nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

The Wire-Is it any good?

billyhead

I was a big fan of the Sopranos when it was shown on tv and I often here people compare both and say the wire is just as good if not better so I was wondering is it worth watching the series form 1 to whatever season it finished up with

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Crimson King

2 or 3 of My favourite characters in any show are from the Wire.
Omar is the standout for me, "you come at the king, you best not miss"

Stringer was amazing too.

Joe_ Public

Tell me how wrote: »

I can understand those that prefer The Sopranos to The Wire. There is a lot very good about it. I'm genuinely perplexed at those who prefer Breaking Bad tough.

The Wire was very strong in characters, dialog, storylines (ignoring fake serial killer here) societal behaviours and representing all sides.

BB was good in........ evolution of 2 main characters as they delve deeper in to drug production.

I guess there was more of a psychological aspect to BB, a more drawn out insight into characters and how their lives are swept along by the (questionable) decisions they make. The Wire just sprinted along, racing through narrative arcs and maybe it was a weakness at times that some context to major storylines was lost or not properly developed (the one mentioned above relating to Lester going rogue in S5, for example). I think that's a flaw in S5 in that depth and context are sacrificed so the plot can be moved quicker to where the writers wanted it to go.

I did enjoy BB, but the pace wearied me a bit at times. I remember making a comment on some site about an episode where the lead guy (mind gone blank!) is trying to swat a fly and how that episode could easily have been 20 minutes shorter, and I was rounded upon. I didn't appreciate the subtlety of the writing apparently or understand that they were making art here, not just a tv series. Its why I find Better Call Saul a bit laboured too, like they're stringing out episodes to make multiple series out of them and I've too much other things to be watching in the meantime!

[Deleted User]

I've watched it too many times at this stage :pac:

Like a lot of people I wasn't that fond of season but it grew on me with repeat viewings. I find The Sopranos a much easier re-watch, maybe because it's more obviously funny. :P

Penn

Aravo wrote: »

My season preferences are 1,4,2,3,5

1- Barksdale
2- Port
3- Political
4- Schools
5- Media

I go 2,1,4,3,5. 1 and 4 are pretty interchangeable though, both are so fantastic.

Season 2 I think is hugely underrated and one of the finest seasons of TV ever created.

Tell me how

I can understand those that prefer The Sopranos to The Wire. There is a lot very good about it. I'm genuinely perplexed at those who prefer Breaking Bad tough.

The Wire was very strong in characters, dialog, storylines (ignoring fake serial killer here) societal behaviours and representing all sides.

BB was good in........ evolution of 2 main characters as they delve deeper in to drug production.

Aravo

Did he have hands? Did he have a face? Then it wasnâ€™t us

Bunny Colvin

I'd throw any fool into Hamsterdam if they don't like The Wire.

[Deleted User]

.red. wrote: »

That's a great scene, the look on the shop guys face is brilliant.

Snoop was a great character, the actress herself had a very troubled life and spent time inside for murder.
A lot of the secondary characters in the show were pretty much picked up off the corners and given jobs as extras.

I remember reading about the lad who played Bubbles, they were filming on location when someone came up to him and handed him something and said he needed it more than they did. When he looked it was a small bit of heroin. He called it his "street Oscar".
The story of Bubbles from start to finish is a work of art in itself. He had some very funny scenes but almost had me in tears a few times, I won't say when as they would be spoilers but anyone who's seen it will know.

"You earned that bump like a mutha****er"

[Deleted User]

Charles Cabbage wrote: »

The Wire beats the Sopranos by a long way IMHO, Make sure to watch maybe first 4 or 5 episodes or more as I did not really see what was so special about it at the start. Get a DVD box set, Sky are showing it in the middle of the night at the moment (almost done) but they cut huge lumps of important stuff out of it so DVD or something else if possible.

I never watch series a second time in general but I think I am on my fifth time with the Wire. It is hyped up a lot so do not expect it to change your life! I think the Wire is one of the few shows where they actually talk like normal people talk, the bad guys are not cartoon type bad guy hams like (some) in the Sopranos. Fave clip (not really spoiling anything): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_UuImPL4E

Your on your fifth time watching it and yet you think its hyped up?

Id say if a show can induce you to watch it this many times its living up to its hype

Aravo

Tell me how wrote:

Seasons in order of preference (in my opinion obviously)

Tell me how wrote:

4, 2, 1, 3, 5

My season preferences are 1,4,2,3,5

1- Barksdale
2- Port
3- Political
4- Schools
5- Media

.red.

Charles Cabbage wrote: »

Fave clip (not really spoiling anything): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_UuImPL4E

That's a great scene, the look on the shop guys face is brilliant.

Snoop was a great character, the actress herself had a very troubled life and spent time inside for murder.
A lot of the secondary characters in the show were pretty much picked up off the corners and given jobs as extras.

I remember reading about the lad who played Bubbles, they were filming on location when someone came up to him and handed him something and said he needed it more than they did. When he looked it was a small bit of heroin. He called it his "street Oscar".
The story of Bubbles from start to finish is a work of art in itself. He had some very funny scenes but almost had me in tears a few times, I won't say when as they would be spoilers but anyone who's seen it will know.

Huawei Gallagher

The Wire beats the Sopranos by a long way IMHO, Make sure to watch maybe first 4 or 5 episodes or more as I did not really see what was so special about it at the start. Get a DVD box set, Sky are showing it in the middle of the night at the moment (almost done) but they cut huge lumps of important stuff out of it so DVD or something else if possible.

I never watch series a second time in general but I think I am on my fifth time with the Wire. It is hyped up a lot so do not expect it to change your life! I think the Wire is one of the few shows where they actually talk like normal people talk, the bad guys are not cartoon type bad guy hams like (some) in the Sopranos. Fave clip (not really spoiling anything): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_UuImPL4E

dobman88

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I mean, in terms of quality, with The Wire having dud episodes and entire seasons and with Leftovers having none ..

Oh right. Still wrong. The Leftovers was pure sh!te

[Deleted User]

dobman88 wrote: »

That argument would be wrong but work away :pac:

I mean, in terms of quality, with The Wire having dud episodes and entire seasons and with Leftovers having none ..

[Deleted User]

RasTa wrote: »

Because it's ****e!

Season 2 is also the best.

However Sopranos is the GOAT

Ill admit S5 is the weakest and like yourself i liked Season 2, but personally i would find it hard to watch just 4 seasons knowing there is a fifth. And its not that bad really. Just a victim of the series own success.

RasTa

el diablo wrote: »

Yeah it's bleedin' deadly. Probably the best TV series I've watched.

Bizarre comment. Why watch four seasons and skip the fifth?

Because it's ****e!

Season 2 is also the best.

However Sopranos is the GOAT

dobman88

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I would argue that something like the Leftovers is better - just three short seasons. Not a bad episode in any of those.

That argument would be wrong but work away :pac:

[Deleted User]

I would argue that something like the Leftovers is better - just three short seasons. Not a bad episode in any of those.

Tell me how

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I just didnt like the Baltimore Sun stuff. The do-gooder editor annoyed me, how much chin wagging can one character do? Of course those things can and have happened in real newspaper life, but that story really needed an entire series, or several, to do it justice and they ended up shoehorning it in over a couple and weakened it imo. Overstretching themselves a bit I thought. But like i said, its not a major criticism, just a personal observation.

I agree that season 5 was weak. I thought the storyline of McNulty going rogue with Lester was too farfetched. Think if that had been stronger, the weakness of the press room would not have been as obvious. I actually liked the do-gooder editor as the rest were synonymous with an industry chasing clicks and likes than telling the news.

Joe_ Public

Deleted User wrote: »

Season 4 for me is without doubt the best because it highlights the failure of the most important institution. The kids preparing for Street life are being taught by a system designed for every single kid in the world irregardless of background, level or personal circumstances.

To be fair also, season 5 covered many topics relevant today such as the whole area of fake news

Yeah I totally get that. Season 4 is excellent in so many different ways and gets plenty of votes as people's favourite series. For me, on a less noble premise, I prefer the earlier series, No.2 especially as I loved all that stevedore stuff (even the very word pleases me), because they entertained and thrilled me more and there's more focus on the characters that drew me to it in the first place. Simple as that really.

I just didnt like the Baltimore Sun stuff. The do-gooder editor annoyed me, how much chin wagging can one character do? Of course those things can and have happened in real newspaper life, but that story really needed an entire series, or several, to do it justice and they ended up shoehorning it in over a couple and weakened it imo. Overstretching themselves a bit I thought. But like i said, its not a major criticism, just a personal observation.

Tell me how

As several have said, the wire is awesome. Some outstanding dialog in it throughout from several characters. Bubbles, Lester Freamon, Omar. Brilliant. Very few weak characters on it.

Seasons in order of preference (in my opinion obviously)

4, 2, 1, 3, 5

My favorite dramas; The Wire, Love Hate, GOT, Peaky Blinders..... Whats the connection between them?

Aidan Gillen :eek:

P.S. Sopranos is very good also but watched it again lately and found the continuity and pacing between episodes lacking in a way that was never a problem with The Wire. Still very good though. Some excellent dialog in it also.

P.P.S. I fail to see the attraction with Breaking Bad when comparing it to the wire I feel it doesn't hold a candle to it but lots feel strongly the other way.

P.P.P.S. As well as The Shield, David Simon also created a drama about New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, Treme. Some cross over of actors with Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters playing central roles. I think all music was performed by the actors paying the parts but I could be wrong. Totally different viewpoint to his other work but I thought it very good in showing character depth, as with The Wire. Was very well received by people from NO too.

Withrax

Most def

[Deleted User]

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Brilliant, brilliant series. Up there with Mad Men for me as the greatest ever produced, deserved every accolade it has received and more. That said, I'd have some reservations about the last couple of series which I felt started to get a bit preachy and the characters less nuanced, too much light and shade. I refer in particular to the Baltimore Sun storyline which had too many cliched characters - the bent reporter, the unscrupulous award-hungry bosses, the quiet-spoken honest editor etc - I know Simon had worked at the Sun himself but this just didn't ring true for me and I felt the writers were beginning to lose it a little at that point. In the overall scheme of things, though, that's fairly minor criticism. Rewatched Series 1-3 last year and amazed at how well they stand up over a decade on.

Season 4 for me is without doubt the best because it highlights the failure of the most important institution. The kids preparing for Street life are being taught by a system designed for every single kid in the world irregardless of background, level or personal circumstances.

To be fair also, season 5 covered many topics relevant today such as the whole area of fake news

Joe_ Public

Brilliant, brilliant series. Up there with Mad Men for me as the greatest ever produced, deserved every accolade it has received and more. That said, I'd have some reservations about the last couple of series which I felt started to get a bit preachy and the characters less nuanced, too much light and shade. I refer in particular to the Baltimore Sun storyline which had too many cliched characters - the bent reporter, the unscrupulous award-hungry bosses, the quiet-spoken honest editor etc - I know Simon had worked at the Sun himself but this just didn't ring true for me and I felt the writers were beginning to lose it a little at that point. In the overall scheme of things, though, that's fairly minor criticism. Rewatched Series 1-3 last year and amazed at how well they stand up over a decade on.

[Deleted User]

Well done on taking the first step Billyhead. This is the greatest series i have ever watched. Im absolutely hooked on it and for me absolutely nothing will top it.

The Wire for me is more than a Cops v Gangsters drama. More than anything it highlights institutional failure which in turn leads to unemployment, crime, substance addiction and thus the break down of society. And its as relatable in the Ireland of 2017 as it was in the Baltimore of 2002. It demonstrates a complete disconnect between the institutions and the people due to reasons ranging from vested interests to just sheer incompetence.

I can understand how people can find it a slow investment, but to call it overrated is puzzling. If anything it is hugely underrated. TV today is full of instant gratification, bad acting, junk, and cheap laughs, but David Simon done something marvellously different with the Wire. Instead of being storyline focused he built characters and dialogue and the interaction between these characters flowed so naturally as a result. There was no sides taken like other cop shows which i admired. The characters were built with layers upon layers of facets. Good cop, bad husband. Brown Noser but empathetic, Drug Dealer but honours a code.... Simply marvellous and will be usurped by none.

spurious

Loved it, though more fond of 'Homicide - Life on the street' its daddy.

Sebastian Dangerfield

I thought Series 1 was ok. Not the "must-see" TV that I had been told about by my friends, just ok.

Series 2 lost me a bit, with the change of setting.

I had higher hopes for Series 3, but lost interest completely 3-4 episodes in. Doubt I'll ever go back to it now.

_Kaiser_

geecee wrote: »

It took me around 10 attempts to get past the first 5 minutes
It took me another 2-3 goes to finish the first episode

After that I was hooked!

Don't forget to also check out The Shield another similar series that's well worth watching

The Shield is fantastic, and unlike The Wire it grabs you from the start. I've watched it several times now and IMO it's the better of the two (but I agree with others, the direct comparison that's so often done is odd? Very different shows).

My experience with The Wire was the same as yours but once I got into it, the first season was very good. Then they changed everything in Season 2? Still haven't gotten back to it...

.red.

Fantastic show, up there with the best. Ive honestly never seen anything else that compares to it for a mixture of script, characters, highs and lows!
I loved season 2, very different to the other series but some great scenes in it. Season 4, as said above could be a stand alone show all by itself!

It can be a chore to watch the first few episodes as there's just so much going on.
I heard it being compared to a jig saw before, in a way that it looks like a mess for the first 6/8 episodes and then all of a sudden it starts coming together, eventually you get the full picture of what's going on and it was all worthwhile!

tylercheribini

yes