Is The Wire really the best television drama ever made?

[Protocol15]

The Wire consistently tops critics lists as the greatest television drama ever produced, praised for its genuinely novelistic structure, its refusal to provide easy answers about systemic problems, and performances that feel documentary real rather than scripted. Each season examining a different institution while maintaining connected characters and themes is a genuinely ambitious structural choice few shows have attempted since. Curious whether people think it actually earns that top spot or whether the reputation has calcified past honest reevaluation

The counterargument usually points to shows like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos offering more immediately gripping character arcs and a more accessible entry point for casual viewers, since The Wire genuinely demands patience and close attention that a lot of people just don't have time for anymore. Slow burn pacing that critics praise as a feature reads as a genuine flaw to plenty of regular viewers. Feels like a real tension between critical consensus and actual watchability

What's your actual pick for greatest television drama ever made. Genuinely curious how people weigh critical acclaim against pure watchability here