# ...and the best TV show in the history of the universe is: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583 "2011-07-02T00:28:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/81 "2011-07-03T16:21:13Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > The show that has continually and consistently blown me away: **Breaking Bad.** > > It’s gonna be a while before that gets overthrown. Although, I’ll have to watch **The Wire** as this board keeps bringing it up. Fine! I’ll watch it! 😉 When I told a couple people that I think The Wire is even better than Breaking Bad, I really got their attention. Because they know I \*loves \*my Breaking Bad. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/82 "2011-07-03T16:35:46Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > When I told a couple people that I think The Wire is even better than Breaking Bad, I really got their attention. Because they know I \*loves \*my Breaking Bad. Interesting. I enjoyed Breaking Bad, but it’s not even in my second-tier along with shows like Community, Justified, and Angel; it’s more of a third-tier show, with BSG and Sons of Anarchy. Too many flaws for me to think it’s fantastic. First tier shows are nearly all HBO: The Wire, Rome, Deadwood, and maybe Firefly. The first three are all very strong contenders, but ultimately The Wire had a combination of pitch-perfect acting, beautifully complex storytelling, and rich humanity that makes it win for me. And you think the ending of season **two** is like a Greek tragedy? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/83 "2011-07-03T16:36:52Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Disagree with “the manner the writers intended”, as JJ Abrams and the head writers had promised that by the end of _Lost_, everything would make sense, _rationally_, with “no magic involved”. > > Hmmm, I think we need a thread on **“Shows that were awesome right up until the last episode”.** > > Some might call it “a _Seinfeld/Sopranos_ thread”; I’d call it “the _Lost/Prisoner_ discussion”. While **LOST** was my favorite show over the course of its run, they completely dropped the ball in the last season (mostly, the last couple episodes). Wow, what a disappointment. Still, a great journey… too bad the destination seemed like it was from another show, and left so much unaddressed elements behind. Lazy! However, the way the **Sopranos** ended will forever be one of my all-time favorite series enders (speaking of Journey). Brilliant on so many layers: 1. I’m in the camp that Tony was whacked by the Members Only jacket guy. 2. That it happened in the middle of a mundane dinner was an anthem to the entire series. 3. The audience was spared seeing the violent slaying of Tony in front of his entire family, just as Meadow walked in. The fallout of that seems far more preferable to imagine in your head. 4. The tension in that scene was palpable. 5. Then… it just went… _black._ As Tony believed death to be. As life ends for everyone. The show was Tony… without him, it’s just over. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/84 "2011-07-03T16:42:25Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > However, the way the **Sopranos** ended will forever be one of my all-time favorite series enders (speaking of Journey). Brilliant on so many layers: > > 1. I’m in the camp that Tony was whacked by the Members Only jacket guy. > 2. That it happened in the middle of a mundane dinner was an anthem to the entire series. > 3. The audience was spared seeing the violent slaying of Tony in front of his entire family, just as Meadow walked in. The fallout of that seems far more preferable to imagine in your head. > 4. The tension in that scene was palpable. > 5. Then… it just went… _black._ As Tony believed death to be. As life ends for everyone. The show was Tony… without him, it’s just over. It took this post and its astute analysis to persuade me! I had been on the fence and was even “satisfied” that the ambivalence was the point. Nice job! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/85 "2011-07-03T18:39:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > And you think the ending of season **two** is like a Greek tragedy? Huh. It was not me who said that, it was **Swords To Plowshares** back in post #50; and Swords was referring to Season 1, not Season 2. ETA: Upon re-reading the post, I believe he was referring to the penultimate episode in Season Two. mmm ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/86 "2011-07-03T21:31:14Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Disagree with “the manner the writers intended”, as JJ Abrams and the head writers had promised that by the end of _Lost_, everything would make sense, _rationally_, with “no magic involved”. I think you are twisting what was actually said. Also, did Abrams even write for the show after the first episode? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/87 "2011-07-04T01:33:39Z")
Drama: Deadwood Comedy: Larry Sanders ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/88 "2011-07-04T01:37:20Z")
Rocky and Bullwinkle. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/89 "2011-07-04T02:15:36Z")
_Buffy_, in addition to having great dialogue, the ability to make you care deeply about the characters, and a whole bunch of other platitudes, also had the most indisputably _hot_ females in the history of TV. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/90 "2011-07-04T03:14:29Z")
My World and Welcome to it . Laugh In. Should have been listed. My wife would vote Sopranos ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/91 "2011-07-04T03:32:20Z")
Top Gear. I’ve repeatedly avoided changing cable companies with better prices and progamming simply because they don’t carry it, ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/92 "2011-07-04T03:45:09Z")
I totally forgot about _My World and Welcome to it_. Does it exist in DVDs? I had to vote for Mary Tyler Moore, but _WKRP_ and _Arrested Development_ were close behind. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/93 "2011-07-04T03:48:19Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Top Gear. > I’ve repeatedly avoided changing cable companies with better prices and progamming simply because they don’t carry it, Get Netflix! That’s how I’ve been watching it! 🙂 I came in here to vote top gear, as well. Broadcast by the BBC in 100 countries, averages 350 MILLION people watching each week…how is it not the best? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583/94 "2011-07-04T04:47:07Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > _The Dick Van Dyke Show_ had the best scripts & cast. > Period. Agree. I now have to somehow find time to watch all these shows… hmmm, reason enough to retire right there! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-best-tv-show-in-the-history-of-the-universe-is/587583.md?page=4)