[HBO] The Wire, the best TV series you've never watched!

[Netskipper]

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I'm a bit surprised that there is no thread about this series. I've seen it mentioned here and there but I think it deserves at least a thread so I'm starting one.

Way back in 2005 or so, there was this commercial in Solar TV about this series called "The Wire". I've never paid much attention to it maybe because there was absolutely no flash in the way it was presented, no recognizable actor, no thrilling actions scenes or special effects. So I never gave it a chance. That is until I read an interview from one of my favorite comic writers of all time, Alan Moore. Here is an excerpt of his interview:

"Do you ever relax and just watch television?
Selectively, mostly on DVD. The absolute pinnacle of anything I've seen recently has got to be The Wire. It's the most stunning piece of television that has ever come out of America, possibly the most stunning piece of television full-stop.
That's a great example of storytelling that takes its time.
Absolutely, that is grown-up television! It's novelistic. You get to find out about all these tiny different aspects of Baltimore, to build up a huge picture of the city with all of its intricacies — from the wharf side, to the kids in the projects, to the power structure with the boardrooms and police department and governor's office. And it's got some great writers: It's got George Pelecanos and David Simon. And so many wonderful characters, Bubbles, Omar. So yeah, everything else looks pretty lame next to The Wire."


That certainly got my attention. It's been a while since I watched an American TV series and to be honest, I've sort of given up on them. A lot of the TV series out there are just not for me. I know a lot of people enjoy them and that's why they keep making them but to me, it has become formulaic and predictable.



Here is a snippet from its wiki page that summarizes what it is about:


"The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland. Created, produced, and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002 and ended on March 9, 2008, with 60 episodes airing over the course of its five seasons.

Each season of The Wire focuses on a different facet of the city of Baltimore. They are, in order: the drug trade, the port, the city bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together.

It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals, and how…whether you're a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge [or] lawyer, you are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution you've committed to."


Initially, I thought that it would be too much to wrap my head around but the writing is tight and barely any scene is wasted. I had a bit of trouble understanding the slang talk but I got around it after a few episodes (the writers said they did not want to "dumb down" the dialogue). Also, the characters are great. Each one is flawed in his/her own way but they all fit in the "ecosystem" that is Baltimore.



Currently, I just finished the 2nd season and I can't wait to start the 3rd season.



I'd recommend this series to the following people:
1) Anyone waiting out the 2nd season of Game of Thrones (which is incidentally also produced by HBO). It's set in the real world but the plot twists and unpredictability will make you feel at home.

2) Anyone interested in politics since a lot of what happens in this series mirrors the events in our own backyard.
3) Anyone looking for great storytelling above everything else since it honestly lacks in the big name actor and special effect department.


Give it a try. It starts out slow and I actually had months in between watching the 1st and 2nd episode! But once it got rolling, I finished an entire season in a day or two.

[lawrencebosox45]

I had the same exact experience as you...when that show started on tv I'd just turn the channel... parang boring or depressing.... but my condo mate had the pirated dvds and never watched them....

cut to 2 years later and I was bored and started watching it on those old links that had whole series runs that were eventually taken down. I got through the 1st season and was floored on how good it was....


then 4 years later and finally move to the states and then convince my wife to to watch the 1st season and we get HOOKED... and end up buying the legitimate dvds from amazon and plow through them watching 1-2 episodes a day...


here's the thing with people willing to try watching the series: just wait out the first 4-5 episodes and follow them lightly.. from there the whole series is epic and addicting... it needs your attention though...

and another pro tip: use youtube after watching an episode to go to specific scenes you don't understand (this will happen often). they usually have the pivotal scenes and user comments explain fully what implications/backstory so you can really be entrenched and fully follow the characters. parang kudigo.. or outline notes.

there are characters all the way from random scenes in the 1st season who actually come up subtly in the 4th and 5th seasons... its that layered and nuanced...

its basically like reading a huge complex addicting classic novel (think Tolstoy) only in film form... its that complex and rewarding.

actually repeated viewings of WHOLE seasons can be even more rewarding just like reading things like Tolstoy or what not.

[Netskipper]

^^great advice, Lawrence. I agree with your tip about follow the 1st 4-5 episodes lightly. Things get started in a huge way after that. I haven't tried your other tip which is go to youtube for those pivotal scenes (and there are a lot of these scenes!) So far, what I've done is go through the wiki and read up on those episodes I've already watched.

Also subtitles helps but one of the writers has advised against it. Still, if you really can't understand a thing they're saying. Turn on the subtitles

[lawrencebosox45]

^^great advice, Lawrence. I agree with your tip about follow the 1st 4-5 episodes lightly. Things get started in a huge way after that. I haven't tried your other tip which is go to youtube for those pivotal scenes (and there are a lot of these scenes!) So far, what I've done is go through the wiki and read up on those episodes I've already watched.

Also subtitles helps but one of the writers has advised against it. Still, if you really can't understand a thing they're saying. Turn on the subtitles

well when i'm bored i'll actually still go through random The Wire youtube clips and only then totally figure out what happened...which is weird because it reminds me of being in college and then having a professor give great insight on something that I thought i already understood.

I'm with you on the subtitles. Always have the subtitles on! There is really nuanced urban language that you need to understand to pick up all the sub stories.

[gang_armani]

Thanks for sharing.

Will start watching this ASAP.

[lawrencebosox45]

Thanks for sharing.

Will start watching this ASAP.

word of warning... you will become addicted... then try (most of the time in vain) to spread the gospel of The Wire to friends... you will fall in love with characters that you'd run to the other side of the street from in real life...

[Netskipper]

word of warning... you will become addicted... then try (most of the time in vain) to spread the gospel of The Wire to friends... you will fall in love with characters that you'd run to the other side of the street from in real life...

Amen to that, Lawrence! I already am addicted.

In fact, I'm think of producing a Philippine version and calling it "Ang Kawad" haha

[lawrencebosox45]

Amen to that, Lawrence! I already am addicted.

In fact, I'm think of producing a Philippine version and calling it "Ang Kawad" haha

well there's a lot of "The Wire" right here in manila... where everyone (even the poor and desolate) have compelling stories that need to be told.

the main settings (of seasons 1/3/4/5) are basically ghetto baltimore not any different then the 3rd world/metro manila. don't get me started on the corrupt gov't and valiant police aspects that they cover in season 5/6... its all very relatable to the situation in the Philippines.

[Netskipper]

well there's a lot of "The Wire" right here in manila... where everyone (even the poor and desolate) have compelling stories that need to be told.

the main settings (of seasons 1/3/4/5) are basically ghetto baltimore not any different then the 3rd world/metro manila. don't get me started on the corrupt gov't and valiant police aspects that they cover in season 5/6... its all very relatable to the situation in the Philippines.

I guess that's the reason why it is so compelling to watch. Its a mirror of our own society.

I'm just starting the 3rd season so I don't know where this leads to but I'm enjoying the ride. It's too bad my wife is so much into koreanovelas and I have to watch this on my own haha

[tapnclick1940]

Omar coming, yo!

I actually mentioned this in the Game of Thrones thread in hopes of convincing some Muggers to watch it. If you're gonna watch only one TV series in your life, watch The Wire.

The reason why this show is so realistic is because David Simon, the shows writer, was actually a Baltimore Sun reporter and had first hand experience in the ins and outs of Baltimore's drug trade.

You'll also find out later that some actors used to actually be real players in the drug trade. Snoop, for instance.



Oh, and also fans of Game of Thrones will recognize a familiar face