The Sopranos Was So Iconic Because It Always Followed This One Rule

The Sopranos not only became one of the most critically acclaimed television series in history, but also ushered in a new era in television that continues to this day.

The staple of this era is the anti-hero drama, which details the complicated lives of bad people, and Tony Soprano is the progenitor of all these anti-heroes.

Before The Sopranos, David Chase, the show's screenwriter, worked in television for 20 years, but he wanted to bring one particular idea to the big screen. In 1995, a colleague convinced him that he should make a show instead – and it was the right decision.

When The Sopranos aired on HBO three and a half years later, many viewers commented that it looked just like a movie. The series became an undeniable hit changing TV shows' landscape forever.

But what was the recipe for such success?

David Chase had one rule that could not be broken – the actors had to follow the script to the letter. The slightest deviation had to be approved by Chase personally.

There were two reasons for this. First, the showrunner gave artistic meaning to every word and every line. Second, the show's crew was constantly working under tight deadlines.

Discussing edits, approving them, and handing them out to the actors was an unaffordable luxury.

During an interview about Sopranos sequel The Many Saints of Newark, Chase said: "Once we started shooting, there was no change of dialogue — not even one word was allowed."

The creator of the series also admitted that such a restriction upset the lead actor James Gandolfini, who did not hide it, but at the same time did everything that was asked of him.

Such a rule may seem too strict, since many iconic scenes in movies and TV shows were created with the help of improvisation.

But it just goes to show that what works in one show may not work in another.

David Chase had a clear plan and vision for his show that he stuck to for the entire 6 seasons, and as fans can now see, that plan worked like a Swiss watch.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter