10 Amazing TV Shows You'll Probably Never Watch Again
2. The Wire
The Wire is often cited as one of the greatest TV shows ever, maybe even the greatest. Does it live up to this lofty praise? Well, thanks to the unreal ensemble cast and brilliantly rich writing, it absolutely does. However, regardless of how magisterial it undeniably is, it's far from the most enjoyable of shows.
It's a miserable drama that shines a bleak light on the problems and inequalities in modern American society, and thanks to creator David Simon's admirable commitment to realism, it all feels heartbreakingly real. As such, tragedies such as the almost-unwatchable murder of teenage drug dealer Wallace (Michael B. Jordan) in season one hit devastatingly hard.
The Wire also denies its viewers and characters catharsis at every turn. Happy endings are rare, antagonists often get away scot-free, and it doesn't provide the audience with the comfort of straightforward heroes and villains. Pretty much everyone here is morally grey to some degree. Honestly, some of the most sympathetic characters are the drug dealers the police are trying to catch, many of whom are genuinely likable people trapped in a terrible cycle of crime.
In short, The Wire is another show that's going to be too depressing to revisit for many viewers, and that's more than fair enough.