Sopranos: Complete Second Season [DVD] [1999] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

"The Sopranos: The Complete Second Season" has to be my favorite season. As much as I love the first one, this was when things were really funny, intense, dramatic and involving. The season doesn't let us down when it comes to Tony having more problems than ever before. Both in his Mafia Family and his immediate family, Tony can never get a break. His wife gives him grief while his kids keep doing things that upset him. And don't get me started on his ill mother and self-centered sister. Life isn't much better in his Mafia Family when the brother of Jackie is released from prison and is giving Tony a hard time both personally and professionally. Not to mention that his long time friend, Big P. comes back from a long hiatus when he was first suspected of turning rat to the Feds. All of this leads to one incredible and unpredictable season that showcases the show like none other.

For me, this was the most entertaining season of them all. I loved the characters, the constantly changing storylines, and the personal and business life of Tony Soprano, which is superbly balanced in this season. There's still the much appreciated humor in these episodes that were found lacking in the next two seasons. It doesn't feel like a soap opera, but a more enhanced look into the Mafia world. There's plenty of action as well as dramatic storylines that will make everybody happy for the most part.

This season comes in a set of four discs, totaling at 13 episodes. The great thing about the show is that it is presented to us in a widescreen format that is enhanced for widescreen TVs. This really makes the show that more effective because you feel like you're actually watching a movie rather than a show on cable. The picture and sound quality is great and really shows. There are some nice little extras, such as featurettes, brief previews and recaps of episodes, web-links and more.

"The Sopranos: The Complete Second Season" is a bundle of laughs, suspense, drama, action and surprises. You're always on your toes and you never know what's coming next. One thing's for sure; this is the most unpredictable season out of the four seasons (the fifth one looks pretty promising thus far). While you'll want to start with the first season if you've never seen the show before, you'll know that you will have something special to look forward to once you get to the second season. In my opinion, this is where Sopranos is flawlessly at its best. -Michael Crane

O.K., the overall feel of the sophomore season isn't as lighthearted as the first--should it be? There is much that Sopranos creator David Chase has to say about life in general. And you may find that you have more in common with the mobbed-up characters than you think. It's an interesting, edgy, wicked, funny and frightening ride that hasn't lost it's intelligent touch. The production of The Sopranos in subsequent seasons has grown (along with the size of its viewership), and the writing has been progressively more mature, dark and realistic. Yet, it's still fun to watch, even with the darker plotlines.

If you've never seen an episode of The Sopranos, please do. WARNING: Once you do, you'll probably fork over the money to buy both seasons of the series. It's THAT addictive. The episodes are more rewarding upon repeated viewings.

The season starts out where the last one left off. Tony's not talking to his mother, Uncle Junior's been arrested and is let out on house arrest, Big Pussy's is now an FBI informant, and Dr. Melfi's seeing patients in a motel. But things get turned upsided down with the addition of two new characters: Tony's sister Janice (aka Parvati) and Richie Aprile, the brother of the late former boss Jackie Aprile and Janice's former lover. He's just been released from prison and is looking for a piece of the action, both from Tony and from Janice.

I'm not going to spoil the season for you by running down every episode, but every episode, while self-contained, helps paint a piece of the larger picture of the season. Everything is covered here from the relationship between Tony and Dr. Melfi to a friend's gambling problem to a power struggle at the type to a final farewell to a major player in the Sopranos.

I know the high price might keep some people from buying the set, but it is well worth it! If you get the chance, buy it!