Why Britain Can't Do The Wire Page 9

Quote: Chappers @ December 24 2009, 12:34 AM GMT

Well it depends if your definition of "good" is action or violent.

Good drama can involve good dialogue and story lines. One of my favourite TV programmes ever is Survivors which was remade recently. It was different to the original but still very good.

Actually I've never seen the Wire and I've got no idea what it's about.

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Seriously, watch The Wire, if you want good dialogue and story lines and compelling characters, then watch The Wire.

I know you, for some reason, have a massive bias against "Yank" stuff, but The Wire is really superb and then you'll realise what is meant by "Why Britain can't do The Wire".

I don't know how anyone can say that British drama is superior or even equal to US drama currently. This past decade US drama has created some incredible programmes: The Sopranos, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Generation Kill, The Wire, Mad Men, Lost, Alias etc. I'm sure the UK has had a couple of drama series that can stand up to some of those, Life on Mars comes to mind, but the balance is very uneven.

I mean can you seriously hold something like Paradox up to the likes of any of those named above?

It's not that I don't think Britain can't do good drama, I'm sure they can and I'd love for 2010 to introduce some really fresh, engaging, innovative drama series that actually have good dialogue, good characters and good plots.

Many of these US shows are just pale imitations of the British original.

Worst culprit being 24. A young(ish), blonde-haired man, rushing around - leaving chaos behind him.

An obvious remake of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

The Accused, Life on Mars, The Street, Spooks, Dr Who, Torchwood (COE), The Bill

Wire is over rated a flashier clone of the Bill with inferior dialogue and characters.

Generation Kill, The Sopranos, all good stuff but their the product of HBO a super powered independent channel prodco. It's not reflexive of US TV in general.

Quote: sootyj @ November 16 2010, 12:57 PM GMT

Wire is over rated a flashier clone of the Bill with inferior dialogue and characters.

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The Bill at times during its run has been very decent police procedural; at times it has been a turgid soap opera.

The Wire however is on a different plane; a trenchent disection of American society and compelling entertainment.

It is rare that I catch up with a programme that has been hyped and are then won over, but The Wire was top class. It's success can be laid down to the free rein given to its two creators. It is uncompromising.

It is relevant that the most successful original British drama of the year was Downton Abbey, again a writer-led project, albeit very different.

Sooty isn't allowed to have any opinions on The Wire. Because he is wrong.

The Wire didn't have a single character who could a candle to Reg.

Cattle end up in burgers.

Ssshhhhhh.