HBO is now known for producing high-quality, groundbreaking television, but its rise to prominence started in 1999. As the year 2000 approached, HBO began taking risks with innovative takes on familiar TV genres. Supported by talented creators, these early shows revolutionized television, redefined expectations for what shows could achieve, and pushed boundaries in ways that sometimes felt culturally significant and even unsettling.
David Chase’s The Sopranos was a groundbreaking HBO series that moved beyond typical premium cable and became a major part of popular culture (unlike shows like Oz, which remained popular with a smaller, dedicated audience). The show truly found its footing and connected with a wide audience on February 7, 1999, with the episode titled “College”.
Why “College” Was A Game-Changing Episode of HBO’s The Sopranos
The first four episodes of The Sopranos skillfully introduce the complex duality of Tony Soprano’s life – his roles as both a devoted family man and a powerful mobster. These episodes form a self-contained story arc focusing on a near-war between Tony and his uncle, Junior, who is being manipulated by his mother, Livia. The arc culminates in Tony cleverly establishing a new power dynamic: he allows Junior to think he’s in charge, effectively diverting suspicion, while Tony secretly maintains control as the true power broker.
Episode 5, titled “College,” was a departure from typical Sopranos episodes up to that point. For the first time, the core Soprano family is separated: Tony takes his daughter, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), on a road trip to look at colleges in Maine. However, his trip is interrupted when he unexpectedly encounters a former mobster who’s been in witness protection. Back in New Jersey, Tony’s wife, Carmela (Edie Falco), finds herself with a rare night to herself when their son, A.J., stays with a friend. After some internal conflict, Carmela takes a chance and invites the family priest, Father Phil (Paul Schulze), over for a private evening of dinner, wine, and a movie.
This episode does a great job of revealing the hidden complexities within Tony and Carmela’s relationship. Despite often talking about the importance of family, both characters demonstrate they prioritize other things. Tony puts the needs of his criminal associates ahead of his daughter’s well-being, while Carmela, feeling restless, comes dangerously close to betraying her marriage and religious beliefs by confiding in a priest about Tony’s illegal activities.
Okay, so even after you get past the weirdness of that particular weekend’s events, this episode really throws a wrench into things. Carmela finds out Dr. Melfi, Tony’s therapist (played by Lorraine Bracco), is actually a woman – Tony let her think it was a guy! That, combined with Carmela’s attempt to cheat, is where things really start to fall apart for the Soprano family, leading to the complete breakdown we eventually see.
The episode ‘College’ perfectly demonstrates what made The Sopranos so groundbreaking. It wasn’t just a typical gangster story; it was a thoughtful and artistic exploration of the damaging effects of mob life – not only on those involved, but also on their families and those trying to escape it. The scene where Meadow drives with Tony, clearly noticing he’s hurt after a murder and realizing the kind of person he is, yet choosing to look away, remains powerfully disturbing.
The shift in characters and locations proved incredibly successful. The episode “College” consistently ranks among the top 5, or even top 10, television episodes of all time, and it’s the point where David Chase and his team definitively proved they were making the best show on television.
As a critic, I’m always asked about The Sopranos, and for good reason – it’s a masterpiece! Luckily, you can revisit (or discover!) all its glory on HBO Max. I’m curious though, what episodes really stuck with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts – come share your favorites with me and other fans over on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-02-07 17:14