The Sopranos is recognized as the most successful cable series in the history of television. The Washington Post has called the popular series, winner of twenty-one Emmys and five Golden Globes, the television landmark that leaves other landmarks in the dust. In every aspect - narrative structure, visual artistry, writing, intertextuality, ensemble acting, controversial themes, dark humor, and unflinching examinations of American life - The Sopranos has had few equals.Offering a definitive final assessment of the series, The Essential Sopranos Reader aims to examine the show's themes and enduring cultural significance.