I finished The Wire a month ago for the first time and loved it. It doesn't top Band of Brothers for me, and I don't think anything will at this point. Game of Thrones had a strong chance but season 8 left the worst taste in my mouth. So it's BoB, The Wire, Breaking Bad, and GoT for my favorites. I've been interested in the Sopranos but 6 (I think) seasons is quite the commitment for me right now, but I do need a show to binge on soon. So idk
I believe I've watched in full the Wire 3 times and I was a Johnny come lately too it as well. Didn't watch it for first time until 6 years ago as I just never had the time. Well the Wire was so good I've watched it now 3 times in 6 years. Just an incredible show.
The realism of the show is just tremendous. I mean I'm pretty damn sure the way showrunner David Simon created it that I know for sure what it's like to be on the streets of West Baltimore withought having stepped foot there. The cast tho is what makes it so memorable. Too be able to have character names like Omar, Snoop, Marlo, Stringer Bell, Jimmy McNulty, Bubbles, Avon Barksdale, Bunk etched in your mind as if they were real is the mark of genius.
I dunno, like you, I'm a huge BOB fan...Breaking Bad, GOT, Sopranos, I'd add Justified, The Shield as well. But when I put it all together and if I had too choose the best "non comedic" TV series of all time, The Wire IMO is the greatest series ever made.