The Wire: any good?

[spidervenom]

I'm thinking of getting the first season on dvd. Is it any good.

[Ilash]

Oddly enough, I just finished the first season last week. Basically, while I don't really agree with it being called the greatest show ever, it is really, really good and it does get more impressive as the season continues.

[Ontir]

People rave about it. I watched the first 3 episodes and was bored senseless.

[Ilash]

People rave about it. I watched the first 3 episodes and was bored senseless.

I understand that reaction, I really do but it is a show that takes a long time to show why it's so good.

[Karl O'Neill]

What a coincidence!:cool:

I have the first season and I am up as far as episode 6 at the moment.

I have to be honest, It is painfully and frustratingly slow:( but still enjoyable and well written and interesting at the same time:smile:

Here's the big problem with it for me, David simone has created something so organic and real that leaves little room for exposition, meaning the viewer needs to watch closely, listen intently and re watch any episode you might not fully understand or grasp.

Oh, and plenty of killings and important stuff happen off screen.

Watching the wire is like being a fly on the wall of the show, It's so real and the pace is so slow and rigid.


No exposition, where is basil when you need him?

[Royal]

An example of fine American television.

[Ed Sullivan]

Since everyone is always talking about how great it is I tried it out.. once.

[Ontir]

An example of fine American television.


I can't tell, is that sarcasm?

The thing about something building, is that you have to make your audience want to watch the story unravel. the Wire just didn't do that. It was like watching grass grow in a cop car.

[rondre sleazde]

This is show is contender for the GOAT status of tv shows. It's just so good.

[Ontir]

"the GOAT?" What does that mean?

[ForeverTaskmaster]

You know what's funny about The Wire? Lots of people loving The Wire loathe The Shield. I like both of the shows but The Shield I like better.

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

Wotta coinkydink!

I only just started on Season 2 last night, myself, so I can't really say about the series overall. What I can tell you is there are things in it that will disturb you as much as they may interest you (in particular, there's a scene in the second ep of Season One... Christ).

Again, interesting show, but very painstaking. Practically From Hell-ish in it's pacing & focus.

[Kid Kamikaze10]

I'm thinking of getting the first season on dvd. Is it any good.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit....


It's one of the best HBO shows of all time, IMO. And one of the best crime dramas in general.

[Gary Joyce]

Agree with all the love being shown to The Wire.

It's fantastic show and when i was halfway through season 4 i realised there was only 15 or so episodes left and it hard me hard so i slowed down to savour them more.

It was great that they left it at the right time and yet I wish that they'd carried on making it forever.

[meethraa]

Probably the best cop show I've seen in my life. I can honestly say that I can't think of a single flaw on the three seasons I've watched so far.

[FanboyStranger]

You know what's funny about The Wire? Lots of people loving The Wire loathe The Shield. I like both of the shows but The Shield I like better.

I love both, but I love The Wire a great deal more. The Wire was a great deal more intricate and seemed 'realer', whereas the The Shield always seemed more dramatically intense.

I do consider The Wire the best show in the history of television, but I will agree that it takes a few episodes to get into the series. In my case, it took a while to get everyone's names straight, especially the hoppers in the Pit, because the show definitely does not hold you by the hand in introducing its numerous characters. Once they develop as discernable characters, however, it's amazing how well-drawn almost every character is. Plus, Omar turns up a few episodes in.

[jesse_custer]

The Wire is for anyone looking for mature, articulate, and intelligent drama. It's also quite funny from time to time, particularly with McNulty and Bunk and their wild little lives.

This and Deadwood kick ass.

[Agent Helix]

Calling the Wire a cop show is like calling Moby Dick a book about whales. It's so, so much more, and that's what makes it so brilliant.

The danger is, it makes most other procedural dramas completely unwatchable.

[jesse_custer]

Good thing most of those procedural dramas are unwatchable anyway.

[Superbeast]

I am also a fan, What I find the most impressive is although the show IS scripted, the lines never sound rehearsed or read. They all sound like genuine interaction. The cops bending the rules and using tricks to get the answers they want, like paying drug addicts for tip offs about the real crews running things knowing the addict is going to spend that money to get drugs from that same crew is a morally grey area that I found interesting to see play out on screen. The cops blinding a 14 year old and his peers advising him how to cover it up even though they disapprove because that's how cops take care of one another also shows the flip side, the cops dodging the kind of justice they'd usually enforce because they are more important in the grand scheme of things. It's nice to watch a show that doesn't really have any grand pretense to it with clearly defined good and bad guys. It shows what happens to the characters and then it's down to the audience to decide who they actually want to support and like.
"the GOAT?" What does that mean?
Greatest Of All Time.

[Ilash]

It's weird though, I've been watching the first episode of season 2 and I'm totally lost again. Whothe hell are these new people!

[jesse_custer]

Don't worry, Ilash. I also had growing pains with the second season. Once you see what Simon is setting up, it gets awesome.

[Ilash]

Don't worry, Ilash. I also had growing pains with the second season. Once you see what Simon is setting up, it gets awesome.

Thanks for the reassurance. Here's hoping that it doesn't take too long though.

[jesse_custer]

You'll feel better by the end of the second episode.

You'll be completely reassured by the end of the third episode.

(One thing you might have to keep in mind: the second season is almost like falling action.)

[Kid Kamikaze10]

Yeah, for a while, I didn't like the change in pace for that second season...


But that season picked up awesomely. I no longer doubted Simon after that.

[Deathstroke]

The Wire is one of the greatest pieces of dramatic television ever committed to film.

PERIOD.

[Loren]

Oddly enough, I just finished the first season last week. Basically, while I don't really agree with it being called the greatest show ever, it is really, really good and it does get more impressive as the season continues.

I finished up the fifth season last month or so. But your impression isn't that far off from the truth. For the first two seasons, The Wire is just a great show. In season three it starts becoming something really great. It's seasons 4 and 5 that have made people call it the greatest show ever. But to understand what makes those latter seasons the epitome of television that they are, you need to have followed the characters through the first three seasons.

[Ryan Day]

It's a fantastic show, though not necessarily on a per-episode basis. It moves slowly, and there's always a lot going on, but when it comes together it's incredible. I merely liked it until the last few episodes of the first season, at which point I loved it.

The second season is okay - actually more of a straightforward cop show - and then the third season pays everything off. The Third & Fourth seasons are among the best things I've ever seen on television.

[TheOnlyXTremeFan]

I have to concur, The Wire is the GOAT.

Season 4 seems to be the most critically acclaimed but I couldn't stop watching Season 3, that's my fav.

[joemagnum611]

I watched a few episodes of the show. It didn't hold my interest. I live in Baltimore I don't need a TV show to remind me of how fucked up my city is.

[Libaax]

You know what's funny about The Wire? Lots of people loving The Wire loathe The Shield. I like both of the shows but The Shield I like better.

Im a big fan of the Shield and i could see why The Wire fans wouldnt like it. Its isnt as down to earth,realism. More action oriented.

The best eps for me is not about Vic pulling scams,being corrupt its when Dutch,his partner deal with caes that are so mundane,sick eie real police work. Vic is awesome but i always enjoy the more police crime side of the story more than his own corrupt cop story.

[hawkeye comeback]

The wire is undoubtably the greatest televesion series ever

It's not something you dip in and out, It's been likened to a visual novel not seeing an episode is like not reading a chapter of a book. The characters are wonderful and there really i've enjoyed over shows, sopranos and the shield but there is nothing else like this for me.
Season one finishes on the bbc tonight...:biggrin: gonna start watching the other seasons on dvd tommorow.

[Libaax]

I have seen only the first 7 eps so far since i recently start watching it. But you can see the qaulity,potential already. The characters specially all the different cops are really interesting. The acting,the sound,realistic visuals.

Its the reason i read crime books. To get something that tells a story about socitity problems like this. Not some gimmicky CSI concept.....


Are there a sountrack i wonder ? I like the closing credits,intro songs.

[Superbeast]

I watched a few episodes of the show. It didn't hold my interest. I live in Baltimore I don't need a TV show to remind me of how fucked up my city is.

That is so ridiculous it beggars belief. By that logic anyone that lives in New Jersey would find The Sopranos worthless and anyone who lives in Las Vegas probably found the TV show of the same name and the CSI series utterly pointless. You do realise that while it's based on factual events it's a drama series produced for entertainment value? The appeal isn't meant to be that it's entirely accurate about Baltimore day to day, it's about the story and characters in that environment... I just really can't wrap my head around your way of thinking. Because I live in London, England does that mean I shouldn't find movies or TV series set in London interesting? Christ... talk about not being able to separate fact from fiction.

[Ryan Day]

I have seen only the first 7 eps so far since i recently start watching it. But you can see the qaulity,potential already. The characters specially all the different cops are really interesting. The acting,the sound,realistic visuals.

Its the reason i read crime books. To get something that tells a story about socitity problems like this. Not some gimmicky CSI concept.....


You should read David Simon's Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, which is about Simon spending a year with the Baltimore Homicide Department, and was the inspiration for the similarly-named TV show, and has a lot in common with the Wire.

[Libaax]

You should read David Simon's Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, which is about Simon spending a year with the Baltimore Homicide Department, and was the inspiration for the similarly-named TV show, and has a lot in common with the Wire.


Have you read George Pelecanos ? Who wrote eps of The wire too. He is the DC version of the wire type story. I adore his crime books for the same reason. They are very urban,social,ghetto problems.

Thats how i knew Simon wrote the book you mentioned. They apparently grew up in the same place. Its funny how they both write similar story,character types.

[jesse_custer]

I just found out some neat stuff.

http://robertarood.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/jaylandsman.jpg

Everyone's favorite overweight homicide police, Jay Landsman, was based on an actual Baltimore homicide sergeant of the same name. Much of the character's dialogue was taken from the real man.

Now, here's the weird thing: the real Jay Landsman plays this guy in The Wire:

http://www.hbo.com/thewire/img/castcrew/character_season04/cutty.jpg

That's right, Dennis the boxer.

[Ryan Day]

Ah, no. The real Jay Landsman plays Lt. Mello, Bunny Colvin's second-in-command.

http://www.hbo.com/thewire/img/castcrew/actor_season04/jaylandsman.jpg

Cutty is played by Chad Coleman. Who is totally awesome.

Though for extra trivia, Richard Belzer's character on Homicide was based on Jay Landsman. So when Munch makes his cameo, there are in fact three Jay Landsmans in one episode.

[jesse_custer]

Fuck. You're right. I read Dennis and assumed it was the boxer. In fact, I didn't even realize Mello's first name was Dennis.

[FanboyStranger]

Fuck. You're right. I read Dennis and assumed it was the boxer. In fact, I didn't even realize Mello's first name was Dennis.

The real basis for Cutty plays the minister he goes to looking for guidance. There's a lot of those moments, particularly in the last season's newsroom. Story editor George Sorzgy (spelling is wrong) plays himself, Simon turns up in a cameo.

I guess one of the funnier stories about casting the show's Jay Landsman is that the real Jay Landsman tried out for the part, but they told him he was not good enough. Or, actually, now that I think about it, they said that he did not "make a convincing Jay Landsman".

[Ryan Day]

Former Baltimore mayor Kurt Schmoke makes an appearance as an advisor in Season 3.

And Gary D'addario, who plays the grand jury prosecutor, was a homicide lieutenant who was the basis for Yaphet Kotto's character on Homicide.

[jesse_custer]

So what did everyone think of the fifth season?

While I regard it as great television, it was a bit unrealistic compared to the other seasons, although the wild situations did a good job of illustrating how good may come from evil and vice versa.

The season also felt like the creators were juggling too many characters, but of course, they only had 10 episodes rather than 12 or 13.

[FanboyStranger]

Former Baltimore mayor Kurt Schmoke makes an appearance as an advisor in Season 3.



While in office, Schmoke made a comment that drugs should be legalized, and he was branded by some in the media as "the most dangerous man in America". I'm not sure if it's him that says it during the scene, but Schmoke is definitely in the room when Mayor Royce considers the merits of Hamsterdam and someone says, "If you go along with this, they're going to call you 'the most dangerous man in America.'"

I liked the fifth season, although some elements of Lester and McNulty's plan did stretch credibility, even with all the turmoil in the department. At times, the newsroom plot just seemed like more of David Simon's rant on the demise of print media. However, McNulty's 'wake' is one of the best moments in the entire series, and I actually think how Omar goes down was completely fitting and almost poetic. But after the utter gut-wrenching character paths of those boys in Season Four, especially Michael, Season Five seemed a bit lacking.

[Deathstroke]

Comcast On Demand is up to reshowing the first 6 episodes of Season 3.

[Ryan Day]

Season 5 suffers a bit from "wrapping everything up" syndrome, though it's all done pretty well. The McNulty scheme may be a bit far-fetched, but it's pretty fun. My biggest problem is that I never connected with most of the newspaper staff - no one had a lot of personality, though I enjoy Clark Johnson.

On the other hand, there's a lot of great stuff: The Omar-Marlo showdown, Bubbles' arc, and the ongoing political stories. Seasons 3-4 are some of the best television ever; season 5 isn't that good, but it's still damn fine television.

[Agent Helix]

Season 5 also suffers because it was only 10 episodes, and gets too condensed near the end. Still, it's better than almost all its contemporarires.

[by1968]

I'm about midway through Season 3 at the moment and agree that The Wire is great. I haven't seen the Shield yet, but will probably start that once I get through the Wire. There are definitely times when it is slow, especially the early episodes of a season, but by the end it all pays off. I don't know if it's the greatest TV show of all time, but I've never cared about that sort of stuff, I just want something good and I let others worry about the technicalities of which is better and The Wire delivers like few other shows have.

[Agent Helix]

The Wire is better than the Shield.