The Shield or The Wire?

bandybanter

No spoilers please!

I have only started watching the first episodes of the wire but am up to 4th season of the shield. I personally think the Shield is a more entertaining show. What do you guys think?

Mossy Monk

I love both of them. You cannot make me choose.

bandybanter

Mossy Monk wrote: »

I love both of them. You cannot make me choose.

Well just lookin at the poll it seems you chose the wire! Any reason?

Basq

bandybanter wrote: »

Well just lookin at the poll it seems you chose the wire! Any reason?

FYI - just because he commented doesn't mean he voted.

As for me, I watched one season of 'The Shield' and really enjoyed it. Gonna finish it as soon as I finish 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'.

Watched the first two seasons of 'The Wire' and think it's an absolutely astounding show. Have seasons 3 - 5 on my DVD collection but haven't had a chance to finish it yet.

So which should I do first lads - finish The Wire or finish The Shield?

PS - bandybanter.. from what I've seen, The Wire is a slower-paced show than The Shield.. they're quite incomparable. But I thought The Wire really becomes great towards the end of the first season onwards.

bandybanter

basquille wrote: »

PS - bandybanter.. from what I've seen, The Wire is a slower-paced show than The Shield.. they're quite incomparable. But I thought The Wire really becomes great towards the end of the first season onwards.

I not giving up on the wire at all, i've watched the first 3 episodes and i can sense the development of a good story with some interseting characters. i think I just used to the fast pace of the shield as i've been watching it nonstop for the last few weeks.

Mossy Monk

bandybanter wrote: »

Well just lookin at the poll it seems you chose the wire! Any reason?

Actually no, I did not vote.

greendom

I've not seen The Shield so can't vote. The Wire is absolutely brilliant - so well written and acted.

Is The Shield being shown anywhere on tv at the moment ?

ronnie3585

I love both and both are very different, but it's The Wire for me - by a country mile.

bandybanter

greendom wrote: »

I've not seen The Shield so can't vote. The Wire is absolutely brilliant - so well written and acted.

Is The Shield being shown anywhere on tv at the moment ?

Think its on 3 at the mo but its like the 7th season. There was a thread on bargain alerts the other day about a shield box set.

pappyodaniel

basquille wrote: »

FYI - just because he commented doesn't mean he voted.

As for me, I watched one season of 'The Shield' and really enjoyed it. Gonna finish it as soon as I finish 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'.

Watched the first two seasons of 'The Wire' and think it's an absolutely astounding show. Have seasons 3 - 5 on my DVD collection but haven't had a chance to finish it yet.

So which should I do first lads - finish The Wire or finish The Shield?

PS - bandybanter.. from what I've seen, The Wire is a slower-paced show than The Shield.. they're quite incomparable. But I thought The Wire really becomes great towards the end of the first season onwards.

I can't comment on the Shield as i've not seen it but i've seen all The Wire. It's terrible when you reach the end. I got serious withdrawal symptoms as there are no more to watch and you realise you have to get on with your own life. The Shield may become my methodone clinic if it's any good!

Sean Moncrieff came back to Newstalk after his 2 weeks holiday. I expected the usual DJ rant on how he spent his holidays. He said he just stayed home, watched all 5 seasons of The Wire and loved it but he's a bit depressed as he's in the same boat as myself. I would say put time aside to watch as many episodes of the wire as you can.

currythis

I saw every season of The Shield bar the final series and I was a huge Shield fan before I ever saw The Wire but after watching 5 serie's of The Wire I attempted to watch the final season of The Shield that finished last night on tv3 but I could not get back into it at all.
I just found The Shield very un-realistic compared to The Wire,I mean The Shield is still a country mile ahead of the likes of CSI and such but it just cant compete with The Wire in terms of characters,storylines and actors in my opinion.

tvnutz

Has to be the Wire. I really enjoyed the Shield,it is light years ahead of any typical network "crime" show like the CSI's,that new Mentalist rubbish etc but it is still no where near as good as the Wire.

Deeper Blue

The Shield is great but imo The Wire is the superior show

Basq

tvnutz wrote: »

that new Mentalist rubbish etc

Whoa whoa whoa... 'The Mentalist' is damn good!

Nowhere on the level of 'The Wire' or 'The Shield' but shouldn't even compared to the CSI's of this world.

Damn fine performance from Simon Baker, genuinely interesting characters and some great writing make it a notch above most.

tvnutz

basquille wrote: »

Whoa whoa whoa... 'The Mentalist' is damn good!

Nowhere on the level of 'The Wire' or 'The Shield' but shouldn't even compared to the CSI's of this world.

Damn fine performance from Simon Baker, genuinely interesting characters and some great writing make it a notch above most.

Have only seen a few eps,thought it was the same run of the mill rubbish,and actually it was mostly Baker's performance that turned me off,didn't think much of him at all.

Biggins

Both shows are exceptional above all the others in their genre.
That said, The Wire is my choice - but a bloody hard decision!

amacachi

The Wire. Simply because I watched 15 episodes on Monday without sleeping, despite having watched it through twice before. While I've watched the first 5 or so episodes of The Shield, and it looks excellent so far, I've been able to put it aside for a while, something I can't do with The Wire.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I haven't seen the Shield yet, but it is on my must watch list. I absolutely love the Wire and only started watching it recently. Watched up to the end of season 4 back to back and then realised once I watch season 5 it is over, so I'm saving it for awhile until I've got a nice weekend where I can enjoy it properly, but the dvd sits on my shelf at home taunting me to watch it.

petes

Battlestar Galactica..oh wait.....


I've only seen a few eps of The Wire and it was very good. Saw all of The Shield and it is fcuking excellent imo.

tvnutz

CaptainNegative wrote: »

I haven't seen the Shield yet, but it is on my must watch list. I absolutely love the Wire and only started watching it recently. Watched up to the end of season 4 back to back and then realised once I watch season 5 it is over, so I'm saving it for awhile until I've got a nice weekend where I can enjoy it properly, but the dvd sits on my shelf at home taunting me to watch it.

How have you not given in yet!? :P I know I'd last a day before watching most of the boxset.

ixoy

Gun to my head? The Wire. But really they shouldn't be compared too much - other than being cop shows, with I guess some sort of drug trade element, they're very different in their approach. It's almost an apples and oranges comparison.

toomevara

Love both for entirely different reasons, but The Wire is a multilayered work of undoubted genius whereas The Shield is merely a damn good cop show. I suppose the closest analogy would be Battlestar Galactica (new) V Star Trek TNG...

petes

toomevara wrote: »

I suppose the closest analogy would be Battlestar Galactica (new) V Star Trek TNG...

That's pretty good because I wouldn't have even though about comparing them!

JP Liz

The Wire has been brillant from day one - The Shield had a few not great seasons in my opinion

kmick

The Wire - more realistic. I dont think those shield guys could be so bad for so long in this day and age. Watching season 5 of the Wire now. Not as good as 4 but still pretty good.

jor el

ixoy wrote: »

Gun to my head? The Wire. But really they shouldn't be compared too much - other than being cop shows

That's pretty much my opinion, though gun to the head, I don't know which I'd pick. The Wire is "better" in terms of realism, The Shield is "better" in terms of pure grit and action. There's probably a thousand other ways that one is better than the other too.

JP Liz wrote: »

The Wire has been brillant from day one - The Shield had a few not great seasons in my opinion

I can't think of a single episode of The Shield that was filler, let alone a poor season. The Wire had slow episodes, again not filler, but just the pace of the show.

Is the question here; which is better, which is your favorite, or which should you watch? You shouldn't compare them, you shouldn't pick. Buy both box sets, and watch them both. Then watch them again, and then watch them a third time. It's only after multiple viewings that you really get to appreciate them, because you know the characters and stories. Give it a year or so between viewings.

pickarooney

I find The Wire has very little 'just one more' appeal and am disinclined to watch more than one at a time. There's far too much tedious detail and too little action (that's fine in a series like Mad Med, which I love, but for a cop show it's a major minus point). That said, I've only watched 15 episodes, but in the three months since I last watched one I keep finding myself watching other stuff rather than dipping in again.

I watched each season of The Shield over a couple of days and while I can understand where people are coming from in terms of depth and realism in The Wire, the comparable absence of same does not detract at all from The Shield.

Probably unfair to vote until I've seen more of The Wire, but I vote for The Shield anyway.

Cina

pickarooney wrote: »

I find The Wire has very little 'just one more' appeal and am disinclined to watch more than one at a time. There's far too much tedious detail and too little action (that's fine in a series like Mad Med, which I love, but for a cop show it's a major minus point). That said, I've only watched 15 episodes, but in the three months since I last watched one I keep finding myself watching other stuff rather than dipping in again.

I watched each season of The Shield over a couple of days and while I can understand where people are coming from in terms of depth and realism in The Wire, the comparable absence of same does not detract at all from The Shield.

Probably unfair to vote until I've seen more of The Wire, but I vote for The Shield anyway.

By the time I reached Season 3 I was usually watching 2 to 3 episodes every day.

tinner777

i think the wire just edges it, however the shields final episode beats the end of the wire. i think its been an awful couple of years for tv with the end of the shield, the wire, sopranoes, prison break etc...

funky penguin

It has to be apples for me, but oranges are not without their charm!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

tvnutz wrote: »

How have you not given in yet!? :P I know I'd last a day before watching most of the boxset.

I've been able to stop myself from watching it due to the fact that I've very little free time at the moment and I know that I'll only get the chance to watch one episode every week, whereas if I wait a couple more weeks I should be able to watch all of season 5 back to back over a day or two.

krudler

The Wire hands down, best tv show ever

Dr.Slurm

The Shield is brilliant, but The Wire is perfection.

G-Money

Hmmmmmm, interesting thread. I've seen every episode of the Shield and it's a great show. I've bought Season 1 of the Wire but I only watched the first episode and found it a bit slow going and haven't went back to it yet. I've been wondering what show I could start watching next so I think I might watch the Wire again.

Basq

grandmaster.. as I've said, 'The Wire' is a slow-burner. Stick with it!

beni

The Wire is every time.

I am planning re watch all Boxes soon!

krudler

Hmmmmmm, interesting thread. I've seen every episode of the Shield and it's a great show. I've bought Season 1 of the Wire but I only watched the first episode and found it a bit slow going and haven't went back to it yet. I've been wondering what show I could start watching next so I think I might watch the Wire again.

I thought exactly the same when I watched the first episode of The Wire, not much happens but its the first chapter of a book, think of every episode that way, and everything is leading somewhere, when you go back and watch the series for the 2nd time you notice how much of it is telegraphed long before certain plot points come into effect, it really is a miracle of tv writing. I'm currently reading David Simons' Homicide book and its brilliant as well, a great companion piece to the series

Ed_

I am working my way through The Shield at the moment and it is stunning television. I have yet to watch The Wire. That will be next.

pickarooney

krudler wrote: »

its the first chapter of a book,

Every time I hear this, I become more and more convinced that The Wire is The Emperor's New Clothes of television. Everyone that raves about it does so in precisely the same way, using the words 'layers' and 'chapters'. It's almost (read: exactly) as though people were giving what they wished were their opinions of the show.

amacachi

pickarooney wrote: »

Every time I hear this, I become more and more convinced that The Wire is The Emperor's New Clothes of television. Everyone that raves about it does so in precisely the same way, using the words 'layers' and 'chapters'. It's almost (read: exactly) as though people were giving what they wished were their opinions of the show.

So what you're saying is that I'm actually naked right now?

tvnutz

pickarooney wrote: »

Every time I hear this, I become more and more convinced that The Wire is The Emperor's New Clothes of television. Everyone that raves about it does so in precisely the same way, using the words 'layers' and 'chapters'. It's almost (read: exactly) as though people were giving what they wished were their opinions of the show.

Its the format of the show,and it is how the show is unique compared to nearly every other show out there. That is why people say that,because new viewers can be put off by this strange and unfamiliar format and explaining how its format is different (chapters) encourages people to stick with it. Quite simple really.

Hardrain

The Wire for me, it's perfection. I did enjoy The Shield a lot, it was great viewing to see how Vic would worm his way out of situations. Respect to the 'Dutchman' as well! Final season was the best for me, riveting performances from all the main characters.

pickarooney

tvnutz wrote: »

Its the format of the show,and it is how the show is unique compared to nearly every other show out there. That is why people say that,because new viewers can be put off by this strange and unfamiliar format and explaining how its format is different (chapters) encourages people to stick with it. Quite simple really.

What is the 'strange and unfamiliar format' though? From what I've seen so far it's a bog-standard, 12-13-ep series, cop show, albeit a tediously slow one. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes judge a program too quickly and if it turns out that by the end of season two I'm hooked I will gladly admit that everyone was right and I just wasn't paying enough attention. First, I have to force myself to watch 11 more though... but not until after Breaking Bad. And Cracker. And It's Always Sunny...

amacachi

pickarooney wrote: »

What is the 'strange and unfamiliar format' though? From what I've seen so far it's a bog-standard, 12-13-ep series, cop show, albeit a tediously slow one. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes judge a program too quickly and if it turns out that by the end of season two I'm hooked I will gladly admit that everyone was right and I just wasn't paying enough attention. First, I have to force myself to watch 11 more though... but not until after Breaking Bad. And Cracker. And It's Always Sunny...

Usual format = each episode is a short story, sometimes with an arc over it which lasts 7 episodes - a season or two. The Wire is just one long story. Each season is like a volume. There's not the usual one hour cop show thing of crime, investigation, setback, breakthrough, end.

But hey, if ya don't like it ya don't like it. I'm not here to talk someone around.

krudler

pickarooney wrote: »

Every time I hear this, I become more and more convinced that The Wire is The Emperor's New Clothes of television. Everyone that raves about it does so in precisely the same way, using the words 'layers' and 'chapters'. It's almost (read: exactly) as though people were giving what they wished were their opinions of the show.

But thats exactly what its like, the series is about institutions and how they fail people, the government, the police force, the school system, all unravelling over 5 seasons, you cant watch 1 season and declare it as a standard show because it isnt, there's no big happy endings for the most part, no glory for the cops just another workload and more **** from the bosses upstairs. Its a complex show,more so than any other cop show on tv at the moment, or ever for that matter, most of the characters arent simple black and white archetypes, everyone has a dark or seedy side and the ones who are dark and seedy to begin with are usually more human than the supposed "good guys" (Omar, Cutty, Sobotka etc). There are people who love The Wire, and people who havent yet seen The Wire:D

pickarooney

You could say all of the above about The Shield.

adox

Well I`m a The Shield man myself at the moment. I`m just finishing season 7 and love the show.

I bought season 1 of The Wire a good few years back and watched it and to be honest I wasnt blown away at all. I found it quite depressing for some reason. I`ve never bothered with the rest of the seasons due to that experience but in the fairness of contributing to this thread(plus the super cheap prices on bangcd) season 2 of The Wire arrived in the letter box.:D

I`ll probably post back in a few weeks time when I`ve gone through the rest of the seasons.:)

krudler

pickarooney wrote: »

You could say all of the above about The Shield.

Yeah but The Wire is better;)

Hardrain

In a battle of the final seasons The Shield would have to take the prize. I prefer The Wire as a whole but found the final season a bit uneven. The Shield was a masterpiece in S7. Every actor gave it everything they had. Harrowing and gritty. Really miss it:(

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Hardrain, I know that technically is no spoilers there, but could you use spoiler tags please. I haven't seen any of the Shield, but I do intend to and now I know of 2 characters who are in the final season thanks to your post, meaning if those people are in any previous seasons, I'm always gonna know they make it to the final season and no suspense will ever surround those character.
Sorry about the rant, but from the point of view of people who haven't seen it or have only seen the first few seasons, that could potentially wreck many plots.

Hardrain

My bad, Il edit it out