I am a massive fan of The Wire, I couldn't believe the hype was true, saw a few episodes - turns out, it was, its the the best tv drama - period. As such I've been thinking more and more about checking out Homicide but I'm worried that I'll keep comparing it to its younger brother and won't enjoy it. What do people who are fans of both say to compare them?
I would say that, while both shows are superb and share many similarities, they are also quite different in many ways.
Similarities:
Both shows are set on the mean streets of Baltimore.
Both shows feature terrific ensemble casts--although
Homicide's ensemble was gradually diluted until, by the seventh season, it was only a shadow of its former self. In terms of acting and characterization, the first four seasons of
Homicide were the best. Season Five was still pretty good. Season Six was okay, and Season Seven was (comparatively) poor, though there were always a few eps that measured up to the show's previously high standards
Both shows are written and filmed in a naturalistic style and feature realistic-seeming police work--though once again,
Homicide started to lose its way toward the end.
Both shows have a bleak sense of humour and are often very funny, in a dark way.
Differences:
Homicide, as its title implies, focuses on the Baltimore PD Homicide unit. The series is not as multi-dimensional as
The Wire: you don't see both sides of the story; it's a more conventional cop show, that way.
The Wire emphasizes electronic surveillance.
Homicide emphasizes the interrogation of suspects in "the Box," and the psychological duel between the interrogator and the prisoner.
The Wire emphasizes the war on drugs and gangs.
Homicide emphasizes--well, homicide, though many of these are drug-related, and a major story arc revolves around the unit's pursuit of a murderous drug lord.
Though it features a number of story arcs,
Homicide is much more episodic than
The Wire. If
The Wire is a novel for TV, then
Homicide is an anthology of short stories.
The Wire emphasizes social dilemmas--the unwinnable war on drugs, the scourge of gangs, the death of work, the decay of inner-city education, etc.
Homicide places more emphasis on individual psychological and moral dilemmas.
