Mixed feelings on this one. In large part, it is a well-written and acted series. On a strictly personal note, as a native New Jerseyan, I do get a kick out of identifying locations they use in certain scenes...for instance, the Paterson Falls, where we used to hang out in our younger days at Libby's, drinking booze and eating hamburgers "all the way." As a non-Italian, I must uneasily admit to a certain fascination with the whole Mafia mythology. "The Godfather" is one of my favorite movies, as is "Goodfellas". The father of a childhood friend used to be a good friend of Willie Moretti, who was Frank Sinatra's "Goombah" and the supposed inspiration for the scene with Vito Corleone and Johnny Fontane's bandleader-employer. He'd give me personal details about Willie, like how he built a doll-house for his daughter "that was bigger than this house we're standing in now." Another friend's cousin used to have dinner with Ritchie "The Boot" Boiardo of Livingston, who supposedly kept a furnace on his estate to cremate his underworld enemies in. Despite this, I also know that the vast majority of hard-working, honest Italians have had to fight for generations the "Mafia" taint and the never-ending stereotype does get tiresome after awhile. People don't denigrate the Jews because of Dutch Schultz or the Irish because of Legs Diamond or the WASP's because of George Bush (well, some of us do). What about the WASP robber barons of bygone days who unfortunately were such an integral part of this country's history? What about the corrupt politicians and businessmen who were and are responsible for far more theft and graft than some 2-bit underworld thug nicknamed "Cheech"? What about guys like Ken Lay or Bernie Ebbers or the multitude of CEO's with their obscene "golden parachutes?" What about the multinational conglomerates? Who are the bigger criminals? Unfortunately, guys like John Gotti and Joey Gallo were always more colorful and intriguing, and the continuing defamation of Italians fits right in with our long-standing nativistic prejudice and bigotry. No matter what Italians have accomplished in this country, it seems they'll always be destined to be portrayed as either boxers or mobsters in our movies and our TV shows. The more things change, the more they seem to remain the same...

This is really well done, but the Godfather theme is getting old. The characterization here is really fantastic, however.

Well written, excellently acted, but a tired theme in American culture in my opinion. In real life, gangsters are psychos and losers, nothing to romanticize.

this show is the best. i never miss an episode or when they rerun it and now we have it on dvd. my favorite character is paulie. my son thinks hes one of the next to go. i hope not.

The show has been consistently great. The only thing I don't like is having to wait so long between seasons.