Which series should I start watching?

[Cebby]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

The Shield is the best TV series ever made. Period.

You haven't seen The Wire.

[Mo]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

LOL, basically.

And yeah, they upped the nudity quotient quite a bit for Season 4 of Dexter... there wasn't much (or at least sexual nudity) up until that season, but she'll probably run out of the room once Quinn's girlfriend gets on screen haha.

Season 2 had quite a bit, with the British babe.

[ODogg]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

Actually, I've seen every episode of The Wire Cebby. I love The Wire and it's definitely one of the best series ever but it's never gotten me as emotionally involved as The Shield has. I remember for the series finale to that show (the shield) I was literally a nervous wreck. And even after about 5 subsequent viewings I had a pit in my stomach during most of the show. It's just simply crazy highs and lows of emotion. It also was one of the most unpredictable shows I've ever watched.

[Cebby]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

It also was one of the most unpredictable shows I've ever watched.

Any show can be unpredictable when it's not bound at all by reality.

The Shield over The Wire is akin to liking Smear the ***** over an Indianapolis/New England game.

[ODogg]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

No it's not, we've been through this before. First of all the Shield is as much based in reality as The Wire, it's based on the L.A. Rampart scandal and many of the characters are based on composites of the individuals involved in that scandal. But why I like it better is actually a point someone else brought up and that is that The Shield is the matter of continuity of the characters through all seasons. While the Wire was great each season had it's own particular focus. That made for more exploration of various segments of society but also lessened the impact of attachment to particular characters and situations.

But no one is right or wrong here, it's subjective. So you can't say what you said in your last line with any sense of validity. The truth is I simply liked The Shield more because the characters to me were more interesting and the story lines were continual and overlaying across all seasons. That's just my opinion.

[Cebby]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

First of all the Shield is as much based in reality as The Wire

No

There is 0% chance you actually believe that.

[jeremym480]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

That's a good show, but are brutal murders and dismemberment really "better" than sex scenes. I guess that is a different topic for a different forum.

She's not a hardcore, long skirt wearing, non-hair cutting religious fanatic. She just has a stronger moral compass that I. Some thing's upset her more than other's/ Like she was ok with watching some of the surgery scene's in Nip/Tuck (even though she thought they were gross) but, she hated the sex scene's. Honestly, though who am I to judge what makes her uncomfortable or not? If I see something is making her uneasy I will fast forward it through the scene and usually I don't miss anything of any real importance, IMO.

Anyways, I decided to make the switch for Blockbuster to Netflix because I can instantly stream them to my PS3. So, hopefully I'll be able to watch all of these eventually. I guess the only question is in which order?

I'm thinking Season 1 Dexter, The Wire, Season 2 and 3 of Dexter. Then either Mad Men or The Shield. Like I've said before, I appreciate everyone input. It definitely helped me in my decision making process.

[Beantown]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

I'd go...Dexter 1/2, Wire, Dexter 3/4(depending on how long it takes you to get to this point).

[ODogg]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

No

There is 0% chance you actually believe that.

Look it up, L.A. Rampart scandal. I can't believe you didn't know that.

[Cebby]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

Look it up, L.A. Rampart scandal. I can't believe you didn't know that.

I know about the Rampart scandal.

The first season of The Shield is loosely based off of it. The other six seasons aren't. The first season is fairly mundane; it's the next six that I take issue with.

[ODogg]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

The other six seasons most definitely are also loosely based upon some of the things that happened during the L.A. Rampart scandal like cops pocketing drugs, intimidating drug dealers into giving them a cut, wiping out the competitors to their preferred dealer, blackmailing, etc. It's the same for The Wire, it's also all loosely based upon real life events in Baltimore. Both are tv programs and take great liberties with the original content. So for you to act as if The Shield is some outlandish fantasy land, well the same could be said of just about any of these dramas.

The truth is I don't know why we're even debating this, it's all a matter of personal opinion as to which is better because none of the shows are anything but very "loosely" based on reality..and if you're watching them for reality then you're just fooling yourself anyways.

[JayBee74]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

She doesn't have all that much to do in season 1, which consequently makes her character not all that interesting (but fun to look at), but without giving anything away, season 2 belongs to Betty Draper. It's where her character gets awesome.

Outstanding series. I bought the Season 2 DVD and watched Season 3 via high def Zune downloads on my Xbox 360. I don't know if Season 2 belongs to Betty Draper but her character really fleshed out in 2 and 3. I'll put Mad Men up against all these great series mentioned in this thread.

[jeremym480]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

FYI, for everyone. I've been checking out some prices on The Wire and I found it on Amazon UK today shipped for $85.31 (for the entire series). This is the best deal I've found, I'm thinking about jumping on it.

[mattlanta]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

Dexter is great.

[Cusefan]

Re: Which series should I start watching?

So I just got my hands on Season 1 and 2 of the Wire. I watched season one over the past few days, My god this show is great. Its one of those shows that I can sit down and watched 4-5 episodes in a row.

Thanks everyone for recommending it.