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• Monday, September 17, 2007 04:03 PM

  The difference

  "The Sopranos" is a tour de force. "The Wire" is a masterpiece. Therein lies the difference between the two shows.

  I remember watching the commentary part of one of the "Wire's" DVD's. The desire to work with and create a cinematic form and experience was exquisitely realized. In nearly every scene, character, shot. The writing, concept, and execution of "The Soprano's" was great, extremely powerful but also highly uneven. "The Wire" works at a level of power and sublimity that never wavers. The humanization, the depth of exploration of the drug world and underclass is unparalleled.

  Chase is a great writer, Simon and Burns are better. The meticulous imnterweaving of "The Wire", the stripping away of the masks of the present world to reveal the reality we constantly ignore is extraordinary.

  The death of Stringer Bell and others was as or more powerful than any hit in "The Sopranos". The ending of season four carried more pathos and tragedy than any moment I can remember in "The Sopranos".

  "The Sopranos" is Richard III. But "The Wire" is King Lear. Which is the greater play? The more mature achilevement, vision realized?

  I truly think "The Wire" compares to Shakespeare as great tragedy. I do not believe the same of "The Sopranos", and I am a fan.

  "Oz", "Deadwood", "Six Feet Under". Phenomenal shows. We are lucky to have had them.

  "The Wire" is the greatest program produced for television ever.

  —kenkapkk Read kenkapkk's other letters
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