Gavin and Hannibal agree that ‘All Due Respect’ is a fitting and fulfilling conclusion to Season 5. This finale manages to do an incredible job of bringing Season 5 full circle, and in typically understated fashion, sets up the climactic seasons to come. Your hosts describe how this episode presents a fresh examination of Tony’s role as a leader, as well as a couple surprising twists, and the establishment of a potential new Mafia supervillain.

Gavin and Hannibal work their way through an episode that no true ‘Sopranos’ fan will ever forget. This is the one where they get back together. This is the one where a new King of New York is crowned. This is the one where she dies. This is ‘Long Term Parking,’ and it’s the ultimate penultimate season chapter. Your hosts break down the rapid fire plot developments that lead to Chris and Ade’s moment of truth, and how that moment is a conclusive statement on our main characters’ twisted...

Dream analysis is always tricky, especially in “The Test Dream” - one of the more experimental episodes of “The Sopranos” ever produced. Gavin and Hannibal do their best to identify and explain the many symbols, cameos and references that make this story such a trippy and meta journey into Tony’s subconscious.

‘Cold Cuts’ is an unnerving exploration of how little things change over time. Gavin and Hannibal cover an episode that presents Tony at his most unlikable, and note the unexpected sympathy felt towards the traditionally unlikable Chris and Janice. Also explored: the occasionally unorthodox directorial choices of Mike Figgis, and the perils of recording a podcast after the consumption of several margaritas... Happy Holidays from ‘The Sopranos Show!’

When writers Matthew Weiner and Terence Winter join forces, the outcome is about as monumental as you’d expect. Gavin and Hannibal unpack the revelatory ‘Unidentified Black Males.’ This episode is filled with shocking developments, social commentary, the most powerful Tony-Melfi scene yet, and yes, a lot of Meadow and Finn... but it all works! The result is one of the true highlights not just of Season 5, but the whole series.

‘Marco Polo’ is the last of five scripts Michael Imperioli wrote for ‘The Sopranos,’ and he definitely ends his run on a high note. Gavin and Hannibal examine the factors that push Tony B past the point of no return, and Carmela and Tony S into the pool. Plus your hosts point out how this great story gives Gandolfini, Falco and Buscemi ample opportunity to display subtle new dimensions of their characters.

The past looms large ‘In Camelot.’ Gavin and Hannibal focus on Tony’s inability to forgive Livia, and Chris’ Tony-like Scorpion-Frog dynamic with a civilian. Featuring the creepiest rendition of ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ ever performed, and the most deaths of any Sopranos episode ever (*really), ‘In Camelot’ is another Steve Buscemi directed tour de force.

It’s another special episode of ‘The Sopranos Show!’ Gavin and Hannibal have a fascinating chat about all things Sopranos with Allen Coulter, director of such legendary episodes as ‘College,’ ‘The Night in White Satin Armor,’ and many more! Plus your hosts delve into ‘Sentimental Education’ which takes Carmela and Tony B on tragic yet thematically linked journeys. Gavin and Hannibal address the episode’s fable like qualities, and how it manages to quietly shift Season 5 into a whole new gear.

It’s easy to see why this one got both Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo Emmys. Writers Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess also shine with their first contribution to Season 5, the extremely intense, ‘Irregular Around the Margins.’ Gavin and Hannibal explain what makes this episode ‘irregular’ (from a storytelling point of view) and shocking (though in a very plausible way). Plus Gavin shares his spot on Steve Buscemi impersonation, and your hosts announce their next ‘The Sopranos Show’ guest!

‘All Happy Families...’ continues Season 5’s streak of near perfection. Gavin and Hannibal talk popularity contests, AJ at his worst, and share a ‘conspiracy theory’ about actor Robert Loggia. Also discussed is what The Sopranos has in common with other huge series like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Lost,’ and this episode’s important parallels with Season 2.

Uncle Junior takes center stage in this, funny, tragic, and unexpectedly moving episode. Gavin and Hannibal spot the key callback to the series pilot and examine its outsized impact on Tony. Also discussed? Paulie’s hilarious application of ‘The Art of War,’ the trouble with having Janice as a stepmom, and the shortcomings of ‘New Barb.’

There are many ways to interpret the title of this episode, which focuses on the many rats employed by the Feds, to bring Tony down. Gavin and Hannibal discuss the series acting debut of Sopranos directing vet Steve Buscemi, and the highly emotional way his character, Tony B, seems to affect Tony. Plus your hosts contrast Adriana’s deep soul searching with Ray Curto’s hilarious nonchalance, and settle on the definitive pronunciation of ‘Soprano.’

‘Two Tonys’ arrived in 2004 after an extremely lengthy hiatus following the Season 4 finale. The creators of the show ensured the wait was worth it with an episode that wastes no time setting very high stakes. Gavin and Hannibal explore Tony’s difficulties with facing rejection, the evolution of Christopher Moltisanti, and the symbolic significance of the bear in the back yard.

Today, Gavin and Hannibal host a truly special episode of The Sopranos Show, in which they interview former Sopranos staff writer and executive producer, Frank Renzulli! Frank is responsible for penning some of the greatest episodes from the first three seasons including ‘Nobody Knows Anything,’ ‘The Happy Wanderer,’ and ‘Amour Fou.’ In a conversation that covers all aspects of the making of the series, Frank details what it was like to grow up surrounded by real wiseguys, and how this...

‘Whitecaps’ is the longest episode of The Sopranos. Is it the greatest episode of the series up to this point? Probably. Gavin and Hannibal focus on James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, whose Emmy winning performances in this Season 4 finale, raise the bar for what can be achieved in the medium of television. ‘Whitecaps’ also displays once again, the writers’ sophisticated understanding of psychology and mastery of storytelling. Plot points quietly set up throughout the season are decisively paid...

Gavin and Hannibal interpret this episode as a story of heartbreak... and its consequences. Carmela without warning loses the love of someone very close, and Paulie unexpectedly finds that a friendship he depended on isn’t quite what he thought it was. Your hosts call attention to the many funny, suspenseful and even tragic moments that define another typically strong script from Terence Winter. ‘Eloise’ is special for delivering the traditional penultimate episode of the season fireworks......

‘Calling All Cars’ is bookended with ominous dream sequences that suggest Tony is in greater danger than he knows. Gavin and Hannibal examine the symbols in this tension heavy, occasionally hilarious, and somewhat spooky episode. Plus your hosts explain why this is the worst time for Tony to quit therapy, and question whether the ends justify the means, when it comes to Janice’s aggressive pursuit of Bobby.

It’s not easy to be “the strong, silent type” if you’re Tony, Christopher or Furio. Gavin and Hannibal address Tony’s emotionally complex dynamic with cute animals, Chris at rock bottom, and Furio’s increasingly risky forbidden love. Plus your hosts get caught up in the logistics of one legged sex, identify their favorite props from the series, and arrive at the first Sopranos storyline that Hannibal just doesn’t understand.

‘Whoever Did This’ is one of the best episodes The Sopranos ever did. Of course, Gavin and Hannibal spend much of their time praising Joe Pantoliano’s Emmy winning performance, which convincingly reveals a side of Ralph Cifaretto never before displayed. Plus, Burgess and Green’s flawless script delivers surprises large and small, culminating in some of the most unanticipated and graphic violence the series has ever depicted. Ultimately, a fitting and unforgettable exit for one of the series’...

‘Mergers and Acquisitions’ is a great example of how The Sopranos often finds hilarity in unexpected places. The various funny dilemmas in this episode keep Gavin and Hannibal laughing - from Paulie’s response to senior citizen bullying, to Tony’s investigation of Ralphie’s sex life in the hopes of finding a way to rationalize cuckolding his capo. Plus, your hosts parse the nuances of an amusing and masterful final scene that says everything that can be said about the state of Tony and...

Gavin and Hannibal tackle ‘Watching Too Much Television,’ discussing the desperation that leads Adriana to fast track her marriage for all the wrong reasons, and the unexpected emotional fallout that results when Tony and his business partners join forces on what should be a straightforward real estate scam. This episode emphasizes the costs of doing business with Tony, and forever leaves your hosts unable to think of The Chi Lites’ ‘Oh Girl,’ without also thinking of Tony’s belt...

Michael Imperioli once again pulls double duty, delivering what Gavin and Hannibal agree, is his best Sopranos script yet. In this episode, Tony, Artie, AJ and Carmella have plenty to be “hurt” about, and your hosts delve into the various sources of their pain. This story has a lot to say about income inequality (in unexpected places), guilt motivated altruism, and the toxicity of the mob world. Plus, it features a very young Paul Dano in a small but memorable role!

Today, we literally interrupt your regularly scheduled The Sopranos Show to bring you Gavin and Hannibal’s quick chat with Maureen Van Zandt, who portrayed Silvio Dante’s wife Gabriella! A huge thank you to Mrs. Van Zandt for a fun, and fascinating glimpse into the making of The Sopranos, and her role in it. Of course, your hosts also delve into this week’s episode ‘Pie-O-My’ discussing the truly great work done by James Gandolfini and Joe Pantoliano, who memorably find the tension in their...

Gavin and Hannibal view ‘The Weight’ as a highly entertaining return to the urgent and emotional high stakes storytelling that makes The Sopranos what it is. Terence Winter’s script convincingly depicts how the fallout from a single mean joke can escalate to a near bloodbath, while giving Vincent Curatola the opportunity to take full ownership of the character Johnny Sack, with a performance that is both chilling and sympathetic.

‘Christopher,’ is the widely agreed upon fan ‘least favorite,’ of the series. Gavin and Hannibal attempt to get to the root of just what exactly went wrong here. Low dramatic stakes, a misleading title, and a few too many cheesy jokes make ‘Christopher’ infamous, though it’s not a complete loss! This third installment of the season is redeemed at times with laugh out loud moments and politically relevant cultural observations.