Is The Wire the best television show in history?
A lot of critics have made the case that The Wire is the best television show ever made. I agree with that. Are they justified?
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Personally I cant comment, but have been told that in fact it is.
I found it tedious and tiresome, and had zero empathy with any of the characters in the one episode I was unfortunate enough to watch, so no, it’s not the best television programme I’ve ever seen.
It is certainly way up on my list. Right now if I had to rank it would be.
1 – Dexter
2 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3 – The Wire
My family is from Baltimore- so I often hear that it’s the best show ever. It’s a big deal to those from Baltimore. I’ve actually never seen it. Personally, I believe “Twin Peaks” is the best show of all time. But, I’m a huge mega fan/geek for all things Lynch.
by the way, @Not_the_CIA : “Dexter” is third on my list of favorite t.v. shows of all time. I agree- it’s awesome!
I saw it a couple of times and couldn’t help thinking if users just stopped, all these people would be out of business – including the writers and actors involved in the show.
Given the choice, I much prefer to watch an hour of Seinfeld than an hour of slimeballs dealing with slimeballs using slimeballs who are tricking other slimeballs who…
I haven’t watched The Wire, but I have heard good things about it.
In my opinion, Battlestar Galactica (the Ronald D. Moore incarnation) is the best show I’ve ever seen. Ever.
@Seelix I enjoyed the fuck out of the BSG reboot as well. I’m trying to get through Caprica now, which I think is great.
The Wire represented the beginning of what I like to call the novelization of television, in that you have to devote attention to every detail as you would a massive literary piece. and a little Pogues at the wake never hurt nobody
@Not_the_CIA – This coming from someone who rates The Fresh Prince as #2 of all time?
Battlestar is totally not a nerd show. It’s an intriguing drama full of social commentary that happens to take place in space.
@Seelix I’ll toss Firefly under the umbrella as explainable similarly to how you described BSG.
The Wire isn’t about drug users. Saying that is like saying Apocalypse Now was a story about guns.
What can i say? this has been tv’s number one show for many, many years.
I Love Lucy….......Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez.
I would say it is without a doubt the best police/crime drama in TV history. But best overall show? I’m not sure.
Among the contenders for that title I would add Arrested Development, Lost, Deadwood, and of course BSG (which has already been mentioned.)
No, Star Trek is. Proof? Exactly how many other shows have that kind of long-lasting crazy fandom (of which I am a proud part of)?
It definitely comes close…
@papayalily Any shows I can think of with long-lasting crazy fandoms like Star Trek are also sci-fi shows. I think it probably says more about the fans than it does about the quality of the show(s). (For the record: I’m not putting down geeks. I got engaged at the World Science Fiction Convention in Toronto in 2003, ffs. Geeks are my people.)
@MacBean – You’re right. When we love something, we really love it.
@MacBean I tend to get obsessed over short lived shows. That The Wire, Firefly, Arrested Development, Futurama, and the BSG universe of shows are all my favorites. It’s some shit that some of the best programming is neutered mid-season. Or in Firefly’s case, just plain aired out of order.
Darn near close…I was going to ask this question this evening.
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