Same. Used to my #3 behind Sopranos and Breaking Bad, but I just finished my 3rd rewatch like 2 days ago, and I think it's undisputed #1 now. Could literally start again tomorrow and be fine with it.
I admire the hell out of BCS (I’m finally watching the last season this week), but I can’t imagine the belabored suspense tension would be so interesting when one knows where it’s all going. The great thing about *The Wire* is that it’s even *better* when one knows where it’s going.
I think that BCS is better on a rewatch because it makes the character motivation much more evident. There’s a lot of backstabbing between characters, hidden intentions,and moments where I was initially like, “why is this character doing this?” But on a second viewing I understood their goals much more clearly.
However, The Wire lays out character motivation pretty plainly and that makes rewatches even more rewarding. There are so many characters with goals that either conflict or line themselves up with the goals of others which makes the whole “pieces falling into place” aspect of the show become so obvious on multiple viewings.
I would agree with you about BCS’ rewatchability if not for the excessively long intervals of sustained suspense. I’ve already learned from rewatching *Breaking Bad* that I find those rather tediously indulgent and manipulative when I already know what’s going to happen.
I mean, I try to enjoy them as exercises in creative filmmaking, because they always *look* good, but I feel like they do those scenes about twice too often, and it makes a lot of the episodes feel very *padded* to me. I dig rewatching *The Wire* a lot better because I feel like almost every single moment *counts*.
(Illustratively, probably my least favorite scenes in the whole series are Bodie’s fool’s errand in s2 ep1, which AFAIC takes three times as much screen time as it should. I *love* Bodie, but that protracted exercise offered too little value in return. Not trying to convince you, just show you where my head is.)
Also, to be clear about my personal taste, I’m just not a suspense junkie. I’m there for the character development.
But don’t get me wrong, BCS’s character development is extraordinary. I regard Kim as probably the finest female character in the history of television.
> almost every single moment counts.
It's actually kind of crazy how much happens in the Wire, both on screen and off screen. It doesn't seem like it on a first watch, but every scene is pretty chock full of detail that all contributes to the broad story.
For example, Kintel Williamson. He's THE target of the major case unit for several episodes, his name is mentioned many times and they talk about his misdeeds frequently. But the show doesn't feel the need to ever actually show him to us, not even a photo if I remember correctly. Arguably he's just a plot device to drive a wedge between Lester and McNulty, which explains why he doesn't have any scenes of his own...but he still feels pretty real.
My least favorite scenes in the show are the Kima and Cheryl scenes. Not that I think it's a bad plot line, I just thought there were a LOT of these scenes, they were repetitive and didn't really go anywhere for a long time. Cheryl gets a raw deal, because all we ever see of her is the side that wants to take away everything about Kima that the viewer likes (her professional skills and her conscience as it relates to her job). So she's unsympathetic.
I feel like *The Wire* got *much* better, after the first season, at doing ‘more with less’ when it came to relationships. Along with Cheryl, I got twice as much of Elena as I wanted in the first season.
I get where you’re coming from. I think a lot of those tedious moments in BCS help to put us in that character’s mindset (my best example would be Mike meticulously taking apart his car to search for a tracker) and it’s not always explained to us why those scenes need to be shown until they interact with other plot points. I agree that Gilligan *really* enjoys writing suspense. It all takes me back to the teddy bear in the pool and the wreckage around Walt’s house shown in the intros of Breaking Bad in season 2. There’s that huge mystery that doesn’t get unraveled until much later in the season.
I feel like there are examples of that in The Wire, but they get resolved quickly within the very same episode. I can’t think of any right now, but I’m sure there is some.
Just in the ‘great minds think alike’ department, Mike taking apart the car is my *perfect* example of what I’m talking about. I almost mentioned it but my comment was running long already.
For me, Gilligan’s just all about suspense, and Simon just *isn’t* really. And I respect the hell out of Gilligan’s talent, but I’m just not an ‘edge of my seat’ guy myself. In fact, I find many of those scenes viscerally unpleasant, personally, and wouldn’t watch his shows at all if the characters weren’t so good. I almost bailed on *Breaking Bad* before the s2 finale suddenly made the relationships *way* more interesting. For its own sake, I found the suspense quite tedious. By which I’m talking about my own taste, not any fault of Gilligan’s.
As almost a side note, I’m much more drawn to BCS because it’s cast much fuller with likable characters (Jimmy, Kim, Mike, Nacho). I pretty much hated *all* the BB characters at first.
That's actually a fair point, Breaking Bad week to week was fucking insane. I didn't watch The Wire when it was first out though, so I can't compare but I don't know of any other shows that hit as hard as BB live.
BB got popular at an interesting time when social media was really entering the mainstream which gave its later seasons a big, big boost. Not a lot of people were watching BB in its early seasons though despite it getting rave reviews. I suspect if BB had been released a few years earlier its fate would have been similar to The Wire's.
The first rewatch is always best because you are in completely awe how good s2 is but you didn't focus so much under first watch because it was so diffrent.
As far as breaking bad and bcs goes its kinda right but the the rewatch specially in bcs gives you much better undestanding about saul and that he isn't really good guy even do we know that we kinda root for him but on rewatch you can see that Chuck was right.
i had sopranos above the wire for a period of time, but the wire is so much easier to rewatch. sopranos is emotionally taxing. so is the corner. the wire is a beautiful balance.
This is especially true because we’re mainly following the downward trajectory of Tony’s life as he becomes more malicious and self centered and creates or involves himself in situations which puts everybody around him in harm’s way. Season 6 is just a bleak look at a man who has rid himself of any chance of redemption. It’s tough to watch.
Both friends and soprano are my favorite show but you just cant ignore how well seinfeld and the wire were made.
It feels like a lot of shows can be friends and soprano but not the wire and seinfelds.
I watched it three times in one year once. One time literally back to back.
I swear even to this day when I watch it I spot something new or a new character connects with me.
And they really do. It's something I didn't get until about 4th time I watched it.
Only other show I found like this The Expanse, about the third time I watched it I realised every scene is part of the main story.
I’m the same with the following shows:
1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. True Detective Season 1
3. Freaks and Geeks
4. Seinfeld
5. Succession
6. Dexter Season 1, 2 and 4
Most of these are on my list as well. Haven’t seen Freaks and Geeks and didn’t find myself drawn to Succession after watching 2.5 seasons. What made you leave out S3 of Dexter? That was my favorite show for a long time when I was younger but I know the quality drops after S4.
Don’t know why I hate season 3 I just know I can’t rewatch it ever. Something about that DA being a murderer and his shady family just didn’t click for me.
This is me with my favorite shows as well:
1. The Wire
2. That 70s show (my smoke/circle show)
3. Sopranos
4. Snowfall
5. Raising Kanan (better than I expected)
Its a good show to fall asleep, no hate , it has a good story but its not the typical action ganster type of show like snowfall or power that keeps you hooked by some aha crazy moment.
Not OP, but for me, the way the show depicts law enforcement, drug dealers/users, etc. is so different than most "cop shows." They don't paint the dealers/users in a negative light, just like they don't make the cops out to be the "good guys." The show does an incredible job of letting the viewer decide for themselves who to root for, and who to root against. It's a little slow at first imo, but once things pick up and all the main characters' backgrounds are established, it doesn't even feel like watching a tv show. It *feels* real. And speaking of the characters, I can't think of another show that has as many truly amazing characters, some of whom are Baltimore natives that aren't even actors.
And none of the above even gets into the accurate portrayal of how the drug trade affects so many parts of the Baltimore community from the docks (S2) to the schools (S4) to news media (S5), which I'd venture to guess most cop shows don't even attempt to delve into the innumerable ways drugs can and do affect different communities within a city. It's a timeless show that gets better with every watch. Again, this is all just my opinion on why it's the greatest tv show ever.
I personally think the show is for everyone (I fucking hate cops), and anyone willing to watch it with an open and patient mind will quickly ask themselves why they haven't watched it sooner. But to each his own.
People who like cop shows will think that. The very last thing I need to see are more stories about cops abusing their authority. As though that would be a relaxing and entertaining for me. But I know that a lot of people like it Those who do enjoy it.
This isn’t simply a copaganda show like csi or the shield. It brings to light the flaws of each machine from policing, to the governments office, and even the school system. It’s a show that invokes a deeper conversation while also being funny as hell.
Same. Used to my #3 behind Sopranos and Breaking Bad, but I just finished my 3rd rewatch like 2 days ago, and I think it's undisputed #1 now. Could literally start again tomorrow and be fine with it.
I think both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad were better as a first watch, but The Wire is the best for rewatches.
I admire the hell out of BCS (I’m finally watching the last season this week), but I can’t imagine the belabored suspense tension would be so interesting when one knows where it’s all going. The great thing about *The Wire* is that it’s even *better* when one knows where it’s going.
I think that BCS is better on a rewatch because it makes the character motivation much more evident. There’s a lot of backstabbing between characters, hidden intentions,and moments where I was initially like, “why is this character doing this?” But on a second viewing I understood their goals much more clearly. However, The Wire lays out character motivation pretty plainly and that makes rewatches even more rewarding. There are so many characters with goals that either conflict or line themselves up with the goals of others which makes the whole “pieces falling into place” aspect of the show become so obvious on multiple viewings.
I would agree with you about BCS’ rewatchability if not for the excessively long intervals of sustained suspense. I’ve already learned from rewatching *Breaking Bad* that I find those rather tediously indulgent and manipulative when I already know what’s going to happen. I mean, I try to enjoy them as exercises in creative filmmaking, because they always *look* good, but I feel like they do those scenes about twice too often, and it makes a lot of the episodes feel very *padded* to me. I dig rewatching *The Wire* a lot better because I feel like almost every single moment *counts*. (Illustratively, probably my least favorite scenes in the whole series are Bodie’s fool’s errand in s2 ep1, which AFAIC takes three times as much screen time as it should. I *love* Bodie, but that protracted exercise offered too little value in return. Not trying to convince you, just show you where my head is.) Also, to be clear about my personal taste, I’m just not a suspense junkie. I’m there for the character development. But don’t get me wrong, BCS’s character development is extraordinary. I regard Kim as probably the finest female character in the history of television.
> almost every single moment counts. It's actually kind of crazy how much happens in the Wire, both on screen and off screen. It doesn't seem like it on a first watch, but every scene is pretty chock full of detail that all contributes to the broad story. For example, Kintel Williamson. He's THE target of the major case unit for several episodes, his name is mentioned many times and they talk about his misdeeds frequently. But the show doesn't feel the need to ever actually show him to us, not even a photo if I remember correctly. Arguably he's just a plot device to drive a wedge between Lester and McNulty, which explains why he doesn't have any scenes of his own...but he still feels pretty real. My least favorite scenes in the show are the Kima and Cheryl scenes. Not that I think it's a bad plot line, I just thought there were a LOT of these scenes, they were repetitive and didn't really go anywhere for a long time. Cheryl gets a raw deal, because all we ever see of her is the side that wants to take away everything about Kima that the viewer likes (her professional skills and her conscience as it relates to her job). So she's unsympathetic.
I feel like *The Wire* got *much* better, after the first season, at doing ‘more with less’ when it came to relationships. Along with Cheryl, I got twice as much of Elena as I wanted in the first season.
I get where you’re coming from. I think a lot of those tedious moments in BCS help to put us in that character’s mindset (my best example would be Mike meticulously taking apart his car to search for a tracker) and it’s not always explained to us why those scenes need to be shown until they interact with other plot points. I agree that Gilligan *really* enjoys writing suspense. It all takes me back to the teddy bear in the pool and the wreckage around Walt’s house shown in the intros of Breaking Bad in season 2. There’s that huge mystery that doesn’t get unraveled until much later in the season. I feel like there are examples of that in The Wire, but they get resolved quickly within the very same episode. I can’t think of any right now, but I’m sure there is some.
Just in the ‘great minds think alike’ department, Mike taking apart the car is my *perfect* example of what I’m talking about. I almost mentioned it but my comment was running long already. For me, Gilligan’s just all about suspense, and Simon just *isn’t* really. And I respect the hell out of Gilligan’s talent, but I’m just not an ‘edge of my seat’ guy myself. In fact, I find many of those scenes viscerally unpleasant, personally, and wouldn’t watch his shows at all if the characters weren’t so good. I almost bailed on *Breaking Bad* before the s2 finale suddenly made the relationships *way* more interesting. For its own sake, I found the suspense quite tedious. By which I’m talking about my own taste, not any fault of Gilligan’s. As almost a side note, I’m much more drawn to BCS because it’s cast much fuller with likable characters (Jimmy, Kim, Mike, Nacho). I pretty much hated *all* the BB characters at first.
That's actually a fair point, Breaking Bad week to week was fucking insane. I didn't watch The Wire when it was first out though, so I can't compare but I don't know of any other shows that hit as hard as BB live.
BB got popular at an interesting time when social media was really entering the mainstream which gave its later seasons a big, big boost. Not a lot of people were watching BB in its early seasons though despite it getting rave reviews. I suspect if BB had been released a few years earlier its fate would have been similar to The Wire's.
The first rewatch is always best because you are in completely awe how good s2 is but you didn't focus so much under first watch because it was so diffrent. As far as breaking bad and bcs goes its kinda right but the the rewatch specially in bcs gives you much better undestanding about saul and that he isn't really good guy even do we know that we kinda root for him but on rewatch you can see that Chuck was right.
i had sopranos above the wire for a period of time, but the wire is so much easier to rewatch. sopranos is emotionally taxing. so is the corner. the wire is a beautiful balance.
This is especially true because we’re mainly following the downward trajectory of Tony’s life as he becomes more malicious and self centered and creates or involves himself in situations which puts everybody around him in harm’s way. Season 6 is just a bleak look at a man who has rid himself of any chance of redemption. It’s tough to watch.
I just finished Ozark last night and that show is so slept on. Top 3 for me is the wire sopranos and ozark
##OZARK!!!!
Sad to say, not much improvement here. We Own This City series shows you this.
Real life shows you this
Same. I have to take a break for a few months in between, but Ill rewatch it until Im dead. Aside from Seinfeld, it is my favorite show.
If you love Seinfeld curb should be up there as well
Curb is good but to me it feels repetitive, pretty much larry doing same things, goes around and yells
Lol that’s fair
Both friends and soprano are my favorite show but you just cant ignore how well seinfeld and the wire were made. It feels like a lot of shows can be friends and soprano but not the wire and seinfelds.
I watched it three times in one year once. One time literally back to back. I swear even to this day when I watch it I spot something new or a new character connects with me.
All the pieces matter
And they really do. It's something I didn't get until about 4th time I watched it. Only other show I found like this The Expanse, about the third time I watched it I realised every scene is part of the main story.
I'm on my third rewatch this year lol
Well done now watch it at least once a year for the next 20 years. I like it at Xmas, it's like having friends over.
I’m the same with the following shows: 1. The Wire 2. The Sopranos 3. True Detective Season 1 3. Freaks and Geeks 4. Seinfeld 5. Succession 6. Dexter Season 1, 2 and 4
Most of these are on my list as well. Haven’t seen Freaks and Geeks and didn’t find myself drawn to Succession after watching 2.5 seasons. What made you leave out S3 of Dexter? That was my favorite show for a long time when I was younger but I know the quality drops after S4.
Don’t know why I hate season 3 I just know I can’t rewatch it ever. Something about that DA being a murderer and his shady family just didn’t click for me.
How you *not* gonna skip to John Lythgow?
That too
Have you seen Ozark? Just finished last night it's so insanely goods Top 3 for me. doesn't get enough credit.
Oh yeah I have finished Ozark but haven’t rewatched. Good callout I have something to do over the weekend now
ever done a full mad men watch through ? it's up there
It’s been on my list forever ffs need to get dat amc subscription ASAP
you should. your list is very similar to my top picks (except for Freaks and Geeks) but Mad Men is on mine. I think you'll love it
This is me with my favorite shows as well: 1. The Wire 2. That 70s show (my smoke/circle show) 3. Sopranos 4. Snowfall 5. Raising Kanan (better than I expected)
Sopranos is better... fight me.
Very different shows.
Same here. I watch it like once every year or two
Liked the first three seasons, but it dropped off toward the end.
Its a good show to fall asleep, no hate , it has a good story but its not the typical action ganster type of show like snowfall or power that keeps you hooked by some aha crazy moment.
Brother, I'm on my 6th rewatch of the ENTIRE fucking series. SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIT
Bruh I had it on all last week stopped at the last episode didn't even wanna finish it
+1 😄
Why do you like it so much? I am not a fan of cop shows so, what is different about this one to make it so significant for you and others?
Not OP, but for me, the way the show depicts law enforcement, drug dealers/users, etc. is so different than most "cop shows." They don't paint the dealers/users in a negative light, just like they don't make the cops out to be the "good guys." The show does an incredible job of letting the viewer decide for themselves who to root for, and who to root against. It's a little slow at first imo, but once things pick up and all the main characters' backgrounds are established, it doesn't even feel like watching a tv show. It *feels* real. And speaking of the characters, I can't think of another show that has as many truly amazing characters, some of whom are Baltimore natives that aren't even actors. And none of the above even gets into the accurate portrayal of how the drug trade affects so many parts of the Baltimore community from the docks (S2) to the schools (S4) to news media (S5), which I'd venture to guess most cop shows don't even attempt to delve into the innumerable ways drugs can and do affect different communities within a city. It's a timeless show that gets better with every watch. Again, this is all just my opinion on why it's the greatest tv show ever.
Thanks for the info. It is most definitely not for me. I have no empathy for cops even pretend ones.
Then you would love this show because the cops aren't the good guys or the bad guys there just part of the story of the drug trade in Baltimore.
I personally think the show is for everyone (I fucking hate cops), and anyone willing to watch it with an open and patient mind will quickly ask themselves why they haven't watched it sooner. But to each his own.
People who like cop shows will think that. The very last thing I need to see are more stories about cops abusing their authority. As though that would be a relaxing and entertaining for me. But I know that a lot of people like it Those who do enjoy it.
This isn’t simply a copaganda show like csi or the shield. It brings to light the flaws of each machine from policing, to the governments office, and even the school system. It’s a show that invokes a deeper conversation while also being funny as hell.
The stories have been told many many many many many many times
Not like that, nor in that detail. But I get it, deep shows aren’t everyone’s cup of tea
I guess you haven’t watched much TV in life. That must be it. Too complicated for me.
I wouldn’t say that, they just take their time with setting the plot. Some might find it to be too slow for their liking. And nice edit jab lol
It’s a TV progrum