1999 ‘The Sopranos' Episode Ranked No.1 of the Entire Series-and Among the Greatest of All Time
The Sopranosbecame one of the most influential shows ever to air on TV, redefining the mob genre with a fresh, psychological edge. Over its six-season run following its 1999 debut, one episode stood out and is widely ranked by multiple outlets as not only the best of the series, but among the greatest episodes in TV history.
The HBO series cemented itself early on with its Season 1 episode "College," written by co-producer James Manos Jr. and series creator and executive producer David Chase. Fans watched as Tony Soprano's (James Gandolfini) two worlds collide as a mob boss and father while on a trip with his daughter. The episode B-story also yielded to themes of trust and treachery as Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) faces temptation and the reality of her husband's profession.
Rolling Stone ranked "College" at No. 4 on their list of the "Best TV Episodes of All Time," with Entertainment Weekly ranking the episode at No. 1 as the best of the entire series. They tagged it as being "the single most influential television episode ever made" and how "the Tony-Meadow plot captures the tension between the two lives Tony leads."
"College" follows Tony on a road trip with his daughter, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), as she visits colleges in Maine. During their trip, Meadow decided to confront her father and ask if he's in the Mafia. While denying it right away, Tony admits that some of his income is from illegal gambling and other businesses. Meadow, having always suspected the truth, doesn't believe him and admits in a moment of trust to having taken methamphetamine to study. Tony is angered but realizes they are having a real, honest conversation.
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The episode takes a turn when Tony spots a former mob associate turned rat who was put under witness protection. It's in this moment that Tony reverts to his mob boss mentality and stalks the man, beats him, and ultimately murders him for the fun of it. Meanwhile, Carmela's side story caught intrigue as she battles with temptation as Father Phil (Paul Schulz) spends the night at her home. Their time together pushes Carmela to face her qualms about Tony's mob life.
Critics praised the episode's ability to blend every aspect of the show's world so seamlessly that it feels natural. Others applauded the episode, portraying feelings of family and peace that remain far from Tony's grasp.
The Sopranos episode led Manos and Chase to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, with Flaco receiving her first Emmy nomination and win for Outstanding Lead Actress.
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:28 AM.