The Sopranos vs The Shield. Which was better?

[I'm Shawn Spencer]

Back when they were both airing, I thought The Shield was better. Haven't rewatched either one since they aired, but I bet my opinion wouldn't change now.

I thought the first 2 or 3 seasons of Sopranos was great. For me it was must see tv each week. But after those first few seasons I started losing interest. Got to the point where I don't think I saw a single episode of the last few seasons, except the finale.

With The Shield it was kind of the opposite. Saw the first few episodes and liked 'em, but wasn't blown away. Watched a few episodes here and there whenever I noticed it was on. But then around season 3 I got hooked and stayed hooked until the very end.

It was like Sopranos started very strong and gradually went downhill. The Shield started medium and ramped up until the end.




What do you guys think? Which one you like better and why?




EDIT: Btw I know these are pretty different kinds of shows. But they were both top notch and they both aired around the same time. That's the reason for the comparison.

 

[TheLinguist]

 

[JinKazama]

The sopranos felt like it kinda ended abruptly, like they could’ve stretched it out a few more seasons if they wanted

the shield was like a train charging to the finish line especially that last 2 seasons, and it was pretty amazing

sopranos is a great great show, but man I enjoyed the shield more especially that last episode

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Back when they were both airing, I thought The Shield was better. Haven't rewatched either one since they aired, but I bet my opinion wouldn't change now.

I thought the first 2 or 3 seasons of Sopranos was great. For me it was must see tv each week. But after those first few seasons I started losing interest. Got to the point where I don't think I saw a single episode of the last few seasons, except the finale.

With The Shield it was kind of the opposite. Saw the first few episodes and liked 'em, but wasn't blown away. Watched a few episodes here and there whenever I noticed it was on. But then around season 3 I got hooked and stayed hooked until the very end.

It was like Sopranos started very strong and gradually went downhill. The Shield started medium and ramped up until the end.




What do you guys think? Which one you like better and why?




EDIT: Btw I know these are pretty different kinds of shows. But they were both top notch and they both aired around the same time. That's the reason for the comparison.

 

[I'm Shawn Spencer]

 

[fingercuffs]

I really need to try The Shield out again, I just really didn't like Vic Mackey whereas I loved Tony. I've watched it probably 3 times now and still cry at the end...mainly because I'm gutted it's over rather than the controversial final scene.

 

[I'm Shawn Spencer]

I really need to try The Shield out again, I just really didn't like Vic Mackey whereas I loved Tony. I've watched it probably 3 times now and still cry at the end...mainly because I'm gutted it's over rather than the controversial final scene.

Vic Mackey isn't a likable character. He's a bad guy. Arguably worse than Tony.

But that's the brilliance of it. Tony was a fairly good guy in a bad guy's position. Vic was a bad guy in a good guy's position.

 

[Rygu]

Oh that's a tough one.

Both are among the best shows ever created.

 

[ToxicShocker]

The Wire

 

[I'm Shawn Spencer]

The Wire

Never heard of it.

 

[fingercuffs]

Vic Mackey isn't a likable character. He's a bad guy. Arguably worse than Tony.

But that's the brilliance of it. Tony was a fairly good guy in a bad guy's position. Vic was a bad guy in a good guy's position.

There are some characters who are real nasty fuckers but I can still enjoy watching them, he just sort of rubbed me up the wrong way. And now I can't for the life of me think of another example, lol.

I keep meaning to try it again and I will, I admittedly only watched a handful of episodes but I just can't imagine loving it more, but I'm all ears and will admit if I think it is.

 

[GoodBadHBK]

Sopranos Seasons 1-3 is the best television I've ever watched

The Shield 5-7 is some of the most addicting TV and satisfying conclusion to a series I've ever watched.

Sopranos for me slightly but the shield is up there and is the only show I watched that got better every season.

Sopranos Season 3 & The Shield Season 5 are the best seasons in each show imo

Joe Pantoliano & Steve Buscemi were huge additions to the Sopranos S3 just as Anthony Anderson & Forrest Whittaker were for the Shield.

 

[cabear]

i loved the shield, it was way more engaging than the sopranos, which isn't a bad show at all. I just preferred mackey to tony.

 

[JinKazama]

Vic Mackey isn't a likable character. He's a bad guy. Arguably worse than Tony.

But that's the brilliance of it. Tony was a fairly good guy in a bad guy's position. Vic was a bad guy in a good guy's position.

Yea all throughout I found myself rooting for the strike team and Vic as they did seem to have some redeeming qualities

wheels fell off that last season, with the penultimate episode you find yourself legit hating Mackey, but it’s just so well done and the show wraps up so well it’s hard not to appreciate the series as a whole

 

[Kraysla]

I didn't think i would be into The Shield, but then saw some episodes and got into it a few seasons. Unfortunately i worked nights, so ended up missing a few episodes then got out of the loop. Gotta go back and watch the entire thing. The Sopranos was great until the last couple of seasons. Had a real drop off and that hurt it when it comes to goat talk, same with GOT.

 

[HereticBD]

I think "The Sopranos" hit higher heights, and if it didn't shit the bed in it's final season it would be undeniably the GOAT. "The Shield" had a slightly lower quality throughout, but it never really wavered, and stuck the landing. I'd put "The Sopranos" ahead of it in general, but "The Shield" was more consistent, just due to it not ever really having a weak season. "The Sopranos" were 10/10 to 9/10 until the final season, which was a 6/10 at best, whereas "The Shield" was a consistent 8/10.

 

[Deleted member 405583]

Sopranos Seasons 1-3 is the best television I've ever watched

The Shield 5-7 is some of the most addicting TV and satisfying conclusion to a series I've ever watched.

Sopranos for me slightly but the shield is up there and is the only show I watched that got better every season.

Sopranos Season 3 & The Shield Season 5 are the best seasons in each show imo

Joe Pantoliano & Steve Buscemi were huge additions to the Sopranos S3 just as Anthony Anderson & Forrest Whittaker were for the Shield.

Season 5

 

[Deleted member 405583]

Wait... this is really a question?

 

[D Train]

RIP Lem.

 

[Bob Gray]

I think "The Sopranos" hit higher heights, and if it didn't shit the bed in it's final season it would be undeniably the GOAT. "The Shield" had a slightly lower quality throughout, but it never really wavered, and stuck the landing. I'd put "The Sopranos" ahead of it in general, but "The Shield" was more consistent, just due to it not ever really having a weak season. "The Sopranos" were 10/10 to 9/10 until the final season, which was a 6/10 at best, whereas "The Shield" was a consistent 8/10.

This 100%. Pretty much exactly what I was gonna say. Sopranos got really shitty in the end game, and had an woefully underwhelming final episode. The Shield was consistently great, and had arguably the best final episode I've ever seen.