If you’ve ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes magic that made The Sopranos the revolutionary TV show it was, then the new documentary Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos is a must-watch. Premiering in 2024, this insightful documentary offers an intimate look at the creation of the show, as well as the genius of its creator, David Chase. It sheds light on the making of a cultural phenomenon that changed the landscape of television forever.
As one of the most iconic shows in TV history, The Sopranos brought complex storytelling, multi-dimensional characters, and dark humor to the small screen. At the center of it all was David Chase, whose vision brought the world of Tony Soprano to life. Wise Guy delves deep into Chase’s creative process, his challenges, his inspirations, and, of course, the impact The Sopranos continues to have on modern television.
So, what does this documentary reveal about the making of The Sopranos? Let’s break down the key takeaways and themes from Wise Guy and explore the brilliance of David Chase’s contributions to one of the most groundbreaking TV shows of all time.
The Vision Behind The Sopranos: David Chase’s Personal Touch
David Chase’s vision for The Sopranos was always unconventional. From the very beginning, he was determined to create a show that defied traditional television tropes, blending mob drama with family dynamics, therapy sessions, and psychological depth. Chase didn’t want to simply tell the story of a mob boss. He wanted to explore the internal conflict of the man behind the violence—the flawed, vulnerable Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini).
Chase’s own life and experiences greatly influenced the creation of The Sopranos. As the documentary reveals, he was deeply impacted by his relationship with his Italian-American heritage and the pressures of growing up in New Jersey. But more importantly, Chase was fascinated by the idea of duality—the tension between Tony’s roles as a mob boss and a family man, his moral contradictions, and his mental health struggles.
In Wise Guy, Chase reflects on the inspiration behind the show’s unconventional approach to mob storytelling. He recalls being frustrated with the lack of complexity in mafia films and TV shows up to that point. “I didn’t want to make a mob show. I wanted to make a show about a man who happens to be a mob boss,” Chase says in the documentary. And this mindset is exactly what made The Sopranos so innovative.
By focusing not just on the violence of the mob world but on the internal and personal struggles of its characters, especially Tony Soprano, Chase carved out a unique space in television that had never been explored before.
The Complex Relationship Between Tony Soprano and Dr. Melfi
One of the central themes of The Sopranos is Tony Soprano’s relationship with his therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (played by Lorraine Bracco). The therapy sessions, which initially seem like a way to deal with his panic attacks, become a window into Tony’s psyche. The show uses these sessions to explore deeper themes of identity, guilt, family, and power.
In Wise Guy, Chase opens up about the development of this unique relationship. According to Chase, the idea of having a mob boss in therapy was not just a gimmick—it was a way to show that even the most powerful people are not immune to the struggles that affect everyone else. Therapy, for Tony, was both a source of relief and a battleground for his fragile ego.
In the documentary, Chase reveals that the idea to have Tony Soprano seek therapy came from his desire to humanize the character. “I wanted Tony to have a place where he could talk about things that weren’t just about power or family,” Chase explains. “I wanted him to confront his inner demons, even if he didn’t always want to. That tension between Tony’s violent world and his attempt to find peace in therapy created a lot of drama.”
The therapy scenes became iconic, not just because of the performances but because of what they revealed about Tony’s vulnerability. For Chase, these sessions were more than just a plot device—they were a way to show the cracks in Tony’s tough exterior. It’s in these moments of quiet reflection that viewers see the real person behind the mob boss.
The Legacy of The Sopranos: How the Show Changed Television
The Sopranos didn’t just change the way we look at mob stories—it changed the way we look at television itself. The documentary Wise Guy provides a compelling look at how the show’s success influenced a generation of filmmakers and showrunners.
One of the most significant takeaways from the documentary is how The Sopranos helped pave the way for the era of “prestige television” that we now associate with shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Wire. Chase and his team took risks that had never been taken before on TV. They tackled complex characters, gray morality, and deep psychological exploration—elements that were largely absent from network television at the time.
In Wise Guy, Chase acknowledges the significance of this shift. He admits that when The Sopranos first aired, he didn’t expect the show to become a cultural phenomenon. “We were just trying to make something good. We didn’t know it would change everything,” he says in the documentary.
But The Sopranos did just that. By blending cinematic storytelling with long-form television, it showed that TV could be a legitimate art form, capable of exploring complex issues with the same depth and nuance as film. Chase’s willingness to take risks with character development, plot structure, and even the show’s ambiguous, often open-ended conclusions, helped to push television in new directions.
The Dark Comedy and Tone of The Sopranos
One of the most striking aspects of The Sopranos is its ability to balance moments of intense violence with dark comedy. Chase’s background in comedy writing, as well as his ability to find humor in even the most tragic situations, was key to this unique tone. In Wise Guy, Chase talks about how important it was to inject humor into the show, even if it was often morbid or ironic.
“The show was never just about the violence,” says Chase in the documentary. “It was about the absurdity of the world these characters inhabited. You’d have a mobster cracking a joke while plotting a murder, and that’s what made it so compelling. It felt real—life isn’t all drama or all comedy. It’s both.”
This duality—where moments of pure tension are often interrupted by moments of sharp humor—became a defining feature of the show. Tony Soprano’s ability to crack a joke while discussing a hit or dealing with a family problem was part of what made his character so multifaceted. And the documentary explores how Chase and the writers used this mix of dark humor and violence to keep the audience on edge.
Chase explains that, while The Sopranos was undoubtedly a drama, the characters’ sense of humor made them relatable. “It’s what made them human,” he says. “We all have moments of humor, even in dark times. That was something I wanted to capture.”
James Gandolfini: The Heart of The Sopranos
While The Sopranos is a show about many things—family, power, mental health, and morality—it’s ultimately the portrayal of Tony Soprano by James Gandolfini that holds everything together. The documentary Wise Guy takes a deep look at Gandolfini’s performance and the impact he had on the show’s success.
In the documentary, Chase talks about Gandolfini’s transformative performance as Tony. “Jim brought a depth and complexity to the character that I don’t think anyone else could have,” says Chase. “He had this incredible ability to show vulnerability in a character who was otherwise a tough, ruthless mob boss. It’s one of the reasons why The Sopranos is remembered as a game-changer.”
Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony was nothing short of legendary. He brought a rawness to the character that made him both terrifying and sympathetic. His nuanced performance allowed viewers to see the layers beneath Tony’s mobster persona—his fears, his insecurities, and his desire for control over his life.
The documentary also touches on the emotional toll the role took on Gandolfini, with Chase reflecting on the actor’s struggle to balance Tony’s darkness with his humanity. “Jim had these sad eyes, and he didn’t always know how to deal with the fact that the character was so heavy,” Chase says. “But he always rose to the challenge.”
Conclusion: A Legacy That Lives On
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos offers an in-depth exploration of how one of television’s most influential shows came to be. Through interviews with David Chase and key cast members, the documentary gives fans a deeper understanding of the creative genius behind The Sopranos.
From the show’s psychological complexity and groundbreaking storylines to the unforgettable performance of James Gandolfini, The Sopranos redefined what television could be. And now, Wise Guy helps us look back at that legacy, reminding us just how much The Sopranos impacted the TV landscape—and how David Chase’s vision continues to resonate.
