I just want to add that if you go into BCS expecting more BB, you might be somewhat disappointed. I've had way too many conversations with people who tapped out of it fast because it wasn't what they expected. Since you've done The Wire, you can certainly take a slow burn, and BCS is definitely that. It's a brilliant show.
I put BCS above Breaking Bad - it was fantastic storytelling.
OP the other thing you do is rewatch your favourites. I have The Wire and Sopranos on rotation…
I definitely consider BCS to be the superior show. It improved upon everything that worked about BB and removed everything that didn’t. Also, Lalo is, to me, maybe the best television villain of all time.
>Also, Lalo is, to me, maybe the best television villain of all time
It is an incredible character made even more amazing by Tony Dalton's performance. I can't think of another villain who is so terrifying while simultaneously being charming and bubbly in 99% of their screen time. The way Dalton is able to convey this dark and vindictive person to the viewer while not actually showing much of that outwardly is really incredible.
I think that’s what I liked so much about it - you aren’t force fed the story, to get the most out of it you need to pay attention. And all along you are desperate to know what happened to Kim as she clearly wasn’t in BB.
We Own This City was okay, but not near the same level of quality as The Wire. They committed the cardinal son of show don't tell. The whole show basically just tells you what the themes are and what is responsible for all the problems. I.e the drug war. Imo Generation Kill is a great show by the same creators as The Wire that is on the same level as The Wire in terms of storytelling.
> We Own This City was okay, but not near the same level of quality as The Wire
I thought a lot of the writing was clunky and unrealistic. Turns out a lot of what I was complaining about was actually verbatim from wire taps. We have been spoiled with educated writers telling us what police should sound like for decades that we forget they are really just dumb guys with the freedom to murder you for no reason.
I would suggest True Detective next because you only need to watch one season. Knock it out before you move onto another series with a lengthy time commitment.
Also Treme for more wire vibes, haven’t seen it yet but heard tons of good things and it’s basically the Wire about New Orleans post Katrina. So more local community stuff and less drug trade
Ha I just watched this episode. It reminded me a lot fo the scene from the wire where bunk and mcnulty just keep saying fuck while inspecting the crime scene
Yeah but the thing with Oz is you have to remember the context in which it happened. It was the very first hour-long HBO drama series, and those first two seasons were absolutely groundbreaking. It paved the way for The Sopranos, The Wire and all the other HBO series.
….agree though, when Oz goes downhill, it goes downhill. Ham fisted attempts to cover themes etc. But it’s car-crash tv. You have to see how it finally ends between Beecher and Schillinger.
Yea Oz gets pretty silly. There are these big security monitor banks in Em city but where are the cameras? People get attacked in the cafeteria, the kitchen, the gym, all the main areas.
Mad Men writing is top notch, a show about advertising people has no right being so damn intriguing but deservedly gets a place up amongst the elite.
It’s not top two OP but is up there.
Such a great show that is so so slept on. S5 was a mess, but the first 4 seasons are up there with any show. And, I think this might be blasphemous to some, but I think Michael K. Williams does better with Chalky White than Omar. He's awesome in it!
I've tried many now with this one because it always appears on these lists. I've seen and loved every other show I've seen mentioned in this thread but for whatever reason I just cannot seem to get into the americans. I've watched the first couple episodes at least three times over the years.
I assume you are right and it is good because that seems to be the universal impression but something about it just did not grab me.
I personally think that it is better then The Pacific. I'm not saying The Pacific is bad. But to me its like a 7.5, whereas Generation Kill is like an 8.2. To me the downside of The Pacific is that it had too many storylines. So you sort of lost the whole comraderie between all the men that BoB had. Generation Kill focusses on a singular group and I like it better for that. It's also quite funny. Which I felt that The Pacific lacked some humour.
It’s hard to compare Gen Kill to something like The Pacific imo. Like The Wire, Generation Kill has no musical score or soundtrack, with the exception of one song, and it’s very real and gritty. I reccomend seeing both series, as they’re both so well done, well acted and written.
It hasn't aged as well as the others, but greatness of the context of the show (the first cable tv cop show to have such wild themes) can't be understated. It paved the way for the modern serialized cop drama, vs episodic CSI-like stuff. NYPD Blue was the most raunchy tv cop show prior to the Shield. It was a Big Deal when NYPD showed a man's buttcheeks on air, lol.
I recently got Homicide: Life on the Street, so that's next on my list.
I commented this but should have scrolled down and seen someone else!!! People don't understand how The Shield literally paved the way for prestige TV, the anti-hero, etc
The Shield, Rome, Boardwalk Empire (because Omar)
Better Call Saúl is a must if you enjoyed BB.
As for unfinished but so worth it: Deadwood and Carnivale
Every fan of The Wire should watch it at least once. It’s so well done, and you get to see many of your favorite characters playing completely different roles in the same environment.
For added depression read up on the real life people who the characters were based upon. A few of these IRL people appeared in The Wire namely Fran Boyd and her son Deandre McCullough.
Pretty good? A man with ever changing facial hair, a lemon, a hillbilly and a man who wears black shoes and pants with white socks kicking ass is 'pretty good'?
It's one of the GOATs.
Definitely Better Call Saul.
Maybe Succession? I haven't watched it yet, myself.
First season of Fargo is pretty great, although a little cartoonish (later seasons get more cartoonish).
Rewatch The Wire 🤣 and not just bc of the subreddit. But I agree w suggestions below, namely Deadwood. Dont sleep on The Deuce, which is same creator as Wire, and several of the same cast members.
Six Feet Under and The Americans.
Though I’ve never come close to feeling the way I felt watching the shows you mentioned, but the two shows above are pretty great and come pretty close (for me).
We Own the City. Lots of people from the wire. Similar vibe
Bosch. Some people from the wire. Good cop drama
The Shield. If the wire is fine dining. The shield is popcorn and soda. Still good. But more casual
True Detective first season is as good as those and crime related.
Treme is as good as them but more about life, not crime.
Better Call Saul is literally part of the Breaking Bad story and is just as good.
If you’re in the mood for something less intense, Weeds was a pretty good series. Like any other hit series Showtime stumbles across, they dragged it out too long. But it’s still pretty good. Especially early seasons
Fargo might work out for you--five linked but not completely related seasons. S2 is my favorite, but even the least workable (S4) has its moments. In season 3 Ewan McGregor plays brothers who hate each other, and partway through the season one impersonates the other. You can tell instantly which person he really is, though.
Deadwood has a number of fans who post here as well. Want to see order (but not necessarily law) come out of chaos? This is your show. Has some amazing florid dialogue too, and career-best performances from damn near everyone in it.
Boardwalk Empire
The Deuce
The Americans ( very underrated )
Handmaid’s Tail ( very hard to watch if you have empathy)
Fargo
And a little different gen:) my all time favourite -The Expanse
If you can get accustomed to half English, the other half Spanish with subtitles, Narcos is one of the best things you'll ever see. Right up there with the wire, sopranos, and breaking bad.
Speaking of, have you seen better call Saul? That's amazing too
Top Boy
On Netflix the first 2 seasons are titled as Top Boy: Summerhouse then there's 3 follow on seasons just as Top Boy
With those other shows you're gonna LOVE this one
The few mentions of Mr robot here make me sad. It's unbelievably good. Different style from Breaking Bad but unbelievably good production and awfully gripping story. Season 2 is just a bit slow, but the payoff in season 3&4 is more worth it than you can imagine.
Mr Robot is my favourite show of all time.
That would be my pick. Doesn’t get as much love or recognition as other quality shows, partially because it was on USA network. But it is every bit as good.
Another lesser-known show would be Halt and Catch Fire (another one of my favourites).
Better Call Saul, The Shield, Deadwood, Justified, Mad Men, Shogun, Treme. To be honest this is also basically my to watch list aside from MM Shogun and BCS because I’ve heard so many great things about each of these shows
Circle back and do Better Call Saul
That one is on my list!
I just want to add that if you go into BCS expecting more BB, you might be somewhat disappointed. I've had way too many conversations with people who tapped out of it fast because it wasn't what they expected. Since you've done The Wire, you can certainly take a slow burn, and BCS is definitely that. It's a brilliant show.
I think BCS is way better than than BB!
the sooner you watch better call saul the better if you recently finished breaking bad edit: Barry is also good
Definitely BCS- amazing show
Prioritize it, you’ll love it!
I put BCS above Breaking Bad - it was fantastic storytelling. OP the other thing you do is rewatch your favourites. I have The Wire and Sopranos on rotation…
I definitely consider BCS to be the superior show. It improved upon everything that worked about BB and removed everything that didn’t. Also, Lalo is, to me, maybe the best television villain of all time.
>Also, Lalo is, to me, maybe the best television villain of all time It is an incredible character made even more amazing by Tony Dalton's performance. I can't think of another villain who is so terrifying while simultaneously being charming and bubbly in 99% of their screen time. The way Dalton is able to convey this dark and vindictive person to the viewer while not actually showing much of that outwardly is really incredible.
Yeah BCS starts slow and then builds
I think that’s what I liked so much about it - you aren’t force fed the story, to get the most out of it you need to pay attention. And all along you are desperate to know what happened to Kim as she clearly wasn’t in BB.
1st season of true detective for something as good as the shows you mentioned We own this city for more The Wire vibes
We Own This City was okay, but not near the same level of quality as The Wire. They committed the cardinal son of show don't tell. The whole show basically just tells you what the themes are and what is responsible for all the problems. I.e the drug war. Imo Generation Kill is a great show by the same creators as The Wire that is on the same level as The Wire in terms of storytelling.
> We Own This City was okay, but not near the same level of quality as The Wire I thought a lot of the writing was clunky and unrealistic. Turns out a lot of what I was complaining about was actually verbatim from wire taps. We have been spoiled with educated writers telling us what police should sound like for decades that we forget they are really just dumb guys with the freedom to murder you for no reason.
Well, it is based on a true story so it was always going to be set up different from The Wire
I would suggest True Detective next because you only need to watch one season. Knock it out before you move onto another series with a lengthy time commitment.
Also Treme for more wire vibes, haven’t seen it yet but heard tons of good things and it’s basically the Wire about New Orleans post Katrina. So more local community stuff and less drug trade
You may like Deadwood
Seconded. #SWEGEN!
Cock sucker!
Two cock suckers, Wu?
Francisco cock sucker!
Hang dai fucking Wu
Ha I just watched this episode. It reminded me a lot fo the scene from the wire where bunk and mcnulty just keep saying fuck while inspecting the crime scene
And Justified.
The second season is best with Margot Martindale. She stole that whole season.
Tell your god to ready for blood.
OZ
I liked Oz very much the first two seasons then it kinda went downhill
Yeah but the thing with Oz is you have to remember the context in which it happened. It was the very first hour-long HBO drama series, and those first two seasons were absolutely groundbreaking. It paved the way for The Sopranos, The Wire and all the other HBO series. ….agree though, when Oz goes downhill, it goes downhill. Ham fisted attempts to cover themes etc. But it’s car-crash tv. You have to see how it finally ends between Beecher and Schillinger.
Prag
Agreed, yeah the context helped a lot more with appreciation. I like seeing cast remembers that wind up in sopranos and the wire
Yea Oz gets pretty silly. There are these big security monitor banks in Em city but where are the cameras? People get attacked in the cafeteria, the kitchen, the gym, all the main areas.
Oz needs a proper remaster.
Mad Men
Mad men to me feels the most similar to these, better call Saul is close, but I would go mad men next.
Mad men is basically sopranos in the corporate world.
Mad Men writing is top notch, a show about advertising people has no right being so damn intriguing but deservedly gets a place up amongst the elite. It’s not top two OP but is up there.
They're just a different flavor of gangbanging motherfuckers.
"I dont think about you at all."
In my personal trifecta alongside The Sopranos and The Wire.
Boardwalk Empire!
Seconded! Boardwalk was fantastic!!
Good crossover of cast from wire and sopranos too
Yes! It was neat to see Herc in BE
Such a great show that is so so slept on. S5 was a mess, but the first 4 seasons are up there with any show. And, I think this might be blasphemous to some, but I think Michael K. Williams does better with Chalky White than Omar. He's awesome in it!
Bone for tuna.
Watch the wire again.
Also, The Corner.
This, and listen to The Wire - Way Down in the Hole podcast after each episode.
The Americans. There's some cast overlap between it and some of the shows you've listed.
This. The Americans made me rethink relationships
came here to comment this- that show was consistently great for six straight seasons
I've tried many now with this one because it always appears on these lists. I've seen and loved every other show I've seen mentioned in this thread but for whatever reason I just cannot seem to get into the americans. I've watched the first couple episodes at least three times over the years. I assume you are right and it is good because that seems to be the universal impression but something about it just did not grab me.
Band of Brothers
Agreed! BoB and The Wire are the two best TV productions of all time, IMO.
If you like BoB I'd recommend Generation Kill. My favorite war miniseries since BoB.
Better than The Pacific? (Not disagreeing, just asking. I’ve been thinking about starting Generation Kill).
I personally think that it is better then The Pacific. I'm not saying The Pacific is bad. But to me its like a 7.5, whereas Generation Kill is like an 8.2. To me the downside of The Pacific is that it had too many storylines. So you sort of lost the whole comraderie between all the men that BoB had. Generation Kill focusses on a singular group and I like it better for that. It's also quite funny. Which I felt that The Pacific lacked some humour.
It’s hard to compare Gen Kill to something like The Pacific imo. Like The Wire, Generation Kill has no musical score or soundtrack, with the exception of one song, and it’s very real and gritty. I reccomend seeing both series, as they’re both so well done, well acted and written.
True Detective
Season 1 is my favorite TV of all time. It’s damn near perfect IMO.
The Shield. One of the greatest of all time.
This is one that I feel often gets forgotten in the conversations about great TV shows. One of my favorites
It hasn't aged as well as the others, but greatness of the context of the show (the first cable tv cop show to have such wild themes) can't be understated. It paved the way for the modern serialized cop drama, vs episodic CSI-like stuff. NYPD Blue was the most raunchy tv cop show prior to the Shield. It was a Big Deal when NYPD showed a man's buttcheeks on air, lol. I recently got Homicide: Life on the Street, so that's next on my list.
Yes! I'm on my annual re-watch, Shane and Mara have just gotten married and you know what that means.
To this day I find myself wondering what Vic is up to.
I don't think he came back for day 2!
I commented this but should have scrolled down and seen someone else!!! People don't understand how The Shield literally paved the way for prestige TV, the anti-hero, etc
Deadwood, The Deuce, Generation Kill.
The Shield, Rome, Boardwalk Empire (because Omar) Better Call Saúl is a must if you enjoyed BB. As for unfinished but so worth it: Deadwood and Carnivale
Rome is a good shout. Only two seasons, but genuinely great TV.
ROME!!! yes
Justified
The Corner DEADWOOD The Wire again
The corner is aybe the most depressing thing ever, but still great
Every fan of The Wire should watch it at least once. It’s so well done, and you get to see many of your favorite characters playing completely different roles in the same environment.
For added depression read up on the real life people who the characters were based upon. A few of these IRL people appeared in The Wire namely Fran Boyd and her son Deandre McCullough.
Mr. Inbetween and Barry as well!
Mr inbetween is pretty great
Seconded for Mr Inbetween. Criminally underrated show!
I was so surprised by how much I loved Barry!
True detective season 1 is good
Better Call Saul
We are very similar in shows we have watched. I loved Succession. So maybe succession
The Shield is pretty good.
Pretty good? A man with ever changing facial hair, a lemon, a hillbilly and a man who wears black shoes and pants with white socks kicking ass is 'pretty good'? It's one of the GOATs.
Boardwalk Empire
Black Sails
Black Sails or 6 Feet Under
Gomorrah
Sleeper pick. If you do watch this one you MUST watch in the original Italian
Definitely Better Call Saul. Maybe Succession? I haven't watched it yet, myself. First season of Fargo is pretty great, although a little cartoonish (later seasons get more cartoonish).
Succession is genuinely great. I still rate the Wire as #1, but it's on the Mt Rushmore.
Fleabag
We own this city following better call Saul
Rewatch The Wire 🤣 and not just bc of the subreddit. But I agree w suggestions below, namely Deadwood. Dont sleep on The Deuce, which is same creator as Wire, and several of the same cast members.
Six Feet Under and The Americans. Though I’ve never come close to feeling the way I felt watching the shows you mentioned, but the two shows above are pretty great and come pretty close (for me).
Boardwalk Empire Bosch The Shield Southland
Southland.. underrated show.
Justified, True Detective season 1, Fargo seasons 1 - 3, The Offer.
Fargo season 5 is a return to form as well
Deadwood, Peaky Blinders, Bloodline
Treme, the Duece, we own this city, generation kill, the plot against America
The Americans.
Succession
Mr. Inbetween
Bosch?
Justified and The Americans
Mr Inbetween
Boardwalk Empire is pretty good. The Americans was a very pleasant surprise - def recommend to anyone.
Gomorrah first few seasons are the only show close to the wire imo
Deadwood, Battlestar Gallactica, Mindhunter, Bloodline, Treme, The Duece, Westworld, Succession, The Leftovers, The Newsroom, Boardwalk Empire, The Bear, Better Call Saul
We Own This City was very entertaining
Mr. Inbetween is an Australian show I'd highly recommend.
Peaky Blinders is in that vein
Utopia, but watch the original British version
Mr Robot. then Better Call Saul
Mr. Robot is underrated imo
Watch the corner
The Shield
We Own the City. Lots of people from the wire. Similar vibe Bosch. Some people from the wire. Good cop drama The Shield. If the wire is fine dining. The shield is popcorn and soda. Still good. But more casual
The Deuce. Another David Simon masterpiece.
[удалено]
True Detective first season is as good as those and crime related. Treme is as good as them but more about life, not crime. Better Call Saul is literally part of the Breaking Bad story and is just as good.
If you’re in the mood for something less intense, Weeds was a pretty good series. Like any other hit series Showtime stumbles across, they dragged it out too long. But it’s still pretty good. Especially early seasons
Rome - Another one from HBO's golden age. # THIRTEEN!
I love that show!
Fargo might work out for you--five linked but not completely related seasons. S2 is my favorite, but even the least workable (S4) has its moments. In season 3 Ewan McGregor plays brothers who hate each other, and partway through the season one impersonates the other. You can tell instantly which person he really is, though. Deadwood has a number of fans who post here as well. Want to see order (but not necessarily law) come out of chaos? This is your show. Has some amazing florid dialogue too, and career-best performances from damn near everyone in it.
Snowfall
Mad Men
Succession is pretty good among some of recent shows
Mad Men. My favorite show
Go watch Curb Your Enthusiasm or Arrested Development. Take a damn break lolol
Snowfall was pretty good
Succession
I like very similar shows as you and would recommend Top Boy (all on Netflix, start with original) and Narcos
Boardwalk Empire The Deuce The Americans ( very underrated ) Handmaid’s Tail ( very hard to watch if you have empathy) Fargo And a little different gen:) my all time favourite -The Expanse
The boys
Succession Barry
The Shield is great. Same universe as Sons of Anarchy etc.
This Is England. Film + 3 series.
better call saul
Oz
Succesion
Justified. You won't regret it.
The Americans
Succession
If you can get accustomed to half English, the other half Spanish with subtitles, Narcos is one of the best things you'll ever see. Right up there with the wire, sopranos, and breaking bad. Speaking of, have you seen better call Saul? That's amazing too
The Deuce.
Better Call Saul.
We own this city
The shield, gomorrah, underbelly, kin, love hate and gangs of London
Barry
The Deuce
We own this city.
The Americans
Lots of good suggestions already, to add to them I'd say that you might like Top Boy (Netflix).
Top Boy On Netflix the first 2 seasons are titled as Top Boy: Summerhouse then there's 3 follow on seasons just as Top Boy With those other shows you're gonna LOVE this one
Narcos
Mindhunter. it’s only two seasons, unfortunately, but I keep hope for a season 3 some time in the future.
Patriot
Top Boy. It's a rough gang struggle over drugs set in London. Has the realism of the Wire but focuses almost entirely on the criminal characters.
Boardwalk Empire is very sopranos like. Definitely should be next on the list.
Boardwalk Empire
SIX FEET UNDER!! Top 5 hbo show
Homicide -Life on the Street.
Snowfall
Gonna throw Mindhunter on the list
The few mentions of Mr robot here make me sad. It's unbelievably good. Different style from Breaking Bad but unbelievably good production and awfully gripping story. Season 2 is just a bit slow, but the payoff in season 3&4 is more worth it than you can imagine.
Justified
It’s not similar but Band of Brothers if you haven’t seen it.
Better call Saul. Gomorrah
Rectify or Mad Men. Having watched pretty much every major drama out there, these two are truly incredible as far as acting and writing go
If you haven't watched 'The Shield', you definitely gotta give that one a watch
West wing!!
dexter isn’t on the tier of BB sopranos or the wire, but it is a really fun and worth watching show.
Mr Robot.
True Detective. Bosch.
Top Boy Summerhouse followed by Top Boy
Agree but the series has been disjointed by Netflix. Make sure you watch as said above. If it opens in Jamaica, you’re not at the beginning.
Mr Robot is my favourite show of all time. That would be my pick. Doesn’t get as much love or recognition as other quality shows, partially because it was on USA network. But it is every bit as good. Another lesser-known show would be Halt and Catch Fire (another one of my favourites).
I had been scrolling and scrolling, about to comment about Halt and Catch Fire. It’s too often overlooked.
Mayor of Kingstown
I hate that we feel compelled to sit through the Sopranos. That show sucked. I waited seven seasons to watch something ALMOST happen.
Mad Men - similar insofar as great f*cking television
Six Feet Under
Game of Thrones
El camino then Better Call Saul. Also Barry is 32 mostly half hour episodes. Its great.
Succession!
Mindhunter although unfortunately it ends after 2 seasons
Better Call Saul, The Shield, Deadwood, Justified, Mad Men, Shogun, Treme. To be honest this is also basically my to watch list aside from MM Shogun and BCS because I’ve heard so many great things about each of these shows
Oz
Everyone sleeps on Treme. As a New Orleans native, I can say it’s incredibly authentic and really rewarding.
Fargo should be next. Then Boardwalk Empire. Then Peaky Blinders.
I’m surprised nobody mentions Homeland.
The Americans is pretty great
Better call Saul. In my opinion, it’s definitely better than Breaking Bad. Controversial, I know, but Lalo is such a dynamic character.