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The Wire appreciation thread. (pg. 2)
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| Renzo |
Yeah, I hear ya.
I'll make it a point to rent the DVDs. |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by WittyHandle
Jimmy was the man. People flock to Omar because they think he was some sort of Robin Hood. He wasn't. Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Omar stole from drug dealers and kept the take.
I had the same reaction at first. I gave up. If my friend hadn't convinced me to go back to it I would've missed out on one of the best TV series I've ever seen. I think certain types of dramas need a bit of time to lay the seeds of the plot and characters before they take off. Treme was pretty slow too. Hopefully it takes off in the next season. |
Yea it's one of those things that, on an episode-by-episode basis doesn't always seem like anything spectacular, but once you're done with a season or the whole series and look back on it, it blows you away. |
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| hit_it |
| quote: | Originally posted by infinity HiGH
Possibly the best show ever. Season 4 was my favourite. A lot of big plot developments in that one. The way they wrapped the series up was superb too, unlike that tripe on The Sopranos (god that show was so ing overrated) |
please save us and go to sleep :rolleyes: |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by hit_it
please save us and go to sleep :rolleyes: |
*pat on head* |
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| WittyHandle |
| A few friends have recommended The Shield to me. Any thoughts? I get the feeling that I would have liked it if I hadn't already seen The Wire, but when you start with the best, it's hard to step down. |
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| infinity HiGH |
| quote: | Originally posted by WittyHandle
A few friends have recommended The Shield to me. Any thoughts? I get the feeling that I would have liked it if I hadn't already seen The Wire, but when you start with the best, it's hard to step down. |
yea I've had a few people recommend it to me as well. Haven't checked it out though. |
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| DaRoZa |
finished watching this a few weeks ago. burned through all the seasons in about 3 weeks.
it's similar to sopranos without the played out machismo bull, and has the sick ensemble of characters/story arcs of oz but without buttsecks. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| definitely great tv. omar easily the best character. |
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| The17sss |
| God damn... I love The Wire. |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by infinity HiGH
Yea it's one of those things that, on an episode-by-episode basis doesn't always seem like anything spectacular, but once you're done with a season or the whole series and look back on it, it blows you away. |
exactly, the wire was amazing... i'll most probably watch it again in a year or two.
Amazing review from Amazon, says it all:
On the basis of previous reviews, you'd never know that this series was on the verge of being canceled at least twice, that it never made satisfactory numbers for HBO, or that it was almost universally ignored by award committees despite its fervid following.
There's a number of things for the faint-hearted or first time viewers to know about The Wire before you jump in:
1. There is no denouement, no simple, clear resolution at the end of every episode ala CSI, NCIS, or any other typical police drama. On the contrary, The Wire is the epitome of the "slow build", it takes episodes to get started, much less finished. As in life, there are rarely any easy, clear resolutions at the end. Unlike the black and white worlds of network tv, The Wire is all gray.
2. There is not a simple, single story line. Rather The Wire is characterized by complex, multiple story arcs that can extend over more than one season. It demands (and rewards) concentration, rather than escape. Redemption and revenge are possible, but not in one episode or one season. The Wire requires patience.
3. There are no clear cut heroes and villains (this is the anti-"Heroes" tv show.) There are only human beings, all flawed. McNulty, a hero, is an alcoholic who cheats on his wife. Even Marlowe, the apparently soulless villain, grapples with very human issues of loyalty and pride.
4. Though there are great, fully realized characters (almost too many for escapist viewers to follow), and though to some degree Baltimore, the city, is a central character, the abiding presences in The Wire are Baltimore's institutions and organizations: courts, city government, educational system, labor unions, police, newspapers. Even gangs are seen as just another organization. Unlike any other show I've ever seen, The Wire demonstrates how institutions are built from a complex web of relationships and motivations and seem to have an existence independent of those who participate in them. And it does so in such a subtle way that it's not automatically obvious. It doesn't appear to be about institutions, but it is. That's subtlety.
That's only a start. There's more that makes The Wire a challenge for viewers: it's non-linearity (it's more like a spiral), it's bleak view of cities and urban institutions; the seeming randomness of so many events that impact lives, etc., etc., etc.
All that said, The Wire, for those willing to make the investment of time and attention, is a transcendent, moving experience. However downbeat it's subject matter, it is, in the end, a true work of art, a masterwork, and as such ultimately enobling and uplifting. And just a thrill to watch. |
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| TranceGiant |
Seems like everyone had at least one failed attempt (giving up after a few episodes) before going al the way.
Yes, it was amazing television, but as for this hype about it being "best show ever", sorry, cannot agree with that.
I'll give it to the show that it's possibly the most ambitious series - the effort of basically recreating a whole city/ mini-society and the authenticity of the characters/language/internal structures is breathtaking. But in terms of entertainment/storytelling, epic moments and memorable characters, the Sopranos wins clearly.
Scenes like Dr. Melfi being raped, Tony's surreal dream episode or the Carmela-Tony breakdown have stuck with me forever. Whereas the Wire is a meticulous study (albeit the display of corruption is often too in your face) with some entertaining characters, but not an epic story. At least that's the way it felt to me.
Edit: Could be a matter of taste really. Interestingly, my favorite season was season 2, which was the most "white" and kind of Sopranos'esque (the Greek/Sobotka storyline). I fond the focus on the decline and fall of Ziggy/Frank Sobotka etc. more interesting than any overarching theme of police corruption and political backstabbing. |
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