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Related: Film discussion forum.

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Related: Film discussion forum.

Telly addicts

What can I watch that is like The Wire but is not The Wire?

57 replies

ValleyClouds · 05/02/2018 23:07

Currently binging the Wire (again) but when I'm done would like to watch a Criminal Investigation type series that I haven't yet seen

I want it to be complex and rewarding like the Wire, not a formulaic crime of the week type thing, an ongoing arc or series of stories

I have access to Sky, Prime, Netflix

I basically want The Wire but not The Wire

I have seen

Mindhunter
Manhunt Unabomber
Dark
The Sinner
Breaking Bad

Didn't like Dexter and couldn't get into either the US or EU The Killing

Thanks!

OP posts:

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TinklyLittleLaugh · 11/02/2018 16:19

Watching with interests or recommendations. Nothing is as good as The Wire though.

FeedtheTree · 10/02/2018 19:21

Better Call Saul (prequel to BreakingBad) It's brilliant.
The Sopranos.

Katedotness1963 · 10/02/2018 14:36

Loved The Shield!
Sons of Anarchy was good, but I hated them all by the final season.
Line of Duty is brilliant, I'm sure there is at least one more series coming up.
Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes are great.

Justified and Longmire were other series I enjoyed but they're not Wire-ish.

NavyGold · 10/02/2018 11:17

I'd say the same Bigfatchips. I think there's supposed to be another series but not until 2019. I'm in a state of permanent withdrawal 😩

Bigfatchips · 10/02/2018 10:45

Line of Duty fans - does anyone know if there's going to be another season? I would stick my neck out and say it is the best British TV series for 20 years or so.

PamDooveOrangeJoof · 10/02/2018 10:23

A PP suggested ‘The Night Of’. Absolutely brilliant! My husband loved it and he loved The Wire.
Line of Duty was amazing too.

MrsLettuce · 10/02/2018 10:21

Fargo is worth a watch but TBH I've yet to find anything that really compares to The Wire. Some interesting suggestions here though, well check them out

sinceyouask · 10/02/2018 10:15

You might like Boomtown. I don't think it ran for long, it was in the early 2000s.
The Shield is fabulous.

TheDonald · 10/02/2018 10:12

I've just finished Homeland and I loved it. Perfect timing too because s7 starts this weekend.

I was thinking of watching The Wire next. I'll check out some of these suggestions too.

CoffeeAndEnnui · 10/02/2018 10:08

I love your description of Rectify. I'd not heard of it but I shall go looking now!

TheHallouminati · 08/02/2018 12:13

Has anyone seen Rectify? I watched the first episode the other day and it looks promising. About a guy released from death row after serving 19 yrs after new evidence suggests he didn't rape and murder his girlfriend.
Like Baltimore was such an important and relevant setting to The wire, almost like a character of its own, the setting is really important here too. Set in Georgia and big on dark southern gothic.
Also has anyone suggested The Sinner with Jessica Biel. I was gripped by that.

Sarahh2014 · 08/02/2018 12:11

The blacklist

nancy75 · 08/02/2018 12:02

Oh I loved Treme, I know nothing happened for the whole entire time it was on but I really enjoyed the characters in it

IsabelleSE19 · 08/02/2018 10:57

Nothing is like The Wire

Haven't tried it myself yet, but I know my DB liked Homicide: Life on the Street, which is what David Simon did before The Wire. Ditto for The Corner, as a pp said. I wasn't a fan of Treme, although I watched it all, but loved The Deuce, Generation Kill, and also Show Me a Hero, a dramatisation of a true story made by David Simon and starring Oscar Isaac.

WellTidy · 08/02/2018 10:50

The Bridge is outstanding (subtitles).

Homeland.

Line of Duty is absolutely brilliant.

Happy Valley is also fantastic.

DGRossetti · 08/02/2018 10:45

I forgot True Detective! Amazing series.

The theme to the 2nd series was sublime ... "I dug some graves ... you'll never find"

Roomba · 08/02/2018 10:20

I forgot True Detective! Amazing series.

Roomba · 08/02/2018 10:19

The Shield is great, though it is a bit crime of the week for the first time series. But once it gets going it's fantastic.

Crime related though not a police procedural - The Sopranos is definitely something you should watch if you've never seen.

I've enjoyed a few International police series - Spiral (Engranages) is great, The Killing, Witnesses, and I'm enjoying The Method on Netflix at the moment.

DaisyDando · 07/02/2018 10:56

Oh yes! Boardwalk Empire is the best.

DGRossetti · 07/02/2018 08:26

Michael K Williams (who played Omar in The Wire)

Which reminds me of "Boardwalk Empire" ....

NavyGold · 07/02/2018 05:08

Line of Duty! I only discovered it late last year, I finished all 4 seasons in about a week and a half!

DaisyDando · 07/02/2018 03:54

I loved The Wire and have recently enjoyed Bosch on Amazon Prime. A few faces from The Wire.

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frozenlake · 07/02/2018 03:27

Enjoyed the wire, also enjoyed true detective and am watching narcos at present.

laudanum · 07/02/2018 03:11

Justawaterformeplease · 07/02/2018 02:33

Another vote for The Night Of!

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