Was Tony Soprano likeable? (movies, heroes, shows, actress)

[Iconographer]

I'll say that I appreciated the character of Tony Soprano, but I didn't like him. I couldn't possibly, particularly because of the way he treated Carmela.
The character I really loved was Livia. What a gal!

[H'ton]

Other shows to check out, if you haven't:


Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Affair
The Wire
Power
Billions
Game of Thrones

[Bill the Butcher]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I might checkout Dexter. Looks interesting.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by Bill the Butcher

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I might checkout Dexter. Looks interesting.

I watched the first 5 or 6 episodes of Dexter and then lost interest. I didn't really enjoy it.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

I'll say that I appreciated the character of Tony Soprano, but I didn't like him. I couldn't possibly, particularly because of the way he treated Carmela.
The character I really loved was Livia. What a gal!

You were ok with Livia putting out a hit on her son?

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

I'll say that I appreciated the character of Tony Soprano, but I didn't like him. I couldn't possibly, particularly because of the way he treated Carmela.
The character I really loved was Livia. What a gal!

I just gave you rep points. Then I read what you wrote about Livia, and I wish I could take them back. She is the worst character on this show, plotting to have her own son offed. You don't have to wonder how Tony turned the way he did, given those two parents.

I clicked "no" for Tony's likeability, too, btw (hence the rep points).

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Please only vote if you've watched The Sopranos series.

Gangsters aren't generally likeable people, they can't afford to be too likeable or people would take advantage.

Indeed the most succesful gangsters were cunning and ruthless.

Tony's father wasn't exactly likeable, nor was his mother or indeed his Janice or indeed Uncle Junior, indeed the whole family was dysunctional.

However I don't think Tony was pure evil when compared to the likes of Richie Aprile or Ralph Cifaretto, and this can be seen in relation to Tony's reaction when Ralph beats to death his young pregnant stripper girlfriend or when Tony finds out Ralph set fire to the stables to claim the insurance on "Pie-O-My".

Tony was also a lot more likeable than some of the gangsters he has to deal with, and indeed those from New York, and there generally had to be a good reason for Tony to engage in violence unlike say Robert De Niro as James "Jimmy the Gent" Conway and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, who both enjoyed inflicted violence or commiting murder for fun.

There may be likeable traits even in gangsters, Bob Hoskins was quite likeavle even when he played such roles in films such as the 'Long Good Friday' and 'Mona Lisa' for instance.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

Gangsters aren't generally likeable people, they can't afford to be too likeable or people would take advantage.

Indeed the most succesful gangsters were cunning and ruthless.

Tony's father wasn't exactly likeable, nor was his mother or indeed his Janice or indeed Uncle Junior, indeed the whole family was dysunctional.

However I don't think Tony was pure evil when compared to the likes of Richie Aprile or Ralph Cifaretto, and this can be seen in relation to Tony's reaction when Ralph beats to death his young pregnant stripper girlfriend or when Tony finds out Ralph set fire to the stables to claim the insurance on "Pie-O-My".

Tony was also a lot more likeable than some of the gangsters he has to deal with, and indeed those from New York, and there generally had to be a good reason for Tony to engage in violence unlike say Robert De Niro as James "Jimmy the Gent" Conway and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, who both enjoyed inflicted violence or commiting murder for fun.

There may be likeable traits even in gangsters, Bob Hoskins was quite likeavle even when he played such roles in films such as the 'Long Good Friday' and 'Mona Lisa' for instance.

Good points. I'd say Tony was very likeable from a distance (i.e. watching on TV).

Ralphie was the most unlikeable person on the show, IMO. A truly despicable guy.

[jay5835]

Tony was like a pitbull. Nice enough, sort of, until he wasn't, and then watch TF out.

[fleetiebelle]

Tony Soprano was one of the first examples of the anithero becoming popular in TV/movie culture. Similar to Don Draper, Walter White, Al Swearingen, Dexter, etc. You don't "like" them, necessarily, but you still root for them as characters, even if what they're doing isn't noble or heroic.