"The Wire" discussion and appreciation thread (spoilers ahoy)

[DigiFluid]

Season 1 - A brilliant first season if ever there was one.

Season 2 - A vastly underappreciated year, IMO. I loved Nick, and Frank, and the whole dockworkers/union angle. Personally I think the biggest disappointment in Season 2 is not in any failure to interest, but rather that at the end of the day, it feels like the cops did something wrong in the pursuit of Sobotka and the union. It just feels to me like rather than accomplish anything meaningful, they just got a couple of good people murdered whose biggest offense was getting into bed with the wrong people.

Season 3 - Another tremendous, and incredibly natural extension to the series. This year added all kinds of great dimensions to the show and did it in a way that made it feel like this crap was going on since before the beginning. Hamsterdam was an interesting experiment that I just can't help but wonder about in RL.

Season 4 - The crowning achievement of both the series and of all television IMO. I could type for days about this year, but from the game of dice in the alley to the crossroads at the close of the season, every second of Season 4 is a masterpiece.

Season 5 - This may not win me any friends among the Wire crowd here, but I actually kind of wish the show had ended on Season 4. While S5 does some respectable things and the writing continues to be quality throughout, I just can't help but feel that the final year of the show was a completely unnecessary coda following the genius of year 4.



Random Stuff
Omar....need I say more? "I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase...s'all in the game though, right?"

Aiden Gillan (Tommy Carcetti) has the best imdb picture ever

Chad Coleman, Cutty in Season 3 onward, did the voiceover work for Coach in Left 4 Dead 2

Dominic West, before playing McNulty, played an unnamed palace guard in Star Wars Episode I

Bubbles is another of the most compelling characters in TV history IMO. I just love his journey

[jmoz]

I didn't like the last two seasons. Just my opinion. Omar, the best character in the show.

Spoiler:

Hated how they killed him off.

[DigiFluid]

I was initially quite upset about that too. But I think it was a real stroke of genius (one of few in Season 5) that the kid who did it was the same one who was "playing" Omar in the street back in Season 3, that prompted Bunk to give him s**t over it.

[MattSilver 3k]

Still haven't seen beyond the pilot yet - and while I liked it, I get the feeling I'll need a big fracking chart, with pictures, to keep everything straight. Does not sound like a bad thing, though.

[jmoz]

Nahh, I didn't like it.

Best Omar line, sorta forget how it goes exactly but:

Attorney asks what is your occupation?
Omar goes my occupation?
Attorney clarifies, yes your job.
Omar says with a dead serious face, I rob drug dealers.

lmao

[DigiFluid]

Nahh, I didn't like it.

Best Omar line, sorta forget how it goes exactly but:

Attorney asks what is your occupation?
Omar goes my occupation?
Attorney clarifies, yes your job.
Omar says with a dead serious face, I rob drug dealers.

lmao

Ohh yes

Actually my favourite part of that scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYj7q_by_2E

Is 5:55 to the end

[jmoz]

LOL, his whole attitude the entire time, so casual and in your face. I liked when he offed another dude from the shadows. He just went, hey yo cch ccch boom.

[DigiFluid]

I liked when he offed another dude from the shadows. He just went, hey yo cch ccch boom.

I love that I know exactly what scene you're talking about too

Because that whole scene ended with another of my favourite Omar lines....after the other guy fails to kill Omar, Omar shouts out at him "you come at the king, you best not miss!"

So awesome

[DigiFluid]

How about most hated character?

Mine's Snoop, far and away. Gods below, DIE DIE DIE.

[jmoz]

I hated Marlo. And Cheese. And the lawyer. And that lesbian chick after she told on Lester and McNulty.

Spoiler:

Marlo was a lame gangsta that suddenly got lots of power and started killing relentlessly, he should have died long time ago. And Cheese. Felt such satisfaction when that guy blew his head off.

[DigiFluid]

Also want to add Namond's mother/Wee-Bay's wife. Mein gott, what a b with an itch.

[jmoz]

Also want to add Namond's mother/Wee-Bay's wife. Mein gott, what a b with an itch.

Fo sho. She played such a stereotype. What a horrible mother.

I wanted Clay Davis to die so bad the entire show. Just somehow. People like him are all over.

[LoneStar1836]

For me S1 and S4 are tied for my favorite. S1 was such a great set up to the whole show.

I thoroughly enjoyed S2 and 3, but I just did care quite as much for the dockworkers or their story.

I enjoyed S5 but it is my least fav. and did feel tacked on. I didn't much care for the newspaper story or what they had McNulty doing.

I was initially quite upset about that too. But I think it was a real stroke of genius (one of few in Season 5) that the kid who did it was the same one who was "playing" Omar in the street back in Season 3, that prompted Bunk to give him s**t over it.

Neat way to tie that in even though I kinda hated that they killed him.

Omar was a great character and one of my favs. along with D'Angelo, Bubbles, McNulty, and Bunk.

Show certainly didn't lack for characters. You do practically need a chart to keep them and their connections all straight.

How about most hated character?

Mine's Snoop, far and away. Gods below, DIE DIE DIE.

Same here. I was happy when Micheal got the drop on her.


The Wire is one of the very best shows I've watched.

[DigiFluid]

I was really very sad when

Spoiler:

Bodie got capped at the end of Season 4

. All just because someone happened to see him get in a car with McNulty after he took pity on him. Everything McNulty touches really does turn to crap

[LoneStar1836]

I was too even though after S1 and what they did to Wallace, I was waiting for him to get his...and hoping he would, but then after he had that conversation with McNulty, I had to feel bad for him.

[jmoz]

Really disliked McNulty in the fifth season for what he did to Beadie. Loved him in season one and two. Especially in the beginning of season two when he pins the murders in Rawls' district, LOL.

[DigiFluid]

Really disliked McNulty in the fifth season for what he did to Beadie. Loved him in season one and two. Especially in the beginning of season two when he pins the murders in Rawls' district, LOL.

Completely agreed.

Rewatching the series this time, I think I've decided to stop at the end of Season 4. It's just such a wonderful place to call it a day; Namond's found a good life, Bunny's found a role post-police, Major Crimes is reconstituted with all the right people, there's a new political order in place, and McNulty is happy. And that closing shot of the crossroads--a wonderful metaphor for both the entire series and that particular moment in it.

[jmoz]

I'll add that lame make up sources reporter guy to hate list, and add the bald headed keep integrity of the newspaper editor guy to like column. I don't know why. But I liked the Greek. He was calm, collected, just a very classy bad guy.

[DigiFluid]

"And I'm not even Greek!"

[jmoz]

I'm surprised they didn't catch the Greek, but it's obvious he has connections.

I wish they'd do a more national or state version of this show, like maybe FBI stuff or something. And bring back the cast, McNulty, Lester, the black noble guy that's in Fringe now whose name I forgot, OMAR somehow, lol.