11 Brilliant Shows to Watch After You Finish ‘The Sopranos’
Television hasn’t stopped trying to match the spark that The Sopranos lit decades ago. The mix of thrill, humor, family drama, and sharp cultural observations inspired some of the most talked‑about series in recent history. For anyone looking to fill that Tony‑shaped gap in their viewing schedule, these shows carry echoes of the same grit while carving out their legacy.
Breaking Bad
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When a high school chemistry teacher gets desperate, he turns the whole world upside down. Breaking Bad starts quietly and goes off the rails in ways that never feel forced. Cranston’s performance is sharp and layered, and every season tightens the screws. If you want high stakes and real moral messiness, this one delivers.
Boardwalk Empire
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This series, set during Prohibition, blends real history with fictional scheming in Atlantic City. Terence Winter, who wrote for The Sopranos, created it, and Martin Scorsese directed the pilot. The show’s meticulous 1920s detail and tangled alliances make it feel like watching the early blueprint for modern thrill dramas.
The Wire
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David Simon’s Baltimore epic examines street‑level crime and institutional failures in equal measure. Rather than follow one lead character, the show unfolds like a novel across seasons, covering service work, schools, politics, and business trades.
Mad Men
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In 1960s New York, advertising executive Don Draper hides a messy personal life behind smooth pitches and tailored suits. Matthew Weiner, a former Sopranos writer, weaves themes of identity and ambition into every episode. The show captures changing cultural norms with subtle humor and sharp observations.
Ray Donovan
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In Los Angeles, Ray Donovan sweeps up Hollywood’s ugliest secrets, then heads home to a family that’s just as chaotic as any crime scene. Liev Schreiber plays him with a steady hand—always tense, never rattled, never truly at peace. Trouble follows Ray everywhere, and every fix leaves another crack in the foundation.
Oz
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Before HBO became known for prestige dramas, Oz paved the way with its unflinching prison stories. Life inside the Oswald State Correctional Facility is brutal and unpredictable, with alliances shifting overnight. Many future Sopranos actors honed their craft here, including Edie Falco.
Gomorrah
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This Italian show explores a Naples family with chilling realism. Based on Roberto Saviano’s book, the series digs into shifting power dynamics after the arrest of a feared boss. Its visual style is dark, both literally and thematically, and it rarely softens the violence or stakes.
The Americans
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Spies living as an ordinary couple in 1980s suburban America create a constant tug between duty and family. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys deliver layered performances as they juggle covert missions with parent‑teacher nights. It’s slow‑burn intensity rewards patient viewers with unforgettable character arcs.
Barry
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Bill Hader’s hitman‑turned‑actor concept sounds offbeat but perfectly captures the double life theme. Barry juggles acting classes with contract deals, which leads to darkly funny and tragic moments. Hader’s performance earned him multiple Emmys. It’s a sharp, modern look at a man trying to rewrite his own story.
Better Call Saul
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It’s a slow build, but the payoff is worth every minute. This prequel to Breaking Bad focuses on Jimmy McGill’s transformation into slippery lawyer Saul Goodman. Bob Odenkirk balances comedy and heartbreak as Jimmy’s schemes spiral. Critics praise it for carving out its identity rather than rehashing old ground.
Lilyhammer
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Steven Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante, headlines this quirky series about a mobster hiding in Norway. As one of Netflix’s earliest originals, Lilyhammer paved the way for streaming‑era hits while giving fans a familiar face in a new setting.
The Shield
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Los Angeles officers aren’t supposed to act like unlawful locals, but Vic Mackey bends the rules until they almost snap. The show fires on all cylinders, packed with moral gray areas and unexpected turns that feel right at home after The Sopranos.
Succession
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In Succession, power grabs replace gunfights. The Roy family jostles for control of a media empire, rarely trusting each other for long. Brian Cox’s Logan pulls the strings, but his kids are always plotting their next move. Sharp dialogue and deadpan humor keep the tension simmering from start to finish.
Peaky Blinders
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In post‑WWI Birmingham, this British saga follows the Shelby family’s rise in the underworld. Cillian Murphy’s calm but ruthless Tommy Shelby leads with strategy and style. Its mix of politics, business, and backroom deals mirrors the layered storytelling fans of The Sopranos appreciate.
Ozark
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When financial advisor Marty Byrde relocates his family to launder cartel money, the quiet Missouri setting quickly turns into a battleground. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney anchor the tense family dynamics as shifting alliances threaten their survival. The series thrives on constant pressure and sharp turns.