The Wire vs The Sopranos vs Breaking Bad

tdv123

1. The Wire
2. Deadwood
3. Breaking Bad
4. Mad Men
5. The Sopranos

Da Shins Kelly

tdv123 wrote: »

1. The Wire
2. Deadwood
3. Breaking Bad
4. Mad Men
5. The Sopranos

Ugh, don't get the appeal of Mad Men at all.

tdv123

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Ugh, don't get the appeal of Mad Men at all.

There's not much to get. Good acting, writing, directing & producing. It's probably the premises of the show that doesn't appeal to you I'd imagine.

Da Shins Kelly

tdv123 wrote: »

There's not much to get. Good acting, writing, directing & producing. It's probably the premises of the show that doesn't appeal to you I'd imagine.

It's style over substance, in my opinion.

tdv123

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

It's style over substance, in my opinion.

Fair enough that's your opinion & your entitled to it like everyone.

My opinion shows in which the story is secondary to the edit, edit, edit: where any sense of meaning or even authentic emotion is doomed to death by a million tiny cuts. Mad Men's tranquility and poise makes it resemble a still photograph by comparison. The viewer has to calm the f*ck down to even start appreciating it.But the notion that nothing happens in Mad Men is bullsh!t. Every scene has a payoff, every line has momentum. But like life, it's often not clear in the moment quite what the direction is. Go back and watch a season again from beginning to end and the trajectories are startlingly clear. Even moments which appeared entirely aimless are suddenly sodden with purpose. There's constant churning activity – but it's largely happening inside the characters' heads. Everyone in Mad Men hides a secret, often a driving force they're scarcely aware of themselves. They don't know who they are or what they want. Unlike many characters in TV drama, they don't verbally tell their motivations, in fact they couldn't even if they tried to. This is what gives the series such a steady pull: there's a mystery at the core of every character, and they're trying to solve it at the same time as the viewer.
Mad Men really is that brilliant. imo

Father Damo

On paper Mad Men looked boring beyond imagination. I have only seen one episode (focusing on the JFK killing) and it seems suprisingly brilliant.

Tony Soprano.

Surprised there's no mention of Six Feet Under.

The acting, writing and direction is on par with anything that graced a TV screen. And the best finale ever! Groundbreaking in its own right.

michaelr666

not a particularly big fan of ranking shows I'm just happy we have so much choice of television to watch, a golden age imo. but for the purpose of this thread I voted The Wire.

The other 2 shows are top notch though and dont forget theres 8 more episodes of Breaking Bad left next year

irish son

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

It's style over substance, in my opinion.

Its definitely not for everyone but that statements just not true.

I never gave Mad Men much thought because I always heard this about it and that nothing happens but when I seen the first 3 seasons for cheap in a shop a few months back I said Id give it a chance and Im now on season 5 and its now in my top 5 shows of all time.

Its a great drama but its also very funny, I laugh more at this than most of the comedies I watch, Roger Sterling is particularly hilarious.

Da Shins Kelly

irish son wrote: »

Its definitely not for everyone but that statements just not true.

I never gave Mad Men much thought because I always heard this about it and that nothing happens but when I seen the first 3 seasons for cheap in a shop a few months back I said Id give it a chance and Im now on season 5 and its now in my top 5 shows of all time.

Its a great drama but its also very funny, I laugh more at this than most of the comedies I watch, Roger Sterling is particularly hilarious.

I've never been more bored by a supposedly great show. Parts of it border on soap opera.

ixoy

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I've never been more bored by a supposedly great show. Parts of it border on soap opera.

It grows on you - I though the same initially. As the episodes progress though you see just what a damn fine job they've done with not just the set pieces and re-creation (the style) but also the characterisation and dialogue (the substance). There's some really funny lines and rewarding character moments but, a bit like "The Wire" it takes some time.

Let's put it another way then: Do you really think so many, including critics who sit through so much each year, can all be wrong and blinded? Of course not - there's something very good here. It may not be for everyone (such as "The Wire" would not be for someone who needs the pace of say "24") but it is a very good show.

tdv123

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I've never been more bored by a supposedly great show. Parts of it border on soap opera.

Boarder but never cross the line.

Have you watched a whole season of it?

sbsquarepants

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Ugh, don't get the appeal of Mad Men at all.

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

It's style over substance, in my opinion.

Couldn't agree more - it looks great, it's acted brilliantly - but there's no story whatsoever. It's just a bunch of mundane shít happens, followed by another bunch of mundane shít ad nauseum.
I got a loan of the boxset and had to give up after a season and a half and that took some effort to sit through, it was a total chore to watch - who can be bothered with that!

ThunbergsAreGo

Agree on the mad men thing, watched all five series, thinkig this ahs to get better but it just got worse. I think the 4th or 5th series cant remember was almost comedic in its ridiculous-ness and silly plot turns

I can see why people might like it, as its set in an interesting time and some bits are quite polished but it just didnt do it for me at all

Da Shins Kelly

naughtb4 wrote: »

I can see why people might like it, as its set in an interesting time and some bits are quite polished but it just didnt do it for me at all

This is the thing. I've watched a season and a bit and bailed because it was boring the sh*t out of me. I've friends who are still watching it, and all they ever say about it is 'but it looks so good!', 'the time period is great!', etc. That's all well and good, but it's no substitute for a good storyline. There is barely any plot to speak of. It's just their boring, vapid lives dressed up in glamour. Not impressed.

jgh_

RodgersLFC wrote: »

At times, there's nothing worse than watching a really brilliant episode of a show you're following, and having to wait a week for the next one. You then also have to make sure you're around for the next one, in case you miss it and see a spoiler somewhere. Theres a lot to be said for box sets, thats for sure!

I watched the X-Files during its original run, really liked it but gave up somewhere in season 4 i think. I'm hoping to keep going with it this time. Do you know if there's much of a tail-off in quality as the seasons go on?

Yeah I think after they round out the main conspiracy arc the show just starts to feel lost and they probably should have just stopped it at that point. Season 6 is probably a safe place to stop watching, after that they start introducing replacement characters and the show's quality seriously declines (although the production quality could never be as awesome as the first season when they insisted on using rainy, lush Vancouver and called it San Diego)

--Kaiser--

Father Damo wrote: »

On paper Mad Men looked boring beyond imagination. I have only seen one episode (focusing on the JFK killing) and it seems suprisingly brilliant.

I thought the opposite. On paper I thought it would be quite good but the only episode I watched was unimaginably boring

Father Damo

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I thought the opposite. On paper I thought it would be quite good but the only episode I watched was unimaginably boring

Depends I guess. I was wondering how in the hell something set in an advertising firm could be in any way interesting. May as well be a drama set in a call centre. But the JFK episode (actually there might have been two of them) were brilliant. I guess because that was the previous generation 9/11, I like my history too, so it was all very watahcble just seeing how the average Joe reacted to it all.

As said though, that is the only episode I have seen, maybe it is overrated I dont know :pac: I thought The Wire looked great from seeing two or three random episodes from latter seasons first (I have always wondered if I should just knock the first season on the head read a synopsis and skip to the next, much of it is too desperate to take seriously). It wouldnt be the first tv series in the world to improve in quality as it progressed.

Tombo2001

One thing about Mad Men:

I havent watched it but my understanding is that part of its "appeal" for want of a better word was that it had quite a misogynistic streak in it; bosses screwing the secretaries all the time, quite demeaning and exploitative attitude towards women.

This was certainly mentioned in any reviews I read.

Is this "selling point" for Mad Men (and I am calling a spade a spade there) now looking decidedly suss in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.....

......the notion that it was "all a bit of fun".........no it wasnt.

--Kaiser--

Tombo2001 wrote: »

One thing about Mad Men:

I havent watched it but my understanding is that part of its "appeal" for want of a better word was that it had quite a misogynistic streak in it; bosses screwing the secretaries all the time, quite demeaning and exploitative attitude towards women.

This was certainly mentioned in any reviews I read.

Is this "selling point" for Mad Men (and I am calling a spade a spade there) now looking decidedly suss in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.....

......the notion that it was "all a bit of fun".........no it wasnt.

Are you seriously equating promiscuity and misogyny with statutory rape and the abuse of minors?

tipptom

The Sopranos,third time around on sky atlantic and still picking up storys out of it.Best finishing credits on any programme has to be,Phil Leotrados rage while lifting his glass to his assinated brothers picture behind the bar and says,"no more,no more"and then segues in to John Cooper Clarkes Chickentown.Slightly ruined later for me when Phil turns up on the Irish Permanent adds telling us how easy it is to get a 35 year mortgage.Loved the Wires 2nd series(i think) on the American/Polish dockers.

fruvai

Tombo2001 wrote: »

One thing about Mad Men:

I havent watched it but my understanding is that part of its "appeal" for want of a better word was that it had quite a misogynistic streak in it; bosses screwing the secretaries all the time, quite demeaning and exploitative attitude towards women.

This was certainly mentioned in any reviews I read.

Is this "selling point" for Mad Men (and I am calling a spade a spade there) now looking decidedly suss in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.....

......the notion that it was "all a bit of fun".........no it wasnt.

Most of the writers on Mad Men are women

Tombo2001

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Are you seriously equating promiscuity and misogyny with statutory rape and the abuse of minors?

No I am not seriously, or unseriously, or anything else-ly, suggesting that. Thanks for your moral outrage nonetheless, its a refreshing change from all the other moral outrage on internet forums.

kingtiger

Tombo2001 wrote: »

One thing about Mad Men: I havent watched it .

huh

how can you possibly comment on something you have never even seen?

and the "misogynistic streak" is to convey how it was in the 60ies\70ies for Women, believe it or not this was the way life was

have a look at some of these real advertising posters from the era







Get it now?

Tombo2001

kingtiger wrote: »

huh


Get it now?

Going to leave the sarchasm to one side and just say its a right pain in the hole when people talk down to you. I'm not an idiot, thanks very much.

Beyond that I've no further interest in engaging in this discussion.

Da Shins Kelly

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Going to leave the sarchasm to one side and just say its a right pain in the hole when people talk down to you. I'm not an idiot, thanks very much.

Beyond that I've no further interest in engaging in this discussion.

I've honestly no idea what your point was in the first place...

Emeraldy Pebbles

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

This is the thing. I've watched a season and a bit and bailed because it was boring the sh*t out of me. I've friends who are still watching it, and all they ever say about it is 'but it looks so good!', 'the time period is great!', etc. That's all well and good, but it's no substitute for a good storyline. There is barely any plot to speak of. It's just their boring, vapid lives dressed up in glamour. Not impressed.

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I thought the opposite. On paper I thought it would be quite good but the only episode I watched was unimaginably boring

One thing I really disliked about Mad Men was that I think it's very heavy-handed in its recreation of the time period. It bashes you over the head with it, very "This is what the 60s was like, little ones!".

Dermighty

tipptom wrote: »

The Sopranos,third time around on sky atlantic and still picking up storys out of it.Best finishing credits on any programme has to be,Phil Leotrados rage while lifting his glass to his assinated brothers picture behind the bar and says,"no more,no more"and then segues in to John Cooper Clarkes Chickentown.Slightly ruined later for me when Phil turns up on the Irish Permanent adds telling us how easy it is to get a 35 year mortgage.Loved the Wires 2nd series(i think) on the American/Polish dockers.

Wire season 2 was the best season by far! (Frank Sabotka and the stevedores, good name for a band!)

Troyaferd

Where is Game of Thrones.

out of the three... The Wire easy.

Troyaferd

Dermighty wrote: »

Wire season 2 was the best season by far! (Frank Sabotka and the stevedores, good name for a band!)

no Season 4.