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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this Emmy-winning adult mob drama is both realistic and violent. The edgy HBO series makes murder and assault just part of the landscape and makes heroes out of criminals. Some beatings are hard to watch, and the petty infighting between these mid-level wiseguys is anything but honorable. Older teens may well have heard of the show, but it's definitely meant for adults. (Note: The edited episodes running on basic cable do away with much of the swearing and nudity -- though, at least in the former case, you can often still see which word the actors were really saying.)

Families who do choose to watch can talk about how the rigid social structure within the mafia relies on the value of keeping your word and the importance of loyalty. (If you can't trust your fellow mob members, who can you trust?) Which comes first -- obeying the law or family? Are any of the characters' criminal actions in any way justifiable?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Will Wade

Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is a family man -- with a difference. He has a loving wife and two children, all of whom turn a blind eye to his other family. Tony is the boss of a New Jersey mafia clan, and the heart of this fascinating show is his conflicted efforts to juggle his responsibilities to both.

THE SOPRANOS is amazingly violent, yet the savage beatings and offhand killings seem like just another day at the office for these brutal career criminals. The viewer is quickly sucked into their schemes and roots for them to pull off every job.

But this series is less about big heists than it is about the petty jealousies and personal conflicts within every family, whether they're linked by blood or by an oath of loyalty. Yes, viewers see the wiseguys doing their job, but the more interesting part of the show is the aftermath, as Tony's three top lieutenants -- Paulie (Tony Sirico), Silvio (Steven Van Zandt), and Christopher (Michael Imperioli) -- each try to jockey for his approval.

At home, Tony's wife and children have a love-hate relationship with the trappings of wealth that his career choice has brought. His wife Carmela (Edie Falco) never explicitly mentions his work, and though she has grown accustomed to his fancy gifts and the respect that comes from being the boss' wife, she is none too thrilled with his frequent infidelities.

Their college-age children, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Siegler) and Anthony Jr. (Robert Iler), are being pulled in different directions. Meadow is a bright college student who wants to get away from the family but will always be her daddy's girl, while Anthony, known to all as A.J., is less successful in school and may be sucked into the family business for lack of any other options.

The extensive supporting cast of hoodlums and family members (many people are both in this business) is both colorful and strong, providing endless demands on Tony's time, which further takes him away from his real family. This is a series that repeatedly questions the meaning of duty and the power of loyalty. Both are thought-provoking matters that could be interesting for older teens, but The Sopranos isn't a show that kids should watch lightly, no matter how mature they seem.

Fans of The Sopranos may also like Thief, which is also about a mid-level criminal with a conflicted sense of responsibility, and fellow HBO drama Big Love, about a man with three wives, seven kids, and extensive family obligations. And, of course, there's always the mobster classic The Godfather.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Almost every episode features scenes with sex and nudity.
Violence Violence is common and graphic. Some scenes are quite explicit; the matter-of-fact way these wiseguys go about their business makes the beatings and killings seem even more chilling.
Language The mafia characters' language is incredibly foul. Sometimes it seems like every other word in a sentence would be banned on commercial television.
Message
	Social Behavior The main characters are all career criminals. Breaking the law is the norm, and law enforcement characters are portrayed unsympathetically. The main character does value his family and also sees a therapist to cope with panic attacks and other issues.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco One of the main characters is fighting a heroin habit, and some scenes clearly show him using. Most characters drink, ranging from wine with a meal to unpleasant benders, which often lead to violence. Some underage drinking as well.

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