I thought you were reading my mind, so much of this is exactly as I thought about 'Da 5 Bloods'... until I got to the part about 'The Wire.'

I do not think 'The Wire' is overrated and I've never really been a fan of cop shows. I don't think it's good or bad because it's about cops n robbers anymore than I think 'Sopranos' is great because it's about gangsters. 'The Wire' (and 'Sopranos' for that matter) is great because it's a seamless merge of fantastic dialogue and magnificent acting: every role that isn't a minor masterpiece is a major masterpiece. Yes, even the second season: Ziggy Sobotka (James Ransone) is the second coming of Willie Loman. Everybody deservedly cites Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) amongst many for their roles, and I do love me some Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) but--for my money-- the heart and the soul of the 'soap opera' (as you call it) is Bubbles (Andre Royo). He doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. Royo deserves as much credit for what he did throughout 'The Wire' as James Gandolfini did for 'Sopranos' and Brian Cranston did for 'Breaking Bad.'