As an aficionado of The Sopranos I was interested to see this article, the main thrust of the piece pits The Sopranos against The Wire. Baltimore v. New Jersey. David Chase v. David Simon.
To be honest, and this will appal many fans of The Wire but I kinda got …erm… bored with it. Sorry guys but maybe I should buy some of the DVDs and re-assess my position. In saying that, I never got bored with The Sopranos, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco (Tony and Carmela Soprano) were electric in their performances as well as the supporting cast. The storylines, story arcs, dialogue and writing were dramatic, creative, unique, complex (references bordered on Greek tragedy, Jacobean revenge storylines mixed with I, Claudius look at intrigue and the role of Roman Empire style-family situations) and engrossing. I never missed an episode.
At a former work colleague’s leaving do in late 1999 I remember saying my hasty goodbyes, rudely and abruptly leaving while stating, ‘I must get home it is the penultimate episode of The Sopranos’… I confess, the first two series were magnificent and just what good powerful drama with added tension should be about.
A highwire act of writing and acting practically unique in its audacity.
In each episode there is generally one story arc on a lower level while the broader strokes operate on a far grander scale.
And of course, whatta theme tune…. Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning. I agree with the conclusion from the article as well.
Ultimately, much as I love the Wire, I love The Sopranos more. Truth be told. Wha’yougonnado?
So I am biased, and if anyone out in cyberspace wants to comment in a defence of The Wire then please do so the comments box is all yours…
We forgive you! I think they’re both great but for different reasons (how liberal sounding is that for a response!) and even though we could spend hours (as the writer you flagged up did) thinking of a winner, maybe its better to devote the time to seeing them in their own right as different bits of drama with a different approach. I need to watch the Sopranoes again to update as its been a while. Just finished the Wire and feeling a bit bereft, so thanx for suggesting a replacement. BTW, I hope since the hasty exit from colleague’s party moment you’ve purchased some sort of recording device – no need to watch things in real time anymore (hee hee!). Thanks for this Louise : )
Indeed Sara, I think it is right to look at both series and their own contribution to gritty drama. No…. you are not being liberal!!
I don’t have a recording device just a DVD player which I watch DVDs on, doesn’t record. So that scenario…..knowing me….can happen again…
Bored with The Wire? How can you ever expect another opinion you express to be taken seriously?
The last two series of The Sopranos were treading water. The Wire sustained it to the end.
“How can you ever expect another opinion you express to be taken seriously?”
Ha! I was waiting for that kinda comment, Liam…. You mean people took me seriously before I wrote this controversial post……so this is a first!!
I agree The Sopranos was treading water regarding the last two series but frankly it kept my attention from the start unlike The Wire where I ….fell asleep. Sacre Bleu… I hear the collective of The Wire fans exclaim!!
I had the opposite experience… loved The Wire, found The Sopranos a bit boring.
I do think you need to watch a lot more Wire episodes to really get into it. Each season starts off a bit slow, but when it picks up it really becomes fascinating.
Hey Wednesday, Nice to see you!!
Ok…. I will watch more of The Wire and give it a chance this time….
As the creator of the website http://www.sopranosboxset.co.uk you may think I am slightly biased but I created the site out of love for the sopranos. What a series, I have never seen anything quite like it. I have lost count of the times I promised my wife that I would only watch one episode and then come to bed but the next thing I know its 2am and Ive watched 4 episodes on the bounce!! I was looking for a series to replace The void that finishing The Sopranos has left in my life and my sister in law bought me The Wire Season 1 but without wishing to alienate myself from all The Wire fans it simply isnt fit to lace Tony Sopranos boots in my humble opinion. I am going to slog on with it and may even buy series 2, can anyone say if it gets any better than series 1?
http://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/back-on-the-wire/
I saw “The Wire” first. Then, after I had gone through withdrawals and cold turkey to the bitter end, I realised that “The Sopranos” might work. It did. In spades. I cannot tell you which moved my soul, captured me, “assimilated” me more. What I do know is that these series work much better in bigger chunks, three or four episodes at a time.
“Band Of Brothers” is another. I have high hopes for “The Pacific”. I can recommend “John Adams”. “Deep Space Nine” is a classic. Also, the BBC’s best ever Dickens adaptation, “Little Dorrit”. Thank God for The Pirate Bay!
I loved the Sopranos, but I always felt like it was a boring show interrupted by terribly exciting events (Big Pussy being killed, Richie being killed, Junior attempting to kill Tony…do you sense a theme here?). Part of what made it boring was I always knew that Tony wasn’t going to die in this episode or that Sil would never come to harm. We knew that Tony and Carmela wouldn’t actually get divorced. The story had several long meandering story lines that really could have been removed in whole without affecting the story (Vito in Vermont).
The Wire, however, was always a loose cannon of sorts. Anyone could be killed or fired or sent to jail at any point. Omar’s anticlimactic death at the hand of a kid is proof of that. There were shocking moments sprinkled throughout the season, not all saved til the season finale like most shows. The world presented in The Wire is so realistic and authentic that it feels almost like watching a documentary. Maybe the best thing going for The Wire, the writers were conscientious enough to wrap all those loose ends that the Sopranos left frayed.
Hi guys,
My only advice is to watch The Wire to the end of the series and have faith.
Thanks to Wonkywoo’s ill-timed comment for bringing this to my attention. You’re absolutely right, of course. I found The Sopranos more creative than The Wire, less contrived and, obviously, more compelling because of it.
the only diffrent in them is simple:
i can see sopranos at any time and enjoy the acting of each actor or epidoe without remmbering what the plot is
the wire is a diffrent thing if you dont know whats going on you loose intrest you need alot of patience with the wire
and i dont think i will see the wire again from the start to finish its a one time experience
Got to jump in on this topic…. Both amazing series (the two best things i’ve ever watched.
Being the younger generation (21) and from the UK i some how feel relate to the wire more than the sopranos. I am a white middle classed guy, when i say relate i don’t mean remind me of myself… but of the community i grew up in and i can see more similarites.
For this reason, and this reason only, i’m giving the edge to The Wire