[Kid Curry]

Everyone is talking about how great The Wire is (which it is). I watched this on TG4 as far back as 2003 and I used to ask people "Do you watch The Wire" and usual response was "The Wha!?"

As an original fan who watched the final episode which must be around 2 years ago, I feel Im in a position to look down my nose at all those who are now jumping on the band wagon. I know what I'm about to say is stupid but I just feel people are wreckin it's legacy because everyone is saying how great it is but nobody appreciated it when it was actually on TV. It's almost as though to say you like The Wire is the "in thing" and people who don't get are just saying they like it and it annoys me.

For example, person in work was talking about how they thought the wire was great and made a statement along the lines of "the gay robin hood black fella". I nearly cried, how can you not know his name, it's OMAR.

Anyway, can someone tell me why The Wire is so popular after the show finished over 2 years ago???

[demifuror]

The majority of people are idiots. They'll let hype and critics decide for them. Its the same with the sopranos, I know people who bought the entire box set after the show had finished, and would argue how the great the show is, safe in the knowledge that most people would agree, purely because of the critical acclaim the show has received.

The latest show I'm following is Breaking Bad, its quickly become my favourite show, and having followed it from the start, I'm never done telling people to watch it. The show is still relatively unkown to most people. Anyone I've recommended it to has come back and said how they think its just okay, having not dedicated nearly enough time or effort to the show. But granted, in a few years time, when the series has finished its run, and some hipster magazine writes an article on how you must watch the show before you die, they'll all flock to amazon, buy the boxset, and the same people who didn't think much of it the first time round will all of a sudden fall in love with it.

[amacachi]

Originally Posted by demifuror

The majority of people are idiots. They'll let hype and critics decide for them. Its the same with the sopranos, I know people who bought the entire box set after the show had finished, and would argue how the great the show is, safe in the knowledge that most people would agree, purely because of the critical acclaim the show has received.

The latest show I'm following is Breaking Bad, its quickly become my favourite show, and having followed it from the start, I'm never done telling people to watch it. The show is still relatively unkown to most people. Anyone I've recommended it to has come back and said how they think its just okay, having not dedicated nearly enough time or effort to the show. But granted, in a few years time, when the series has finished its run, and some hipster magazine writes an article on how you must watch the show before you die, they'll all flock to amazon, buy the boxset, and the same people who didn't think much of it the first time round will all of a sudden fall in love with it.

In fairness Breaking Bad is getting a lot of attention and Cranston has won the best actor Emmy the last two years.
I do agree though, people are idiots. I spent nigh on a year telling everyone to watch Dexter and maybe 2 people did, then the exact same with Breaking Bad.

[Bog]

[Penn]

I'm sorry, but how can you look down your nose at people only discovering it now? I was late to it, watched the whole thing over Christmas 2008. But I'd never heard of it before. So does
That mean you're better than me? I didn't hear any critical acclaim, just one of my friends recommended it, so I said I'd watch it. Since then, I've recommended it to people who i think will enjoy it, and most of them have. Are we ruining its legacy?

The programme was made to be enjoyed. Considering yourself to be somehow superior to others just because you watched it before them is ridiculous. Those of us who are late to it are not ruining its legacy. We are celebrating it. I'm sorry, but get over yourself

[chalad07]

Come on mate, the more people that are exposed to it the better. Theres so much illiterate sh*te on tv nowadays thats its great to see people enjoying a show that doesnt provide instant gratification, or appeal to the lowest common denominator.

Also, I think you can appreciate a show like this more if you can watch a number of episodes in succession, and not have to wait to 'tune in next week' to see how things go.

[Kid Curry]

Originally Posted by paddyirishman85

I'm sorry, but how can you look down your nose at people only discovering it now? I was late to it, watched the whole thing over Christmas 2008. But I'd never heard of it before. So does
That mean you're better than me? I didn't hear any critical acclaim, just one of my friends recommended it, so I said I'd watch it. Since then, I've recommended it to people who i think will enjoy it, and most of them have. Are we ruining its legacy?

The programme was made to be enjoyed. Considering yourself to be somehow superior to others just because you watched it before them is ridiculous. Those of us who are late to it are not ruining its legacy. We are celebrating it. I'm sorry, but get over yourself

Yes I'm better than you. Now build a bridge.

[Penn]

No thanks. I think I'll stay on this side.

[TrueDub]

Originally Posted by Kid Curry

Yes I'm better than you. Now build a bridge.

No you're not. The show is the show, whether you enjoy it the night it was first shown or 10 years later.

This reminds me of the whole "I had their first album, before everyone found out about them". Not something to be proud of.

[Kid Curry]

Originally Posted by TrueDub

No you're not. The show is the show, whether you enjoy it the night it was first shown or 10 years later.

This reminds me of the whole "I had their first album, before everyone found out about them". Not something to be proud of.

Cool the jets.

[Penn]

I'd just like to say that I was perhaps a bit harsh last night. But I still disagree with you

I see what you mean about people not knowing characters names, or not realising some of the more subtle elements of the shows brilliance. I gave my friend the loan of my boxset, and although he loved it, he complained about how things happened and people got promoted between seasons which wasn't shown and sometimes was barely even referred to.

But things like that would have happened even if he watched the show when it first started on tv.

Let's face it, over here, it was shown late on TG4. I know I for one rarely watched TG4, and even then, TH4 seemed to be focusing more on advertising Nip/Tuck. The show just slipped under peoples radar. I know a lot of people started saying on Facebook how the loved The Wire once it was starting to be shown on BBC a few months ago (or was it last year). I talked to a few of them who said they'd never heard of it before that. So to them, they were watching it on tv for the first time just like you were years ago.

The point is, it doesn't matter when anyone watched it. The only thing that matters is that they enjoyed it. Whether they know loads of trivia about it or watched it first or read the books doesn't matter a damn. They watched the show. They enjoyed the show.

[spurious]

Originally Posted by paddyirishman85

The point is, it doesn't matter when anyone watched it. The only thing that matters is that they enjoyed it. Whether they know loads of trivia about it or watched it first or read the books doesn't matter a damn. They watched the show. They enjoyed the show.

I feel ya.

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by paddyirishman85

Let's face it, over here, it was shown late on TG4. I know I for one rarely watched TG4, and even then, TH4 seemed to be focusing more on advertising Nip/Tuck. The show just slipped under peoples radar. I know a lot of people started saying on Facebook how the loved The Wire once it was starting to be shown on BBC a few months ago (or was it last year). I talked to a few of them who said they'd never heard of it before that. So to them, they were watching it on tv for the first time just like you were years ago.

In fairness to TG4 they did show it during prime time the last season aired with an unfortunate break for Snooker meaning it was pushed into the late night slots. but they are currently repeating series 5 10pm Thrusday Nights.

Perhaps you should watch TG4 more. In the UK no terrestrial broadcaster picked up the series until the BBC ran all 5 season back to back and even then it was shown at midnight.

[mikemac]

Originally Posted by Kid Curry

Everyone is talking about how great The Wire is (which it is). I watched this on TG4 as far back as 2003 and I used to ask people "Do you watch The Wire" and usual response was "The Wha!?"

It was shown on TG4 and at a late hour too when many won't watch it.
I'm not aware of what other channels it was shown on. BBC was mentioned but a lot of Ireland cannot receive BBC channels, not without cable or satellite.

So onto my second point:

Originally Posted by demifuror

I know people who bought the entire box set after the show had finished,

Well are you're great to have set 9-5 hours in education or work.
For just about every series I've been interested in, I buy the boxset at the end of the season.
With work it's pretty certain, I won't be around in the evenings to watch an episode and if I start missing them, that I'm not half watching a series.
Best to wait for the boxset, I'm far from alone on this.

For the two of you, are you the sort who are invited to a house party and then insult your host over their music collection? Sounds like it

[amcalester]

I had never heard of it until mid way through the last series. A friend recommended it but I didnt want to start watching at the end so I waited until the boxset came out and bought it.

Does that make me less of a fan than you?