The Sopranos
As the acclaimed series approaches its conclusion, TIME's television critic James Poniewozik picks his top ten episodes
College
This gemlike season one episode captured the parallels, and the tension, between the family and Family parts of Tony's life. He goes to New England on a college tour with daughter Meadow, whose denial about what he really does for a living he encourages. ("There is no Mafia!") After he spots a former wiseguy gone into witness protection, he decides to work a little business into the family getaway by tracking down the rat and killing him, with his bare hands. "College" cemented fans' affection and repulsion for Tony, letting us see him as a caring father and an unforgivable monster at the same time. And bonus points for the B-plot in which Carmela nearly cheats on Tony—with a priest. Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
(Directed by Allen Coulter; written by Jim Manos, Jr. and David Chase)
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