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The Wire or Breaking Bad?
- Thread starter bar_bar12
- Start date
Well in that regard, I agree. The Wire touched upon important issues and explored them in an incredible way. Simon set a bar there thematically that probably won't ever be matched.
Season 2 of Game of Thrones removes it from the discussion even if you only are referencing those. Seasons 5 and 6 were both equal to or better than it.
I haven't seen either. Making a mental note to put them on shows I need to get to.
I've rewatched BB a few times and I've found myself a bit bored more and more each time looking forward to the next big thing that happens (still a great show). The Wire has me hooked with each episode each time.
The Wire is the best show of all time. Breaking Bad is one of the best shows of all time.
So The Wire.
So The Wire.
Breaking Bad. I have watched the series in it's entirety 4 times. More than any other show. It's my #1 favorite show of all time, right next to the likes of Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy, LOST, Dexter, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, etc.
The Wire is pretty good, but I wouldn't feel the need to rank it higher than The Sopranos or The Shield or any other similar show. It's a quality series, but it just doesn't have the special spark or phenomenal casting choices as BB that truly separate it from the rest. The Wire does have one thing going for it though -- it feels very authentic and gritty, and usually takes less artistic liberties than BB to keep the story interesting. However, I still find the "drama" of BB to be so much more entertaining, consistent and wholesome. There is a really good sense of dynamics and pacing and storytelling in BB that you don't get with shows like The Wire. Can't deny that The Wire is a very well written show though.
The Wire is pretty good, but I wouldn't feel the need to rank it higher than The Sopranos or The Shield or any other similar show. It's a quality series, but it just doesn't have the special spark or phenomenal casting choices as BB that truly separate it from the rest. The Wire does have one thing going for it though -- it feels very authentic and gritty, and usually takes less artistic liberties than BB to keep the story interesting. However, I still find the "drama" of BB to be so much more entertaining, consistent and wholesome. There is a really good sense of dynamics and pacing and storytelling in BB that you don't get with shows like The Wire. Can't deny that The Wire is a very well written show though.
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The writing is just on another level from any other television show.
I watched the Wire once and really didn't like Season 2 and 5 at all. The other 3 seasons were kinda good, but probably nothing I'd watch again. Breaking Bad was thrilling from beginning to end with no bad seasons, with great characters, great acting, great writing, great cinematography, great music, and I think is infinitely rewatchable.
I used to think I preferred Breaking Bad just slightly (which I've watched start to finish 2 times) but I'm a few eps away from finishing my second full viewing of The Wire and I think it may just be the better show.
I bet if I rewatched Breaking Bad again I'd change my answer again. They're just both so damned good.
I bet if I rewatched Breaking Bad again I'd change my answer again. They're just both so damned good.
Wire by a universe.
People say BB is more entertaining but I find The Wire far more entertaining. I guess it depends on what you find entertaining but I can't count how many times I've rewatched it. The conversations get better on rewatch. The jokes are funnier on rewatch. And the revolving door of side character hijanks is way more fun to revisit than any of the side character drama in BB that doesn't immediately deal with Walt. I'd dread having to watch that kleptomaniac subplot again. But I can just randomly watch Bubbles come up with another scam or watch a dude take notes on a drug conspiracy.
For all of the tragedy in The Wire, it's a really funny show and insanely watchable once you really soak up what kind of show it is.
People say BB is more entertaining but I find The Wire far more entertaining. I guess it depends on what you find entertaining but I can't count how many times I've rewatched it. The conversations get better on rewatch. The jokes are funnier on rewatch. And the revolving door of side character hijanks is way more fun to revisit than any of the side character drama in BB that doesn't immediately deal with Walt. I'd dread having to watch that kleptomaniac subplot again. But I can just randomly watch Bubbles come up with another scam or watch a dude take notes on a drug conspiracy.
For all of the tragedy in The Wire, it's a really funny show and insanely watchable once you really soak up what kind of show it is.
For me, The Wire is in the same tier as Utopia (2013), The Prisoner, Texhnolyze, The Shield, Northern Exposure, Deadwood, and Lonesome Dove as the greatest tv I've ever encountered.
Just finished watching BB, and while it's fun it was far more fun on the first viewing when I didn't know what was coming.
BB has some really poorly written moments that really show up on a second viewing. The final seasons is particularly bad in this regard.
The Wire has a slightly lower quality final season too, but overall it's one a completely different level imo.
BB has some really poorly written moments that really show up on a second viewing. The final seasons is particularly bad in this regard.
The Wire has a slightly lower quality final season too, but overall it's one a completely different level imo.
However, I've still yet to see a scene in any television series that matches this scene in Utopia. HEAVY SPOILERS
I've seen both shows in full only once and I think the Wire is definitely better.
I'm watching The Wire for the first time and while it S1 and S4 is some of the best TV ever made I can't wait for it to end, maybe I'm biased because S5 is such a fucking train wreck.
Breaking Bad is one of the only TV shows I've rewatched more than once (or twice).
Breaking Bad is one of the only TV shows I've rewatched more than once (or twice).
In this case it's not a matter of which "I like more," it's which one is better and that's The Wire.
