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The Wire or The Shield
threecheeses
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Super quick question
I hear great things about both these shows but as they are both several seasons, looking to only watch 1 for now.
I usually give a series 3 episodes before deciding if it's for me so no point just watching the 1st one/pilot.
Can't say they appeal, Hannibal, GOT, Vikings, Lost, AHS, The Killing, POI, Fringe have probably been my favourite shows of recent years but then I tried Breaking Bad which couldn't be further from my interests and loved it.
So just wanted to see what most prefer out of the 2 on here
Thanks
It's just a 24 hour poll to get opinions.
I hear great things about both these shows but as they are both several seasons, looking to only watch 1 for now.
I usually give a series 3 episodes before deciding if it's for me so no point just watching the 1st one/pilot.
Can't say they appeal, Hannibal, GOT, Vikings, Lost, AHS, The Killing, POI, Fringe have probably been my favourite shows of recent years but then I tried Breaking Bad which couldn't be further from my interests and loved it.
So just wanted to see what most prefer out of the 2 on here
Thanks
It's just a 24 hour poll to get opinions.
Which one would you recommend? 24 votes
The Shield
50%
12 votes
The Wire
50%
12 votes
0
Comments
The Wire is a very forensic view of an investigation, with a slow-burn approach towards the culmination. The Shield otoh is more drama-orientated. Both shows have their strengths and weaknesses - The Shield was probably received better at the time, but The Wire seems to be more fondly remembered in retrospect.
You should probably check out the first episode of The Shield - by the very end of it you'll likely have a very good idea of what to expect from the series - I was hooked.
I think the divide between the series for me is The Wire is like "this is an imperfect system in an imperfect world full of imperfect people doing what they think is best, even if it is wrong, because things have to be done" while The Shield was more like "nobody is good, everyone is an opportunist, good and evil are relative based on who you target".
However, reading your post makes me think you would be better off with The Shield. Which is a great series too. Much more action to it, and I imagine you'd think the first three episodes were better than the first three of The Wire. The Shield has some truly great moments, the ending in particular will stay with me forever I think.
If you can, watch both, if not, I'd say go for The Shield because if you want fast paced action then it's the perfect show for that.
The Shield never gripped me in the same way. It's good - but take it or leave it for me, and not something I'd go back to.
Forest Whitaker also puts in a great performance in one of the seasons.
Also the ending is very very good, not many shows actually pull off a great final show, but this is up their with Breaking Bad for endings.
Overall there are so many great acting performances, no end of scenes that will leave you open mouthed and all in all this sits just slightly behind Breaking Bad and The Sopranos
As it is such a close call and both are clearly loved, reading the responses (and yeah the strong ending and Forest Whitaker part swayed it) I will watch The Shield.
The Wire will be put on hold for the summer/autumn.
Yet others loved it after 1.
Makes no sense.
Just remember to bump the thread when you finally do watch it, will be interesting to see which you yourself would ultimately choose
I certainly will!
Although I might be cursing myself as well for having to make the choice.
SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT !
So the verdict......
'The Shield' was just a cop show albeit a great one, but 'The Wire' may have been centred around law and order but it documented so much more.
'The Wire' was overwhelming because it was so believable - there was little reliance on storylines unlikely to be encountered outside a Hollywood script.
'The Shield' depended on all the standard cliches of commercial TV, ridiculous coincidence, comic book style escapades (taking down the 'albanian money train' for example), 'flesh wounds' et al, contrived dramas telling us of law enforcement who are continuously involved in investigating situations where they have a personal stake, ie family & friends are either the victims or the protagonists. Just doesn't happen in the real world - well much less frequent
But the biggest difference between the two was that 'The Shield' presumed there was somewhere, a world free from policking, incompetence & corruption.
On the other hand 'The Wire' operated from the opposite assumption, the one many now see to be reality, it showed that contemporary society is governed by failed institutions, law enforcement, the courts local government & the news media are corrupt, incompetent organisations where things get done after so much politicking, that the original intent of the action, even if started with the best of motives, gets grossly perverted.
The Wire portrayed the destruction of society's institutions well, it showed us how urban communities were destroyed by so called 'economic rationalism' which destroyed once cherished goals of full employment and a fair days pay for a fair day's work, along with the notion of citizens choosing to act out of a duty of public service.
It portrayed that decline so well, now a decade later, the best TV shows don't waste time trying to do the same, the destruction has happened
So for me its
The Wire..........
Incredibly in depth, masterpiece plot, great characters, storylines, humour, violence etc....
Yes the linguistics are a challenge, and sometimes its worth watching an episode twice to fully understand the plot.........(or watch it all, and then rewatch the whole series again)
The Shield was a fantastic show and some unforgettable scenes and episodes but the Wire is just a superior story to watch and experience.
The Wire is very well written, and plays out like a slow burn of a drama. But when I take into account everything - quality of writing, acting, production, general enjoyment… The Shield wins hands down.
loved both shows but shields characters were better and the individual episodes had more excitement to them. some crazy shocks/twists along the way and an awesome series finale give it the edge for me.
I agree, which in itself is sort of weird when you think about it, as the programme is really an anti-cop show which goes against so many things a cop show traditionally was/is (good guys against bad guys, with good guys winning).
You could say the same for The Wire, but not to the extent as The Shield.
(By the way I also missed the poll deadline, so chalk me down as a +1 on that total too).