'Masterpiece' crime drama that's 'the greatest and most groundbreaking TV of all time'

Over the last few decades, some incredible shows have hit our screens. There's been Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and The Wire, all of them hugely popular. But according to TV lovers, there's one series that beats them all, with many saying it's "the greatest and most groundbreaking piece of television ever made".

Even now, more than 20 years after it first aired, people still can't stop talking about it. Many say it changed television forever. It's dark, intense and clever, and it all starts in a quiet New Jersey suburb, where a man is trying to keep his family together while running a criminal empire.

The show is The Sopranos, and for a lot of fans, nothing else comes close.

One reviewer said: "The Sopranos isn't just television; it's a meticulously crafted masterpiece that transcends the crime genre, offering a profound exploration of the human condition through the lens of a New Jersey mob boss."

Another added: "The greatest show of all time. I watched this after watching some of the most remarkable shows of the 21st century like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, and I can say that The Sopranos stands tall above all."

A third wrote: "Hands down one of the most intoxicating, dark-humoured, intense, groundbreaking shows of all time."

Created by David Chase, The Sopranos follows Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini), a New Jersey Mafia boss who suffers from panic attacks and reluctantly starts therapy with psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco).

The series shows how he struggles to balance his violent criminal world with his family life, while dealing with rivals, pressure, and his own demons.

It ran for six seasons and 86 episodes from 1999 to 2007, winning 21 Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes, and two Peabody Awards.

Critics called it "the richest achievement in the history of television" and "perhaps the greatest pop-culture masterpiece of its day".

It's credited with launching the Second Golden Age of TV and inspiring later hits like Mad Men, The Wire, and Breaking Bad.

Even Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan once said: "Without Tony Soprano, there would be no Walter White."

Therefore, it can't come as much or a surprise that The Sopranos still ranks near the top of almost every 'greatest shows' list.

The full series can be streamed on Now TV.