Greatest Television Drama Series Ever

[Izulde]

There's a lot of good choices to pick from here.

My favorite and favorite TV show of all time is The Wonder Years, but for greatest, off the top of my head, I'm going to go with The Sopranos, as it had longevity, a major following on a cable channel, and my guess says had a pretty significant influence on the dramas that followed it.

Caveat: I've never actually seen an episode of the Sopranos.

[sabotai]

The Shield

[DaddyTorgo]

Caveat: I've never actually seen an episode of the Sopranos.

so you're pimping a show for the honor that you've never actually seen an episode of??

how does that work?

hell...in terms of influence and quality...as good as Sopranos is...I would say "ER" before it. Look at all the various casts that have gone through that show, and it still pulls in solid ratings.

[Izulde]

so you're pimping a show for the honor that you've never actually seen an episode of??

how does that work?

hell...in terms of influence and quality...as good as Sopranos is...I would say "ER" before it. Look at all the various casts that have gone through that show, and it still pulls in solid ratings.

I figured someone would mention ER. :D

As for your first question, *shrugs* it happens? :)

[Jas_lov]

Law and Order, not counting the past three seasons without Jerry Orbach.

[lcjjdnh]

Sopranos or The Wire

[Bad-example]

The Wire, by far.

[Brillig]

so you're pimping a show for the honor that you've never actually seen an episode of??

how does that work?



Works just like the Emmys.

[Peregrine]

The Wire

[Joe]

The West Wing

[rowech]

I think folks really need to submit two different shows. One pre-HBO series and one after HBO-series started. HBO is a supreme advantage in making great shows because they get away with much more...

For me...it has to be Hill Street Blues.

[thesloppy]

Hawaii 5-0.

[Radii]

I'm going to go with Oz, it was great from start to finish, no horrible down times like the Sopranos, and watching the occasional re-run now 7-8 years later I still love the show, its the only drama where I go back and watch old episodes and enjoy re-watching.

[cthomer5000]

The Wire.

end of discussion.

[QuikSand]

Another vote for The Wire.

Without disrespecting a lot of very good television shows, The Wire has so many more layers than anything else I have ever seen, it's in a class by itself. Character, story, message, politics, and worldview... it's brilliant. Glad I'm not the only one who has landed here, too.

[Logan]

This question should be asked on one of the eleventy billion message boards that don't respect The Wire.

[Carman Bulldog]

Question about The Wire...

I tried to get into it and watched the first two or three episodes and while it was decent, it didn't blow me away. Does it get better from there or what?

[Peregrine]

Yes, it definitely gets better, it's one of those shows that really builds on itself, watch the whole first season, and you'll be hooked.

[Logan]

Piggybacking on that, it's amazing success is in character development and interlacing of storylines. It doesn't grab you from an action perspective like other shows, including The Shield which I think it incorrectly gets compared to because of what it's about. Having now watched all six Shield seasons over the last month (!!!), I think it's a great show in that the action is awesome and the stories are compelling. But the stories are in no way as engrossing and interesting as The Wire achieves. While I enjoy (or hate, but in a good way) pretty much all the Shield characters, I don't care for them like I do with The Wire.

Please give it another shot.

[Toddzilla]

Never seen The Wire, so I'll vote for it's older brother, Homicide: Life on the Street

[saldana]

i agree with rowech...but will go even another step...you cant compare a show that aired on network tv against something that aired on either cable, like the shield, or the sopranos on HBO...fcc doesnt care what the shield does so they can create alot more effect than a show like L.A. Law or the West Wing, which, btw, would get my votes.

[Peregrine]

I can see the argument with HBO versus non HBO, but the discussion is about the greatest show ever.

I love The West Wing and Homicide: Life on the Street, and think those are up there in terms of greatness, but to me The Wire trumps them both.

[cubboyroy1826]

I would have to agree with the early years of The West Wing. My other favorite would be Sportsnight but i am not sure if this qualifies as a drama.

[DeToxRox]

The Shield

+ 1

Wire in a close second

[molson]

I've never seen the The Wire, but it's officially reached that point where I hate it anyway because of the over-top-way it's fans support it. (It's the best ever, if you don't agree, you're just wrong, etc..) Even in the Sopranos thread, the Wire fanatics felt the need to pop in and say how the Sopranos sucked and the Wire was way better (OK great pal - start a Wire thread and go away)

[molson]

This question should be asked on one of the eleventy billion message boards that don't respect The Wire.

This is the equivalent of The Patriots saying they get no respect.

[cougarfreak]

For me, the West Wing. I'm intrigued by The Wire, never seen it, or heard of it before this thread. I just looked, my library has it, I might pick up disc 1 and give it a look.

[Noop]

The Wire. I will kick those who disagree in their E-Nuts... :)

Just Kidding but 'The Wire' is great.

:)

noop

[Logan]

I've never seen the The Wire, but it's officially reached that point where I hate it anyway because of the over-top-way it's fans support it. (It's the best ever, if you don't agree, you're just wrong, etc..) Even in the Sopranos thread, the Wire fanatics felt the need to pop in and say how the Sopranos sucked and the Wire was way better (OK great pal - start a Wire thread and go away)

This is exactly what I love to hear. Feel free to point out all the people whose sole argument why it's great us "just cause."

And for the record, one reason I don't think The Sopranos deserves consideration is because it's overall success lead to it's biggest downfall -- an original 4 season story arc got stretched into 7 seasons when Chase and HBO realized how much money it could make. Which leads to boring-as-shit storylines like Vito in New Hampshire.

You, pal, can go start a thread where you debate the merits of shows based solely on how you interpret its' fans. Allow those of us who wish to have an intelligent discussion alone.

[larrymcg421]

The Wire never really interested me.

First four seasons of West Wing were terrific (especially the first two), but the fifth season was horrible. It was garbage and I stopped watching halfway through. The show rebounded in the 6th and 7th seasons, but enough to be the best drama ever.

My pick would be China Beach. Very deep and interesting characters, not to mention some unique storytelling. The 4th and final season was brilliant as it shifted through time and bent the rules of how prime time television seasibs should operate.

[BYU 14]

Another vote for the Shield, definitely groundbreaking and always intense.

[Rizon]

Never heard of the Wire. Is it one of those HBO shows?

[DaddyTorgo]

ooh. Almost forgot about "Homicide". That's a good one. And "Shield" is great too of course

[Peregrine]

The Wire is an HBO show, that has been on for four seasons now. The show is set in Baltimore, and it's far more than just a backdrop, it really digs deep into the city and it's problems and promise. Essentially the basic premise is the complex interwoven web between the Baltimore police, especially the Homicide unit and some special units, and the drug dealers who are running the ruined ghetto parts of the city. In between are junkies, informants, street kids, politicians, corrupt lawyers, and everything else you can imagine.

The brilliance of the show is that it takes a story arc for each season and really develops it, you're seeing very interesting characters on both the criminal and police sides, and you see how their interactions affect everything else they touch. The casting of the show is simply fantastic, and most of the characters are like nothing else you've ever seen on TV. It can be a difficult show to get into, because you really have to watch it all, things will happen in earlier episodes that will change events at the end of a season, or even in future seasons.

I can't really say much more than other people have already. It's a show that really tells a story, where the characters really matter, and you get to see them live and die, suffer through tragedies and grasp occasional rays of hope. There are a lot of great shows out there, but I've never seen one with the writing, the storytelling, the character development, and the fantastic acting of mostly unknown actors, like this one.

[Ben E Lou]

Dallas.

[Richard Weed]

Some of these are night time soaps as opposed to dramas. Hill Street Blues was a good drama.

[path12]

Homicide. Followed by Homicide, with Homicide a close third.

[14ers]

1) Bonanza
2) Star Trek
3) Northern Exposure
4) House
5) Monk


I watch a lot of reruns.:)

[timmynausea]

I still probably like Six Feet Under the best. Deadwood was really good, too, though. I think The West Wing would be tough to beat as far as network TV.

I think you could make a case that Twin Peaks was the most influential, though.

[14ers]

Crap, I forgot Picket Fences.

"Douglas Wambaugh for the defence your honor." Wambaugh might be my favorite lawyer in all of television, just a smidge above Dan Fielding

[Karlifornia]

Beverly Hills 90210....Come on....Brandon gets addicted to gambling, Donna gets abused by her pop singer boyfriend, Dylan's dad gets blowed up....come on now....TALK ABOUT DRAMA!

[larrymcg421]

Dylan's dad didn't actually get blown up, though. He pretended to die so he could go into the Witness Protection Program. Which made the death of Rebecca Gayheart's character extremely pointless.

And now here's where I will stop before I find myself writing a long essay about the themes of 90210.

[MikeVic]

Sisters.

No, just kidding.

[st.cronin]

Lost

[Karlifornia]

Dylan's dad didn't actually get blown up, though. He pretended to die so he could go into the Witness Protection Program. Which made the death of Rebecca Gayheart's character extremely pointless.

And now here's where I will stop before I find myself writing a long essay about the themes of 90210.

Well, I just lost all of the respect I had for what I thought was a venerable primetime soap.


:(

[Izulde]

Where would y'all say Melrose Place fits in with the whole Beverly Hills 90210 discussion?

[larrymcg421]

Melrose Place belongs in the greatest sitcom discussion.

[TexasT]

The Shield

Definitely!:)

[Cecil Fielder]

no love for the X-Files? or is that too science fiction to be considered drama?

If not X-Files, then I'll have to go with Law & Order. I can watch those all day long if I'm not careful.

[Abe Sargent]

There is definately a bias against shows that have other elements, like sci-fi. Or else someone would and should have mentioned Babylon 5. No other show in our era is as literary as B5.

[MylesKnight]

I haven't seen the show in years, but noticed it available on HBO on Demand... Oz!

Damn, I forgot how good this show was. Between this, The Wire and The Sopranos... Amazing stuff.

[Suicane75]

NYPD Blue sort of fizzled out during the Schroeder/Zach years but up until Jimmy Smitts died it was such an awesome show. Shame that Franz really hasn't done much since it went off the air because he's a really amazing actor. Hell, even the Schroeder seasons are good unless you're watching them in retrospect with knowledge of how bad they screwed up his demise.

[Radii]

I'm going to go with Oz, it was great from start to finish, no horrible down times like the Sopranos, and watching the occasional re-run now 7-8 years later I still love the show, its the only drama where I go back and watch old episodes and enjoy re-watching.

2007 me was so naive. I watch too much TV and enjoy this kind of stuff too much, so here's my list as of now:

1) The Wire
2) Breaking Bad
3) The Sopranos
4) Mad Men
5) The Shield
6) Oz

IMO there is a small gap between 1/2 and 3/4 (the sopranos at its best was as good as anything, but just did too many episodes that completely whiffed), and then a pretty big gap after Mad Men. The Shield and Oz are "tier 2" with the top 4 belonging together in Tier 1. ER is probably a tier 2 show also, and assuming they don't fuck up horribly, Justified and Game of Thrones likely end up there for me as well when they're done.

These are only including shows i've seen.

[Butter]

I'm like early into Season 3 on The Wire. I fought to get through Season 2, but even so I find it hard to believe it's going to reach Breaking Bad territory unless Seasons 4 and 5 are the best thing evar.

[DaddyTorgo]

I need to see The Wire, and Breaking Bad. They're both on my to-do list.

[kidwithhelmet]

Boardwalk Empire is currently the best series on TV.

[Radii]

Boardwalk Empire is currently the best series on TV.

I haven't seen this, its high on my list to catch up on for sure.

[MylesKnight]

Btw... No one noticed the 6+ Year Bump on this one? ;)

[Lathum]

The first 4 seasons of Dexter area favorite. Went way downhill after that.

[Peregrine]

I like Boardwalk Empire and some other shows but for me it is still going to have to be The Wire.

[hoopsguy]

I'm like early into Season 3 on The Wire. I fought to get through Season 2, but even so I find it hard to believe it's going to reach Breaking Bad territory unless Seasons 4 and 5 are the best thing evar.

I consider S4 of The Wire to be the best season of television evar ... so, there is that.

But if you don't already at least have it in your "team photo" for best shows, I'm guessing it won't be displacing Breaking Bad for your list.

[mtolson]

Lots to choose from and depend on how old school you wanna get

1) ER
2) The West Wing
3) 24
4) The Wire
5) Star Trek TNG

Honorable Mentions
Dallas, Star Trek DS9, Hill Street Blues

[Bobble]

The Simpsons ... but you really have to watch all 25 seasons to "get" it.

[Groundhog]

Haven't seen The Wire but I keep meaning to try it. I think it would take a lot for a show to beat out Breaking Bad on my list.

[Subby]

I'm like early into Season 3 on The Wire. I fought to get through Season 2, but even so I find it hard to believe it's going to reach Breaking Bad territory unless Seasons 4 and 5 are the best thing evar.
I envy you. You are about to be treated to the three best seasons of the best show ever. :)

[MylesKnight]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqtsknXC2F1qd4n9xo1_500.png

[PackerFanatic]

The first 4 seasons of Dexter area favorite. Went way downhill after that.

They could have ended it after the John Lithgow season and it could have been seen as one of the best shows. They dragged it out waaaaay too long after that and you could tell they had no idea how to end it.

Breaking Bad, on the other hand, is easily one of the best ever.

[Izulde]

....I so don't remember starting this thread.

[BishopMVP]

I envy you. You are about to be treated to the three best seasons of the best show ever. :)Well, the 2 best. Season 5 seemed like way too much of a David Simon vendetta vs. the Baltimore Sun and other reportersThey could have ended it after the John Lithgow season and it could have been seen as one of the best shows. They dragged it out waaaaay too long after that and you could tell they had no idea how to end it.spoilers for both this and HomelandThere is the persistent story that Showtime wouldn't let them kill Dexter, or Brody in Homeland. That was really the way the show should have ended.

[Marc Vaughan]

Sherlock (but probably mainly because I'm waiting impatiently for it to return)
House of Cards (original UK version)
Dr Who (arguably more sci-fi than drama, but counts in my eyes)
Brass Eye (UK spoof satire news show - very dark humour in it at times, bit like 'The Onion', also rather 'edgy' topics in places be warned)

[Edward64]

In no particular order

1) West Wing
2) Battlestar Galattica (new)
3) Walking Dead

[MylesKnight]

Checking out The Wire from the beginning for the first time in a while.. Lovely!

[Marmel]

I just finished watching Breaking Bad a couple weeks ago, and I am currently at Season 1, episode 6 of The Wire.

Breaking Bad is easily the #1 show of all time on my list and it is not even close.

I started watching the Wire due to all the praise it gets on this board and I have to say....I don't see it yet. It is good, but not particularly noteworthy yet, although like I said it is only 6 episodes so far. Contrasting this to Br Bad, which I watched from start to finish in about a 5 week marathon, that show was great from episode 1 and by episode 6 (or precisely because of episode 6) I was hooked in good.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Breaking Bad is a perfectly executed pulp novel. The Wire is actually about SOMETHING, not just a story.

Very different shows both excellent.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Breaking Bad is a perfectly executed pulp novel. The Wire is actually about SOMETHING, not just a story.

Very different shows both excellent.

I agree with all of this. I loved both shows, but they are very different.

[Subby]

You can binge watch Breaking Bad, but I don't think you can do that with The Wire. I can't really explain why.

[Logan]

I feel like I can never respond to these types of posts without sounding like a obnoxious prick. RD3 said it as best as possible and in such few words, and Subby hit it too.

There's a reason David Chase went on that rant a year or so ago against the concept of binge-watching. It absolutely changes the viewing experience. And The Wire is a show where you need to spend some time just thinking about it (obnoxious me on display here) instead of just hitting "next" repeatedly on your device of choice.

[Honolulu_Blue]

You can binge watch Breaking Bad, but I don't think you can do that with The Wire. I can't really explain why.

You can't really binge watch The Wire. Well, I guess you can, but it's not as pleasurable an experience and it's too draining. Also, you tend to miss a lot of the nuances if you watch too many episodes too quickly. The show is best when you have time to digest everything that happened, think it over and then move on to the next episode.

When my wife and I were watching it (we started after the show was over), the most we could "binge watch" was about 3 episodes an evening. Even then, we felt like we were doing the show, and ourselves, a disservice by doing so.

[ColtCrazy]

This is a thread I could have sworn I made a comment about earlier.

My list would be:

1. Sherlock - just a well-written, superb show.
2. Law & Order - The original series
3. M.A.S.H. - I know it's a comedy, but I always viewed it as a comedy-drama
4. Dr. Who - classic & new
5. The Blacklist
6. Downton Abbey
7. Criminal Minds
8. Castle
9. Batman the Animated Series (Cartoon-drama!)
10. Dexter
Honorable Mention: ER

I'm just now watching Dexter so it may climb. I need to give Breaking Bad another shot. Couldn't get into it the first time. Haven't seen The Wire. Apparently I need to. Bought Game of Thrones and need to watch it as well.

[Toddzilla]

That is the shittiest top 10 list I have ever seen in my entire existence

[panerd]

I just finished watching Breaking Bad a couple weeks ago, and I am currently at Season 1, episode 6 of The Wire.

Breaking Bad is easily the #1 show of all time on my list and it is not even close.

I started watching the Wire due to all the praise it gets on this board and I have to say....I don't see it yet. It is good, but not particularly noteworthy yet, although like I said it is only 6 episodes so far. Contrasting this to Br Bad, which I watched from start to finish in about a 5 week marathon, that show was great from episode 1 and by episode 6 (or precisely because of episode 6) I was hooked in good.

I'm not sure season 1 is the pinnacle of this show. Seasons 3 and 4 are probably the best and season 2 is outstanding but completely different than 1,2,4,& 5. I feel like if you think its good you will be hooked by the end of season 1. It is people who say they don't get it or don't like it that I would advise to not bother.

[Marmel]

I'm not sure season 1 is the pinnacle of this show. Seasons 3 and 4 are probably the best and season 2 is outstanding but completely different than 1,2,4,& 5. I feel like if you think its good you will be hooked by the end of season 1. It is people who say they don't get it or don't like it that I would advise to not bother.

Just based on the universal praise, I'll give it a few seasons at a minimum I'm sure. Its not like I don't like it...I do...I was just expecting a lot more right off the bat.

I do tend to binge watch shows and usually never watch a show until it has concluded on TV. Perhaps, I take it slower with the Wire and mix in Mad Men, which I have been looking forward to checking out. I watched the first episode and it has me intrigued at least.

[kcchief19]

You want to get a glimpse of the greatness of The West Wing, check out some of the Twitter mentions (especially @sorkinese) during the Golden Globes last night. Amazing the amount of talent on that show.

[sterlingice]

The problem is that its a tale of 2 series between the Sorkin seasons 1-4 and the non-Sorkin 5-8

SI

[Lathum]

That is the shittiest top 10 list I have ever seen in my entire existence

That is the beauty of TV, different strokes for different folks. Of course there are always condescending pricks out there willing to be critical of what others like...

[NobodyHere]

WWE Raw

[sabotai]

You can binge watch Breaking Bad, but I don't think you can do that with The Wire. I can't really explain why.

I feel the exact opposite. When I watched the Wire, I binged on the first few seasons, and then binged on each season as it came out on DVD (didn't have HBO back then). I loved it, and I continue to binge watch the full series a few times a year.

I had to take a break from Breaking Bad every once in awhile. The plot devises got a bit too repetitive for me as I binged on it (I can't elaborate on that more without giving spoilers.) In fact, looking back on The Shield, had I binged watched that, I think the same would have happened there.

[larrymcg421]

The problem is that its a tale of 2 series between the Sorkin seasons 1-4 and the non-Sorkin 5-8

SI

I think 1-4 are definitely the pinnacle, but the only real problem is 5. 6-7 are pretty solid IMO.

If you find season 8, please let me know. I would love to watch it!

[rowech]

The problem is that its a tale of 2 series between the Sorkin seasons 1-4 and the non-Sorkin 5-8

SI

I watched this series starting in the summer and finished it over Christmas. People are WAY too harsh on seasons 6 and 7. If that was a regular show without the previous seasons, people would have loved the show. Season 5 is a train wreck -- the rest of the show is phenomenal.

[sterlingice]

I think 1-4 are definitely the pinnacle, but the only real problem is 5. 6-7 are pretty solid IMO.

If you find season 8, please let me know. I would love to watch it!

Hah! Whoops- not sure why I had 8 instead of 7 but you get the idea.

It's been a couple of years since I've seen it but I remember I felt relief when I got to the 7th season and just kindof plowing through to the finish. It seemed like the election was a good lighter gimmick to finish off on but it also felt a little like another show.

SI

[ColtCrazy]

That is the shittiest top 10 list I have ever seen in my entire existence

Then we should be thankful we aren't friends that watch TV together.

[ColtCrazy]

That is the beauty of TV, different strokes for different folks. Of course there are always condescending pricks out there willing to be critical of what others like...

:D