony's nephew in the show. The storylines twist and turn but are never predictable, I feel this is one of the main reasons season 2 becomes such addictive viewing, when I first purchased this Box set I watched all 13 episodes within a week, never quite knowing what to ... more

Sopranos Season 2
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2001
4 Discs
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If the first season of the Sopranos was landmark TV then Season 2 took the concept a stage further, it is in my opinion and many others the best of the 5 ½ seasons so for shown.

So what makes season 2 so good? There are many reasons a few of which I will try to explain in this review. First and probably foremost is the writing, good as the writing was in season 1 it reached new heights in this season. This is down in no small part again to creator-producer David Chase who writes one episode and co-writes a further 2 including the brilliant season finale. The rest of the writing is shared out amongst many others including Michael Imperioli who plays Christopher Moltisanti, Tony's nephew in the show. The storylines twist and turn but are never predictable, I feel this is one of the main reasons season 2 becomes such addictive viewing, when I first purchased this Box set I watched all 13 episodes within a week, never quite knowing what to expect next.

If the writing is superior in this season compared to season 1 then the acting is equally as good, James Gandolfini is again outstanding as Tony Soprano acting Boss of a New Jersey crime family, he deservedly won the Emmy for best actor in a drama series for this season. Gandolfini is always mesmerising on screen his character can flip between being totally repulsive to completely charming within a single scene, however much you want to dislike him you always find yourself empathising with him as the pressures of his double life reach boiling point. Other notable new additions to the cast include Janis, Tony's self-centred sister, played by AidaTurturro. She seems to step into the breach left by Tony's ailing mother as his number one headache on the domestic front. As well as Janis there's Richie Aprile played by David Proval, former boss Jackie's brother, who's just got out of prison, he proves to be another thorn in Tony's side. When Richie starts dating Janis you just know it's all going to end in tears! Another notable addition is Furio Giunta played by Federico Castelluccio a menacing new addition to the crew Tony picked up in the 'Old Country'. Adriana La Cerva, played by Drea De Matteo also has a more prominent role this season as the ambitious girlfriend of Christopher.

Apart from some new additions all the old crew from season 1 are still here Paulie Walnuts, Silvio Dante and Big Pussy Bompensiero to the fore. Paulie is one of my favourite characters in the Sopranos as the hard-nosed old school Mafioso, played brilliantly by Tony Sirico. Tony is utterly convincing in the role, little wonder as it turns out that Tony was a one time hoodlum and spent a stretch in jail for armed robbery in the 1970's! Silvio played by Steven Van Zandt isn't quite so convincing and his acting is perhaps the weakest in the show again this is largely due to the fact he really isn't an actor at all but a talented musican who plays as part of Bruce Springsteens E Street Band. I am unsure of how he landed this roll but his acting is a little one dimensional.
The last Character I will mention is Big Pussy played by Vincent Pastore, this is really his season as anyone who has watched the show will attest, his story threads its way through almost every episode until it reaches its conclusion in the season finale.

Conclusions
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So why should you buy this Box set on DVD for £35 or more when you can catch it sooner or later on C4 or Sky? Good question and one I hope I can answer. This series should be watched without the interruption of adverts or other diversions, who wants to wait a week to find out what happens next?
You could be sitting in your favourite armchair waiting expectantly on that season finale when the in-laws drop in to show you their latest holiday snaps!
The only way to watch television of this quality is on DVD presented as it is in 16:9 wide-screen format with surround sound so you can appreciate this masterpiece of the small screen in all its glory! Oh and then there's the extras!
3 audio commentaries by the various directors, 2 featurettes "The real deal" a short feature containing interviews with law enforcement agents on the shows accuracy and a 15 minute feature "A Sit Down with the sopranos" which features the stars of the show talking about the season. Add to that each episode has its own video synopsis of the story so far and it all adds up to a cracking package.

Rather than bore you to tears by giving a synopsis of all 13 episodes in this season I will simply list them by title and include writing credits. If you are looking for a summary of each individual episode use the link at the end of this review which will take you to the official HBO guide to Season 2

Episode 1
Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist's Office
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Written by: Jason Cahill

Episode 2
Do Not Resuscitate
Directed by: Martin Bruestle
Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and Frank Renzulli

Episode 3
Toodle-F****n-Oo
Directed by: Lee Tamahori
Written by: Frank Renzulli

Episode 4
Commendatori
Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Written by: David Chase

Episode 5
Big Girls Don't Cry
Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Written by: Terence Winter

Episode 6
The Happy Wanderer
Directed by: John Patterson
Written by: Frank Renzulli

Episode 7
D-Girl
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Written by: Todd A. Kessler

Episode 8
Full Leather Jacket
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess

Episode 9
From Where to Eternity
Directed by: Henry J. Bronchtein
Written by: Michael Imperioli

Episode 10
Bust-Out
Directed by: John Patterson
Written by: Frank Renzulli and Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess and David Chase

Episode 11
House Arrest
Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Written by: Terence Winter

Episode 12
The Knight in White Satin Armor
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess

Episode 13
Funhouse
Directed by: John Patterson
Written by: David Chase and Todd A. Kessler

Run Time: 754 minutes
Cert: 18

http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/episode/season2/episode14.shtml

 

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