Only 5 TV Shows Are Even More Groundbreaking Than ‘The Sopranos’
The article argues that five television series deserve to be considered even more groundbreaking than *The Sopranos*, mainly because they came earlier and helped expand what television could do. It stresses that this is not a claim that they were better shows: *The Sopranos* is praised for its consistency, depth and lasting appeal.
The supplied text discusses two of the five: HBO’s *Oz*, which premiered two years before *The Sopranos*, and the much earlier *The Prisoner*. *Oz* pushed boundaries with graphic violence and adult content in its six-season portrayal of prison life, while *The Prisoner* used surreal, experimental storytelling that may have influenced later dramas such as *Lost*. The article says both helped pave the way for the risks taken by *The Sopranos*.
In short
- Five earlier series are credited with expanding television’s boundaries.
- *Oz* brought graphic prison drama to HBO two years before *The Sopranos*.
- *The Prisoner* helped make surreal, challenging drama more possible.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A series can be more groundbreaking than The Sopranos without being better overall: Oz and The Prisoner took formal and thematic risks earlier, helping widen the range of stories television could tell. On this view, recognising their influence gives a fuller account of how ambitious television developed.
The case against
Calling any series more groundbreaking depends on how influence and innovation are measured, and The Sopranos itself transformed expectations for character-driven drama and prestige television. Earlier dates and experimental content alone may not show that Oz or The Prisoner had a greater impact, and their influence on later programmes can be difficult to establish.
Explained simply
Television drama has changed over time as writers and broadcasters have experimented with more adult themes and unusual ways of telling stories. HBO’s The Sopranos became known for its detailed characters and lasting popularity, but it arrived after other series had already tested what television could do.
Oz, which began two years earlier, portrayed prison life with graphic violence and adult content. The Prisoner, made much earlier, told a surreal and experimental story that may have influenced later dramas such as Lost.
These shows are part of a wider discussion about how television developed, and what it means for a series to be groundbreaking. The comparison concerns influence and timing as well as quality; the article does not argue that the earlier shows were better than The Sopranos.