Ranking of the Seasons (Best to Worst)
1) Season 3
2) Season 5
3) Season 2
4) Season 1
5) Season 4

Justification
1) Season 3: Broke the rules and created some new ones. The darkest and most violent season but also in my opinion the most dramatic, and the drama to me is what makes the series. More than that the season provides vintage Soprano's, with Tony at home drinking the OJ in the bathrobe with a less angry attitude that Season 2. As the show grew, Tony grew, less intense and more smart this season in the Soprano house calmly dealing with everyone. Janice didn't dominate a storyline she had a nice little role, as did Johnny Sack, Ralphie was great, & most of all the family was equally involved in the story. Meadow had a big storyline rather than just an episode or 2 & so did AJ. Plus the greatest Soprano's episode ever: Pine Barrens & other total classics Fortunate Son, Employee of the Month, the telltale mozadelle & Amour Fou. The only negative was The Army of One, a disappointing finale, however the other classics in the seaon still secure this season as being the best ever.

Season 5: It was tough putting this above Season 2, but as far as I'm concerned there was a reason this was the only Season to win the Emmy for best television series. Long Term Parking was a classic episode that will not be forgotten. The drama was real, and very little loose ends in this season. The negative was you didnt see classic Sopranos with Tony at home in the Soprano house, and the story didn't involve all of the Soprano's equally. Meadow was hardly to be found. Buscemi was great though, as was Robert Loggia, Angelo, everyone did well. Plus lots of whackings, good mafia story. Best episides include LTP, Where's Johnny, All Happy families, Marco Polo & Unidentified Black Males. Besides what you all think, watch the test dream a few times over, you realize its great and real.

Season 2:
You get to see a great villian in Richie Aprile here. The Davey Catino situation gave you a glimpse into how the Soprano's make their money. Great 2 final episodes, the story involved everyone, and the mother had a more reasonable role. The bad part was Richie's death was a bit predictable, & overall we had less drama running through this season, usually replaced with some comedy. Bad episodes include D-Girl, & frankly I thought Commendatori was just one big loose end & useless.

Season 1:
The season that started it all had great perks. Probably the best season finale throughout the series, other than funhouse in season 2. A great series starter in 'the sopranos', and great acting all around. The negative again would be the level of drama was not there compared to season 3. Plus lots disagree, but i just didn't like the storyline with Tony's mother, too overdone. Lackluster episodes include 46 Long & the legend of tenesse moltisanti.

Season 4:
At the bottom of everyone's list and well deserved. It wasn't a bad season, but it was definitley the worst The Sopranos have done. The positive's are the acting was stupendous, all around. Jim and Eddie earned those Emmy's for this season. It was also true and real to the time period and age, with the recession and otherwise. Great episodes here include Everybody Hurts & Whoever did this. The negatives are obvious. Loose end storyline with Furio and Carmela, little to no action or whackings, you can see a whole episode such as the weight, and all that talk and no one goes. Paulie just acted uncharasmatic, and to be honest it was almost non-believable is storyine, when it was there. Meadow was no longer involved and neither was Paulie or Sylvio to the extent they could have been. Briam Comorado seemed to get more time. Lackluster episodes include Pie-o-mie, Calling all Cars, Eloise and the worst ever in my opinion Christopher.

Season 2 for me

My ranking:

1. Season 5
2. Season 3
3. Season 2
4. Season 1
5. Season 4

Favourite to least favourite:
Season 2
Season 5
Season 1
Season 3
Season 4

My ranking:

4
5
2
1
3

Trois
Cinq
Un
Quartre
Deux

as usual i have to go with season one as my all time favourite. theres nothing like the freshness that was presented that first season. then i go to season two which had a great finale, it definatly broke my heart. the third season is next, and i love it...i just donºt like the episode where ralph kills the stripper tracy...for some reason im sensitive to that....i can see everything else...just that one scene in the whole series that i dont like watching. fifth season ranks in fourth...and then obviously the fourth comes in last...because it drags on in to many places.

1 - They've been trying to match it since.
3 - Really enjoyed the introduction of the Ralphie and Jackie Jr characters, also there were a good number of stellar episodes, as previously mentioned.
2/5 - Can't quite decide here, 2 is fresher in my head as I watched it in full after season 5 ended, and I really enjoyed the Bevilaqua storyline, but 5 just did so much for me.
4 - Slow at times, but even being the worst, its still better than most of anything else on tv.

Spoilers

Season 2 - The zenith of the show was when Janice shot Richie Aprile. It has been on a slow slide eversince.
It is still a great show but season 2 was the golden age.

Season 1 - Fresh and on the edge, Livia, need I say more

Season 3,4,5- put in any order. They each have moments, but half of each season you find yourself just waiting

"4 - Slow at times, but even being the worst, its still better than most of anything else on tv."

Well put, I couldnt agree more, don't get more wrong I like it the season, I love the show, it wasn't a total disappointment.

Try DEADWOOD season 1 & 2 , and then compare it to the last 2 seasons of the Sopranos. It will emphasize the slide the Sopranos is in.

The best Sopranos season was season #2.

DS

1. Season Three
2. Season Two
3. Season Five
4. Season Four
5. Season One

3 best episodes of Season Three:
"Pine Barrens"
"Amour Fou"
"Employee Of The Month"

3 best episodes of Season Two:
"The Knight In White Satin Armor"
"Funhouse"
"Bust-Out"

3 best episodes of Season Five:
"Long Term Parking"
"Unidentified Black Males"
"Irregular Around The Margins"

3 best episodes of Season Four:
"Whoever Did This"
"The Weight"
"Whitecaps"

3 best episdoes of Season One:
"College"
"I Dream Of Jeannie Cusamano"
"Boca"

Bring on Season Six!

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3
5
4
1
2
6a
6b

1
3
2
6a
5
4

Season 1 - The Sopranos, College
Season 3 - Pine Barrens, He is Risen
Season 2 - Full Leather Jacket
Season 5 - Long Term Parking
Season 6b - Kennedy & Heidi, Blue Comet
Season 4 - For All Debts Public & Private, Christopher
Season 6a - Mayham

I'd say seasons 1 and 3 are a toss-up as far as which is best.

Season 3
Season 1
season 5
Season 4
season 6
season 2

6b last? I thought it was fantasic! Anyway my order would be...

1. Season 2- Best set of episodes in the history of television! David Proval was great as Ritchie Aprile and the introduction of Janice was well done. Not a bad episode in the batch!

2. Season 1- Had the most satisfying ending to a season I've ever seen. Watching Jimmy, Chucky, and Mikey go was fun. John Heard was good as Vin Makazien, and the relationship between Livia and Junior was a great watch. Only poor episode I can think of is A Hit is a Hit.

3. Season 5- After an anti-climatic and somewhat boring season four, this season really saved the show for me. New characters like Tony B, Phil Leotardo, Rusty Milio, and Feech LaMann added depth to the show. The civil war between Johnny Sack and Little Carmine was a great backdrop for the season. The death of Adrianna was very shocking too. Gandolfini was at his best this season.

4. Season 6b- I was wondering after 6a if Chase had anything left...he sure did! Every episode other than Chasing It was great. The long awaited NJ/NY mob was fast and furious. Blue Comet and Stage 5 might have been some of the best episodes ever made. The only negative is the over use of AJ...who no one cares about!

5. Season 3- Everyone will kill me for having it so low,but oh well. I liked season three, but it lacked a story arc that made every season so interesting. Don't say Jackie Jr. either, that's hardly a story arc! Sure Gloria Trillo was hot and the ensemble cast was great as usual...it left something to be desired. Though Pine Barrens and Another Toothpick are a couple of my favorite episodes!

6. Season 4- Zzzzzzzzz! There are seven or eight legit bad episodes in season four. Only No Show, Whoever Did This, and Whitecaps really stand out as very good episodes. The death of Ralph was great but it was offset by the lame exit for Furio.

7. Season 6a- When the main story of your season is about a gay Capo hiding up north and having sex with Johnny Cakes...you got problems! I thought it was going to be a great season judging by the first three episodes...but after that... it took a nose dive until Cold Stones and Kaisha. The main ting that pissed me off was the pushing to the side of certain characters such as Junior and Johnny Sack for guys like Bobby and Phil who are very one dimensional.