# Why didn't The Wire get as much attention as Game of Thrones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029 "2013-06-03T13:22:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/41 "2013-06-04T00:45:57Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Game of Thrones** is about another world. **The Wire** was about Baltimore. > > That’s all you need to know. Yup. I prefer fantasy and sci-fi drama over real world stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/42 "2013-06-04T03:51:01Z")
You may as well compare either with Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/43 "2013-06-04T03:51:47Z")
The Wire [is number 9](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925), Game of Thrones [is number 40](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925). ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/44 "2013-06-04T04:18:03Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > The Wire [is number 9](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925), Game of Thrones [is number 40](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925). Yeah but they list **Friends** as 24th. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/45 "2013-06-04T04:31:53Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Yeah but they list **Friends** as 24th. And, note that the list is specifically of “the **best-written** TV series”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/46 "2013-06-04T04:32:10Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Do people ever do this with New Jersey and The Sopranos? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/47 "2013-06-04T04:35:38Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Do people ever do this with New Jersey and The Sopranos? Not to mention with _Jersey Shore_. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/48 "2013-06-04T04:41:27Z")
It did, in my bubble. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/49 "2013-06-04T04:53:31Z")
The Wire was lost in the shadow of The Sopranos, which was as popular as GoT. Unfortunately for The Wire, it got buried in the golden age of HBO, with The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and then Deadwood and Rome competing for the spotlight. Game of Thrones is the centerpiece of HBO’s resurgence, which in recent years has fallen from a commanding lead in cable tv (back in The Wire’s day) to way back in the pack, behind Showtime, AMC and probably even FX. GoT is analogous to The Sopranos, which shot HBO into the stratosphere in the first place. Sure, HBO had made its mark with Larry Sanders, Dream On, etc… but they didn’t really become the heavyweight champ until Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/50 "2013-06-04T05:13:19Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > … Remember too that at its peak, The Wire was averaging more than 4 million viewers, which isn’t far off from where GoT is now. another aspect is piracy. GoT is supposed to be one of the most pirated shows, adding to the buzz and number of viewers etc. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/51 "2013-06-04T21:51:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And, note that the list is specifically of “the **best-written** TV series”. Wait, are you posting in support of the writing on Friends or against it? I mean, Friends was hardly the worst thing to ever be on TV, but it would never occur to me if I was compiling a list of best written TV series. Of course, I noticed Everybody Loves Raymond near the tail end of the list, and that would occur to me if I was compiling a list of worst written TV series. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/52 "2013-06-04T22:27:06Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > another aspect is piracy. GoT is supposed to be one of the most pirated shows, adding to the buzz and number of viewers etc. The people behind GoT, if not HBO themselves, don’t encourage piracy, but they don’t seem to exactly mind, either. I guess S3E1 was the top torrented file or tv show ever? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/53 "2013-06-04T23:17:27Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > The Wire [is number 9](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925), Game of Thrones [is number 40](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=4925). This list made my anus prolapse. Mind bogglingly awful. Was this the result of votes by the writers guild? No wonder almost all TV sucks if this is the collective assessment of the writers. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/54 "2013-06-05T03:26:27Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > This list made my anus prolapse. > > Mind bogglingly awful. > > Was this the result of votes by the writers guild? > > No wonder almost all TV sucks if this is the collective assessment of the writers. Did your top ten not make the list? Most of my favorite shows were on it, albeit not where I’d place them. Lists are very subjective as I’m sure you know. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/55 "2013-06-05T08:33:04Z")
Yeah, when you’re done stuffing the sock back into the duffel, maybe you’d like to give a few examples of what should’ve made the list? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/56 "2013-06-05T22:29:35Z")
Isn’t it comparing apples with oranges? I can look at any newspaper and read about shootings, stabbings, thugs, corruption, drug dealing, and cops in the big bad city. I have grown discouraged and weary of society’s endless problems, and so don’t crave even more of the same on TV. Game of Thrones has mythology, strange settings and characters, scenery, costumes, and yeah, nudity. I would rather spend an hour in an imaginary fantasy world than sit through yet more of what’s all around us. (Similarly, Life in a small town, drama and comedy, dealing with friends/family/neighbors, the ups and downs of life: would I rather watch The Middle or True Blood? I see enough struggling humans everyday, why would I want to see even more of them on TV - and I want my hot vampires, dammit! To each his own, some would rather watch the program guide than scary Game of Thrones, True Blood, or any other fantasy shows out there. Welcome to it, not me.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/57 "2013-06-05T22:32:57Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I can look at any newspaper and read about shootings, stabbings, thugs, corruption, drug dealing, and cops in the big bad city. I have grown discouraged and weary of society’s endless problems, and so don’t crave even more of the same on TV. And there’s nothing wrong with that- but no, it’s not the reason The Wire wasn’t as big a hit as Game of Thrones. TV shows about cops in the city are very, very popular, although from what I’ve seen they’re more about solving mysteries than solving society’s problems. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/58 "2013-06-05T22:36:55Z")
Hmm…looking at that list, Breaking Bad sticks out at me as being slightly too high. Not because it hasn’t been an extremely well-written show, but because the acting performances are so great that its hard to tell if its the writing, actors, and/or directors making the lines work. Which is a great combination to have, but one that makes it difficult to separate the individual ingredients. And Law and Order at 43. I mean, they’ve had so many different writers and types of writers over the years, I can’t see how you would categorize them. Back to The Wire. Aside from the all the aforementioned reasons, GoT gives you a visceral thrill of sorts most every episode (Boobies, swords, weird smoke-babies). The Wire was a slow boil throughout the season, with only occasional moments that pop out as instantly notable. However by the end of each season, if you stick with it, you’ll (the viewer) will get the storytelling money shot that makes it all worth it. Think Kima in the alleys in the penultimate episode of Season 1 or the look in Carver’s eyes as he’s walking away from Randy after Randy’s foster mom got severely burned because of Carver’s fuckup in Season 4. _“You gonna help, huh? You gonna look out for me? You gonna look out for me, Sgt. Carver? You mean it? You gonna look out for me? You promise? You got my back, huh?”_ Thats the “tantric sex” money shot right there. Whew…I’m all hot and bothered talking about screenwriting. I may need a hobby. Or a girlfriend. Or a hobby-girlfriend. \*P.S. - Randy’s real life name is Maestro Harrell. That is undeniably cool. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/59 "2013-06-05T22:45:41Z")
And Justified has to be higher. That show makes its bones with its snappy dialogue. [spoiler]\*First thing we’re going to do is we’re gonna acknowledge that this guy’s awesome. I mean, he shoots Theo Tonin, fakes his own death in a spectacular fashion, pushes a guy out of an airplane while he’s flying it, parachutes into Harlan County with enough coke and cash to jump-start the economy of a small country, and then he has the balls to get a job in law enforcement, not once but two times! He spends a couple of days riding around with you while you’re looking for him, and now he’s run off with a hooker that’s half his age. That’s some bad-ass shit. It’s pretty bad-ass. \* Tim Gutterson: No admission, huh? Did you try flirting? Raylan Givens: He was immune to my charms. Chief Deputy Art Mullen: Said “heroes only”. Tim Gutterson: Oh, ok. You show them your ass wound? Chief Deputy Art Mullen: Well, I didn’t think it was that kind of evening. Tim Gutterson: Evening soldier. Uh, I didn’t bring my cape. I’m guessing this will suffice. [shows military ID][/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029/60 "2013-06-06T03:30:34Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, when you’re done stuffing the sock back into the duffel, maybe you’d like to give a few examples of what should’ve made the list? For a second I thought you were replying to me, but the context didn’t make sense. I then realized who and what you were referring to, and I experienced a moment of shock and horror. I doubt more than a small handful of people got what you were saying, and those that did are maybe kinda twisted. Kudos on having written the most subtle/horrifying reply I may have ever seen. You did get a really good setup though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-wire-get-as-much-attention-as-game-of-thrones/660029.md?page=4)