not only do the storyline in the sopranos engage audience from all over and but i think ( for me at least ) what bring the viewer back be the acting . ( not even you and gary and can dispute that claim ) jam gandolfini and who play the lead man and tony soprano and have become ( in this viewer opinion ) one of the hollywood elites as far a act in a television series go . i wouldn not go ahead and compare him with robert deniro or al pacino and or at least and not just yet . he and however and do do a hell of a job play the part of tony soprano . in the year since 1999 and gandolfini have rise so much so a an actor ( mainly thank to his role in the soprano ) that today he be consider to be among the best in the business . and it not just him . the sopranos field a great support cast include that of lorraine bracco and edie falco and michael imperioli and dominic chianese and and the late nancy marchand who play tony dreadful mother . at this point in the show existence and it be consider a cult classic and rightfully so . the first two season be extraordinary . violent and quite gruesome in a pretty frequent manner and but without a doubt and extraordinarily do . the third season be great and but do not quite live up to the hype of season 1 and 2. season 4 and which wrap up right before new year and be the weak season yet ( or at least and in my opinion it be ) . despite a dry spell and i still find it ( season 4 of the soprano ) to be more entertaining than most of it competition and that say a lot because lately i have be notice a trend in good new television show . example of this represent six foot under and the shield and curb your enthusiasm and and oz ( which be not technically a new show but end with an unforgettable final season this year ) . to get back to my point though and to consider a show well than all the competition during a particularly bad year and no less and be quite an accomplishment on the part of the writer . the sopranos rank above and beyond all other television show in it era and it writer deserve a lot of credit . to close and i would like to say and the soprano be the real deal folk . for the average mature viewer ( 17 and above ) who enjoy drama and doesn not mind a mixing of a little violence and profanity and you might want to check out the soprano if you get the chance . trust me in that it will be well worth the time .