20 Greatest HBO Shows Of All Time

20. The Wire

It couldn't be anything else could it? David Simon's opus about the savagery of Capitalism and the failure of institutions features some of the finest drawn characters in any medium. Season 4 is the greatest television season of all time and nothing comes close to its depth, tragedy and warmth.

Whilst mostly ignored during its initial run, The Wire has since grown to be an institution itself as it is widely acknowledged as a benchmark in television. It also first introduced us to the man, the myth, the legend that is Idris Elba.