Releasing from HBO today, available for the first time on Blu-ray, is the critically acclaimed mobster family drama that wowed and wooed fans and critics alike around the world. HBO was kind enough to give me an early look, and I was happy to dive in.

Over the years I’d tried to get into this series, all my friends seemed to love it. I just couldn’t get into it, I’m not big into the gangster genre, but being afforded this opportunity by HBO, I figured let’s dive in, and this way, I can watch the entire series, and not have to wait for the next season, or the next episode.

This time around, I’ve found myself completely engrossed in the series, and loving the performance of the late James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, a man with two families, and is in therapy with Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) to help keep it, and all his emotions all straight, even if his mob career isn’t.

Packaged in a handsome slipcase, all six seasons are here, spanning a total of 28 discs, including a special features disc for the box set which includes interviews with series creator David Chase, dinners with the cast and crew, and an exclusive look at the impact the series has had on television, featuring new interviews with cast, crew critics and fans from all walks of life, as well as archival footage from the series, charting its run, becoming what some critics have called the greatest show in TV history. All of the extras from the original DVD releases are here, commentaries, deleted scenes, all the things that fans of HBO releases have come to expect are all here.

And the best part is, the entire series is on hand, on Blu-ray, in wonderful 1080p, which is particularly noticeable from the second season on, the colors, the images, and the sound are all crisp and clear. It looks and sounds fantastic! And it’s all here, all the moments, the rises, the falls, the family drama, the affairs, the sessions, the whacks, the revelations, the shocks, the kids growing up, and the ducks.

I have been flying through the series since HBO was kind enough to send me an advance copy, and this time around, I am highly enjoying it, everything on this show just fires on all thrusters, the scripts, the acting, the music, the look, the moments, it is a brilliantly crafted series, and if you’ve been waiting and deciding on whether or not you should add this one to your collection, now’s the time. This could be a perfect gift this holiday season, and if you’re like, finding the space on your Blu-ray shelves are becoming increasingly snug, this one is perfect. Yes, it’s about the size of seven Blu-ray cases, but it is so much slimmer and compact than the original DVD releases. And that box looks very nice sitting amongst my collection, so I’m sure it will in yours as well.

Everyone in this series, from everything I’ve seen so far, give their all in this series, from Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, to Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who along with Robert Iler, literally grow up over the course of the series.

This is smart television, perhaps even television at is best, and while the subject matter isn’t one of my favorite topics, everything is put together so well, that its very hard to resist the lure of just lazing on the couch and flying through the entire series, as quickly as possible. And then perhaps think about doing it again.

It’s never looked or sounded better, and it’s available now on Blu-Ray from HBO! Get it for yourself, get it for a friend and then ask to borrow it, for fans of the series, this one is a bit of a must, and as mentioned for those who were waiting and deciding on whether or not to add the series to their collection… Now is the time!