View Full Version : The Wire
I love cop shows and apparently this one is the best. I know it's over by now, but I've just started watching the first season. I like it, it's pretty good. Reminds me somewhat of NYPD Blue, and that was a pretty good show. Anyone here ever catch it?
Mr Wallstreet
03-03-2009, 04:45 PM
Awesome, awesome show. I have the entire series on DVD. It's got action and comedy but it's heavier on the drama angle which is amazing. Most of the interesting thigns happen when they are "on the wire".
This series shows how the drug business operates day-today and how drug runenrs are able to get away with so much of it. It also shows how deeply the drug business is tied into the community, police departments and the (local) goverment.
:lipsrsealed2: Hope I haven't said too much.
Let us know how far you get into it and we can discuss
I'm on episode 4 as I type this. I like it. I heard it's the most realistic cop show there is and it does show stuff I've never seen before (and I've seen a lot of cop shows). Are the five seasons linked with an overlying storyline or is it a story each season?
Mr Wallstreet
03-03-2009, 04:59 PM
The seasons are linked but not nearly as intrictely as, say, a show like LOST is.
The loose threads from season 1 will be picked up in season 2 and expanded on.
The setting and "targets" during season 3 change as well, but characters and ideas from the first 2 seasons are still visible in the backdrop and are engaged in activities that will be explored in future seasons.
In short, yes they are linked and have future reprecussions. No one is ever entirely forgotten or gone. Have you found a favorite character yet? What do you think of Jimmy McNulty and Major Rolls relationship? :D
I find it rather hard to comprehend why the Major is on his ass so much, to be honest.
Mr Wallstreet
03-03-2009, 07:43 PM
The Major is all about politics and keeping the official crime rate numbers down. Someone like McNulty who wants to uncover more murders and solve them just messes Rolls's shit up.
Keep watching, though Rolls isn't a series regular, when he does make an appearance he's both hilarious and a true douche bag.
William McDert
03-04-2009, 08:32 AM
My favorite characters are the guy who goes Sheeeeeeeeit, McNulty, Bodie, Bubbes, the guy with the scar and the shotgun...
You know, I really liked this show, ALL seasons, but some plotlines were so fucking confusing... I would obviously recommend this show to everybody, but I'd warn them that it can get slow. The season with the dock works (2 or 3?) is pretty shitty for a while...
It was really odd how alot of actors from Oz would pop up in The Wire...
Mr Wallstreet
03-04-2009, 08:43 AM
My favorite characters are the guy who goes Sheeeeeeeeit,
Senator Clay Davis
McNulty, Bodie, Bubbes, the guy with the scar and the shotgun...
Omar Little the Stick up man. Omar was by far one of the best character's on that show
You know, I really liked this show, ALL seasons, but some plotlines were so fucking confusing... I would obviously recommend this show to everybody, but I'd warn them that it can get slow. The season with the dock works (2 or 3?) is pretty shitty for a while...
It was really odd how alot of actors from Oz would pop up in The Wire...
I didn't think season 2 was all that bad. Sure the docks were a huge turn from what they had spent all off season 1 establishing but overall, it was pretty good.
Also, as far as character's showing up on Oz and vice versa, again didn't bother me. It was visibly notceable but didn't bother me all that much.
William McDert
03-04-2009, 12:33 PM
Oh it didn't bother me, it was just weird :)
I haven't watched Oz yet. I got the entire DVD colelction when I graduated, so that's definitely waiting for me.
wolf_2099
03-04-2009, 09:55 PM
I watched this entire thing. It is quite easily on the best television series ever produced. I think I watched the whole thing 3 times over, and every time I find new nuances to enjoy.
The only other show I find with a story as intricate, oddly, is BSG.
I saw Season 1 and enjoyed it though it sometimes gets a little slow.
I recently bought season 2 and 3. I'll probably watch that when I'm done with Sopranos.
wolf_2099
03-05-2009, 01:28 AM
Season 2 is the worst, fair warning, but get through it. It gets a lot better.
Sopranos... something I have yet to catch as well. So far I love The Wire (6 eps in). It's not a fast-paced show, but it takes it's time to show and explain. I like it a lot. And there are quite a few subplots already.
wolf_2099
03-05-2009, 03:28 AM
Sopranos... something I have yet to catch as well. So far I love The Wire (6 eps in). It's not a fast-paced show, but it takes it's time to show and explain. I like it a lot. And there are quite a few subplots already.
Which will follow all the way to the series finale.
Omar Little the Stick up man. Omar was by far one of the best character's on that show
I'm warking up to quite a few characters, actually. Omar is good, and I'm also interested in D'Angelo Barksdale and strangely enough the snitching junk.
William McDert
03-10-2009, 02:37 AM
STOP EVERYTHING AND GO WATCH SOPRANOS, OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After The Wire. And possibly Oz.
William McDert
03-10-2009, 08:55 AM
Sopranos should be watch before Oz. Oz is good, but the final season is terrible.
Yeah, but if I save Sopranos to watch after Oz, I'll have the better ending at the end!
Can someone please tell me that fucker from season 2 (the idiot who likes to show his dick in the bar) gets killed really soon? Shiiiiit...
Mr Wallstreet
03-17-2009, 07:50 AM
Not sure. It's been a while since I've watched it.
I just saw Omar testify in court.
:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::s milielol5:
Shit, I'm almost through season 3 and just saw the confrontation between Omar and Brother Mouzone. AWESOME!
Also, season 2 was boring. I didn't find it that boring while watching, but season 3 is waaay better.
wolf_2099
04-03-2009, 05:03 PM
Well, it only gets better from here!
Shiiiiit! Stringer just got killed! Well, presumably. I must say I didn't see that one coming. Yeah, ever since Mouzone was back it was in the air, but to be honest, with the way the season was developing, it'd seem more like either Stringer doing Avon or a split and war between them. Season finale tomorrow for me!
Mr Wallstreet
04-05-2009, 06:03 PM
Stringer's death was a huge moment in the show. It wasn't exactly a wtf moment because you could sense it was coming. There was a rift growing between Avon and Stringer which was only made worse by Stringer wanting to leave the drug trade behind and establish himself as a legitimate businessman.
Also, Strin and Avon never really saw eye to eye when it came to running the operation. Stringer always had a more subtle and business oriented approach whereas Avon always went in guns a-blazing.
The night before when Avon and Stringer were reminiscing, you could tell something was up with Avon.
The rift between them became very clear during the second season to me, but I thought this climax to it would come later in the series. But the moment Mouzone came back, it was obvious something was going to happen.
Mr Wallstreet
04-07-2009, 01:16 PM
How'd you like Jimmy's reaction when to Stringer's death?
Great. :D
I'm already let down by the first episode of season 4, though. :( I HATE kids in TV-shows/movies and from the looks of it, there'll be a whole bunch of 12-year olds running around.
Mr Wallstreet
04-07-2009, 04:00 PM
I had the same reaction as you when I saw that they'd be recurring throughout the season but these child actors are really great. Probem is, saying anything will spoil it for you so I'll just keep mum until you see a few wheels in motion.
What do you think of the new drug Kinpin?
Also, how fast did you go through the first 3 seasons?
I guess I'll have to keep up with it. Not that I'd stop watching, though.
Marlowe? I'm interested. Why he hands out money, for instance. And why on the one hand he doesn't seem as smart as Stringer and Avon, but on the other hand is keen enough to hide all the bodies. To be honest I'm more interested in Bodie, though.
A month. First season was pretty good, second season was rather boring in hindsight, the third season was awesome. I think my favorite character is Lester Freeman.
Mr Wallstreet
04-08-2009, 08:17 AM
"Who the hell was I chasing?" - Jimmy McNulty. That line right there summarized perfectly just how much McNulty underestimated Bell and if not for Bell's falling out with Avon; it probably would've been a long time before McNulty and co. would be able to bring him down. And speaking of McNulty, how are you finding the new and improved McNulty? :D
I'll keep my opinions about Marlo to myself for now as I don't want to color or influence your perceptions of him. Bodie is indeed a great character. He displays loyalty, is quick on his feet and tries to protect those under his employ.
The new McNutly fits with his character, really. He seems at peace, finally. What happened to his kids, though? Haven't seen them around yet.
Another character I rather like is Dennis Wise, the boxing coach. I wonder where he'll be going, since I rather doubt his role has ended as merely the coach wh otries to do the good thing. I'm guessing he'll be pulled back in the game eventually. Probably when one of the kids gets killed or something, most likely the Michael kid, who didn't want to take Marlowe's money. And speaking of him, I'm already looking forward to a Marlowe/Omar feud. :D
What the fuck! Michael's talking to Marlowe? Didn't see that one coming, I must say.
Shit, season 4 ended insane. Bodie dead (:(), Michael's a soldier, Randy's in trouble at the grouphome, Colvin taking in Weebay's kid and on top of that McNulty back at Najor Crimes? Awesome. Can't wait for the end of it all.
Mr Wallstreet
04-21-2009, 10:19 AM
Season 4 had a lot of memorable moments. One of the best was, as you said, Jimmy's character. While Jimmy loved being a police officer, and he obviously had an intuitive knack for detective work but it was also poison for him. It drove away his wife and alienated his friends and made him more enemies than anyone else. His lowest point was season 2-3 when Jimmy was getting drunk every night and driving under the influence.
Leaving the major crimes unit let Jimmy to grow up, and thats something they've building towards since season 1 and its not something we see all that much in a lot of shows. Weeds, Nip/Tuck Sopranos, etc...all had their main characters stay stagnant throughout most (if not all) of the runs of their shows. They would still be making the same damn mistake every season and not learning from it. Jimmy caught Stringer, and true to his word, left Major Crimes for a life of peace.
I was also pleasanty surprised at the fate of various other secondary characters in the show. Bodie's death, despite all the shit he pulled, was tragic and further proof of how brutal Stanfield was than Avon. Whereas Avon only killed when he going to be betrayed, Stanfield killed at the mere whiff of being betrayed and Bodie's outrage to that was...admirable.
Michael falling in Marlowe wasn't entirely unexpected but still a nice plot development. Colvin taking in Weebay's kid was another nice move that fit in with the progression of the season's storyline. And Randy's fate at the group home was also sad. There is still the fate of Duquan (the poor kid from the bunch) that has yet to be resolved.
And speaking of character progression, how have you liked Bubbles? He was the junkie in season 1 whose friend got beaten up so bad that he instigated the investigation into Avon?
Theres lots of more great shit in season 5. Give us updates as your watching to let us know where you are.
I love Bubbles, but I can't shake the feeling he's going to end up dead as well.
Leaving the major crimes unit let Jimmy to grow up, and thats something they've building towards since season 1 and its not something we see all that much in a lot of shows. Weeds, Nip/Tuck Sopranos, etc...all had their main characters stay stagnant throughout most (if not all) of the runs of their shows. They would still be making the same damn mistake every season and not learning from it. Jimmy caught Stringer, and true to his word, left Major Crimes for a life of peace.
And then he got pulled back in. Two episodes into season 5 and he's doing shit worse than in the first three seasons.
I've got the notion Michael will play a part in Marlowe's downfall, seeing how he seems as disgusted with Marlowe's over-agressive manners as well. 'Course, I'll be wrong on this.
Will the Randy kid be back in the show?
Well, Prop Joe out. And Marlowe seems to be getting crazier and crazier.
I just can't get over the SHEER STUPIDITY of McNulty and Freeman, though.
Mr Wallstreet
04-26-2009, 05:02 PM
Ahhh so you've gotten up to that part yet. That was, I think the height of McNulty's craziness.
Well, he can't get ANY MUCH crazier than what he's doing right now. Shit, I'm actually starting to dislike the motherfucker.
Mr Wallstreet
04-26-2009, 05:25 PM
Really? I thought his idea was both hilarious and ingenious. An actual moment of clarity for him.
What do you think of the newspaper writers?
The obvious reaction: Gus is a good journalist, the girl as potential but is new and the hack is just that: a hack.
While McNulty's idea is hilarious, and maybe even ingenious, I find it impossible to believe that the Freeman of the first four seasons would do such shit. And I dunno, it irritates me that MCNulty's falling back into his old habits again. Although the grain has been sowed to make him back down again, but the growth in his character is gone.
Of all the shit they pull.... kidnapping a homeless guy? Shiiiit. :D
Randy! Being all like he wasn't supposed to be and still got to be. :(
Omar being awesome again.
Shit, Michael the new Omar?
Great show all in all, but I have to say the Barksdale/Bell storyline was by far the best. Too bad that was also the first storyline.
Mr Wallstreet
05-04-2009, 10:25 AM
The obvious reaction: Gus is a good journalist, the girl as potential but is new and the hack is just that: a hack.
While McNulty's idea is hilarious, and maybe even ingenious, I find it impossible to believe that the Freeman of the first four seasons would do such shit. And I dunno, it irritates me that MCNulty's falling back into his old habits again. Although the grain has been sowed to make him back down again, but the growth in his character is gone.
I think the main reason Freeman went along with Jimmy's plan was due to his exasperation with the department. After spending 15 years sitting in a basement whittling furniture, he came out of "retirement" and kicked ass but was then met with dead ends and empty promises compounded by his superiors outright refusal to let him do his job.
In cop/law shows, one of the biggest ongoing themes are how system isn't perfect; I think Freeman's decision to completely manipulate and deceive the system is a commentary on just how broken and/or far gone the Baltimore police/justice department is that a man like Lester Freeman would stoop to breaking the rules.
McNulty himself is a great character study. He’s selfish, yet selfless. He wants to help innocents even if he hurts his friends, family and peers. McNulty’s decline into his self-destructive habits has always been linked to his job.
The reason I don’t think all of McNulty’s character growth is gone or diminished is because as great a detective as McNulty is (and he is a great det.) his work is slowly killing him and everyone around him knows it. I think it’s got something of an irony and tragedy written all over it. McNulty is a great police officer but can’t stay a police officer due to his inability to deal with the day-to-day stresses and frustrations that come along with being a police officer so the one thing he great at, he has to give up to save himself. Further the one thing he is great at, is a selfless and noble cause which are at complete odds with his personality and attitude which is self-serving
Mr Wallstreet
05-04-2009, 10:27 AM
Shit, Michael the new Omar?
Great show all in all, but I have to say the Barksdale/Bell storyline was by far the best. Too bad that was also the first storyline.
Seeing Omar take one in the head shocked the hell out of me. I didn't expect everyone would live and suspected that Omar would die, I just didn't see how.
Agreed on the Barksdale storyline.
Especially the way how he went. I expected him to be taken down by Marlowe's people, not get punked by a little tyke.
Too bad Michael went the way he went, but basically that can be said of all the young ones, with Duquan becoming a junkie and Randy becoming a thug.
Loved the end of Bubbles, though.
Mr Wallstreet
05-04-2009, 04:51 PM
Ahh yes Bubbles and Duquan.
Bubbles journey was one of the best character evolutions I've seen in a show. When the show started, Bubbles wasn't at rock bottom; he was a junkie for sure, but he still had a moral code of sorts. He hit rock bottom when his the child under his care O.D'ed because of him. I think that was his defining moment, when he realized his addiction wasn't just killing him but someone he cared for died because of it.
For me, Duquan's fate was the saddest of them all. Of all his friends, Duquan got the worst deal. His lifestyle, family, circumstances and everything else had decided his fate for him. In the end, Duquan never really had a chance.
Randy may be a thug now and will most likely start working for one of the drug runners when he gets out, but I think Carver might be able to pull him out of gang life.
It's appropriate that the show end with Bubbles and McNulty coming out changed for the better in the end (It did start with the two of them). Bubbles found redemption and McNulty laid his demons to rest once and for all.
One of the best parts of this season was the end. As McNulty was bringing back the homeless guy they kidnapped, an extended (or full version - I'm not really sure) of the theme song was playing over the dawn of a new day in Baltimore.
What did you think of Jimmy's choice to leave the PD, Herc working for the lawyer and Daniels getting the shaft?
McNulty leaving the PD was of course the best course. He wasn't fired because he couldn't get fired, but the boat would've killed him. I think he in the end also realised he really needed to change, since he was driving his... girlfriend, I suppose, away. Again. And he obviously didn't want that.
I NEVER cared for Herc, I found him the weakest link on the entire show, every season again. Him working for the lawyer fits perfectly with how I view him, but somehow it doesn't suit the character. He was always about catching the bad guys, and now he was working for them.
Daniels getting the shaft was very disappointing, but on the other hand it definitely fits the theme of the show: politics and personal gain always go over the good cause.
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