Breaking Bad vs. The Sopranos: Which was better?

Elliot (The Sopranos)

While both shows are absolute masterpieces, The Sopranos has the winning edge for a few reasons. First of all, this series has already demonstrated that it can stand the test of time. Recently, the New York Times ran a piece highlighting the show's popularity among today's younger audiences, including those who were born long after The Sopranos' debut. The article describes Michael Imperioli's (character Christopher Moltisanti) surprise at discovering 'all these fan sites and meme sites' dedicated to the show, as well as endless Instagram fan accounts. Numerous young people regularly approach Michael for selfies, many of whom even have Sopranos tattoos. With new podcasts and a spin-off prequel on the way, The Sopranos is still an integral part of our culture even after all these years. 

Will we say the same about Breaking Bad in 20 or 30 years? Probably not. But why is that? When you really boil it down, The Sopranos is a more relatable story that features truly timeless themes. Instead of relying on new slang or cutting-edge drug manufacturing techniques, the show follows many regular Italian criminals you could find in any era, which grounds them in reality. Guys like these are always hanging around in New Jersey, and they always will be. The New York Times suggests the general theme of decline is another factor that continues attracting modern audiences. 

But what's most incredible is how The Sopranos features flawlessly scripted episodes from start to finish. The casting choices were genius, and the wide range of interesting, multi-faceted characters (Paulie, Pussy, Christopher, Sylvio, Meadow) makes this story grounded and robust. In contrast, Breaking Bad relies heavily on the chemistry (no pun intended) of just two characters.  

Luis (Breaking Bad)

While The Sopranos is an incredible TV series that everyone should watch, it isn’t controversial to say that Breaking Bad is better. After all, we’re talking about one of the best TV series in history, thanks in part to Walter White’s character development, one of the greatest arcs and transformations ever shown.

Another reason why Breaking Bad is better than The Sopranos is the series' moral complexity, which is extraordinary as it shows a typical middle-aged and middle-class man who slowly turns into a criminal mastermind and a stone-cold killer. This is quite different from the HBO series, as its main character starts as a mobster and ends as a mobster.

Moreover, Breaking Bad shows a greater cinematic quality, which is inevitable as we’re talking about a TV series that was created in the late 2000s, with its first emission in 2008. Meanwhile, The Sopranos was created nearly a decade before, at a time when standards for cinematic quality in TV series weren’t exactly the highest.

Additionally, while The Sopranos had a profound cultural impact in the United States, Breaking Bad’s not only bigger but also extended to many other parts of the world, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Finally, Breaking Bad had one of the most incredible spinoffs in history as it was Better Call Saul, which not only surpasses any other content related to The Sopranos but also ended up being so outstanding that many even say it’s better than Breaking Bad.

Both TV series are extraordinary, and everyone should watch it. However, if only one can be picked, it would have to be Breaking Bad.