The Wire

[chekov]

anyone who hasn't watched it or is in the middle of watching should really stay out of threads like this...
spoilers for the wire are the worst, somebody pretty much told me about the bit in the shop at the end (you know what i'm on about), kinda ruined it
was still amazing tho

[arktrix45hz]

Did not know Idris Elba was a house/techno DJ.

[fiasko]

most well written series i've ever had the privilege of watching & i'm only starting season 3.
i can't even imagine the levels of genius required to conjure up a storyline this complex as a writer...
my favorite part is that they never seem to forget about characters & interweave them even when it seems insignificant to do so - they only let a character die when someone shoots em
omar is probably my favorite character on television, ever.

If can you can, get ahold of his book "Homicide - A Year On The Killing Streets"...it's fucking meaty but the interweaving is next level.

enjoyed reading it, read a couple of books by George Pelecanos who was a script writer on the wire.

just watched season 1&2 after getting them back after being out on loan for 2 years to a mate who "couldn't get into it" prick!

[meanmrcustard]

Did not know Idris Elba was a house/techno DJ.

Pretty sure he's been on Rinse at least once before!

[hugh]

amazing this thread has lasted 6 years

[joeki]

In terms of entertainment:

4-1-3-5-2

But I acknowledge that season 2 is probably the most important season in terms of getting the bigger picture. It widened the range of the show to bigger regional, national and even international aspects. In hindsight, I couldn't live without season 2 any more. Plus, it shows the old Baltimore: fucking beautiful industrial decay: I wish I could have visisted me and my camera would've had a field day there.
I agree that Ziggy was annoying, but as some others have stated: we all know ziggies and that character reminded me of them and that's also succesfully evoking an emotional response.

My favourite charachters? (SPOILERS BELOW)
- Bubbles doesn't get enough love. He's not my favourite character but he's so important to the show. His evolution shows that there can be positives in this grim world.
- Duquan: one of the most tragic story-lines. I really felt bad for that kid
- D'Angelo Barskdale : I was gutted when they offed him, simply because from like the second episode, you knew it was coming and I was hoping he wouldn't get got. But it was in vain and that hoping in vain shit is a big part of the series.
- Marlo : shit, I loved this character. I love his last scene in season 5. The game and the crown is all he knows.
- McNulty : What a great casting: everything from his acquired accent to his goofy way of walking and over-the-top drunkenness (some people really do get that way when they're drunk it's funny, it seemed like overacting but some people really are like that when they are drunk).

I think the Omar character gets more credit than he deserved. I know, he's in that grey area. But it didn't feel wrong or controversial when he get got. I felt more badly about the likes of Body, D'Angelo even Proposition Joe!

Great series. Probably the best I watched. But I also really enjoyed Deadwood.

[cloquet]

I'd say 1, 2 & 4 are the strongest seasons. Probably in that order. I think bodie, omar & the greek are my favourite characters.

[collige]

I skipped the entirety of Season 2 after the first episode bored me to shit. Doesn't feel like I missed much.

[joeki]

Also, not sure if this made the thread, but RIP to Proposition Joe aka Robert Chew who died last month in Baltimore aged 52.

[cloquet]

I skipped the entirety of Season 2 after the first episode bored me to shit. Doesn't feel like I missed much.

The second season starts slowly but gets very good as it goes along.

[meanmrcustard]

I skipped the entirety of Season 2 after the first episode bored me to shit. Doesn't feel like I missed much.

You missed much.

[esfandyar]

I skipped the entirety of Season 2 after the first episode bored me to shit. Doesn't feel like I missed much.

You missed much.

yeah.. how the hell are you guys not rating the second season? frank sobatka is a g! too many good parts in it..

[meanmrcustard]

To be fair, the first time I watched The Wire, I struggled through Season 2 a bit. They don't exactly make it easy for the viewer, throwing in a whole new bunch of characters and pushing to the background the characters that you'd spent a year struggling to get to grips with in Season 1.

It was only during my second go through that I properly appreciated it. The Greek and Frank Sobotka are both awesome. Probably my favourite season now (though season 4 pushes it close for me).

Slight tangent, but anyone watch Treme? Just finished season 3, I really love it. Sad to hear they've been cut to only 5 episodes for season 4 (which will be the last).

[symmetricalsounds]

I'd say 1, 2 & 4 are the strongest seasons. Probably in that order. I think bodie, omar & the greek are my favourite characters.

"...and i'm not even greek"

The greek is easy the most powerful person we see in the series, he is immense.

I skipped the entirety of Season 2 after the first episode bored me to shit. Doesn't feel like I missed much.

you missed loads!

series 2 is key in showing how everything you see in Baltimore fits into the rest of the world, using the docks was a great device to do that.

To be fair, the first time I watched The Wire, I struggled through Season 2 a bit. They don't exactly make it easy for the viewer, throwing in a whole new bunch of characters and pushing to the background the characters that you'd spent a year struggling to get to grips with in Season 1.

It was only during my second go through that I properly appreciated it. The Greek and Frank Sobotka are both awesome. Probably my favourite season now (though season 4 pushes it close for me).

Slight tangent, but anyone watch Treme? Just finished season 3, I really love it. Sad to hear they've been cut to only 5 episodes for season 4 (which will be the last).

yup and in ways i love it even more than the wire, the wire is great but the fact is treme is about new orleans and the city that runs on music. it's just beautiful, some of the musical performances on there and clarke peters kills it as the big chief.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyiOcR7pbYs

http://musicoftreme.com

[NickUndercover]

Treme is a great show. So much amazing music in every episode. Davis is so full of shit though but I'm only in the middle of season 1 so I'll see how that goes

[Preacha]

loved the first 2 seasons of treme but 3 was a bore

[batman_ldn]

the greek gets the best packet.

[bela]

season 4 was my favourite season of any show ever. took me a while to catch on to everything, but retrospectively season 1 was awesome as well. anyone watch any other david simon series? feel like there's a big gap in my life that was occupied by the wire & need to fill it.

[wub]

season 4 was my favourite season of any show ever. took me a while to catch on to everything, but retrospectively season 1 was awesome as well. anyone watch any other david simon series? feel like there's a big gap in my life that was occupied by the wire & need to fill it.

Check out The Corner, which was the precursor to The Wire and follows a family through their troubles.

[meanmrcustard]

season 4 was my favourite season of any show ever. took me a while to catch on to everything, but retrospectively season 1 was awesome as well. anyone watch any other david simon series? feel like there's a big gap in my life that was occupied by the wire & need to fill it.

I really love Treme, the pacing is very similar to The Wire, though the subject is not of course. It's also got The Bunk and Freamon in it.

I also second the vote for The Corner, but I highly recommend you read the book first. It's incredible.