Breaking Bad vs. The Wire

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:31 pm

When discussions of the greatest TV show of all time arise, almost without exception these two end up at the top of the list. I've seen every episode of Breaking Bad at least twice, and it has ruined TV for me, because everything else that I've ever seen or ever see is so far inferior that it seems a waste of time.

BUT! I've never watched The Wire, to Jonsey's great dissatisfaction.

Welp, Savvyraven and I rented the first disc today, and we're WATCHING THE WIRE!

In this thread, I will decide which is better, as we navigate our way through the show. Though based on her reaction tonight, it might end up just being me.

ROUND 1: THE FIRST EPISODE

BB: From the very first shot of Walter White's pants flying through the stark blue New Mexican sky to the final fadeout, Breaking Bad's opener is a non-stop, exhilirating thrill ride as we experience the first spark which will end up becoming the fire which will end up destroying everyone's lives and making BB my most treasured accomplishment in TV history!

TW: Suffers from "we got a lotta characters here and have to set them all up real fast in a one hour cop show" syndrome, and while I found the hour engrossing (albeit difficult to follow until it starts winding up and driving home who's who and what's important), Savvyraven thought it was "boring as fuck" and "written about as well as an episode of Law & Order". She admitted that being very tired might have caused this negative reaction, so will be giving it another shot. I liked it just fine, but it was definitely a "set it up and get to the real stuff next episode" sort of thing.

WINNER: BREAKING BAD

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:07 pm

Correct. The first episode of Breaking Bad is the greatest first episode of anything. I thought that the bit of Walt in his underwear, CLEARLY getting caught was showing us how the *show* would end, not the first episode. It was absolutely amazing.

So while it was easy to pick the first episode, I think they get tougher as the viewing experience continues. And this makes me want to re-watch The Wire. I think she will find it is much better than Law and Order. But now Law and Order and Robin.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:36 pm

ROUND 2: THE SECOND EPISODE

BB: Second episode features a guy dissolved by acid, dripping and then pouring through a hole burnt through an upstairs bathtub.

TW: Second episode features three really idiotic cops getting bottles and TVs thrown at them.

WINNER: BREAKING BAD

I'm not doing this for every episode, you understand. Savvyraven liked this one marginally better, but is still not sold. I enjoyed it, but I think both of our questions are:

Without spoilers (like, "OMG JUST WAIT UNTIL THIS ONE PART OF EPISODE 6"), when does The Wire begin to become the greatest show of all time, which everyone says it is, and which I am more than willing to believe it may be, at least for a few more episodes?

I'll hang up and listen.

RC · Post by RC » Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:57 am

Season 1 is good, just a little cluttered. Season 2 is the best season of anything on television.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:23 pm

Just watch the god damn Wire.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:35 am

I'm watching it. I'm enjoying it. I'm expecting great things. But you can't tell me you were totally drawn in by the first three episodes. Nigga mothafucka.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:16 pm

Yes, there are black people in it. If you hate black people, just wait a few episodes. There are good and bad ones, you fucking simpleton fuck.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 10:38 pm

ROUND 3: SEASON ONE

Well, we just finished Season One of the Nigga Mothafucka Show. What do you want me to say? It is a cop show. It is a very good cop show! I will watch more of this, this "Wire". By the time the last episode ended, I was actually starting to be able to figure out who all the characters were and what the hell they were talking about. It is very well done!

Where The Wire concerns itself with attempting to portray a dark realism, almost documentary-style, Breaking Bad exults in a joyous, playful artistry to the proceedings. Two completely different approaches to television. Is The Wire the best version of its own style? Perhaps, we'll see where Season Two takes us.

But not once did the credits roll on that show leaving me with the kind of live-wire, exuberant satisfaction with which even your average episode of BB (is there such a thing?) leaves its mark.

Admit it, how many times were you just left giddy and exhausted when you saw that black screen with

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Vince Gilligan

It's just a show that revels in its abandon, and manages to make you laugh, cringe, and shit your pants the whole way along.

The Wire in contrast is clinical, and while perhaps just as, if not more exacting in its attention to detail than BB, when the black screen rolls at the end, I've felt appreciation plenty of times, but never that electricity. Was never left with that amazed, dopey grin on my face.

WINNER: BREAKING BAD

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:01 pm

ROUND 4: SEASON TWO, EPISODE ONE

The Wire: This is more like it! Same kinda gritty feel, but with a much <s>whiter</s> more interesting cast and a more interesting backdrop (the "docks"), with more established characters and more, dare I say it, artistry? I even noticed a couple really cool camera angles in there! Way to go, David Simon! And the three Likeable Black Guys (Stringer, Avon, Bunk) made quality appearances. Alright!

BB: Begins with the ultimate cold-start mind-fuck, and a teddy bear with half his face blown off. I don't remember what happens the rest of the episode, but I do remember (don't read this, Flack) that the cold open eventually ends up being a total misdirect by the end of the season.

WINNER (AND I'M MAINLY DOING THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE THE WIRE HAS OF WINNING ANY OF THESE ROUNDS, AND I'M STARTING TO FEEL BAD FOR IT): THE WIRE!!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:35 pm

I think this thread might be over. We're two episodes into Season 2 now, and I like it a lot, Kathy thinks it's boring, but the point is, it's so dry and drab and lifeless compared to BB that I don't think there's any real comparison.

"THERE'S NO MUSIC IN THE WIRE EXCEPT FOR THE OPENING AND CLOSING CREDITS! THAT'S HOW GRITTY AND REALISTIC IT IS!!"

Fine. I get it. Gritty and realistic. I like it a lot, too! I will watch all the episodes. And perhaps this just comes back to personal taste, but the worst episode of BB had more artistic, electric flair to it than the best episode I've seen of the Wire.

So maybe that's it. If you like artistic, electric flair, you'll end up on the BB side. If you like gritty realism and people saying motherfucker and nigga every three seconds, you're a The Wire guy.

Me, I can't believe it's so close in the court of public opinion. Maybe it's just that The Wire is a perfectly cooked steak, and BB is a perfectly cooked burrito with lots of cilantro and hot sauce.

You know I love that vibrancy, that brightness of flavor, that hot sauce.

I'll take the burrito, please.

RC · Post by RC » Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:18 pm

Come on. You seriously can't have given up on THE BEST SEASON OF TV EVER already? Humor me here.

RetroRomper · Post by **RetroRomper** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:02 pm

If Pinback is incapable of enjoying Game of Thrones, why would he even give The Wire a chance?

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:10 pm

I liked GoT okay. Don't see the "magic" of The Wire. Didn't PULL ME IN. Coulda watched the next episode, or coulda not. Either way.

I think BB ruined TV, because everything is pretty terrible in comparison.

RC · Post by RC » Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:45 pm

It just gets so good, season 2. Trust me, it is much better than 1. I HAVE WATCHED EVERYTHING YOU TOLD ME TO DAMMIT.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:22 pm

This is the wrong discussion to be having, anyway.

The correct discussion is:

Breaking Bad vs. Homeland

I missed most of Homeland season 1, but I did see the finale, which was extraordinary. Never before has watching how it ends made me want to watch everything leading up to it, but I am now, and there can be no question that Homeland is the second best TV show there is.

Anyone? Anyone seen it?

Roody_Yogurt · Post by **Roody_Yogurt** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:57 pm

I really liked that one dude in the show "Life" on NBC. I haven't seen Homeland, though.

The Happiness Engine · Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:05 am

I got like 9 episodes into Homeland and it went from setting up so many interesting ideas to just completely ignoring them for a straight good/evil set up liberally sprinkled with impossible TV bullshit that I let the last 2 episodes sit on my PC for months before admitting to myself that I just did not want to watch this show.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:36 am

Yeah, that sounds like a show that is greater than the Wire.

Pinback, take your Homeworld and stream it up YOUR ASS. I demand you finish The Wire. I am still in no position to make demands.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 4:00 pm

That's funny, it's usually hard to find someone saying something negative about something on the internet. But we found it! Right here in our own back--

I have seen three episodes of Homeland, the first two, and the last, and there is no way in the universe I think anyone could watch any of those and think the Wire is better. At least the first season. The Wire has no fucking ART to it. It's GRITTY AND REALISTIC AND THEY SAY FUCK A LOT. And maybe it gets more artistic as the show goes on, but Homeland and Breaking Bad have really raised the bar on that so high at this point that I'm guessing even the most artistic Wire episode will be found wanting.

Prove me wrong. I got bored 1/3 of the way through Season 2. Give me an episode to watch.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 4:13 pm

Understood. I will download the first episode of this "Homeworld" show.