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!

Me and DH were very late with Breaking Bad. We actually watched Better Call Saul first. Loved both. As a teacher, im also interesting in any career move too

Breaking Bad is brilliant TV. Just bear with it for the first couple episodes. Stick with it, it's brill.
The wire is gritty, definitely try season 2 which is the best season imo.

Oh I loved Spiral!

Loved breaking bad took a while to get into though. Can’t get into the wire at all.

I loved Breaking Bad, got sucked in to the storyline and character development straight away. I thought it was brilliant and really funny too I places.

Watched first season of The Wire, didn’t get into it at all, I just didn’t care about any of the characters, none of them were likeable. I tried to watch more but nope.

The Wire is lauded as a great series though so I’m obviously missing something

The Wire is amazing, especially the first 2 series. It is complex and demands you pay attention but it is worth it. I’m planning on watching it again soon because bits of it keep coming back to me and I can’t remember the finer detail.

I’ve never seen Breaking Bad but everyone I know who has watched it raves about it. People I trust in these things say it is up with if not the best series they’ve ever watched. My mum and dad watched it during lockdown and loved it too, I really never would have expected my mum to like it but she was enthralled.

I loved The Wire, hmm, shall I watch it again?
The cops needed a translation for the drug gangs (from a cleaner) at one point!
The lives of the children were so sad.

I also liked Southland.

I will be watching Little Fires I think next.

Oh and Breaking Bad was our "baby DD feeding like mad in the evenings" series so although it was great, it would be odd watching it again!

Loved BB and Better call Saul. I have always wanted to watch The Wire too. Is it only available on Sky?

@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

Breaking Bad, Sopranos and The Wire are the holy trinity of 21st century television IMO.

I think you either love them or they totally leave you cold. I adored both but the Wire is another level -- at the risk of sounding like a w*nker its really move like a novel in screen form than a boxed set. Hard to watch, hard to get into but really rewarding and you will never forget the characters.

Breaking Bad is also very good though not in the same league. The prequel, Better Call Saul, is better imho.

Based on what you've said, though, you seem to like quite light-hearted, fast paced stuff, so I'm not sure you'd like them.

I've watched lots of box sets. We watched them before they were as cool or as plentiful!
But really couldn't get into breaking bad. Font waste your time on it.

Both are fantastic. The Wire takes a bit more investment but it is worth it.

The Deuce is by the same people who made the Wire and is also great - if you fancy some very seedy 70s New York!

The Wire is up there as nearly my favourite to series ever - but the winner for that one will always be Mad Men - So good!

I HATED Game of Thrones also and love all of the comedies you mentioned on your list with a passion. I think The Wire is up there with the greatest tv dramas ever made, really wonderful characters and really gives you a realistic perspective of a life certainly I have never come close to experiencing. Great stuff. If I might humbly recommend my favourite TV show of all time if you haven't seen it? Mad Men. Oh my god I love it. It seems to start as a perspective of a male dominated industry but really pivots to become the story of the women who live in the confines of the world at the time, trying to carve their own narrow path. Great cast, great characters, funny at times, wonderful costume and design, I have rewatched it countless times.

Snap @WokusPocus!

The Wire is properly epic tv. Even thinking about Duke is giving me a pain in my heart. Also loved The Sopranos. I couldn't get past the second season of Breaking Bad. The characters were unrelentingly unsympathetic. Ozark was OK but fuck me, the cinematographer needs to invest in a few light bulbs...dark plot plus scenes so poorly lit you can handle see what's going on do not make for appointment viewing. Also talking to you, marvel TV spin offs.

Has no one mentioned The West Wing yet??

*Dukie

@bigeegit - you have excellent taste - Mad Men is the best, isn't it? Have you seen Masters of Sex? Same era and also very good, though not quite the same class!

@WokusPocus I have heard of the show but never watched it, I will give it a go!

I loved both but would say The Wire edged it for me.

the Wire is another level -- at the risk of sounding like a wnker its really move like a novel in screen form than a boxed set. Hard to watch, hard to get into but really rewarding and you will never forget the characters.*

I might need to give it another chance though but in the first season, I really couldn’t care if any of them died.