The Wire

Watch the whole thing

Total number of seasons: 5

The Wire starts great and remains great for its whole duration, changing its focus area every season while still telling a cohesive story. The writing remains solid throughout the series and the series feels like a complete work when it ends. The Wire is one of those series where you may need some time to start appreciating it, but the payoff is worth it.

According to The Guardian (the full article is spoiler-free),

The Wire is often referred to as “the televisual equivalent of a novel”, partly because that sounds flouncy and impressive, but mainly because it’s structured like one. Think of each episode as a chapter in a book. […] This first instalment is merely putting characters and themes in place for the rest of the season. The show is a textbook “slow burner” – don’t expect to have your world altered by a single chapter.