The Wire (2002)

Without doubt, this is the finest, most complete TV drama ever! I know other people will say I am not even close, but for me it really is, and that includes watching Breaking Bad and The Sopranos!
Years ago I watched "The Corner", which was like a prequel to The Wire, and it not only saddened me as to how people live and are dependent on drugs, but it also intrigued me. So much so that I went on to watch The Wire.
What I loved about the show is how it views the misery of drugs from different perspectives. In season 1 it focuses on the on-going battle between the street-corner dealers and the police; season 2 focuses on drug distribution; season 3 the possibility of a drug amnesty; season 4 and school kids and their choices between education, employment and drug dealers; season 5 the media take on drugs.
There is a certain feeling of helplessness running through this show, as you quickly realise that despite the extreme law enforcement the war on drugs is long gone. But because of the exceptionally good writing throughout you keep on hoping that something can be done to rid the city/state/country of this cancer.
Unlike other drama shows, this feels so real even today, and one does wonder if governments and law enforcement departments are just peeing in the wind when it comes to winning the fight on drugs.