111 replies to this topic

[mweb08]

The Wire wins out for me due to multiple reasons:<br /><br />- Way more realistic<br />- Much more thought provoking regarding significant matters<br />- I prefer an ensemble cast over one focused on an individual character, at least if done well.<br />- On that note, BB was a show that generated a lot of suspense over what would happen to Walt, but we always knew that he'd be fine until the very end of the series. So really, not much suspense.<br />- Lastly I didn't get nearly as attached to the characters of BB as I did to some of the ones in The Wire. None of the deaths in BB affected me all that much.<br />

[mweb08]

I really liked 90210 when I was younger, but it's not a show that needs to be revisited in the best ever shows conversation.

[SportsGuy]

The Wire wins out for me due to multiple reasons:<br /><br />- Way more realistic<br />- Much more thought provoking regarding significant matters<br />- I prefer an ensemble cast over one focused on an individual character, at least of done well.<br />- On that note, BB was a show that generated a lot of suspense over what would happen to Walt, but we always knew that he'd be fine until the very end of the series. So really, not much suspense.<br />- Lastly I didn't get nearly as attached to the characters of BB as I did to some of the ones in The Wire. None of the deaths in BB affected me all that much.

Not according to many cops.

 

I don't think Hamsterdam was realistic(although it would be a brilliant idea)....And the 5th season with the stuff mcNulty was pulling isn't likely realistic either.

[mweb08]

The Wire wins out for me due to multiple reasons:

- Way more realistic
- Much more thought provoking regarding significant matters
- I prefer an ensemble cast over one focused on an individual character, at least of done well.
- On that note, BB was a show that generated a lot of suspense over what would happen to Walt, but we always knew that he'd be fine until the very end of the series. So really, not much suspense.
- Lastly I didn't get nearly as attached to the characters of BB as I did to some of the ones in The Wire. None of the deaths in BB affected me all that much.

Not according to many cops.
 
I don't think Hamsterdam was realistic(although it would be a brilliant idea)....And the 5th season with the stuff mcNulty was pulling isn't likely realistic either.

It doesn't have to be totally realistic to be way more realistic than Breaking Bad.

[SportsGuy]

I do agree with Weber that I wasn't invested in any of the characters well being on BB.

 

I remember being like WOW when they killed Bobby B, Silvio got shot, etc...in the Sopranos...Even Christophers death as well.

[Mackus]

I wonder if it's because you liked them more or were more invested in the characters in Sopranos or The Wire or if it's just that the nature of a larger ensemble cast means that anyone can go (aside from Tony of course, not really sure any of the Wire characters were out of harm's way) at any time, so when someone is in peril, you're more concerned that this may be the end of them.  Whereas with Breaking Bad, there are only a handful of main characters so even when they are in jeopardy, in the back of your head you're pretty certain they are going to be fine.

[mweb08]

I wonder if it's because you liked them more or were more invested in the characters in Sopranos or The Wire or if it's just that the nature of a larger ensemble cast means that anyone can go (aside from Tony of course, not really sure any of the Wire characters were out of harm's way) at any time, so when someone is in peril, you're more concerned that this may be the end of them.  Whereas with Breaking Bad, there are only a handful of main characters so even when they are in jeopardy, in the back of your head you're pretty certain they are going to be fine.

That's definitely part of it. Obviously Walt was never going to die until the end. I do think it goes beyond that, though. Those shows as you said were more of ensemble casts so they gave you more reason to care about various characters. Also, even though the characters on those shows were flawed, they had more redeeming qualities than Walt did and perhaps even Jesse. Finally, as you alluded to, BB had such a build up to what happened with, Walt, Jesse, and when Hank that there was little to no surprise factor to their deaths or imprisonment/potential death in Jesse's case.

[Mackus]

As for realism, as long as the show keeps me engaged and doesn't break my suspension of disbelief, that's all they've gotta do.  It happens in all shows from time to time, and I agree it happened more often in Breaking Bad than in The Wire.  Usually the best shows let you into a world that you aren't familiar with, so I'm not sure we're really able to judge realism.  Of course you can talk about consistency and whether certain characters would make certain choices, though.  I think that's a bit different from being realistic.

 

I can't decide which I like better.  Probably still The Wire.  I certainly can give both of these shows the highest compliment I can think of, which is that if at any point in time someone came to me and asked, "hey, wanna watch this show in it's entirety?" and I was able to do it, that I would order a metric ton of Chinese food, sit on the couch, and be wildly entertained for the next few days.  I don't imagine ever getting tired of either of these shows no matter how many times I re-watch them.

[Mackus]

That's definitely part of it. Obviously Walt was never going to die until the end. I do think it goes beyond that, though. Those shows as you said were more of ensemble casts so they gave you more reason to care about various characters. Also, even though the characters on those shows were flawed, they had more redeeming qualities than Walt did and perhaps even Jesse. Finally, as you alluded to, BB had such a build up to what happened with, Walt, Jesse, and when Hank that there was little to no surprise factor to their deaths or imprisonment/potential death in Jesse's case.

 

I agree that the eventual fates of Walt, Jesse, and Hank weren't shocking because the show basically evolved into where they were essentially inevitable.  Hank's was faster, he and Gomez were working with Jesse and near to catching Walt, and then all of a sudden Uncle Jack is there with his army.  I think it would have been a little bit better had they ended the episode with Hank's last lines rather than made that the beginning of the next one.  I think most fans, as much as they tried to come up with a way in which Hank could work himself out of harm's way there, figured out that he, Steve, and Jesse all were about to die.

[BSLMattJergensen]

The vast majority of people haven't seen The Wire.

If the show never happened, I think a fair amount of people would perceive Baltimore as not one of the nicest cities. I think most fairly educated/knowledgeable people have perceptions of many of the big cities in this country. That's my experience at least.

 

Not just the Wire but "The Corner" another HBO series which was also written by David Simon. Of course this was all preceded by the fantastic Homicide, the 90's drama on NBC of which Fell's Point was one of the primary shooting locations.

 

B-More has built up a rep in cinematic circles for being a city that shoots first and asks questions later.

[BSLMattJergensen]

No Order because I just can't do it

 

Cheers

Seinfeld

Arrested Development

The Wire

Deadwood

Breaking Bad

The Sopranos

The Office

The Simpsons

Rome

[SBTarheel]

I listened to The BS Report with Kevin Connolly the other day, he was promoting the 30 for 30 he directed about the Islanders owner fiasco in the 90s..

 

Anyway, he said he always took the Entourage criticism in stride, and people started to take the show way too seriously, and not appreciate that it was supposed to be fun..

 

I felt like he was talking to me directly.