There are some who would argue that Oz is the “show that started it all” and that Oz carved the way for The Sopranos. And perhaps that is true; however, Oz did not achieve the same level of commercial success as The Sopranos, which might be why it is not given its proper credit.

 

Laden with violence and sex (sometimes in the same scene) some critics were overwhelmed by Oz’s graphic content (Malach 52). Still, the show attracted its own following, winning over fans and critics thanks to its “intensity, strong acting, serious contemplation of difficult issues, and often over-the-top baroque melodrama” (53).