S1E1 · Pilot

In June 1998, North Jersey mobster Anthony “Tony” Soprano, a captain in the DiMeo crime family, is referred to a psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, after having a panic attack. Tony tells Melfi he is a waste management consultant, but she hints that she knows what he actually does. After Melfi establishes what will and will not fall under doctor-patient confidentiality, Tony begins to partly open up.

Tony has recently been dealing with tensions between his wife Carmela and teenage daughter Meadow, as well as trying to keep his impulsive nephew, Christopher Moltisanti, in check. When a Czech-American criminal organization is bidding against Tony for a waste management contract, Christopher unilaterally murders one of the Czechs, Emil Kolar, resulting in the Czechs withdrawing their bid. Corrado "Junior" Soprano, Tony's uncle, resents his nephew's rise in the family hierarchy while he himself is in decline.

Junior wants to kill turncoat "Little Pussy" Malanga in a restaurant he frequents, owned by Tony's lifelong friend Artie Bucco. Thinking the murder would ruin the restaurant, Tony unsuccessfully tries to persuade Junior to carry out the hit at a different location. He then tries to get Artie to close the restaurant for three weeks by offering cruise tickets, but his wife Charmaine refuses them. Finally, Tony has his right-hand man Silvio Dante bomb the restaurant; Artie's reputation will not be damaged, and he will be able to claim insurance compensation.

Alex Mahaffey, an HMO employee and "degenerate gambler ", is in debt to Tony and Hesh Rabkin, an old Jewish associate of Tony's late father. While driving with Christopher, Tony spots Mahaffey and runs him down, breaking his leg. He then concocts a scheme to have Mahaffey's company make phony insurance claims payable to non-existent clinics in order to pay off his debts, with which Mahaffey is forced to comply.

Tony has a strained relationship with his elderly mother, Livia, who is resisting his advice to move into a retirement home. A confrontation with Livia triggers another panic attack, causing Tony to return to Melfi. He tells her about a family of ducks that had been living in his swimming pool but left when the ducklings fledged. Guided by Melfi, Tony realizes he is sad to see the ducks go because he dreads losing his own family; to his consternation, this makes him cry.

At a birthday party for Tony's adolescent son A.J., Christopher, frustrated about not receiving recognition for killing Kolar, tells Tony he is thinking of turning his life story into a Hollywood script, which Tony angrily forbids. Meanwhile, while driving Livia to the party, an embittered Junior says, "Something may have to be done about Tony." Livia does not say anything but shows a hint of a smile.