The Wire is my all time favorite. Currently watching The Shield and while it’s not bad, it’s more of an edgy Law and Order type cop show.
I don’t think anything truly measures up to The Wire but just wanted to hear about anyone else’s recommendations.
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. They’re close, but still not the same level.
I had seen breaking bad originally but recently rewatched it and then binged Better Call Saul. They were both super great!
The Wire is a show like they don’t really make anymore, requiring you to pay attention and take it in. It can’t be binged and must be taken in slowly which is antithesis of most of modern TV, even the prestige shows don’t slow down for world building like that these days.
Crime shows: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Mind Hunter, Homicide: Life on the Streets
Sci-fi: Travelers, season 1 of Altered Carbon, The Expanse, Firefly, Stargate SG-1
Comedy: Limitless, Community, Better Off Ted, Archer, Arrested Development, King of the Hill
I’d add Andor to the sci-fi section, it’s exceptionally good.
Common Side Effects, too.
Nice to see a Star Wars series that wasn’t about the Jedi, for a change.
And Scavengers Reign.
There is only one season of Altered Carbon
Yes, and there is no last season of Game of Thrones or True Blood lol
Limitless is a comedy? I read the book and saw the movie, and neither was a comedy.
The show is, the movie is not though it ties in with the show. Haven’t read the book, but the show takes a more lighthearted approach and still has elements of drama and suspense, but doesn’t take itself as seriously.
It is, by far, my favorite of the two.
The book was terrific, which is why it was able to inspire both a movie and a TV show.
Mr. Robot
They lost me that season he was in prison, but they tried to trick you that he wasn’t. They try too hard to mindfuck and be deep in that show
Yeah I remember watching the first season back when it came out. I need to pick it back up!
The Wire is also my favorite. I think I know how you feel because no show ever seems to hold up to it.
That being said, The Sopranos had some incredible writing and character development.
Yeah I should’ve listed I’ve seen what most people consider the masterpieces like The Sorpranos. Certainly one of my favorites!
Succession.
its almost unbearable in its ugliness, i love it.
I say this. Succession is truly the only show that comes any close to the realism and impact of The Wire.
I tried watching it, and Yellowstone, and Billions, and was too nauseated to enjoy them. I’m not interested in the sociopathic adventures of oligarchs, i see far too much of that in real life. Im not interested in glorifying it with Sociopathic Oligarch porn.
This really was a good show. Draws you in like whoa.
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Hmmm hadn’t heard of this one. I will look into it. Thanks for the rec!
“Le bureau des légendes” spoiled every spy shows for me. It’s soul wrenching.
And “Slow Horses” was gritty and enthralling.
We’ve got the same taste! Any other shows you’d advise?
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It’s been a while since I watched it so not sure how it has stood the test of time, but Oz made a big impression on me. Brutal, but great TV.
I’ve thought about giving it a go but I’ve also heard his hasn’t aged so well.
Deadwood
Slow HorsesContemporary with the Wire is the Sopranos. Rewatched it not too long ago and it really stands up (skipping over a spectacularly misjudged vfx shot in season 2). Apologies if this is an obvious one!
Now hear me out on this next one, but the original series of Babylon 5 was way way ahead of its time in terms of a recurring storyline. Again the effects are a product of the times but the writing is excellent, I think.
Deadwood. Show starts with a bang and then the 1st season takes its time to introduce characters and what motivates them. Then the next two season takes a deep, detailed dive into those varied lives in that richly detailed setting. Stellar performances by many top tier actors as well.
This was one of my suggestions as well.
I always watched it with captions because the Shakespearian-ish language could be hard to follow sometimes. Not in a bad way, it was actually fun. I remember a scene where the dumb mayor is getting his orders from Swearingen, and finally whines in frustration (paraphrasing) “I don’t understand what you are talking about!”
Truly great show in evey way - writing, directing, acting, production design, costumes, etc.
Yeah I’ve always thought about this and heard it’s pretty stellar but wanted something to binge a bit more than 2 seasons. They did make a follow up movie some years later right?
There are three season and a movie released a couple of years later that nicely ties up a lot of loose ends
The sopranos.Up there with how good as the acting is the wire.Plus i think it has more watchabillty.
I watched The Sorpranos twice but maybe it’s time for a 3rd viewing. Although I might rewatch GoT again before I explore that…
To me, peaky blinders, top boy, and although shorter snabba cash had a similar sprawling storyline following the different characters and how they interacted through the different layers of society as well as over time.
Very few shows measure up. One I haven’t seen mentioned that I liked more than I expected was Treme. I think it was created by the same team as the wire.
Treme is superb.
Very much unknown and underrated.
The Leftovers
12 Monkeys (season 1 is basically the movie)
Black Sails
Don’t watch the new netflix show Zero Day it sucks.
I don’t watch anything Netflix related anymore except Black Mirror!
