[1] The story of the season focuses on Tony's growing mistrust of one of his closest friends Big Pussy Bonpensiero, who is revealed to be an FBI informant.

The second season of The Sopranos received universal acclaim from critics—garnering a 97 out of 100 on Metacritic,[14] and a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 9.5/10.

The latter aggregator reports a critical consensus of "The Sopranos' strong cast and solid writing add depth to the show's occasionally unlikable characters and their repellent deeds, making for thought-provoking, consistently compelling viewing.

"[14] Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune praised the series for accurately portraying human communication, observing how the show reveals "matters of the greatest consequence stem from misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

"[14] Eric Mink of The New York Times wrote of the show's unique writing and multifaceted characters: "The Sopranos remains a showcase for ferociously distinctive writing, inventive direction and brilliant portrayals of surprisingly, even disturbingly, sympathetic multilayered characters by a perfectly cast group of actors who hold back nothing.