After suffering a series of mysterious anxiety attacks, New Jersey suburbanite and "waste management consultant" Tony Soprano agrees to see a psychiatrist. He also starts giving details about his life as a "family man" with a slew of problems at home and at work.

Christopher and Brendan Filone hijack from a trucking company that pays protection money to Uncle Junior. The rift between Tony and Junior continues to grow as they find themselves at a sit-down over the hijacking with acting boss Jackie Aprile, who has terminal cancer.

Tony and Junior are not seeing eye-to-eye on business. Meadow and her friend convince Christopher to get them speed so they can study for the SATs. Tony and his crew are asked to intervene in a Hasidic family problem, and Christopher and Brendan pay for the hijacking.

Christopher discovers Brendan's fate and realises he's very lucky to have Tony on his side. Tensions mount when Jackie Aprile dies. Tony has Dr Melfi investigated to satisfy his curiosity. Meadow must explain to her brother the true nature of their dad's profession.

While taking Meadow on a college tour in Maine, Tony spies Fabian Petrulio who testified against mob figures and escaped into WITSEC. Meadow has a heart-to-heart with her father and Tony comes clean, but then must secretly confirm Fabian's identity and settle accounts.

Junior is made acting boss after Jackie dies but to Tony's chagrin, Junior starts taxing Tony's consigliere and other associates, keeping the money himself. The family celebrates Junior's new role with a private dinner, but little do they realise the FBI is watching.

Anthony Jr. is suspended after a school prank and his parents learn he may have ADD. Concerned that his genes may be the cause of Anthony Jr.'s misbehaviour, Tony starts to think seriously about his own childhood and his early realisation that his father was in the mob.

Threats become serious when Tony and a few dads learn the soccer coach has seduced Meadow's teammate. To escape FBI heat, Junior heads for a romantic tryst in Boca Raton. Trouble develops when his "talents" in bed leak out and become fodder for Tony's latest power play.

At a "family" wedding, the "boys" find out that indictments are about to be handed down. Christopher, seeking fame & notoriety, publicly goes ballistic and is delighted when a newspaper calls him a reputed gangster. The FBI subsequently pays a visit to the Soprano home.

Christopher arranges to help Massive Genius, a gangsta rapper seeking restitution of his cousin's record royalties from Hesh, in exchange for backing Adriana's venture. Tony goes golfing with the neighbours only to find himself subject to their insensitive ethnic slurs.

On Makasian's tip, Tony develops doubts about Pussy - one of his most trusted lieutenants. He wisely smells a double-cross - possibly too late for Pussy - even as Makazian breaks under the weight of his own problems. Uncle Junior gets very serious about Tony.

Events have sent Tony into a deep depression, brightened only by contact with a woman staying next door. An attempt on his life snaps him out of it. "Family" members visit him in the hospital, as does the FBI, which offers a guarantee of protection for his cooperation.

Tony is devastated when the FBI confirms the close personal origin of the attempt on his life. Thrust into a life-threatening struggle for power, Tony and his crew quickly implement a plan of attack. In the meantime, indictments and arrests rain down on the "family".