The Sopranos vs The Wire

**Macy** · 08/01/2009, 7:21 AM

The West Wing would trump both imo.

**RonnieB** · 08/01/2009, 11:28 AM

Great value on the wire to be had according to this thread on boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055455930

**ken foree** · 08/01/2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I didn't take it as an attack on Baltimore. I was just saying that if we take it that Baltimore is a metaphor for the US, or even the world, there are bits that are overplayed. Meaning its not 100% realistic.

No problems there as real life is boring. Most who have seen both will agree that they are both worthy winners

actually dodge if you get the chance, have a look at the two documentaries appended to the last disk of season 4 (the school/political season). loads of current and former baltimore city officials testify as to how realistic the show actually is. many of the major characters (e.g. omar, avon barksdale, bunk moreland, bubbles) are composites of real-life individuals. and there are actually real-life baltimore gangsters in the show (the girl snoop, the older deacon guy). the former mayor of baltimore even has cameos - and during his tenure as mayor he recommended the U.S. de-criminilize drugs and treat it as a public health problem rather than a law enforcement one (like the cop bunny in season 3). he was widely ridiculed of course. remember the show is written and produced by an ex-baltimore cop and a former reporter for the baltimore sun newspaper so it's dramatized to be sure but not way, way out there by any means.

for me this is what gives the wire the edge; the sopranos is more romantic, poetic, of a piece with the italian mob movies of american cinema. it's about "family". the wire is about familial destruction and has an extraordinary level of realism i feel. but you're right, 2 great programs to have, aren't we lucky.

**OwlsFan** · 08/01/2009, 1:05 PM

Currently on my third watching of the whole series of the Sopranos. Interesting that Vito appears as a different character as a member of joe public in a sandwich bar as Christopher beats up the sanwich guy behind the counter in either the 1st or 2nd episode. Other than the dream episodes, I could watch this time and time again.

**TonyD** · 08/01/2009, 9:07 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

The West Wing would trump both imo.

I liked the West Wing - but The Wire is comfortably the better show IMO. In fact it's probably the greatest drama I've ever seen on screen. Epic stuff.

**shakermaker1982** · 09/01/2009, 7:06 AM

I gave up on the West Wing mid way through the third series. Well written but not my cup of tea. The structure of the episodes were near identical at times.

1: Problem
2: Uh oh what are we going to do
3: Some smart ass wise crack from one of the male characters.
4: Problem is resolved
5: The end

It also annoyed me how often the President was in the 'West Wing'. He never bloody left the place!!!

The Wire has always received praise for its accuracy. Homicide by David Simon is a fantastic book on the city of Baltimore (re-released before xmas) and well worth a read.

**Longfordian** · 09/01/2009, 3:38 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Homicide by David Simon is a fantastic book on the city of Baltimore (re-released before xmas) and well worth a read.

Read that recently. Great read, you really got a feel for the police work done in the city at the time (it was written back in 1987 or 1988). It was interesting to read it after having seen The Wire and see the way certain incidents referred to in the book had popped up in The Wire.

**Scrufil** · 16/01/2009, 9:02 PM

Neither. I watched a small amount of each and didn't like them one bit.

**Pike B** · 28/01/2009, 7:49 AM

Just started The West Wing. Great stuff, but no Sopranos..

**Row Z** · 28/01/2009, 10:58 AM

Just watched the last episode of the Wire last night.
Have to say its the best programme ive ever watched. thought it excellant, with some great charachters.altho it can be difficult at times trying to keep up with some of them. very intelligent programme. think it trumps Soprano's just on the story lines alone. What i really liked about it is when they bring back charachters for cameo appearances, did anyone notice Nick Sobotka at the Docks shouting at Carcetti? when he was press conference-ing a redevelopment?
Dont get me wrong, i love Soprano's and thought it the best thing ever, until the Wire.
have the book from David Simon to get me through the next few months...

**Pike B** · 28/01/2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Row Z

Just watched the last episode of the Wire last night.
Have to say its the best programme ive ever watched. thought it excellant, with some great charachters.altho it can be difficult at times trying to keep up with some of them. very intelligent programme. think it trumps Soprano's just on the story lines alone. What i really liked about it is when they bring back charachters for cameo appearances, did anyone notice Nick Sobotka at the Docks shouting at Carcetti? when he was press conference-ing a redevelopment?
Dont get me wrong, i love Soprano's and thought it the best thing ever, until the Wire.
have the book from David Simon to get me through the next few months...

Sopranos was the best thing ever, until The Wire?? And I suppose next month something will takeover from that??

Class is permenant my friend, I suggest you get the Sopranos boxset and realise why you once thought it number one. Because it is number one..

**Docboy** · 28/01/2009, 4:12 PM

I'm back watching The Sopranos again at the moment and was surprised to see Omar popping up in season 2, where he houses Jackie Jr before he gets whacked.

Funny the amount of people that dislike his character at first in The Wire, presumably because he's gay, only for him to turn into one of their favourites. And I'd include myself in that list before anyone asks..

**Row Z** · 29/01/2009, 8:19 AM

Pike B, ive watched the Soprano's, twice(and am a proud owner of the boxset) and only finished watching it the second time in Sept and i do think The Wire is a better programme than it, "my friend". im not knocking the Soprano's at all, just feel the Wire has better story development than soprano's altho some of the charachters in New Jersey are streets ahead of their B-more counterparts....

**Neish** · 29/01/2009, 2:54 PM

Originally Posted by Docboy

I'm back watching The Sopranos again at the moment and was surprised to see Omar popping up in season 2, where he houses Jackie Jr before he gets whacked.

Funny the amount of people that dislike his character at first in The Wire, presumably because he's gay, only for him to turn into one of their favourites. And I'd include myself in that list before anyone asks..

Always liked Omar the man had Principles

**geysir** · 30/01/2009, 7:15 PM

Nothing more reassuring than the sight of Omar striding down the hood with the dealers shaking at the mere mention of his name and throwing their readies out of the window.

The Sopranos had a very good first series, after that it veered towards soap and didn't interest me. The various plots in the later series were stretched out and didn't even get me curious.
The Wire is tops, not perfect but utterly compelling, an education. I'd rank series 2 (on the waterfront) as my favourite.