HBO’s The Sopranos is hailed as one of the greatest shows of all time and is recognized for setting a standard that only a few have ever come close to achieving. Created by David Chase, The Sopranos is a fascinating character study of a series that focuses on New Jersey mob boss, Tony Soprano, played by the legendary James Gandolfini who gives one of the greatest performances in an HBO show, struggles to balance his unconventional career with his personal life and eventually finds himself in a psychiatrist’s office and an intense emotional journey of self-discovery.
While the series featured an abundance of memorable characters and outstanding performances by an exceptional cast, there were a few notable players, such as Feech La Manna, Jackie Aprile Sr., and Tony Blundetto, who, despite appearing in only one season, left a lasting impression that made fans beg for more from their characters. From the compulsive gambler and Tony’s childhood friend, Davey Scatino, to Junior Soprano’s right-hand man, Mikey Palmice, these are the 10 best characters from The Sopranos who appeared in just one season, ranked.
10
Davey Scatino
In Season 2, fans are introduced to Davey Scatino (Robert Patrick), one of several characters who grew up with Tony and has a history ofgambling addiction. The only thing that keeps Tony and Davey in the same social circle is their kids, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and Eric (John Hensley), who go to the same school and are friends. Even though Tony is well aware of Davey’s gambling problem, he can’t resist an opportunity to bleed him dry and lets him play in the high-roller executive card game, which leaves Davey in major debt to Tony and eventually ruins Meadow and Eric’s friendship.
At the time the series originally aired, Patrick was mainly known for his action-packed roles, notably as the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which is why some fans were a bit surprised to see him appear in Season 2, let alone in a more submissive and vulnerable role. Patrick’s performance as Davey is one of the show’s most overlooked, and it allowed the actor to showcase his impressive range and depth as a dramatic talent. While Davey might not be the most admirable or likable character, Patrick’s performance and tenacity as the character are what make Davey one of The Sopranos‘ best single-season characters.
9
Brendan Filone
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Anthony DeSando appeared in The Sopranos‘ first season as Christopher Moltisanti’s (Michael Imperioli) friend and wannabe gangster, Brendan Filone, whose immaturity and ignorance provided the season with some ridiculous comic relief and ended as a cautionary tale. DeSando’s character is one of several who symbolized the new generation of gangsters who were enthralled by the cinematic depiction of organized crime, fell into drugs, and failed to respect the higher-ups as well as the overall code of this thing.
Some might think of Brendan Filone as a throw-away character, but his arrogance and blatant disregard for authority contributed to establishing the realistic tone of the show in its early stages. Aside from laying some of the series’ initial groundwork, fans could always count on Brendan to set Tony off with an obnoxious comment, which ironically lightened up some of the more intense moments in the first season. While DeSando’s character was short-lived and ended with a Moe Green special, he still ranks as a fan favorite and was one of the best characters to appear in only one season of The Sopranos.
8
Feech La Manna
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Season 5 kicks off with a group of mobsters who have recently been paroled and essentially alter the alliance between New Jersey and New York. While Tony is faced with a series of complaints and concerns from his crew and New York, most of his issues stem from an old-school mafioso, Feech La Manna (Robert Loggia), who still sees Tony as a kid and has a problem respecting him and his position as boss. The growing tension between Tony and Feech is a highlight of Season 5 and essentially pits the two against each other in a passive-aggressive battle of egos.
Feech is the classic outspoken, ball-busting gangster who can incite laughter as easily as he can strike fear in those around him. He has an eccentric style that sets him apart from the other parolees and a sense of unpredictability that keeps viewers on edge. Unlike the majority of one-season characters, Feech is one of the few whom the showrunners and Chase had not planned on writing out so soon. Shortly after the season was underway, Loggia started to have trouble remembering his lines and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite his declining health, Loggia still delivers a phenomenal performance as not only one of the best additions to the show’s fifth season but also as a signature one-season character.
7
Gloria Trillo
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Throughout the show, Tony goes through a fair share of women, and in Season 3, his brief and toxic relationship with Gloria Trillo (Annabella Sciorra) hits incredibly close to home for the mob boss and is also a focal point in some of the most intense episodes of The Sopranos. Gloria was not only a beautiful addition to the show, but she also partially compensated for the absence of Tony’s mother, Livia (Nancy Marchand), and continued to wreak havoc on Tony’s life. Gloria is a force of uncertainty whose mood swings and dramatic outbursts cause Tony more trouble than she’s worth, but her fierceness and reckless spontaneity are what make her one of the show’s best one-season characters.
Sciorra gives a riveting performance as an unhinged woman on the edge and alternates between her character’s episodes of mania and normalcy with sheer precision. Despite her constantly playing with fire and pushing Tony’s buttons, it’s hard not to feel some empathy for Gloria, who eventually takes her own life. Like some of the other characters, Gloria does appear periodically in Tony’s dreams, exposing the misplaced guilt he feels for her tragic fate and the regret he’s buried deep in the back of his mind.
6
Richie Aprile
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In Season 2, fans meet one of the show’s most ruthless characters, Richie Aprile (David Proval), Jackie Aprile Sr.’s brother, who has recently been released after serving a lengthy prison sentence. Richie doesn’t waste time and immediately catches the audience’s attention when he smashes a pot of coffee into Beansie Gaeta’s (Paul Herman) face, making a rather grand and violent entrance. As Livia would say, Richie is a snake in the grass with a solid poker face that deems him to be a constant threat to Tony and his crew.
Although the show has a collection of sinister psychopaths and hot heads, Richie stands out for essentially reigniting the fire from Season 1 with his brutality and senseless acts of violence. Richie isn’t exactly an upstanding and likable character, but fans do get a kick out of his no-nonsense attitude and unwavering intensity that makes everyone feel as though they have to walk on eggshells. Richie’s impulsive actions and lack of patience make him not only a major liability for Tony and his crew but also one of the show’s most unpredictable one-season characters.
5
Bobby Baccalieri Sr.
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The Sopranos featured an array of notable guest stars throughout its six-season run, with many only making an appearance in one episode, such as Burt Young, who, despite his limited screen time, leaves fans with a monumental performance. Young appears in Season 3, episode five, “Another Toothpick,” as Bobby Baccalieri’s (Steve Schirripa) father, Bobby Sr., who is called out of retirement by Tony to pop his godson, Mustang Sally (Brian Tarantina), who viciously beat Bryan Spatafore (Vincent Orofino) within an inch of life.
The most compelling element of Young’s character is that even though he’s dying of lung cancer, he accepts the job with no hesitation. Most people in his state wouldn’t take such a risk, but Bobby Sr. is part of that generation that craves to feel as though they have a purpose in life and would rather die valued than die helplessly in bed, solidifying him as a first-rate character who appeared in only one season. Although he only appears in one episode, Bobby Sr. gives a momentary glimpse into the dying breed of gangsters who genuinely honored and lived by the code of this thing until their final breath.
4
Jackie Aprile Sr.
At the beginning of the show, Jackie Aprile Sr, who is one of Tony’s closest childhood friends, is the acting boss for the DiMeo family and is also battling cancer. Jackie seems to be the perfect fit for the job, but after he sadly dies, things become incredibly complicated within the family. His death also has a profound effect on Tony, which not only changes the course of his career but also forces him to come to terms with his immortality. While he was a brief character in the show, Jackie still leaves a lasting and meaningful impression on audiences that rightfully earns him a spot on this list.
Jackie was a stern but reasonable man who essentially set the bar as the definitive boss, ultimately providing a standard that neither Junior nor Tony could ever fully achieve. As fans watch Tony progress into becoming boss, it’s hard not to compare him to Jackie, who, with his share of faults, had a certain quality of humility that partially prevented Tony from being an efficient boss. Aside from flashbacks, Jackie only appears in a handful of episodes in the show’s first season and is one character whom the majority of fans wish had stuck around a little longer.
3
Tony Blundetto
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Steve Buscemi enters the show in Season 5 as Tony Blundetto, who is one of the recent parolees, as well as Tony’s cousin. Unlike the others, Tony B. initially tries to go straight with plans to become a massage therapist, but the financial hardship and challenges of living a normal life eventually get to him and lead him back to Tony and this thing. Similar to other members of Tony’s family, Tony B.’s return exposes another box of emotions from Tony’s closet that puts him in a difficult situation after Tony B. incites a civil war with New York.
Fans soon learn that Tony has lived with an immense guilt over his cousin’s incarceration, revealing that he was not only supposed to be with Tony B. the night he got arrested, but also that he’d lied about why he wasn’t all these years. At first, fans are empathetic to Tony B.’s situation, but as the season progresses, he gradually reveals his true colors, becoming the season’s main catalyst and point of uncertainty. Although Tony B. ends up causing an abundance of issues for Tony, Buscemi’s performance as the chameleon-like character and the further insight he provides into Tony’s mindset are what essentially land him a place on this list.
2
Vin Makazian
John Heard appeared in Season 1 as a corrupt New Jersey detective, Vin Makazian, who does odd jobs for Tony as a way to pay off his extensive gambling debts. Nothing is surprising about a crooked cop getting mixed up with mobsters, but Vin and Tony have a perplexing relationship that not only defies the traditional dynamic of their character archetypes but also reveals how the two are more alike than they want to admit.
Vin is essentially a man with nothing left to lose and has zero qualms about breaking the law, which he does on several occasions without any hesitation. Even though he abuses his position of power and is far from a reputable man of the law, Vin’s dark, sarcastic sense of humor and emotional transparency make him a favorite one-time season character. Heard gives a gripping performance, conveying his character with impressive depth and sincerity that earned him an Emmy Award nomination, and, without question, cements him as a top-tier character who only appeared in one season of The Sopranos.
1
Mikey Palmice
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Out of all the one-timers, Junior’s wisecracking right-hand man, Mikey Palmice (Al Sapienza), is the all-time best character to appear in one season of the show, but he’s also a character who many fans wish had hung around for a little longer. Even though he has a menacing quality, Mikey lacks a filter and doesn’t know how to read a room, which leads to him making a series of hilarious and outlandish comments that define him as a humorous highlight of the show’s first season. Another unique quality of Mikey is that whenever he crosses paths with Tony, they always engage in this hysterical ball-bustin’ banter with below-the-belt one-liners that fans fail to see on a consistent level with any other characters in the show.
While Mikey does appear in some of Tony’s dreams, he plays a significant part in Season 2, episode 9, “From Here to Eternity,” when Christopher has a near-death experience. Once revived, Chrissy tells Tony and Paulie (Tony Sirico) that he was in hell, where he was given a message from Mikey to give to them that simply says three o’clock. The cryptic message is an ongoing mystery throughout the entire show and has also contributed to a slew of fan theories about The Sopranos‘ finale, solidifying Mikey as a short-lived but crucial one-season character.
