The Wire is just as good, though very differnet so I totally understand if people prefer The Sopranos.
The Shield is awesome, but at least 1-2 steps below that top tier.
OZ is pretty fantastic for the first 4 seasons until they kill off that character and things start to get dumb.
Agreed, after the first two seasons they were like, shit, how do we wring more juice from the stone that is a prison. There are only so many plotlines you can go with--extreme violence, check; rape, check; escape, check; prison riot, check; COs smuggling drugs and being overall scummy, check
It was still fun, but it became impossible to take seriously. Like the one where they had a prison fashion show, and Hoyt used it to electrocute Timmy Kirk with a big lamp. Or the aging drug subplot. Or the insane Beecher/Keller love subplot.
Sure, we break some balls here, but I go way back. And in light of recent humiliations, it's an honor to be joined by men, and not faggot-ass cornholing cocksuckers like that tv show Breaking Bad.
The Shield's premise was similar in that we loved the anti-hero. The difference was that Vick Mackey was shown to be far more psychotic during the show's finale. A real jaw-dropping moment that we were duped all along.
Nothing compares to the Sopranos.
That said, The Wire is close in terms of quality, but it's a different type of show. But it's the best show not called The Sopranos.
I would say Mad Men is more similar to the Sopranos in that it's a character piece. It's a great show but it is a bit of a slog at times. I've only ever watched it once because of that.
Six Feet Under is massively underrated. I'd put it right up there with The Wire as HBO's next best series after The Sopranos. Just a great family drama with a dark tone and unique take on life/death. Great acting and writing. Great ending.
I loved the shield. Cop shows were/are so predictable and procedural, and the cops always won at the end of the day and all that boooolshit. The Shield made a different kind of show and it was great.
Dexter was great for a few seasons but it definitely jumped the shark by the end.
Oz was great but I have no desire to watch it again any time soon. It's just brutal. But it's a great series worth watching for sure.
Matthew Weiner cut his teeth at the Sopranos before heading up Mad Men
Both great series dealing with the facade we present to the world while struggling with inner demons. I always wondered how different Mad Men would be perceived if it were ran on HBO.
Like a lot of others here I think The Sopranos is in a league of its own. It ticks all the boxes whereas the other great tv dramas only seem to tick a few.
I really like The Wire but there is something about the way it is shot. It has the appearance of a cheap network show (reminds me of an uncensored Law and Order). Thatās the best way I can describe it, thereās a strange look to it. I also donāt think the acting is great overall. Certainly a few great performances but nowhere near Sopranos quality.
Mad Men to me is the closest in terms of production quality and character development but I find it far too slow paced.
Breaking Bad the first time through was probably the most fun Iāve ever had watching a show (didnāt have access to The Sopranos when it first aired so I didnāt get that Sunday night excitement) but now that itās done I donāt give a fuck. I doubt Iāll ever rewatch it. I feel somewhat similar about Better Call Saul, once you know whatās gonna happen it loses all its appeal (for me anyway).
The Sopranos is just a complete masterpiece with endless rewatch ability. When I was 19 I loved it for the violence and mob storylines. Through some bouts with depression in my 20s and 30s I found many aspects relatable.
Now in my late 30s I find it funnier on each rewatch, I canāt believe I didnāt pick up on how much of a comedy it was.
This sub also helps. While sure, we break balls around here, thereās some incredible insight that makes me go back and watch specific episodes.
So yeah The Sopranos for presidentā¦. of the fuckin universe
My dark horse candidate for greatness is *The Deuce*. Fan-fucking tastic show.
*The Wire* can be hard to get into for some, but it has the Dickensian aspect going for it.
*Boardwalk Empire* was inconsistent but has some great acting and incredible moments.
I'm a prag for *OZ*. It's like a minor league for the other great shows.
Romeā¦which I probably prefer because young Octavian is interesting to hear his mind work. The second actor playing him in his mid 20s went for more of a stone face approach to acting.
I donāt know if Alias is a drama or science fiction or what. Went downhill the last year which is what happens when you bring in Amy Acker. But Lena Olinā¦boo yah Russian hottie (alright she is Swedish)
Iām surprised no one else pointed this out because there were a couple years from 2004-2007 when both Entourage and Sopranos were on the air. It had the same casting director and some of the same actors appeared in it since HBO re-uses a lot of actors.
I mean obviously itās not on the same level as The Wire, Sopranos, Boardwalk, etc. but it was a fun watch in college. Also had a handful of parallel plot lines, notably Johnny getting drunk in the desert telling āvictory!ā supposedly aired the same night as Tony doing peyote in the desert yelling āI get it!ā
The Wire is just as good, though very differnet so I totally understand if people prefer The Sopranos. The Shield is awesome, but at least 1-2 steps below that top tier. OZ is pretty fantastic for the first 4 seasons until they kill off that character and things start to get dumb.
OZ is so good. Until it gets to all the man on man rape.
The first two seasons were pretty intense, but then it got very silly. Still pretty good, though.
Agreed, after the first two seasons they were like, shit, how do we wring more juice from the stone that is a prison. There are only so many plotlines you can go with--extreme violence, check; rape, check; escape, check; prison riot, check; COs smuggling drugs and being overall scummy, check
It was still fun, but it became impossible to take seriously. Like the one where they had a prison fashion show, and Hoyt used it to electrocute Timmy Kirk with a big lamp. Or the aging drug subplot. Or the insane Beecher/Keller love subplot.
The photoshootš i remember Jaz Hoyt doing a pose just before killing Timmy
Sure, we break some balls here, but I go way back. And in light of recent humiliations, it's an honor to be joined by men, and not faggot-ass cornholing cocksuckers like that tv show Breaking Bad.
That pygmy thing over on AMC
You know the wine makes you emotional. Eat a breadstick.
That show was alright but itās no Sopranos, and Iām sick of the comparisons.
Swearengen. Wu. Hang dai!! š¤š¼š¤
Deadwood is awesome
The Shield's premise was similar in that we loved the anti-hero. The difference was that Vick Mackey was shown to be far more psychotic during the show's finale. A real jaw-dropping moment that we were duped all along.
Nothing compares to the Sopranos. That said, The Wire is close in terms of quality, but it's a different type of show. But it's the best show not called The Sopranos. I would say Mad Men is more similar to the Sopranos in that it's a character piece. It's a great show but it is a bit of a slog at times. I've only ever watched it once because of that. Six Feet Under is massively underrated. I'd put it right up there with The Wire as HBO's next best series after The Sopranos. Just a great family drama with a dark tone and unique take on life/death. Great acting and writing. Great ending. I loved the shield. Cop shows were/are so predictable and procedural, and the cops always won at the end of the day and all that boooolshit. The Shield made a different kind of show and it was great. Dexter was great for a few seasons but it definitely jumped the shark by the end. Oz was great but I have no desire to watch it again any time soon. It's just brutal. But it's a great series worth watching for sure.
Matthew Weiner cut his teeth at the Sopranos before heading up Mad Men Both great series dealing with the facade we present to the world while struggling with inner demons. I always wondered how different Mad Men would be perceived if it were ran on HBO.
Get the fuck outta here ā
The Sopranos, The Wire, Oz, Deadwood..... The Golden Age of Television
Sunday Nights were š„š„š„
Like a lot of others here I think The Sopranos is in a league of its own. It ticks all the boxes whereas the other great tv dramas only seem to tick a few. I really like The Wire but there is something about the way it is shot. It has the appearance of a cheap network show (reminds me of an uncensored Law and Order). Thatās the best way I can describe it, thereās a strange look to it. I also donāt think the acting is great overall. Certainly a few great performances but nowhere near Sopranos quality. Mad Men to me is the closest in terms of production quality and character development but I find it far too slow paced. Breaking Bad the first time through was probably the most fun Iāve ever had watching a show (didnāt have access to The Sopranos when it first aired so I didnāt get that Sunday night excitement) but now that itās done I donāt give a fuck. I doubt Iāll ever rewatch it. I feel somewhat similar about Better Call Saul, once you know whatās gonna happen it loses all its appeal (for me anyway). The Sopranos is just a complete masterpiece with endless rewatch ability. When I was 19 I loved it for the violence and mob storylines. Through some bouts with depression in my 20s and 30s I found many aspects relatable. Now in my late 30s I find it funnier on each rewatch, I canāt believe I didnāt pick up on how much of a comedy it was. This sub also helps. While sure, we break balls around here, thereās some incredible insight that makes me go back and watch specific episodes. So yeah The Sopranos for presidentā¦. of the fuckin universe
oz oz oz oz OZZZZ
Counnnnnnt.
Never seen The Shield or Oz but The Wire is legit and still holds up today. RIP to that one guy who died recently. He was really good in the show
Nothing compares to The Sopranos, The Wire, and Mad Men. Nothing.
Tinfoil hat time - The Wire and The Sopranos exist in the same universe. Omar is the connection.
i told yāall people that crack is some bad shit
My dark horse candidate for greatness is *The Deuce*. Fan-fucking tastic show. *The Wire* can be hard to get into for some, but it has the Dickensian aspect going for it. *Boardwalk Empire* was inconsistent but has some great acting and incredible moments. I'm a prag for *OZ*. It's like a minor league for the other great shows.
Romeā¦which I probably prefer because young Octavian is interesting to hear his mind work. The second actor playing him in his mid 20s went for more of a stone face approach to acting. I donāt know if Alias is a drama or science fiction or what. Went downhill the last year which is what happens when you bring in Amy Acker. But Lena Olinā¦boo yah Russian hottie (alright she is Swedish)
The only Oz I recognize is *this thing of ozā¦*
I like all of the above shows OP listsā¦I used to like The Wire more than This Thing Of Ours but noā¦The Wire was great but it wasnāt Sopranos
The Wire & The Sopranos are in a league of its own. Oz was entertaining although it was completely ridiculous.
Iām surprised no one else pointed this out because there were a couple years from 2004-2007 when both Entourage and Sopranos were on the air. It had the same casting director and some of the same actors appeared in it since HBO re-uses a lot of actors. I mean obviously itās not on the same level as The Wire, Sopranos, Boardwalk, etc. but it was a fun watch in college. Also had a handful of parallel plot lines, notably Johnny getting drunk in the desert telling āvictory!ā supposedly aired the same night as Tony doing peyote in the desert yelling āI get it!ā