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Port cities have tails to tell. But, as this article makes clear, without happy endings they often don't get heard. Baltimore, in fact, goes back to "On the Waterfront" with rich drama. Steiger hanging from a meathook resonated more than Brando's "I coulda been a contenda." That's a city that will never die, even though it's often in the death grips of the day labors of the dock.
But ulimately humor is going to be part of the equation. The Sopranos were married to it, and, consequently, we got to understand much more about the seedy underside that makes us what we are. Being a Mob Boss in Jersey is the biggest joke of all. And, sure, Tony loved animals and cultivated himself with history. But in the end we got the point. Over-fed, over- anxious, cruel to the point of murderous...King of his Castle Tony, added to our lexicon an ethic of "Yea, I'll be human. Just as soon as the rest of the world gets its shit together and stops scaring me half to death."
You don't get that from The Wire. You get enough, but The Sopranos give you just a little bit more.
Great article guys, thanks!
