The Sopranos was once good, sold out?

I have followed The Sopranos since the first season, seen every episode and now that it's all at it's end i feel violated. Something is not right.

The good old days
If you think back to the start of The Sopranos, to the very first episode, it was the best feeling ever. Getting to know a new age mafioso and both his families was very exciting. And no doubt it was made to appeal to the masses with fun dialogue, gangster business and happy colours. Christopher had gotten his new Lexus and was all cheaky.

This fun fun "fun" countinued through the whole first season. When the second season you could see the mood of the show was getting a bit darker but it was alright. Season three kept this same mood but also brough the best episode in Sopranos history "Pine Barrens". What could be a better episode than Christopher and Paulie lost in the woods. Just beautiful.

The bleak future
Come season 4 things are going to pieces. A dark cloud gathers over fun town (New Jersey) They start taking focus away from pleasing the audience. I understand that the story had to take a different turn, but what they did is just boring compared to what they could have done. Using 60-70% of an episode on Tony's family problems is not fun. Why not have him become more powerful, going to vagas maybe to help build a casino, taking over turf in New York and going to a real war with the other bosses.

The Sopranos used to be fun because the actors had fun and were fun. No attention is given to this anymore. I constantly feel like Tony is capable of doing ANYTHING at any time. I'm just waiting for him to jump on anyone for no reason at all. For all i care Tony should have shot himself at the end of episode 4 and let Paulie become the boss in season 5.



Seeing how this show has progressed from a happy fun-loving gangster drama into the grittyest most depressing thing i watch on tv. I can't help but feel there is a conspiracy out there to tone down the image of the gangster life as being fun, bright and happy. And they are doing a great job.