Re The Wire and Breaking Bad

[backseatcookers]

I've never watched either despite multiple people saying I would LOVE both.

So, do I need to commit some time to watching them as they're worth it?

Or are they overrated?

Couldn't get into Game of Thrones if that's any help!

Go for Breaking Bad first. The Wire is very gritty (full on gloom in parts). Both are amazing. A Game of Thrones is just porn.

Breaking Bad is worth a watch. I couldn’t get into the Wire.

I found Breaking Bad very boring. I gave up after about 5 episodes. People are always recommending The Wire to me but I generally prefer a bit of light comedy.

I watched all of BB but hated it (thought it would get better. It didn't)

Started the Wire and hated it, so gave up. Same with the Sopranos.

Everything else, great. Sons of Anarchy, Dexter etc. Just don't like the ones mentioned

Ooh food for thought, thank you.

In case it helps your answer, I just posted these favourites on another thread - in case the list indicates whether I would enjoy them or not... ooh and another thing I've never watched but people have said I would like is Peaky Blinders

Seinfeld - best comedy ever

Curb your enthusiasm - fucking good too

Desperate Housewives - always surprises me how much I enjoy it

Prison Break - addictive

Little Fires Everywhere - my most recent binge

The Office (US / UK, either) - funny and wholesome all in one

The Royle Family - just gorgeous

The Killing - Such a great, moody drama

Killing Eve - prepare to fall in love with a psychopath. I know I did.

@SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing

I watched all of BB but hated it (thought it would get better. It didn't)

Started the Wire and hated it, so gave up. Same with the Sopranos.

Everything else, great. Sons of Anarchy, Dexter etc. Just don't like the ones mentioned

LOVE Dexter, one of my favourites ever. Also Santa Clarita Diet. So so good.

If you liked the Killing, watch The Bridge. If it's possible, I think it's actually better.

Loved both though I thought the wire had the edge as very thought provoking and gives both sides of the coin via the lives of those that deal and combat drugs.

Little Fires Everywhere was amazing. Have you seen Big Little Lies (on now tv)

@SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing

Little Fires Everywhere was amazing. Have you seen Big Little Lies (on now tv)

No never watched it! Another one for my future list maybe?

Think you'd like, from your other preferences. It's Reece Witherspoon as well

Seriously though. Watch The Bridge. It's another level up from The Killing

Go for The Wire, it's brilliant and the writing is amazing. Breaking Bad is very enjoyable. I've watched both of them twice, could probably watch The Wire again, it's THAT good.

The Wire is far superior to Breaking Bad, seriously good. The characters are fully fleshed out, flawed but interesting. It does away with the usual black & white “goodies vs baddies” narrative you get in a lot of US drama. Some of the cops are venal, corrupt bastards, some of the drug gang members principled and sympathetic. Each season focuses on the crime issues in Baltimore from a different perspective: criminal justice system, education/poverty, politics, media etc though there is a continuous story arc through the whole thing. It’s also darkly humorous, heart-breaking, gripping etc. You have to go with it at the start, as it takes a while to tune into the street slang and cop slang. You need to give it your full attention too, no MNing on the side. It’s the full package. Breaking Bad is a poor imitation IMO. Stringer Bell is a great character, McNulty a love to hate one but compelling.

I very much enjoyed the wire and it really helps to understand issues around BLM and also what the white working class in the rust belt face.
But it is political, dark,violent and slow at times.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to comment on this thread as these two are my joint favourite TV shows of all time! You really do need to make the time to watch both IMO!
The Wire - I just couldn’t stop watching it, I found it absolutely engrossing and hard hitting. It covered issues I had never seen before and it felt so real. After the series finished I just couldn’t stop thinking about it, it felt like I’d seen a documentary in places because I felt so strongly about the various characters. The acting is fantastic and I really don’t think you could fail to be moved by it. It is tough to watch but so thought provoking.

Breaking Bad - This captured my attention from the start. I thought it was so different to anything else I’ve watched. Most other shows are just remakes of something else with the same themes over and over again but this felt fresh and new. I simply loved it from start to finish. It was never predictable, there were so many twists and turns. I couldn’t stop watching it and I felt bereft when it finished. As above I kept thinking about it for weeks afterwards. I have watched it at least 4 times!
Plus if you enjoy this you will most likely love Better Caul Saul which is the prequel to BB.

As an aside, have you watched Ozark? This is in my top 5 TV shows and something a bit different too. Great acting and storylines. Another one to add to the list I would say.
With this lot you have many many hours of viewing pleasure ahead you lucky thing you! I wish I could watch all 3 again like it was the first time!

Agree that I think you'd like all three of The Bridge, Breaking Bad and The Wire, possibly in that order.

The Bridge is v much like The Killing eg similar mood, setting, sensibility, but a bit broader.

The Wire is really satisfying, will challenge you and pull you into its universe.

And Breaking Bad, omg, there's just so much to it. So the surface story itself is really really dark, complex, confounds your expectations, turns what you thought on its head but also - here's the thing - it is also ridiculously rich, with so many echoes and references, from the clothes people wear to the settings they're in, it nods to all sorts of things from European notions of hereditary royalty to mediaeval concepts of a four quartered world, honestly it's rich beyond what you would imagine.

So yeah watch it.

Ha I recently binged the whole of Game of Thrones (which I loved) and then Breaking Bad straight after.

I thought BB was alright, I liked the idea but I was a bit disappointed as it was so raves about and I switched off at times. Worth a watch imo but just don't hold it on massive esteem and then you won't be disappointed either way.

Haven't seen The Wire.

Defo agree on The Bridge, that was so good.

Oh am so pleased to see other love expressed for BB and The Wire.

All of you who liked them, I can strongly recommend Spiral, French cop drama, very dark and multi layered, every character compromised, no goodies and baddies, proper clever plots.

And some seriously hot guys. 👍

The Wire is incredible. Season Two was just about average, but Season Four is the finest piece of television I’ve ever seen. Bonus: Idris Elba as Stringer Belle is more than easy on the eye.

I think the main reason I don't get on with series like breaking bad is that it's just ALL men. Get a bit sick of it sometimes

Both are brilliant but I would go for breaking bad first because then you can watch the breaking bad film and better call Saul after. Better call Saul is one of my favourites and I might even love it more than breaking bad!

@SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing - I have to agree about the mainly male lead characters comment. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. I can see what you mean. But Skyler in BB did develop as the series progressed and I thought her acting was excellent. But really she was probably the only lead female character in it which is a shame.
In the wire the female characters were mainly just on the sidelines which is a shame. The best part about the wire for me was the fantastic array of BAME actors, many of which I’d never seen before who had the opportunity to work on some incredible storylines. This should be the norm as well as many more female led productions.

Peaky Blinders has been mentioned up thread. I wasn’t keen on all the mindless violence but I thought the number of strong female characters with interesting storylines was really great.

Breaking Bad is really gold level in terms of writing, plot, acting, character development, etc. Look up the open letter Anthony Hopkins wrote after he finished watching the show.

However if you don't enjoy the subject matter and themes or can't stand the characters then you can't enjoy it. I find the violence and grittiness far too much, but my DH absolutely loved the show.

Big Little Lies is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend!

Yeah true both of them are really about the guys. Props for Skyler though who very much developed and ended up rounded and having key pivotal moments.

Both The Bridge and Spiral have great lead female characters.