The Sopranos S1e1 !link!

, who plans to murder a rival at a restaurant owned by Tony's friend, Artie Bucco. To prevent the hit without betraying his uncle, Tony has the restaurant blown up so Artie can collect insurance money. Production Details Director/Writer : David Chase. Original Air Date : January 10, 1999. Filming Locations

is not the best episode of the series (that honor often goes to "Long Term Parking" or "The Pine Barrens" ). But it is the most important. It lays down every theme—psychology, betrayal, family, mortality—like train tracks leading into a dark tunnel. James Gandolfini’s performance is already fully formed; he steps into Tony Soprano as if he had been playing him for years. Edie Falco, Nancy Marchand, and Michael Imperioli hit every note perfectly. The Sopranos S1e1

: While most of the series used Satriale’s Pork Store, the pilot was filmed at Centanni's Meat Market in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Inspiration , who plans to murder a rival at

. Tony is a "waste management consultant" who collapses during a family barbecue, which doctors later determine was caused by a panic attack. Original Air Date : January 10, 1999

Livia Soprano is the true villain of the pilot: