>>213958280
I think the big reason The Sopranos works so well is that it strips away veneer of the cunning criminal mastermind that the Tony Soprano WANTS (You) to think he is and shows him to be a wildly insecure petty little man with crippling family problems. This is in turn
>makes him more relatable to the average viewer
>creates opportunities for accidental comedy that otherwise would be considered inappropriate for the genre
>ultimately shows his way of life to be as shallow and devoid of meaning as working any other dead-end job
Since a lot of people are attracted to a life of crime by the mystique and promises of wealth, humorously showing how even when you achieve that, it won't save you from that nagging mother you can't stand, is actually more effective at deterring people from that lifestyle than traditional drama.
