15 Shows To Watch If You Miss The Wire

Summary Shows like The Wire, such as The Shield and Justified, offer a unique and challenging take on the criminal justice system, with flawed characters and morally ambiguous actions.

Netflix series Ozark and Narcos delve into the dangerous and complex world of crime, highlighting the futility of the war on drugs and the dedication of law enforcement.

The Sopranos, with its criminal protagonist, paved the way for shows like The Wire to push boundaries and explore the dark side of human nature.

Though its level of critical acclaim is hard to match, there are shows like The Wire that capture aspects fans love about the 200-2008 HBO series. Set in Baltimore, each season of The Wire focuses on a different aspect of the city and its relationship with the justice system, including the illegal drug trade, schools, and the media. While the series was praised throughout all five seasons for its storytelling and realism, The Wire's low ratings led to it ending in season 5. Since then, there has been a growing desire for shows like The Wire to fill the void.

The Wire is a perfect example of the kind of prestige drama that emerged in the aftermath of The Sopranos. While there are more than enough police procedurals to tune into, The Wire offered a very different take on things with the police as flawed people with sometimes mundane work while the criminals are complex people who are not always in the wrong. As unique as it was, there have been similar shows that came after, and even some that came before, that are reminiscent of the kind of challenging and complex stories The Wire was known for.

Related 10 Best The Wire Episodes, Ranked HBO's The Wire is undoubtedly one of the best shows ever made. Here are the episodes that stand out the most from its five-season run.

15 Show Me A Hero (2015)

Oscar Isaac Stars In The True Political Story

Show Me a Hero was an HBO miniseries based on the real-life story of Yonkers, New York's youngest mayor Nick Wasicsko (played by Oscar Isaac) attempting to bring public housing to his hesitant constituents. It delves into the inner workings of local politics realistically and has a base civil rights storyline. The show sees Wasicsko attempt to make everyone happy while also doing his job to bring public housing to Yonkers, which is a difficult position.

The series portrays realistic people on both sides of the argument and the city is a big part of the storyline, similar to The Wire. Show Me a Hero also has another close connection to The Wire because David Simon and William Fr. Zorzi wrote it for HBO. Of course, Simon also created The Wire and Zorzi was a former journalist at the Baltimore Sun who worked with Simon with him on the HBO phenomenon.

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14 The Shield (2002-2008)

A Crime Thriller With A Corrupt Cop Protagonist

The Shield Release Date March 12, 2002 Cast Walton Goggins , Michael Jace , CCH Pounder , Michael Chiklis , Catherine Dent , Paula Garces , Benito Martinez , Glenn Close , Jay Karnes , David Rees Snell , Kenny Johnson , David Marciano , Reed Diamond , Cathy Cahlin Ryan Seasons 7 Expand

The Shield blurs the line between lawman and criminal as Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) leads a new, experimental police unit of the LAPD. The members of this police force are allowed to operate outside the rules, which leads to them acting more like criminals than law enforcers. The members believe they're breaking the law for the greater good, but a lot of their decisions are morally ambiguous or self-serving.

The Shield shares a theme with The Wire in that it is an intriguing look at the criminal justice law enforcement world and the potentially corrupt actions of the police. Often listed among the best shows to ever appear on cable television, it won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series, and Michael Chiklis won both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor in a Drama. Creator Shawn Ryan went on to create Lie to Me, Timeless, S.W.A.T., and The Night Agent.

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13 Justified (2010-2015)

A Cop And Criminal Share A Complicated Past

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Justified Release Date March 16, 2010 Cast Jere Burns , Erica Tazel , Timothy Olyphant , Nick Searcy , Jacob Pitts , Walton Goggins , Natalie Zea , Joelle Carter Seasons 6

Justified follows two main protagonists, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and enigmatic local criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) who grew up together in Harlan, Kentucky. The series follows both of their lives and the respective gray areas of being a lawman and in organized crime, as both Givens and Crowder surprise the audiences with their actions.

Like The Wire, Justified followed both sides of the law and wasn't afraid to delve into the moral ambiguity of real people who aren't just good or bad archetypal characters in a location that's always important to the plot. Following the successful revival of the series recently, there are plenty of viewers waiting to hear news on Justified: City Primeval season 2. The original Justified was very successful, winning a Peabody Award and picking up eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its original six-season run.

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12 Ozark (2017-2022)

A Mild-Mannered Family Are Sucked Into The Drug World

Ozark Release Date July 21, 2017 Cast Julia Garner , Katrina Lenk , Damian Young , Felix Solis , Joseph Sikora , Sofia Hublitz , John Bedford Lloyd , Charlie Tahan , Jessica Frances Dukes , Ali Stroker , Lisa Emery , Adam Rothenberg , Laura Linney , Skylar Gaertner , CC Castillo , Jason Bateman , Bruno Bichir , Alfonso Herrera Seasons 4 Expand

Ozark follows a family that has been pulled into the criminal world of money laundering when Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) has to pay back a cartel for the money that his business partner stole. The Byrdes flee to the Ozarks and they all try to survive while reconnecting as a family. This is another show like The Wire where the location is important to the plot and the Netflix series portrays complex characters in the drug-dealing and money-laundering world.

The show was also critically acclaimed. Over its four seasons, Ozark received nine Golden Globes nominations, although it didn't win one until the end, when Julia Garner took home the award for Best Supporting Actress - Television - Comedy/Musical or Drama. It also earned 44 Primetime Emmy nominations, with wins going to Julia Garner (Supporting Actress three different times) and Jason Bateman (Outstanding Directing). Unlike many series, Ozark actually got better over time, holding a series-high 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Related All 4 Seasons Of Ozark, Ranked Ozark is an incredibly well-constructed series following the Byrde family, and their dealings with the cartel, but seasons vary in quality throughout.

11 Mindhunter (2017-2019)

A Look At The FBI's Profiling Of Serial Killers

Mindhunter Release Date October 13, 2017 Cast Jonathan Groff , Holt McCallany , Hannah Gross , Cotter Smith , Anna Torv , Stacey Roca , Cameron Britton , Michael Cerveris , Joe Tuttle , Lauren Glazier Seasons 2

Netflix's Mindhunter is based on the real formation of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, which focuses on the psychology of crimes, specifically serial killers and criminal profiling. The series follows a group of two FBI agents and a scholar who begin to interview convicted serial killers to try to understand their motives. This is the same unit that has a fictional counterpart on Criminal Minds. The series is also a biopic, that sees the original agents dealing with serial killers like Edmund Kemper, Richard Speck, Dennis Rader, and David Berkowitz.

In the same vein as The Wire, Mindhunter follows both sides of the law as the agents throw themselves into their work and become dangerously close to the serial killers they're supposed to be studying from a distance. The show sadly ended early in 2019 with so many possibilities for Mindhunter season 3 left unfulfilled.

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10 The Night Of (2016)

A Man Fights For Justice After Being Charged With Murder

The Night Of Release Date June 24, 2016 Cast Riz Ahmed , Xavier Cadeau , David Chen , Chris Bryant , Syam M. Lafi , Reginald L. Barnes , Poorna Jagannathan , Lord Jamar , John Turturro , Amara Karan Seasons 1

The Night Of is an eight-part miniseries that aired on HBO. It is based on a British drama and stars Riz Ahmed as a Pakistani American college student named Nasir Khan and John Turturro as his lawyer. The miniseries follows the events that take place after Nasir meets a woman on his way to a party and is charged with her murder after her body is found, stabbed to death. Like The Wire, The Night Of is a gritty HBO series that has a heavy focus on life in the city and the criminal justice system.

The acclaimed miniseries picked up 13 Primetime Emmy nominations and won five of them. Riz Ahmed took home the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series of Movie Award while the other four wins were for technical achievements. It also has a fantastic 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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9 The Sopranos (1999-2007)

A Mob Boss Deals With His Anxious Life

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The Sopranos Release Date January 10, 1999 Cast James Gandolfini , Lorraine Bracco , Edie Falco , Michael Imperioli , Dominic Chianese , Steven Van Zandt , Tony Sirico , Robert Iler , Jamie-Lynn Sigler Seasons 6

The Sopranos redefined television, and it is likely there would be no The Wire without its success. It focuses primarily on the complicated character of Tony Soprano, a man who has two completely separate types of "family." At home, he has a wife and two children; when he leaves his house, his "family" is his mafia associates, and these two families are always clashing with one another.

As the series opens, Tony is a stressed-out mob boss who begins seeing a therapist as a way to deal with his personal and professional issues. The series follows him as he tries to balance his personal life with running the mob in New Jersey. The flawed "heroes" of The Wire and its most shocking moments would likely not have happened were it not for The Sopranos breaking new ground with a criminal protagonist who murders people.

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8 Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

The Journey Of A Mild-Mannered Family Man Into A Cold-Blooded Drug Lord

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Breaking Bad Release Date January 20, 2008 Cast Dean Norris , Bob Odenkirk , Aaron Paul , RJ Mitte , Anna Gunn , Giancarlo Esposito , Betsy Brandt , Bryan Cranston , Jonathan Banks Seasons 5

Breaking Bad is one of the main shows that competes with The Wire as the greatest show of all time. It follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who finds himself in a financial bind when he's diagnosed with lung cancer. In order to pay for his treatment and leave enough money behind for his family to go on without him, he teams up with his former slacker student, Jesse Pinkman, to make the best methamphetamine New Mexico has ever seen.

While The Sopranos and The Wire are two shows that challenged viewers with their complex characters from the beginning, but Breaking Bad is perhaps even more impressive for Walt's compelling arc. The series initially presents him as a sympathetic and desperate man only to show him gradually becoming a greedy and ruthless killer. It also spawned a prequel about Walt's lawyer, Better Call Saul, that is just as critically acclaimed.

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Related Breaking Bad Timeline: When The Shows & Movie All Take Place The Breaking Bad franchise consists of two shows and a movie. Here's a breakdown of the timeline for all, including Better Call Saul and El Camino.

7 Narcos (2015-2017)

The Story Of Pablo Escobar And His Legacy

Narcos Release Date August 28, 2015 Cast Boyd Holbrook , Damian Alcazar , Wagner Moura , Juan Sebastián Calero , Jorge Monterrosa , Alberto Ammann , Raúl Méndez , Juan Murcia , Pedro Pascal , Francisco Denis , Paulina Gaitan , Paulina Garcia Seasons 3

Netflix's Narcos starts out following the life and business dealings of infamous cocaine dealer Pablo Escobar. After Escobar's fall, the series looks into the aftermath and the DEA's continued attempts to take down his rising competitors who are thriving in his absence. It is both a look at the dedication of the law enforcement that takes on these drug lords and the futile nature of the war on drugs, both themes explored constantly in The Wire. This series also helped make Pedro Pascal a major star before The Mandalorian and The Last of Us.

Even though there aren't many characters whom the viewers will feel themselves rooting for or sympathizing with the way they likely did with The Wire, Narcos is still pretty engrossing to watch. This Netflix crime series had three seasons and when that story ended, Narcos: Mexico took its place, focusing on another criminal organization south of the border.

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6 Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)

A Period Drama Set During The Prohibition Era

Boardwalk Empire Release Date September 19, 2010 Cast Shea Whigham , Kelly Macdonald , Stephen Graham , Steve Buscemi , Michael Stuhlbarg , Michael Shannon Seasons 5

Boardwalk Empire is set in the 1920s in Atlantic City and stars Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, and Kelly Macdonald. Buscemi portrays the role of Nucky Thompson, the corrupt and incredibly powerful treasurer of Prohibition-era Atlantic City. The story follows both Nucky's personal and professional life as he tries to balance his relationships with people in Atlantic City, the mob, and the illegal activity that thrives in the city. Buscemi proved a perfect television star after years of movie work and Pitt became famous thanks to the show.

Nucky is based on the real-life politician Enoch L. Johnson, and this series' dramatic elements and focus on a corrupt system are perfect for fans of The Wire. The series picked up 57 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Drama Series. It went on to win 20 Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series in 2011.

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5 Longmire (2012-2017)

A Modern Western About A Dedicated Lawman

Longmire Release Date November 17, 2017 Cast Katee Sackhoff , Bailey Chase , Lou Diamond Phillips , Robert Taylor Seasons 6

Longmire's setting may be a far cry from the big city drama of The Wire, but that doesn't mean that this show's intensity isn't a perfect fit for people who miss that HBO series. The series is a modern western drama that began airing in 2012 on A&E but released its final seasons on Netflix. It follows Absaroka County Sheriff, Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), who tries to balance dealing with his personal life and the recent loss of his wife while keeping Wyoming County safe. The show also stars genre actor Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Longmire's balance of crime drama and personal relationships is a perfect fit for The Wire fans looking for something new. While this looks like a Western, there is so much more there, similar to shows like Justified. Based on the books by Craig Johnson, this drama series was nominated for an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

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4 Oz (1997-2003)

Complex Characters Clash Behind Bars

Oz Release Date February 23, 1997 Cast Ernie Hudson , Terry Kinney , Harold Perrineau , Eamonn Walker , Kirk Acevedo , Rita Moreno , J. K. Simmons , Lee Tergesen , Dean Winters , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Seasons 5

Oz is HBO's first hour-long original drama and has stood up to the test of time as a show that has fans coming back to re-watch it over and over. It also boasts a tremendous cast, many of whom also worked on The Wire. The prison drama is set in Oswald State Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison, that is nicknamed Oz by the inmates. Much of the series is set in a section of the prison that is known as "Emerald City," an experimental sector that focuses on rehabilitating the prisoners instead of punishing them.

The show is similar to Orange is the New Black, but is much more graphically violent and disturbing. Along with The Wire and The Sopranos, Oz was one of the shows held up as a highlight of what HBO was doing right at the time on television. With six seasons and some major stars including Harold Perrineau, Ernie Hudson, J.K. Simmons, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and more, there is a lot here that fans of shows like The Wire should fall in love with.

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3 Sharp Objects (2018)

A Woman Returns To Her Hometown To Uncover Past Trauma

Based on the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name, Sharp Objects is a miniseries that stars Amy Adams as Camille, a journalist who is forced to move back to her small hometown in order to investigate a string of murders. This incredibly dark show is part psychological thriller, part crime drama, and just as captivating as The Wire. Even though it only has a total of eight episodes, the series is enough to keep fans guessing about the fate of the girls in Wind Gap through the very end.

Similar to shows like The Wire, this is about corruption in a city's government and law enforcement, but on a much smaller scale since it is a small town in Missouri compared to a major city in Baltimore. Patricia Clarkson went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and Amy Adams earned a nomination for Best Actress. Sharp Objects also received eight Primetime Emmy nominations. Director Jean-Marc Vallée worked on Big Little Lies before this, but this was his last work released before his death.

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2 Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

The Leader Of A Street Gang Strives For Power

Peaky Blinders Release Date September 12, 2013 Cast Annabelle Wallis , Ian Peck , Helen McCrory , Paul Anderson , Cillian Murphy , Ned Dennehy , Aimee-Ffion Edwards , Sam Neill , Sophie Rundle , Tony Pitts , Joe Cole Seasons 6

Peaky Blinders recently ended its sixth and final season with a Peaky Blinders movie in the works to end the story. The show is a period drama set in England in the early 20th century and focuses on the titular gang. Cillian Murphy stars as a veteran of WWI and the leader of the Peaky Blinders, Thomas Shelby, who tries to grow the gang and extend his reach and power across England, making him rather similar to characters in The Wire.

The comparisons are strong here, so much so that Peaky Blinders could be considered the UK historical version of The Wire. While the Primetime Emmy Awards and Golden Globes Awards never paid much attention, the BAFTA Awards took notice, giving it wins for Best Director, Best Photography and Lighting, Best Drama Series, Best Leading Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Best Supporting Actress (Helen McCrory).

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1 True Detective (2014- )

An Anthology Series Explores Obsessive Cops

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True Detective is an anthology series that follows a different group of investigators each season. This gritty series has so far aired three seasons, each of which has its own case and characters. If the focus on solving crimes in The Wire is what really got fans into the show, then True Detective is one that will have them immediately hooked. While the second season showed a dropoff in quality, the third season rebounded with another great story.

This series, like The Wire, is a great example of HBO's intense, dramatic shows. The series continued with True Detective: Night Country in 2024, with a new creative team and female leads in Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, freshening up the franchise. The mystery and obstacles faced in every season of this series show why it has remained popular and on a level with shows like The Wire.

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