West Wing v Sopranos v AN Other

**Angus** · 20/02/2008, 10:14 PM

I can never decide which show I preferred.

Both are magnificient but obviously totally different in many ways.

Anybody have a firm view or am I missing the true TV Gem from the last 10 years ?

**Saint MacDara** · 20/02/2008, 10:46 PM

Both shows are quite accomplished as they've had widespread appeal among critics,intellectuals and the common people.
The West Wing had the benefit of having a star like Martin Sheen but soon got viewers hooked with sharp scripts although the finals series' went slightly downhill.
While The Sopranos had potential from the start but truly found it's level by the second series and kept improving.
So Sopranos for me since it had better character and story development while we could all live vicariously through them.

However,special credit must be given to Family Guy,it's the funniest show ever to come out of America.Catch it before it's cancelled again!

The US has produced some gold like Six Feet Under,Oz,Friends,Law & Order,Deadwood and South Park.

**shakermaker1982** · 21/02/2008, 7:35 AM

The Wire beats them em both (and I love the Sopranos). I'm on the third series of the West Wing but after an excellent first series it feels like we're in treading water territory. I might give up on buying the other boxsets because

Trust me and go out and buy the Wire boxsets and you will not look back. It's intelligent, well written, funny, dark, well acted and to sum up a masterpiece. I've also just started on Deadwood series 1 and it has impressed me greatly.

**jebus** · 21/02/2008, 10:19 AM

Sopranos, although Oz is better than all of them

**Dr. Ogba** · 21/02/2008, 11:31 AM

Love the West Wing despite a tendency to veer towards sentimentalism the scripts were razor-sharp and ocassionally very very funny.

Have to agree that the 4 and 5th seasons were pretty poor though(which coincides with Sorkin leaving as script-writer around this time)...the last couple of seasons were a return to form though as they shifted emphasis from the White House to the elections.
if you liked West Wing it would be well worth checking out the short-lived "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"....

**TonyD** · 21/02/2008, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

The Wire beats them em both (and I love the Sopranos). Trust me and go out and buy the Wire boxsets and you will not look back. It's intelligent, well written, funny, dark, well acted and to sum up a masterpiece. I've also just started on Deadwood series 1 and it has impressed me greatly.

Abso-damn-lutely. The Wire is the best TV drama ever made (in my humble opinion). It's intricate, beautifully plotted and paced, superbly acted and ultimately much more rewarding than any other programme I've seen. It's not for the casual viewer though. The creator David Simon compares each series to a novel, and like a novel you can't pick it up at say, chapter 4, again at chapter 7, and expect it to make sense. That's why it's ideal for box-set purchase. To anyone who hasn't seen it, I can't recommend it highly enough.

I am also a fan of the West Wing and Sopranos - they are probably the best 3 drama series of the last 10 years.

**Anto McC** · 21/02/2008, 9:16 PM

Brotherhood.

**Neish** · 21/02/2008, 10:32 PM

As Dr Ogba & Tony D say get "The Wire" best show ever imo, "Sopranos" great too, with "OZ" in 3rd

**Only1Rovers** · 02/03/2008, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Anto McC

Brotherhood.

Seen it on digital menu there a few times looks like its got potential.

Based in Boston? Summit to do with Irish Mob?

Am I close?

Hold on.... Agent Harris is in it!!!!!!!!!!

**strangeirish** · 02/03/2008, 11:08 PM

Soprano's for me, but I have to say, Deadwood is brilliant.

Deadwood line:
FARNUM: "I can't engage him in further conversation! When I hear his voice I see the inside of his skull. Phantoms grin out at me leaking gruesome goo."
SWEARENGEN: "Slide this under his door then."

**pete** · 02/03/2008, 11:22 PM

The Wire is on my to do list.

I would recommend Dexter (recently started on ITV & due on Channel 6) if like an edge to your crime/cop show. Originally shown on Showtime in the US but now picked up by one of the Networks.

**NeilMcD** · 02/03/2008, 11:32 PM

Just finished Sopranos and enjoyed it. Going to start on West Wing now.

**Anto McC** · 03/03/2008, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by Only1Rovers

Seen it on digital menu there a few times looks like its got potential.

Based in Boston? Summit to do with Irish Mob?

Am I close?

Hold on.... Agent Harris is in it!!!!!!!!!!

To do with a set of Brothers of Irish desent and it's based in Rhode Island.

**shakermaker1982** · 03/03/2008, 4:51 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Just finished Sopranos and enjoyed it. Going to start on West Wing now.

Neil - start on the Wire 1st. You won't regret it!!!

**dahamsta** · 03/03/2008, 11:33 PM

Gimme a list and I'll make a poll, so I can vote West Wing.

**Dr. Ogba** · 06/03/2008, 12:24 PM

Just bought the Wire season 1 in HMV there on people's recommendations here (pay day this week so impulse purchases galore!) - better be good or i'll track yez down!! {insert shaking fist smiley here}

**SaucyJack** · 06/03/2008, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

Just bought the Wire season 1 in HMV there on people's recommendations here (pay day this week so impulse purchases galore!) - better be good or i'll track yez down!! {insert shaking fist smiley here}

to me The Wire is the best show HBO ever did, better than Oz, Deadwood even the Sopanos, unfortunately the fifth season is the final season and the final episode is this Sunday in the U.S. If anyone wants to see most of the 5th season they can check out this link

http://www.watchtvsitcoms.com/thewire.php

**jebus** · 06/03/2008, 1:06 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Gimme a list and I'll make a poll, so I can vote West Wing.

How about we keep it to the Wire, Sopranos, West Wing, Oz and one other? (ER, or Deadwood perhaps?)

**Dr. Ogba** · 06/03/2008, 1:14 PM

also took the plunge on arrested development on ebay based on almost universally popular reviews (having not seen any episodes either....damn you credit card!!!) - anyone a fan?

**jebus** · 06/03/2008, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

also took the plunge on arrested development on ebay based on almost universally popular reviews (having not seen any episodes either....damn you credit card!!!) - anyone a fan?

Love it, funniest show since Seinfeld