Makaveli915

both are cop dramas.. but which one's better if you can choose only one??!!!
I'm asking because I'm thinking getting DVDs but can't decide which one I should try first and get em.....

sassylaurie

Every season of the shield I have watched in a couple of days. Could not stop watching it, I had to seee what was next.
I did not have the same feeling of the wire. I did like that The Wire just not as much.
Seasons 1-3 of the shield are much better than season 4 though.

tsohg

It depends on how you like your cop drama. The Wire is like a slow climb on a roller coaster half the fun is the build-up to the top of the first drop. The Shield is like those newer coasters that takes off from 0-60 in 4 seconds. I say save some money up and get both.
I started with the Shield first because the first ep earned top 5 on my "holy shit did that just happen on t.v.?" list

Nefarious

I've seen every season of both shows and can say, in my opinion, that The Wire is a better series by far.

The Shield is very good but it steers into the more far-fetched drama storylines.

The Wire...it is just TV at its best. I would consider it the most quality drama TV show that HBO has ever done. I say that being a huge fan of Deadwood & Sopranos.

mrglass

I'll echo what tsogh said...if you like your cop shows slow and deliberate, go for the Wire. If you like 'em intense and in your face, the Shield might be your cup of tea.

My vote is for the Wire.

das Monkey

The Wire is the better show, but they're both great and don't have much in common other than kicking ass. The Wire is the smartest, most insightful, most ambitious law enforcement series ever and one of the best television series of all time. The Shield is edgy and intense and a little over-the-top but incredibly entertaining. The Shield probably appeals to a larger audience, because it takes less intellectual effort to enjoy and grabs you by the balls in the first episode, but The Wire is more rewarding longterm. It just depends what kind of show you want, but you can't lose here (unless you have terrible taste ). My guess is The Shield can be found significantly cheaper if that matters.

das

esc24

I've seen every episode of both and can safely say The Shield is much better than The Wire. My biggest problem with The Wire is that it just moves too slow sometimes (except for Season 4) and i find myslef getting a little bored. That's not to say it's not a very good show, but just not as entertaining. The Shield is more fast paced, and highly entertaining. It's also much more mainstream than The Wire so there's very little chance you won't like it, whereas The Wire is more hit or miss. Also consider the prices. The Wire is usually between $40 - $60 a set and rarely goes under that price, but The Shield is almost regularly on sale for between $15-$20 a set.

uhftv

I've never seen the Wire but have seen pretty much all episodes of the Shield.
I've heard lots of good things about the Wire. Sounds like you have to experience it for yourself. It took me several episodes before I thought Shield was really worth pursuing.

I think both shows were descendants of Homicide, one of my fav shows of all time.

MechanicalMan

I agree with Nefarious and das. The Shield is a fun show, but The Wire is far better. I think The Wire is the best drama on TV right now.

Chauzer

the wire

sb5

As others have said, it's like comparing apples and oranges. They're both incredible shows, but with completely different approaches.

So my vote is "get both".

lukewarmwater

I like both, but the wire is a little smarter then the shield and more thought out. So the wire.

Elpresidentepez

The Wire gets my vote. The Shield is fantastic, but it sometimes (rarely) gets caught up in some of the more annoying problems associated with network television (slow moving plots, unrealistic outcomes for the sake of entertainment, etc). The wire is probably one of the least-dumbed-down television shows I can think of. Even the first few episodes don't really try and "Hook you in" it merely begins and expects you to pick up on the rhythm and language of the show.

MrX

The Wire

hdtv00

The Wire

CKMorpheus

The Wire gets a vote from me, but it really depends who you are. I love em both but Wire is without a doubt the most realistic and gripping of the two.

What kinds of shows are you into?

mytzplyx

THE WIRE. Hands down. The implications of the show go way past mere entertainment and enters your thoughts and perceptions of the world around you.

Lara Means

The Wire

kms_md

another vote for the wire.

lewisb73

The Shield, hands down... not that the wire is a bad show, it is excellent... but I cant site and watch 2-3 at a time like I do with the wire

xVladx

I've never seen The Wire, but I'd say that The Shield is one of my favorite shows ever. It's managed to be on the air for six seasons so far with not a single bad episode. Not only that, but the storyline is one that just keeps building on itself. The things going on now in the storyline are a direct result of things that happened all the way back to the first episode.

It's great stuff, and I can't recommend it enough.

starseed1981

I've seen every episode of both series.

The Shield by far.

MrX

You must have missed "Co-Pilot"

Shack

They're both worth your time. The Shield is very good, but The Wire is one of the best shows ever.

Besides the tempo, it's the focus that's different. The Wire deals with detectives working with on crimes, but also considers the city of Baltimore as a whole, so it goes much deeper. Also each season has a large cast of great actors and characters.

The Shield narrows down on a few cops in a dangerous part of LA and is more of a study of them in that environment. Much more action. I like how both series have plots that play out over several years and trust that the audience can keep up with the complexity, and that both series will show many sides of the issues and arguments.

MrX

Speaking of The Wire, I read they started production on season 5 this month

I don't think it will air until January