I never intended to watch The Wire next in my Jane After Dark pursuits. In fact, I planned on watching Veronica Mars, as many of you suggested. But a good number of you also recommended The Wire, and I had season one sitting here, so I popped it in one night.
I'm not gonna lie to you. It's been slow going. Here's how it went down:
Episode 1: I was completely lost, so I watched it twice to see if I could grasp it the second time around. Then I read the detailed synopsis on The Wire's official HBO site. Clearly, this show is not meant to be watched while you're doing something else. You need to sit down and focus on what's going on.
As I've mentioned before, Jane After Dark chronicles my DVD adventures while I'm working on the computer at night. But that's proving to be difficult with The Wire. This show has a LOT going on, and every scene is vital to the evolution of the show. Miss something, and you almost have to backtrack because every scene is integral to something else down the line.
Episode 2-6: I'm still kind of lost, but there's something about the story and characters that keeps me coming back. I have a pretty good handle on the cops and their individual stories; it's the drug dealers I'm having trouble with. But after watching the episodes and then reading the synopsis for each, I'm starting to get it. In a nutshell, Avon Barksdale and his partner Stringer Bell are running a drug business in Baltimore and leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. Det. Jimmy McNulty and a team of cops are hot on their trail, keeping tabs on them via surveillance and wire-tapping equipment. And of course, there are lots of other people -- both good and bad -- involved on both sides of the law. Many grey areas there.
For me, the beauty of The Wire is in the characters more than the storyline. McNulty is a bit of a "loose wire" when it comes to going after the bad guys. He's not afraid to think outside the box and tell his superiors how to do their jobs. His personal life is a train wreck, but that makes for an interesting cop, right?
I also appreciate seeing some of the actors I've grown to love on other shows this past year, including Lance Reddick, who plays Agent Broyles on Fringe. If you mute the TV, his character of Lt. Daniels on The Wire looks and moves pretty much the same as Broyles. From what I gather, though, Daniels might be a dirty cop.The jury's still out on Broyles, but he seems like he's on the up and up.
Then there's John Doman, who plays Dep. Comm. for Operations William A. Rawls on The Wire. But I started watching Damages last winter, and know him better as Walter Kendrick, a guy with more than a few similarities to Tony Soprano. Idris Elba, who plays Stringer Bell on The Wire, also plays Charles Miner on The Office. Quite a different character there.
Just about every scene of The Wire is great in one way or another, but one that stands out for me is where McNulty and Bunk are reconstructing the murder of Diedre Kesson. They're laying out photos of the body on the floor of her apartment and re-enacting how the shoot might have gone down, and the only words they speak are expletives. Even though the whole thing is tragic, the way they play the scene is pretty funny.
So I'm heading into the second half of season one of The Wire, and I'll report back next week and let you know how it goes. Any pointers for me from all of you Wire fans? Any tips or intel are much appreciated!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-01-2009 @ 11:09AM
kate said...
A lot of people I know have also recommended "the wire" but I gotta say, I can't get interested in it. I'd DEFINITELY go with Veronica Mars. The first season is amazing, the second is pretty great too. Skip the third, or watch anyway, just because you like the characters.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:23AM
Craig said...
The Wire is probably the greatest drama in the last 20 years. But you must give it your undivided attention. Can't be doing anything else.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:31AM
scottR said...
I'm on my 3rd time through The Wire, and it gets better with each viewing. Everyone has their favourite season (mine is the second - go Amy Ryan!), but the 1st definitely sets the tone and the story for the entire series.
One of the best things about the show is the transitioning focuses of each season: bureaucracy, work, reform, education, news. Each season has its feel, but the show as a whole still feels solid.
I'm still amazed that scenes are still moving and powerful even after watching it twice before, and knowing what will happen next. A testament to the directors and actors/actresses especially.
It's slower than your average show, true, but it's also the smartest show probably ever made. Keep going at it! By the time you finish the last 10 minutes of season 1, you'll be hooked completely.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:49AM
fhh said...
just keeping watching, and yes, it'll need your undivided attention. I think it's the best show... ever.
my experiense watching it for the first time was similar to yours. i was lost in the first couple episodes, but i stuck it out and do not regret a minute. season one is great and it gets much better (wait til you get to 3 & 4!!). i rewatched season one after watching the whole series and not only was it better, but i understood it more. i'm rewatching season two now.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:53AM
cgar said...
The Wire is a masterpiece. The most realistic show ever made. I am forever loyal to HBO for sticking with it despite the poor ratings and lack of Emmy noms.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:54AM
Jon said...
Like you said in your review, this is not a show to watch while doing something else. If you want something along those lines, Veronica Mars is the better choice. I'm not denegrating Veronica Mars by saying that, or at least not intentionally, because I love that show. It is just that The Wire is on a completely different level.
The Wire is often described as a novel in TV form, and I think that is an apt description. And while you can speed read through a book and get the basic gist and plot, the truly rewarding experience comes from taking your time and digging in.
Yes, it is time consuming and can be a difficult slog, but it is very rewarding. Small moments that last 5-10 seconds on the screen can bring a new appreciation for characters you might have written off. The Wire is something special, and I hope you stick with it.
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6-01-2009 @ 12:07PM
Usama said...
agreed! I love both shows, I'm actually re-watching The Wire with my sister now after I got her through 3 seasons of Veronica Mars.
Jane, my sister's been going slow w/ The Wire too but I think it will pay off eventually. As everyone before me has said, you need to watch with 100% attention, but not hat even then you may not get everything they're throwing at you. I missed a lot my first time through and now am understanding a lot of the details better as I watch with my sister.
If you did want an easier (but still great) show, check out Veronica Mars.
Man I love this show.
6-01-2009 @ 12:15PM
Mr. Matt said...
My wife & I just finished re-watching season 4 last night, the "school" season (our favorite)... It only gets better with age. The subtitle parallels between the streets, the police, the politicians, and the schools has become even more visible. Even the second time around the tragic story arches of many of the characters (like my boy Bodie) are still powerful.
Jane, I hope you plan to continue with the next four seasons after you finish this one. It tells the story not just of the characters, but also of the city, Baltimore, which could be any city in today's America.
The Wire is the greatest television series ever made.
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6-01-2009 @ 12:19PM
Jables said...
The Wire is unbelievable. Seasons 1 and 2 were my personal favorites.
Because of all the hard to hear slang and police jargon, I found that watching it with subtitles made it a lot easier to grasp and appreciate.
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6-01-2009 @ 12:40PM
David said...
Two things:
(1) It took me until I was done with episode 12 to figure out, "oh wow! this is good stuff!". I felt kind of lost until I had finished the first season, and then it all sorta clicked.
(2) After watching episode 60, I (a 35 year-old lifelong television devotee) think The Wire is the greatest television series ever.
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6-01-2009 @ 12:54PM
Tony said...
cgar said it best. The Wire is a masterpiece. Take it in slowly and savor every episode. It becomes more brilliant and moving as you go along. I"m jealous actually to be in your shoes. You have many many more interesting characters to meet and you probably haven't fallen for Omar yet...but you will.
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6-01-2009 @ 1:37PM
jayyy said...
Have you considered watching The Shield for your next, or a future Jane After Dark? I prefer it over The Wire and in my opinion it has one of the best Series endings ever seen. Just throwin that out there cuz alot of ppl compare The Shield and The Wire, but regardless its an amazing show, absolutely one of the best scripted shows ever put out.
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6-01-2009 @ 1:42PM
Willmore2000 said...
One suggestions I've heard for people who aren't really getting the show, is to turn on the subtitles, because the dialogue can be tough to understand.
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6-01-2009 @ 2:02PM
scottR said...
Yeah, the large cast makes a lot of names come up too. It took me awhile to figure out who Bodie, Poot, Bird, Weebay and the rest all were.
6-01-2009 @ 2:21PM
Says said...
One of the greatest shows I've ever seen and it still baffles me that it won NO emmys!
I never found it to be "slow going," true there weren't explosions abound but the writing and the acting flowed together so well I couldn't help but get lost in the show. One of my favorite things about The Wire was how the actors took to dialog. Case in point (Jane if you're reading this you may want to stay away from these links as they may contain spoilers):
http://www.phresh.cc/video/w/the_wire/brother_mouzone-omar.php
http://www.phresh.cc/video/w/the_wire/snoop-hilti-dx460mx.php
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6-01-2009 @ 2:49PM
David said...
Jane, we forgot to mention something (in this thread at least).
When you finish season 1, and start on season 2 ... stick with it! Season 2 changes the ball game completely, and the viewer is at first saying, "Huh? Wha? Why?!?" until they "get it" and then they're happy.
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6-01-2009 @ 4:41PM
Usama said...
Very true, very true.
6-01-2009 @ 4:55PM
Jacq said...
You mentioned in your review the best scene ever in television history - the no dialogue except the expletive crime scene reconstruction by McNulty & Bunk. I whole-heartedly agree, the body language and nuance in that one word conversation was the most perfect scene I've ever seen.
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6-01-2009 @ 11:50PM
notatoad said...
how to watch the wire: sit in a room, by yourself, with all the windows and doors closed. don't have any food, any drinks, any lights. nothing can distract you from the show. every second is crucial. don't re-watch any episodes, one episode flows beautifully into the next and re-watching will break that flow. watch one episode every day. the episodes need time to sink in. leave a month or so between seasons, they are each distinct storylines and need to be viewed that way. and you will need to re-watch the series a few times before you get everything. the pilot seems confusing at first, but after you've seen the whole series you understand just how perfect a metaphor every single scene is.
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6-02-2009 @ 12:00PM
MikeR said...
wow, it makes me so happy to see a show that I love given so much praise. I mean it's also hilarious how people are encouraging you along the way not to give up because the show just means that much to people. It's written so well and everything is so well thought out, I'm suprised that it's not given even more attention. Honestly, a show like the Wire should be taught in schools alongside other literary classics. It's a classic piece of literature through the television medium that will always be relevant and should stand the test of time.
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