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Season 3 – The Sopranos

Play trailer Poster for Season 3 – The Sopranos Mar 2001 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 97% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Tony Soprano juggles the problems of his fractious family with those of a "Family" of a different sort - the mob. He sees a therapist to deal with his professional and personal problems, which bring on panic attacks. He deals with personal and professional power struggles, affairs, violence, the threat of exposure and betrayal, and a whole bunch of people being whacked.
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The Sopranos — Season 3

The Sopranos — Season 3

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Critics Consensus

Deftly using its complex characters to delve into thorny moral quandaries, the third season of The Sopranos continues to deliver consistently compelling, albeit controversial, viewing.

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Critics Reviews

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Graeme Blundell The Australian 07/19/2021
You'll love its Byzantine plotting, psychological intricacies, the fine and committed acting, and the way creator David Chase took risks, asking questions instead of providing answers. Go to Full Review
Emily St. James AV Club 07/15/2014
A
"Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood" is a slyly confident, funny return to the world of The Sopranos, an episode that takes a cue from, well, Hitchcock to talk as much about our relationship to the show as anything else. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Storm Philadelphia Inquirer 07/11/2014
It goes beyond The Godfather because it's punctuated with smiles, and set to a score that uses the music of big-name artists in an unusually creative way. Go to Full Review
Victor Pineyro Seventh Art Studio 10/22/2021
10/10
Season 3 is easily one of The Sopranos' very best. It gives us Tony and Gloria's amour fou, Chris and Paulie's Pine Barrens and finally catches us up with the fact that there was never peace here. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Guillem Martinez Oya Cinematismo 11/26/2019
5/5
A look at a mistifing figure of a gangster in the contemporary times. A necessary look to ourselves. [full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Igor S Jan 7 A true classic. To say more, would be wasting the time you could be spending watching it. See more Tony M. @TonyM501 Dec 29 The best season of what I believe to be the greatest television show in history. The Pine Barrens episode is the standout! See more Izzy 2 @Izzy215 Aug 21 I preferred season 2, just thought it was funnier overall. But, this season did contain arguably the best single episode so far. 5/5. See more FLAC R. @flacreviews Aug 14 One of the best seasons of TV period. See more kalokritik _ @SHHHHH132 Jun 26 So, the Sopranos series The Sopranos is an undeniably iconic American crime drama series that has become a benchmark for high-quality television since its release (and this is 1999 for a moment). Created by David Chase, the series tells the story of Tony Soprano, the boss of an Italian-American mafia family from New Jersey, who tries to combine violent criminal activities with family life and personal psychological problems. I like that almost all the characters don't look like waffles, each character causes me mixed feelings - from disgust to sympathy. "The Sopranos" marked the beginning of the era of the "golden age of television", setting a high bar for the quality of the script, direction and acting. The series abandoned the traditional episodic format in favor of a long, somewhat tedious narrative that requires patience and engagement from the viewer. It is important to note that the Sopranos is not just a story about the mafia, but the silhouette of a man who found himself at the top of the criminal world, but paid a huge personal price for it. Tony Soprano (the main character) is a charismatic and intelligent leader who outwardly seems strong and successful, but inside suffers from panic attacks, depression and internal conflict between the roles of mafia, father, husband and son. His power is based on cruelty, betrayal and constant threat, which leads to estrangement from his family and the inability to build real trusting relationships (not only between his wife and children, among others). I like that the series shows that the mafia is not a romance. The only things not shown here were luxury living, shoes just bought from their expensive boutique in Italy and many other things. They don't romanticize the mafia here, but show how harsh reality is, where there is no place for ideals and friendship: everyone is for himself, and any connections are more business than personal. Even Tony's family becomes not a source of support, but a place for new conflicts. Tony's internal conflict is an attempt to combine the incompatible - to be a good son, father and husband, but at the same time remain a ruthless mafia boss. With his mother, he has problems, his mother is not capable of love and support. The Soprano family is seemingly ordinary, but in fact deeply dysfunctional. (Carmela's wife suffers infidelity for the sake of material well-being, the children suffer from a lack of attention and support, and Tony's mother is the source of his psychological trauma) The price of Tony's power and wealth is loneliness, mental disorders, and broken relationships with loved ones. The series honestly shows that the path to the top in the world of crime inevitably leads to inner emptiness, dehumanization and the inability to be truly happy. I remember very well the moment where Tony says, "Our mothers, they're like bus drivers. No, they're the buses themselves. They bring us here, drop us off, and drive on. They continue on their way. And the problem is that we're trying to get back on the bus instead of letting it go." is a very interesting phrase. The phrase, of course, embodies a metaphorical reflection on the role of the mother in human life and the difficulties of emotional liberation from parental influences. The mother here is a symbol of the path, destiny and life route. She "brings" me, her child, to a certain stage of life, provides a start, support, upbringing and personality formation. But then she "moves on" - continues on her own path, making us independent. It's scary to realize at a young age that this is the inevitable separation of the child from the mother, the transition to adulthood and responsibility for oneself. The main problem, which Tony emphasizes, is that we often cannot let go of this "bus" - that is, we cannot free ourselves from the influence and control of the mother (and not only dad, grandma, grandpa), from emotional dependence, from attempts to return to the old, childish relationship, where the mother was the center and a support. I think "The Sopranos" is deservedly considered a masterpiece. See more goober 1 Apr 19 “The Sopranos” season three holds some of the best episodes TV has to offer. It has excellent stories and great comedy relief, especially in the episode “Pine Barrens”. Standout Episodes: 1. Proshai, Livushka 2. Employee Of The Month 3. University 4. To Save Us All From Satan’s Power 5. Pine Barrens 6. Amour Fou 7. Army Of One See more Read all reviews
The Sopranos — Season 3

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 4, 2001 Mr. Ruggiero's Neighborhood Agent Harris develops a plan to wiretap everyone in the Soprano home; Tony keeps track of Patsy Parisi, twin brother of the slain Philip; Livia's suffering ends. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 4, 2001 Proshai, Livushka Livia's suffering ends; Janice arrives to arrange her mother's funeral; Tony chats with Meadow's new boyfriend. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 11, 2001 Fortunate Son Christopher's disappointed when he realizes being a made man isn't as glorious as he had hoped; Janice moves into her mother's house. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 18, 2001 Employee of the Month Ralph Cifaretto, who took over Richie Aprile's garbage business, finds a way to endear himself to Jackie Jr.; Tony's therapy is interrupted by a personal crisis. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 25, 2001 Another Toothpick Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri Sr. comes out of retirement, which displeases his son and Uncle Junior; Carmela takes an active role in Tony's therapy. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 1, 2001 University A Bada Bing dancer asks Tony (James Gandolfini) and Ralph for help; Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) turns to Noah for support. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 8, 2001 Second Opinion Newly made Christopher has his probation period under Paulie extended; Tony encourages Uncle Junior to get a second opinion; Carmela and Tony have time to be together. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 15, 2001 He Is Risen Although Johnny Sack intervenes, the feud between Tony and Ralph escalates; Meadow and Jackie Jr. discover they have more in common. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 22, 2001 The Telltale Moozadell Tony surprises Carmela with a sapphire ring for her birthday, while Christopher gives Adriana her own music club; Anthony Jr. is busted for vandalism. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 29, 2001 To Save Us All From Satan's Power Christmas ghosts send Tony to Dr. Melfi; Janice has a Christmas dinner; Bacala dons an old Santa suit. Details Episode 11 Aired May 6, 2001 Pine Barrens Paulie and Christopher visit South Jersey; Meadow suspects Jackie Jr. of cheating; family demands jeopardize Tony's new friendship. Details Episode 12 Aired May 13, 2001 Amour Fou Jackie Jr. decides to make his move in organized crime; Carmela's guilt leads her to confess to her priest. Details Episode 13 Aired May 20, 2001 The Army of One A.J. faces the prospect of military school; Tony orders Ralph to deal with Jackie Jr.; Meadow reflects on life as a Soprano. Details
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Season Info

Director
John Patterson, Jack Bender, Timothy Van Patten, Henry Bronchtein, Joel Bender, Steve Buscemi, Allen Coulter
Executive Producer
David Chase
Screenwriter
David Chase, Todd A. Kessler, Lawrence Konner, Frank Renzulli, Robin Green, Terence Winter, Timothy Van Patten, Mitchell Burgess, Salvatore Stabile
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 4, 2001