Oz: Prison drama by HBO

[robcat101]

Oz is one of the great undiscovered gems. I'd rate it up there with The Shield in terms of gritty drama (in fact Oz is edgier). The whole Schillinger/Beecher/Keller dynamic is fantastic.

I'd agree that the last couple of seasons were a bit weak but the first few had set the bar so high.

It's also fascinating to see all the stars of future TV shows in ealry roles

 

[cm1179]

first started watching oz on c4 10 yrs ago. it was on on a thursday night after the drew carey show (itv) was brillaint but never saw the last series. used to enjoy the snippets of what the people did to end up in priison

 

[HamZilla]

first started watching oz on c4 10 yrs ago. it was on on a thursday night after the drew carey show (itv) was brillaint but never saw the last series. used to enjoy the snippets of what the people did to end up in priison

Yeah I watched it back then too. It was unfairly overlooked by many due to The Sopranos which started airing after the first season.
Remember seeing the actress who plays Carmela as one of the prison guards before she jumped ship.
This show basically helped launch quite a few actor's careers. E.g. Wheelchair guy voiceover/narrator who went on to Matrix, Schillinger who got perfect casting as Jonah Jameson in SpiderMan.

The flashbacks style for character backstory were copied ahem "emulated" into Saw and Lost.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Do any other prison dramas of any quality exist?

The best Aussie prison drama was easily Prisoner Cell Block H.
This will never be surpassed.

 

[WillyNelson]

Used to watch Oz when it was on C4 years ago. No idea what season they got up to though. Hadn't really seen anything as good until The Wire came along.

Should probably get hold of it for another watch. Loads of the actors crop up in other US dramas; Lost, The Wire, Homicide, 24...

 

[cm1179]

Wheelchair guy voiceover/narrator who went on to Matrix.

and lost

 

[SB118]

Reminds me of The Wire a little too

Quite wierd seeing most of the cast of The Wire when they were a touch younger.

 

[Voltar]

Oz is excellent!

I'm going to check out Buried and Prisoner Cell Block H having read this thread

 

[craptakular]

What something better than The Wire? impossible.

I am starting season 6 of The Shield tommorrow, it's good but not as good as The Wire. The first 5 or 6 episodes of The Shield are cringe worthy compared to The Wire, but I got passed it.

Will check Oz out.

 

[jp_bl_68]

OZ is by far the best series I've watched. I recommend.

Is there a lot of rape in it? That's the only thing putting me off watching.

 

[Gribs]

Is there a lot of rape in it? That's the only thing putting me off watching.

Not a lot but there is some. Quite a bit of man love too.

 

[Boscher]

Huge fan here. Watched all the series's a few times. Rawwww

 

[simisker]

I'm struggling to get into the first season, I have to admit.

Always great to see more of The Wire's JD Williams, Frankie Faison et al, though, so I'll stick with it