The Wire vs The Sopranos vs Breaking Bad

kraggy

Cienciano wrote: »

I think the Sopranos episode Pine Barrens is the best single episode between all 3. Paulie and Chris head off to the snowy forest to kill some russian guy

Funnily enough, I consider that a milestone in terms of, it is exactly after that episode that the Sopranos went downhill, rapidly.

That was Season 4/episode 2 or 3 if I remember correctly. The rest of Season 4, and Seasons 5 and 6 were like a differnet show compared to Seasons 1 to 3.

el dude

Dumb poll is dumb.

ViveLaVie

I haven't seen The Wire yet (I have full intentions to watch it) and I'm only on season three of The Sopranos but I'm up to date on Breaking Bad.

It's hard for me to know at this stage but I do feel like The Sopranos hits high peaks of absolute perfection and then dips a bit. It isn't consistent for me anyway. The acting and characterisation is superb (I'm a particular fan of Carmella) but the script isn't conclusively amazing. It is a fantastic show though.

I have a feeling I will like The Wire a bit better. This is based purely on the fact that I thought the first episode was great (I was hooked from the very first scene) and I have momentarily lost my enthusiasm for The Sopranos (although once I go back to it I'm sure I'll get hooked again).

I could never pause when watching Breaking Bad. I was moved to tears while watching certain scenes. I remember I watched all of season three in one day and my mind was blown by the finale. The acting is unbelievable. Cranston IS Walter White and Aaron Paul IS Jesse. The psychological warfare and development is incredible. You watch a moral family man become pure evil. It is an entirely unpredictable show that consistently surprises you and makes you think. The cinematography is also stunning. At the moment, Breaking Bad tips it for me.

DrumSteve

Battlestar Galactica is the greatest show ever, very closely followed by BB.

corcaigh07

I can't vote, loved The Sopranos so much but now in the middle of Breaking Bad, fantastic show and I have only heard great things about The Wire. Give me a few years when I have seen all three in full.

I get the feeling though that this is a pointless poll, can't speak for the Wire but I'm sure all 3 shows are brilliant for different reasons.

--Kaiser--

RodgersLFC wrote: »

Thanks for posting in the thread, but I really cant believe that you can have that opinion of the Wire and its cast if you've actually seen the show. I think its one of the best acted, most well written, engaging, amazing shows ever shown on television.

Nice to see the vote so close on the poll!

There are some moments of genius (e.g. DeAngelo explaining chess pieces in terms of drug gang hierarchy or Stringers use of market economics) but it doesn't reach the high points of either of the other two. Some of the best actors in the show are underused (whoever plays Broadie, for instance) and some of the most used are unconvincing (West's attempt at an accent) or poorly acted (Bunk, I know everyone likes him, but he's not much of an actor). I think my main issue is that the characters don't have the depth of TS or BB, probably because they spend too much time fleshing out the plot. TS had plenty of plot but still had time to fill out the characters with back-story and whatnot, ditto BB. And I've said it before, the dialogue falls flat over and over again (and I'm not one of those people who have great difficulty understanding the patois)

kupus

Breaking Bad ............65 36.11%
The Wire .................59 32.78%
The Sopranos............56 31.11%

Wow this is tight yo.

JohnMarston

Cant vote for the sopranos, i only ever watch the odd episode here and there when it was originally aired.
I've watched the first season of the wire, and for some reason found it difficult to keep track of every character and what situation they were in. Its damn good but sometimes hard to follow, thats all.

I've seen every episode of breaking bad, a most excellent show that got my vote

donalg1

I am into series 4 of the Wire now and am loving it, am watching breaking bad on TG4 too. I have also seen every episode of the Soprano's at least twice and I would rate them:

1. The Soprano's
2. The Wire
3. Breaking Bad

I cant pick between the Wire and Soprano's but if I was forced to I would choose the Soprano's as I think it just edges it. The 2nd series of The Wire was no where near as good as the first and I love the Soprano's maybe because I kinda grew up watching it and missed the Wire at the time.

Although I wouldnt hesitate recommending either of the 3 to anyone looking for a boxset to watch over the Xmas Hols. I think the West Wing will be next for me.

JohnMarston

donalg1 wrote: »

1. The Soprano's
2. The Wire
3. Breaking Bad

I would have rated the intros to each show in that order. The Sopranos intro is excellent

Mansized Wreath

Watched season one of Wire, could not get into it. BB is epic,best show! Boardwalk Empire is also great. Next up Walking Dead!

sbsquarepants

I'd have to say, the wire, the sopranos and breaking bad in that order. The wire just pips the sopranos, probably because of the ending - sopranos ending was dire. Breaking bad is well beaten into third. I've just caught up with watching it and while it definitely is entertaining, it very much lacks any sense of realism you get with either the wire or the sopranos.
I know it's a tv show and not a documentary, but there's stretching the truth and then there's a mild mannered school teacher taking on psychotic drug dealers and mexican cartels, all the while keeping schtum to his DEA brother in law! Also as depections of drug addicts go, compare bubbles to jessie. Bubbles looks and acts like a junkie, jessie looks like he's just stepped out of a calvin klein shoot!
Breaking bad just isn't in the league of the other two, i'm amazed it's topping the poll!

Seve OB

MaxSteele wrote: »

The Wire Season 1 was OK, but season 2 was dreadful I'm afraid.

The Sopranos never disappointed, the same with Breaking Bad.

I don't know who to pick.

Thought season 2 of the Wire (that was the one down on the docks right?) was the worst. Season 5 had the best storyline I have ever seen.

Genius move by West to come up with the idea of a serial killer to ge the Government to throw more cash at the PD

Season 1 had the best scene I think I have ever seen in a movie / TV Show,

when Bunk and McNulty were investigatin a murder seen and have a conversation for all of 3 or 4 minutes and just used the "F" word, and it made sense!!

Never watched Sopranos - - - yet.

Love Breaking Bad. Only watching it on TG4 so just half way through Season 3 at the moment, but I think I am giving it my vote, although maybe freshness is doing that, I did love the wire.

I know it is only 2 seasons old, but I am surprised nobody had mentioned Homeland. Another quality show.

RodgersLFC

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

There are some moments of genius (e.g. DeAngelo explaining chess pieces in terms of drug gang hierarchy or Stringers use of market economics) but it doesn't reach the high points of either of the other two. Some of the best actors in the show are underused (whoever plays Broadie, for instance) and some of the most used are unconvincing (West's attempt at an accent) or poorly acted (Bunk, I know everyone likes him, but he's not much of an actor). I think my main issue is that the characters don't have the depth of TS or BB, probably because they spend too much time fleshing out the plot. TS had plenty of plot but still had time to fill out the characters with back-story and whatnot, ditto BB. And I've said it before, the dialogue falls flat over and over again (and I'm not one of those people who have great difficulty understanding the patois)

Fair doos and I respect your opinions but I couldnt disagree with you more. The characters and acting in the Wire are what make it so amazing for me. I think the story of Bubbles throughout the 5 seasons sums it up for me, everyone goes on about Omar being the best character in the Wire but Bubbles is the best for me. Superbly acted.

There's no characters in BB that mean half as much to me as the characters in the Wire, but each to their own dude. Its the beauty of television.

--Kaiser--

RodgersLFC wrote: »

Fair doos and I respect your opinions but I couldnt disagree with you more. The characters and acting in the Wire are what make it so amazing for me. I think the story of Bubbles throughout the 5 seasons sums it up for me, everyone goes on about Omar being the best character in the Wire but Bubbles is the best for me. Superbly acted.

There's no characters in BB that mean half as much to me as the characters in the Wire, but each to their own dude. Its the beauty of television.

Well, everyone loves Bubbles and Omar, that goes without saying.

Incidentally, have you watched all of Breaking Bad? People who were kinda 'meh' about it at the first 2 seasons get hooked by the third and fourth. The performances from Walt, Jesse or Mike blow any acting from The Wire clean out of the water

RodgersLFC

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Well, everyone loves Bubbles and Omar, that goes without saying.

Incidentally, have you watched all of Breaking Bad? People who were kinda 'meh' about it at the first 2 seasons get hooked by the third and fourth. The performances from Walt, Jesse or Mike blows any acting from The Wire clean out of the water

Yeah I'm right up to date with it, great show. Loved how the first part of season 5 ended. Really looking forward to seeing how it pans out in the end.

Again, i disagree with your point about the quality of acting in BB compared to The Wire. I cant think of a character in The Wire that I think is poorly acted, although again, you're entitled to your opinion on it. I think Bunk is fantastic. I must get around to watching Treme actually, seems to be a highly rated show. The actors that play Bunk Moreland and Lester Freamon are in it.

Da Shins Kelly

I'd be inclined to agree that the acting in Breaking Bad is a bit better than The Wire.

Da Shins Kelly

Mardy Bum wrote: »

What I meant by walking round like a god was prior to his "fall" eg his walk to get cheerios and drugs fall from the sky/window -deus ex machina almost. A fall he brought upon himself by returning to Baltimore for revenge. He had an Oedipus like collapse similar to McNulty. The Wire didn't have a main character and no one received special treatment because it was about the city as a whole not a person. Omar's death at the hands of a four foot burgeoning psycho is a perfect example of why Baltimore is constantly declining. Its a tragedy and the tragic hero is the city.

Well, that's all very nice and artsy, but I still think it could have been done better.

Cienciano

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Well, everyone loves Bubbles and Omar, that goes without saying.

Incidentally, have you watched all of Breaking Bad? People who were kinda 'meh' about it at the first 2 seasons get hooked by the third and fourth. The performances from Walt, Jesse or Mike blows any acting from The Wire clean out of the water

Like the entire thread, that's entirely subjective. Bubbles, Snoop, Bodie, Kima, Lester, Prop Joe all stand out for me in the wire.
None of them over acted, all realistic characters. I could list another 7 or 8. The realism of the wire is what make it for me.
Breaking Bad is entertaining, but lacks the realism.
I mean,

the plane crash!

Walt insisting he

needs a meth addict to help him in the lab instead of a trained chemist!

I know they're explained in the storyline, but they reasons why Breaking Bad lacks the realism of the wire and why the wire will always be better imho.

don ramo

jesus lads, their 3 of the best shows of all time, they are all superbly acted,

also the wire is out front yet again, and the sopranos is lagging behind a bit,

Da Shins Kelly

Cienciano wrote: »

Like the entire thread, that's entirely subjective. Bubbles, Snoop, Bodie, Kima, Lester, Prop Joe all stand out for me in the wire.
None of them over acted, all realistic characters. I could list another 7 or 8. The realism of the wire is what make it for me.
Breaking Bad is entertaining, but lacks the realism.
I mean,

the plane crash!

Walt insisting he

needs a meth addict to help him in the lab instead of a trained chemist!

I know they're explained in the storyline, but they reasons why Breaking Bad lacks the realism of the wire and why the wire will always be better imho.

A bit of suspension of disbelief never did anyone any harm.

--Kaiser--

don ramo wrote: »

jesus lads, their 3 of the best shows of all time, they are all superbly acted,

also the wire is out front yet again, and the sopranos is lagging behind a bit,

You know, if I was putting up a poll it would be The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Rome and Band of Brothers. I disagree that The Wire belongs in the same pantheon as the others

_Kaiser_

The Shield... the end

Fantastic show that just gets better every season - especially season 4/5 when they introduced Glenn Close and Forrest Whittaker as key season long guest stars, but each secondary character is fleshed out over the years as well (bit like DS9 in that regard)

Rewatched it only recently and it's still a fantastic show, way ahead of a lot of what's come after it and like the first time through, I missed it after the end credits/montage rolled in the finalé

JohnMarston

I'd vouch for Sons of Anarchy as well. But compared with the three in the poll its been mediocre in seasons 2 & 3, and been picking up since. Would recommend for these lonely months between BB Season 5 part 1 and part 2 next year

Cienciano

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

A bit of suspension of disbelief never did anyone any harm.

Nothing wrong with it at all, but the more often you have to switch off your brain for storylines like that, the lower it slips down the list of great shows imho.

When gus dies. Great way to kill him, but why do they have to show gus walking out of the room looking fine and fixing his tie, only for the camera to pan around and show his face?

Stuff like that is what puts it a step below the wire and the sopranos imho.

RodgersLFC

Cienciano wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it at all, but the more often you have to switch off your brain for storylines like that, the lower it slips down the list of great shows imho.

When gus dies. Great way to kill him, but why do they have to show gus walking out of the room looking fine and fixing his tie, only for the camera to pan around and show his face?

Stuff like that is what puts it a step below the wire and the sopranos imho.

BB is a great show but its a show written purely for entertainment whereas the Wire is a show thats written to portray real life situations and the workings of an American city. Thats what make the two different for me, and its why Breaking Bad will never be on the same level as the Wire.

fruvai

Cienciano wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it at all, but the more often you have to switch off your brain for storylines like that, the lower it slips down the list of great shows imho.

When gus dies. Great way to kill him, but why do they have to show gus walking out of the room looking fine and fixing his tie, only for the camera to pan around and show his face?

Stuff like that is what puts it a step below the wire and the sopranos imho.

Realism is not everything - a scene may be realistic but is it interesting? That scene is hugely symbolic revealing that

even at the bitter end Gus still puts on the facade of the respectable businesssman -it is so deeply embedded in his cold and calculated nature. His futile gesture of control highlights his failure to control the chaotic presence of one Walter White.Now everyone can quite literally see his 'two-faced' nature

RodgersLFC wrote: »

BB is a great show but its a show written purely for entertainment whereas the Wire is a show thats written to portray real life situations and the workings of an American city. Thats what make the two different for me, and its why Breaking Bad will never be on the same level as the Wire.

I totally disagree, just because it may lack the ultra-realism of the Wire does not make it just made purely for entertainment (even though it undoubtedly is entertaining). Like Twin Peaks, it is ultimately about the nature of good and evil. It's not just a TV show that you're meant to watch and forget about.

Having said that, I still think that both the Sopranos and the Wire are better TV shows.

Da Shins Kelly

Cienciano wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it at all, but the more often you have to switch off your brain for storylines like that, the lower it slips down the list of great shows imho.

When gus dies. Great way to kill him, but why do they have to show gus walking out of the room looking fine and fixing his tie, only for the camera to pan around and show his face?

Stuff like that is what puts it a step below the wire and the sopranos imho.

Just because it's slightly surreal, doesn't mean you have to switch off your brain. Breaking Bad is not a completely unchallenging piece of television.

sbsquarepants

RodgersLFC wrote: »

Fair doos and I respect your opinions but I couldnt disagree with you more. The characters and acting in the Wire are what make it so amazing for me. I think the story of Bubbles throughout the 5 seasons sums it up for me, everyone goes on about Omar being the best character in the Wire but Bubbles is the best for me. Superbly acted.

There's no characters in BB that mean half as much to me as the characters in the Wire, but each to their own dude. Its the beauty of television.

Bubbles is to my mind the best piece of acting i've ever seen on tv, it was absolutely amazing. Come to think of it, i actually can't think of a badly written or badly acted character in the wire.

Da Shins Kelly

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Bubbles is to my mind the best piece of acting i've ever seen on tv, it was absolutely amazing. Come to think of it, i actually can't think of a badly written or badly acted character in the wire.

Orlando was pretty one-dimensional.