Despite having multiple deaths in an episode and many over the years in the series, the saddest deaths in each season of The Sopranos stand out.
The Sopranos is well known for being a violent and brutal show, but the saddest deaths of every season still keep the audience guessing. The series ran through season 6 and aired on HBO starting in 1999. Created by David Chase, the show is known for originating the archetype of the anti-hero on TV and revolutionizing the television landscape. Every episode was bold and experimental, and since it was on HBO, the series was unafraid to get graphic in its depictions of the realities of the mob. However, living a dangerous life has consequences, and many characters pay them.
The conceit of the series is that Tony begins suffering panic attacks because of his high-tension lifestyle and must start seeing a psychiatrist to help balance his mood and keep him in the game.
James Gandolfini plays the titular Tony Soprano, the rising mob boss living in a predominantly Italian-American suburb of New Jersey. The conceit of the series is that Tony begins suffering panic attacks because of his high-tension lifestyle and must start seeing a psychiatrist to help balance his mood and keep him in the game. Most episodes revolve around Tony and his family and are intermixed with the sessions Tony goes to at Dr. Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) office. She becomes an important character as well, and their dynamic is one of the most important and intriguing on the show.
Besides Tony and Dr. Melfi, many other characters color Tony’s world, and each has the opportunity to grow and develop over the seasons. Tony’s wife, children, and home life draw a sharp contrast between his role as head of the crime family and the sleazy club where they do their business. Despite the show’s popularity, The Sopranos ended after season 6 because the nature arc of the show had to end. Chase, the writers, producers, and actors were ready to say goodbye to Tony Soprano and did so in one of the most iconic endings of a TV series.
6. Season 1 – Jackie Aprile Sr.
Died in Season 1, Episode 4, “Meadowlands”
Although Jackie Aprile Sr. (Michael Rispoli) doesn’t play a large role outside the first few episodes, his death is what sets the plot in motion. He is the previous boss of Tony’s crime family, and his death opens the door for Tony to step up and take a position of leadership. However, things are complicated by the fact that Tony’s uncle, Junior (Dominic Chianese), also wants to be the new boss. While Tony wants to be the boss, he must move carefully with Junior and not upset him. Additionally, Jackie getting cancer is not something Tony ever wanted to happen.
Throughout the series, it comes to light that Tony had a difficult relationship with his parents, and he saw Jackie Sr. as a father figure. Due to this, and that the audience never sees Jackie do anything terrible or violent, it’s easy to feel sad that he passes on. Additionally, it’s a death of natural causes, one of the few in the show, which makes it all the more jarring when compared to other instances of death. Jackie’s ghost haunts The Sopranos, and his tenure as boss hangs over Tony’s head as he tries to live up to his legacy.
5. Season 2 – Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero
Died in Season 2, Episode 13, “Funhouse”
The death of Sal “Big Pussy” (Vincent Pastore) haunts Tony for the duration of the show and is a prime example of how his morals are long gone by the end. It’s hard to believe that Sal’s death happened so early. However, in The Sopranos season 2, it’s revealed Sal has been working for the Feds as a mole. Working as an informant against the family is the worst form of betrayal in the world of the show. Even though Tony loves him, he has no choice but to kill him to keep the family safe.
Although it was obvious Sal was an informant, Tony couldn’t believe it because he loved him so much.
After the first few episodes of season 1, Tony is rarely the one who pulls the trigger or commits any of the murders. However, due to his relationship with Sal, Tony is present when the murder happens. Tony takes Sal on a boat, where he’s shot and dumped into the water. It’s a harsh way to go for a man who dedicated so much of his life to the family, but Tony feels he has to do it. Although it was obvious Sal was an informant, Tony couldn’t believe it because he loved him so much.
4. Season 3 – Jackie Aprile Jr.
Died Season 3, Episode 9, “Army Of One”
Jackie Jr. (Jason Cerbone) wasn’t a particularly sympathetic character, but Meadow did care about him, and the reason for his death was that he was young and immature. Tony thought of Jackie Jr. as a son and wanted the best for him, leading him to offer advice whenever possible. He wanted Jackie to stay in college and try to find a life outside the mafia, as that’s what his father would have wanted. However, Jackie is quickly sucked into the mob world and immediately tries to act as though he belongs there.
Although Jackie does hurt others, and he isn’t blameless in the events that lead up to his death, what makes it so sad is how avoidable it is. He’s a kid who makes a mistake because he wants to be taken seriously by Tony and the other bosses and seen as a man. Being the son of Jackie Sr., the notorious leader, was a huge weight on his shoulders, and when he started doing poorly in college, he saw life in the mob as an easy way out.
3. Season 4 – Minn Matrone
Dies Season 4, Episode 12, “Eloise”
Although Minn wasn’t the kindest character, she was a defenseless older woman, and Paulie had no reason or right to kill her.
It’s always upsetting when an innocent character dies on The Sopranos. These are people who aren’t mixed up in the crime family at all and have the misfortune of getting caught in the crossfire of one of the member’s misdeeds. Paulie (Tony Sirico) is never characterized as a good man. However, his horrible murder of his mother’s friend, Minn Matrone (Fran Anthony), when he attempts to steal her life savings from under her mattress, demonizes him. Although Minn wasn’t the kindest character, she was a defenseless older woman, and Paulie had no reason or right to kill her.
Many of the harsh realities of rewatching The Sopranos are the way the characters treat each other and how easily they commit acts of violence against people who don’t deserve it. Paulie becomes a monster in the eyes of the audience after this act, making it the worst of the season. While plenty of other characters die in season 4, Minn’s death is the saddest and most senseless. It’s hard to see Paulie in the comedic light that he has been framed in thus far, and it’s a harsh death juxtaposed with the setting and her condition.
2. Season 5 – Adriana
Died Season 5, Episode 12, “Long Term Parking”
Many characters in The Sopranos don’t deserve their fates, and even though it’s a violent show, it’s still surprising when a fan-favorite character dies. Through no fault of her own, Adriana is implicated in Christopher and the family’s illegal activities, which cause her to be targeted by the FBI. Since she’s of no use to them in prison, they make her an informant, threatening both her and Christopher. She’s devastated and doesn’t want to be a rat, but sees no other way out of the situation. However, the audience knows well where this path will lead her.
Based on Sal’s fate in season 2, there was little chance that Adriana would escape a death sentence. However, audiences hoped that her fiancée, Christopher, would understand what she was going through and help her. Unfortunately, this is far from the case, and he’s almost the one to of it himself. For a moment, it seems all will end happily, and they will run away, but Christopher goes to Tony instead. He sends her off with Silvio, and she dies trying to run from him. It’s this moment that changes Christopher forever and leads him to returning to drugs.
1. Season 6 – Christopher Moltisanti
Died Season 6, Episode 6, “Kennedy and Heidi”
Some audience members wondered why Tony killed Christopher in The Sopranos, as his death was the saddest of the series. In The Sopranos season 6, he is on a downward spiral, as he gets addicted to drugs and is out of control. Tony and Christopher have one of the most genuine and loving relationships, and they have a father-son dynamic throughout the seasons. However, after Adriana’s death in the previous season, nothing was the same. Their final moment together is Tony killing Christopher with his bare hands. It’s an act of brutality, but in Tony’s mind, it’s also a mercy.
The moment he kills Christopher, Tony’s fate is sealed. Since season 1, it’s clear that his life will only end one way, in death.
After this act, Tony has few allies in the world and even fewer people who understand him and the pressures of being head of the family. The moment he kills Christopher, Tony’s fate is sealed. Since season 1, it’s clear that his life will only end one way, in death. However, despite his cruelty, the audience can’t help rooting for Tony and empathizing with him. These feelings disappear after he murders Christopher for his own gain and illustrates the show’s overarching theme. Christopher was one of the best characters in the series, and it wasn’t the same without him.
