What to start watching? West Wing or Sopranos?

BrianJD

Hey

My wife and I always seem to miss the start of any of the very popular TV shows, eg 24, West Wing, Sopranos, Lost etc. We attempted to watch 24 but didn't really get into it after 4 episodes so we want to try one of the above.

Any recomendations on which one would be appreciated before we start renting the boxsets from series 1.

Heroes, Lost and Prison Break sound a bit pants to us so not madly keen on them.

Thanks Folks!!!

gar120

Soprano's has to be one of the best series made IMO

ronnie3585

The Wire.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Gay's Meaning of Life with Colin Farrell telling us what the meaning of his life is.

abouttobebanned

West wing.

Bondvillain

I personally preferred the West Wing (the first 2 and last 2 seasons from the 7 especially) but that's not to say that The Sopranos isn't fantastic television.


There's no action scenes in the WW, and you really have to accept that you're sitting through the writer's political views at times, but I've just re-watched the entire series over the last month, and it's still gripping.


In fairness, you couldn't go too far wrong with either series, they're both among America's best tv exports if the last 50 years. Watch both.

GodOfRadio

Sopranos RULE!~

Kinetic^

BrianJD wrote: »

Hey

My wife and I always seem to miss the start of any of the very popular TV shows, eg 24, West Wing, Sopranos, Lost etc. We attempted to watch 24 but didn't really get into it after 4 episodes so we want to try one of the above.

Any recomendations on which one would be appreciated before we start renting the boxsets from series 1.

Heroes, Lost and Prison Break sound a bit pants to us so not madly keen on them.

Thanks Folks!!!

I've not watched lost but Heroes and Prison Break are good for Season 1 & 2 but get really bad after that.

gar120 wrote: »

Soprano's has to be one of the best series made IMO

I never watch this till recently and am hooked. I'm just about to start season 6. It really is good from start to finish (so far). I'd definately recommend this.

ronnie3585 wrote: »

The Wire.

This is next on my list. Only thing putting me off is the 4:3 aspect ratio.

If you wanted something humourous you could always watch Arrested Development, Entourage or Weeds all of which are very funny and easy to watch.

abouttobebanned

west wing has a lot of humour in it.

ixoy

'The Wire' as well...

But if you're choosing between those two go with 'The West Wing', which is intellectual, witty, and has some really great performances.

Latchy

In my opinion

1 Sopranos

2 West Wing

3 Wire

Mossy Monk

Of your options The Sopranos but goodness me give The Wire a go.

L31mr0d

Ah I'd love to be in your position, with a fresh slate. LOST has had it's ups and downs, which has put a lot of people off. Season 1 and 2 of it are amazing, Season 3 went slightly downhill, Season 4 wasn't the best (but had some really good episodes throughout) and Season 5 has the show pretty much back on form.

If you where to watch the show now, back to back, you won't be dissapointed. Currently LOST is still up there as one of my favourite shows atm, along with The Mentalist and 30 Rock.

Watch the first season of Heroes and Prison Break and then leave them at that.

Also if you haven't already, watch Arrested Development, and don't quit after only 4 episodes like 24, its a slow burner show that really picks up steam about half way into season 1 and keeps going for the next 2 seasons.

ixoy

Latchy wrote: »

In my opinion

1 Sopranos

2 West Wing

3 Wire

Reverse the order and I'd agree.

kerry4sam

I would start with The West Wing. I have all the boxsets and they are simply fantastic to re-watch again. President Bartlet was some man for one man and the team he has supporting him never fail to impress.

is_that_so

I would say the West Wing, purely for the range it covers and the superb writing. The Sopranos has its supporters but having seen Season 1 I had no desire to spend another hour with such fundamentally unpleasant dysfunctional people. They may have been superbly portrayed but I found them utterly unlikeable. The main problem with the WW can be the very fast pace of the dialogue and you do have to concentrate. I'd agree with others on The Wire as an alternative although it is not everyone's cup of tea. If you're considering the WW then I'd steer clear of Lost and especially Prison Break. Heroes unfortunately seems to have taken far too many wrong turnings since the excellent first season.
You might also want to take a look at the excellent Mad Men.

The_Edd

Watch The Wire. It's definitely the most well written TV Show I've ever seen.

allj97

its like being asked to choose between elisha cuthbert & jessica Alba !!

go with the West Wing

follow up with the wire

then the sopranos

Entourage for Desert !


But if you are really serious start with the DADDY of them all - BSG !!

greendom

It has to be The Sopranos - wonderful - never really got into West Wing. The Wire is good too but it doesn't provide the sugar rush hit that a good ep of The Sopranos can - I envy you

EKRIUQ

Latchy wrote: »

In my opinion

1 Sopranos

2 West Wing

3 Wire

I'd have to agree with that, I'm in the middle of viewing The West Wing, just at the start of season 5 and although I'm enjoying the show it's tough going at times!. 7 seasons, 22 episodes a season, 41 minutes an episode works out at about 105 five hours of viewing so if you watched 2 episodes a day it’s going to take 77 straight days to get through the full box set. But it's a great way to see a TV show because if you hit a bad episode just move on to the next.

The Sopranos hasn't got as many episodes per season and I think it's more gripping and possibly easier to get through the shows than The West Wing and keeps you very entertained.

I’ve only season 1 of The Wire watched but found it great! But slower moving and takes a while to get to know and grow to like the characters. I’ve watched the first 2 episodes of season 2 and found them very slow so I’ll wait until I’m ready to the whole season that way one bad episode I can move on to the next.

Also more light hearted show is Dexter very entertaining with its mix of humour and the dark side.

If it’s a comedy your after “How I met your mother” is very good light entertainment and only 22 mins an episode its easy to get through the 4 seasons

And last but not least “Brotherhood” it’s a mix of the Soprano’s and the Wire combined I’ve all 3 seasons watched, and its in the vain of the Sopranos but with an Irish twist, great show with some powerful performance’s but takes time to get to grips with the show. Hopefully they’ll make a forth season but unlikely.

tvnutz

The West Wing is a very good show but I have found it can be very preachy at times,and the latter seasons aren't as good after Aaron Sorkin left.

The Sopranos is very good but I always felt it was overrated,most people name it as the best tv show but I wouldn't agree there.

IMO the best tv show is The Wire. Pure brilliance.

adox

I havent seen either and I watch a lot of American shows!

KnifeWRENCH

Bondvillain wrote: »

In fairness, you couldn't go too far wrong with either series, they're both among America's best tv exports if the last 50 years. Watch both.

I agree - get both!
I bought Season One of The Sopranos having never seen it before and was instantly hooked. I went out and bought the next two seasons almost immediately.
The West Wing has less action obviously but it is as dramatic and has more humour.

Incidentally, I bought Season One of The Wire but haven't watched it yet. I'll watch it over the summer (I also got first season of Six Feet Under and will watch that over summer too.)

L31mr0d wrote: »

Also if you haven't already, watch Arrested Development, and don't quit after only 4 episodes like 24, its a slow burner show that really picks up steam about half way into season 1 and keeps going for the next 2 seasons.

+1 million.
Arrested Development is probably the funniest sitcom ever written. Once you get into it, you will be so glad it was recommended. The lsecond half of Season One and pretty much all of Season Two are absolute comedic gold. First half of Season One and Season Three aren't quite as good, but still excellent nonetheless.

Lump

Sopranos!

4Xcut

I haven't got around to watching the sopranos yet. Watched the first episode and it just didn't grip me that much at all.

The West Wing on the other hand is absolutely brilliant. I'm starting season 5 at the moment and it is just amazing. Best way to explain it is like reading a very good book, that sort of satisfying feeling. There are some great deals on the net at the moment too with regard to the 7 season boxset:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-West-Wing-Seasons-Disc/dp/B000I8OC08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1240392964&sr=8-1

Ludo

Definitely the West Wing. Just finished watching the box set for the 3rd time. Brilliant stuff. Even the weaker seasons are excellent viewing.

I would put it at a tie then between The Sopranos and The Wire after that.

Das Kitty

BrianJD wrote: »

What to start watching? West Wing or Sopranos?

Oh Christ, it's like Sophie's Choice!

tdv

The Sopranos would be my personal favourite.

Banes05

I would say the West Wing purely for "two cathedrals",the last episode of series 2, which is probably the greatest piece of television ever written outside of Fair City,the final five minutes in particular are just :eek:

If you're not hooked by then, switch over to the sopranos.I just wish I had your dillema :mad:

RastaRed

1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. The Shield

the wire is the best tv show of all time, sopranos was up there until the last 2 seasons, the shield and vic mackey kick ass

ixoy

Banes05 wrote: »

I would say the West Wing purely for "two cathedrals",the last episode of series 2, which is probably the greatest piece of television ever written outside of Fair City,the final five minutes in particular are just :eek:

That anger-filled cry by that person against that person was quite possibly the best acted scene I've ever watched and one of the most powerful.

Daysha

The West Wing is the best TV show I've ever seen.

I mean, the writing....my god, it's an art form in itself it's that good.

cooperguy

Definatly watch the West Wing. Im working my way through it at the moment and it is quality television. You have everything in the show from the drama of the already mentioned "two cathedrals" to the pure comedy gold of "Celestial Navigation" where Josh takes over as press secretary for a day.

After that watch the movie Charlie Wilson's War for more Aaron Sorkin goodness

ynotdu

OP
I could not choose between the two,both masterpiecs of there genre!
one thing worthy of note is the character josh from the ww was based on obamas chief of staff,this freely admitted by the brilliant writers.

you only asked about ww v Sopranos but everybody it seems threw what they like in as well:p

mine would be(as well as others mentioned)Band of brothers,director s spielberg:)

BrianJD

Thanks a million for all your replies. I,m just excited about all the possibilities. I'm gonna watch WW first and once i'm hopefully settled into the first series, i'm gonna start the sopranos

A friend has the Band of Brothers set so ildd def watch that at some stage.

Thanks Folks

pickarooney

The West Wing is dirt. Sopranos is pretty good. Thus spake Pickarooney

K4t

My Top 5 American TV Shows:

1. The Sopranos (as much as I love the Wire and the WW, the Sopranos was always on a different level imo. Such indept character development and then all the beautiful violence to complement it. Heaven.

2. The Wire (Greatest tv show of all time).

3. The West Wing - Seasons 1-3 contain the greatest script writing ever witnessed on television imo.

4. Mad Men (best show on tv at the moment. Transports you to another world for 45 minutes. Refreshing).

5. Deadwood - Just f**king awesome.

Sponge Bob

The Shield is as good as that lot , the first season will either get you completely hooked or not. It is about a pack of corrupt cops in a dog rough area and they are spectacularly corrupt as you will find . Along with the Wire and Homicide Life On the Streets in the 1990s ( created by the same guy who did the wire ) , the best cop series ever....and of course Cracker but you already saw that , right ?

There are 7 seasons Glenn Close and Forrest Whittaker appear around season 4

Land Of Idiots

Definitely go with the West Wing, you won't regret it!

Sponge Bob

The west wings 1 2 and 3 were written by ONE MAN which makes them an astonising feat of scripting ..and it shows.

4 is a bit ropey . The last 2 are as good as 1 2 and 3

beanyb

I started watching the Sopranos in October, when I finished that I started the West Wing, and now I'm in the middle of season 4 of the Wire. So all three of these shows are pretty fresh in my mind.

Quality wise, I would definitely say The Wire is the best of the three. It's just epic. I cant even begin to describe just how much it lives up to the hype. I was determined to not think it's as good as you hear, since everyone who has seen it talks about it... well the way I'm talking about it now! But it really does.

But I love The West Wing more. I know that's a bit ridiculous, since I just said The Wire was better... but you wouldnt believe how quickly I watched The West Wing. And as someone said above, it's LONG. I basically became a hermit for a month or so, I was that addicted. I dont think I've ever been so attached to a group of characters in the way I am with Josh, Leo, CJ, Toby, Sam, Bartlet, Donna and Charlie. There are a few very ropey episodes, and season 4 and 5 in particular are a bit dodge. But overall, it's a very enjoyable experience.

I watched the Sopranos first, and at the time I thought it was the greatest thing ever. But both The Wire, and The West Wing have surpassed it. It's still well worth watching though.

I'm actually really jealous of you. Now that I'm starting to get to the end of my run... I wish I could go back to the beginning!!

ynotdu

Sponge Bob wrote: »

The west wings 1 2 and 3 were written by ONE MAN which makes them an astonising feat of scripting ..and it shows.

4 is a bit ropey . The last 2 are as good as 1 2 and 3

and Martin Sheene was only to make a cameo performance(as the concept was based on the inner workings of the west wing)some cameo eh?

another bit of west wing trivia the actress who plays the mother in Malcolm in the middle is married to who connected to the west wing?
correct answer gets an extra star:D
talk about a double income family!:)

starn

Bradley Whitford. Everyone knows that.

ynotdu

starn wrote: »

Bradley Whitford. Everyone knows that.

Tony Soprano does,nt!:)

starn yar a star!:)

bwenie

Daysha wrote: »

The West Wing is the best TV show I've ever seen.

I mean, the writing....my god, it's an art form in itself it's that good.

totally agree! I went to get a dvd one night, as usual there was nothing good so I rented series one of the west wing....seven weeks and seven series later i'm wondering what on earth I'm gonna watch now because nothing can beat it!

with out a doubt the best written show with brilliant characters! Josh, Toby, CJ!!!! can't beat it!!!!