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Okay so first I gotta admit. I was halfway through S1 episode 10 of the Sopranos before I realized it was not in fact the season finale. I'm so used to 10 episode runs modern TV is killing me dawg. (also watched 9)

Both of these episodes did a very good job of combining a number of seemingly disparate story lines while maintaining a consistent theme across each.

Episode 9 was a very sex-centric episode, where everyone involved acted like huge babies.

Episode 10 involved everyone trying to expand their horizons, to varying success.

And also, both are a fascinating look back at culture at the dawn of the millennium. With how 1999 people thought about sex and masculinity, about inter-cultural relations and all the associated slurs, and how people then react to sexual assault (which, in that regard, seems to be a little too similar to how it is now)

Like in 9 it is so apparent how childish everybody is. Jr. is self-sabotage-ingly self conscious. Everyone starts throwing middle-school rumors around when they're a teensy bit upset. Except the ramifications for these quibbles is that Tony might get whacked (I know that he will not in fact get whacked but I'm still intrigued to see how it plays out). The ending is really fascinating. Tony did something "good" for once, and in response becomes the most inebriated we've seen him so far. This one moment of thoughtful (in)action and he feels the need to drown everything else away. Whether it's celebrating or shamefulness it's honestly hard to say.

And 10. Well, it's interesting. On one hand, I kinda don't like that Adriana is not very good at the job she's vying for. I get what the show is trying to do with in in regards to Chris. But textually it is using a woman's failure to put a man through character growth. Of course there's also Carmela who seems to have done well in the stock market, but I can easily see that falling in her face in the long run too. Which isn't to say either characters have been failed yet, but this is a show from 1999 and misogyny is still going strong in 2026 so I'm hesitant to see how they land it.

Speaking of hesitancy, 10 introduced our first real black character. He's a rapper. Killed someone. And is apparently a gangster too. And also a very rich and famous musician. Which is like, that feels like a lot of stereotypes, right? They're doing the thing where he's also very well educated and eloquent, but (in 2026 vision) even that seems like it's been done a lot too. So. Interested to see how the writers handle this situation, to say the least.

The Sopranos S1 Episodes 7 and 8 both featured plot lines from the rest of the season finally showing consequences, which I found really interesting. 7 was focused on the kids, and also had the secret of Tony being in therapy finally getting out (that was a great scene. Loved the back and forth between 'lil Tony and Livia. Also loved how in 8 Liv was annoyed at Jr for doing almost the same back and forth) And 8 was a lot of the making Jr. Capo stuff + Chris wanting to feel important.

I've seen a few other people who are watching along for the first time with MCP say things with the same sentiment, but it really shouldn't be surprising that this show is able to weave drama and suspense and comedy so expertly given that it is rated on of the best shows of all time by everyone who' seen it. But gosh darn it does this show do a good job of all that.

Like the thing its doing where Tony is almost proud of 'lil Tony for being like him, but realizing he doesn't want him to grow up that way, and trying to sort out those feelings is great. His inability to properly convey the things he's learned in therapy in real life is also good. The moment with the tire or when Chris is is driving were both good moments of that.

Speaking of Chris. Oof, y'know? This kid just wants any recognition from anyone. So much so that being mentioned in a newspaper turns his mood around 180. An offhand mention, almost! If he didn't suck at writing so much, I'd be begging him to quit his current arrangement and focus on that. (He probably should anyway but I do know what type of show this is). Also 8 is the episode with the quote that's been goin' round. ("You ever feel like nothing good was gonna happen to you?")

I also loved how in 8, there's so much suspense over the cops showing up, and even though there were no immediate consequences with the feds themselves, the payoff wasn't wasted! Melfi is now beginning to have second thoughts + Liv has all that contraband in her unit.

It's a good show. Feel bad for everyone in it!