The Wire

[Dan U]

Season 4 starts in the States tomorrow.

Its enough to make me want to learn how to torrent, just the best thing on TV in yonks imo.

some trailers here - http://www.hbo.com/thewire/

Charlie Brooker on The Wire -

Its all about the game

 

[jodal]

Yes!!! Can't wait. Best TV program ever IMHO.

There are a couple of threads on The Wire already though.

PS: Torrents are easy. Downlaod Azureus, install then go to pirate bay, demonoid.com or mininova and start downloading.

Or for a more detailed explaination go to one of the many torrent f.a.q. pages.

 

[Belushi]

Best TV program ever IMHO.

Innit, I've only seen the first two series, gonna get the DVDs of series three soon as I have some spare cash.

 

[8den]

Oh thank god I'm not alone!!!

The missus got me the boxed set of season one for chrimbo, and I set down to watch it, and proceeded to lose February to it, downloading season 2 and 3 as I devoured season one. It's like crack, and none of my mates watch it. I lent it to a friend just so I could talk to him about it.

I love the motherfucker scene in season one. I love how it takes four episodes to get the team back together in season two. I love seeing the Major in the gay bar in season 3. Jesus christ I love Omar, "pray do tell". I love the dead soldiers, I fecking love Bubbles. I love how major character transform into Minor characters in different series.

Just love it period

 

[trabuquera]

How can you torture me further by reminding me of the tantalising just-out-of-reachness of series 4? FX need to pull their finger out and televise it instantly in the UK.

At risk of repeating tedious recommendations: IT'S THE FINEST FECKING TELEVISION EVER MADE. That is all.

One spark of good news: it ain't over 'till it's over - this extremely long email/interview with David Simon (brainfather of the series) suggests that if they can find the funding they'll be making a series 5 to finish off all the characters' trajectories. NO spoilers in this but some very interesting hints about the politics and the artistic aims of what these good people are trying to do in making the drama. worth a read if you are even remotely interested in the series.
http://members.aol.com/TheWireHBO/exclusive.html

but how idiotic is it that there should even be a QUESTION about finding the funding for something this good??

 

[Blagsta]

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant telly. Seen series 1 and 2 on DVD, excellent stuff.

 

[hendo]

I'm running out of 'The Shield' (last episode of S5 on Fri on C5) so this sounds like a logical place to go.

 

[Dan U]

I'm running out of 'The Shield' (last episode of S5 on Fri on C5) so this sounds like a logical place to go.

Its not as 'instant' as The Shield which is also wicked.

Wire shades it though, easily best thing on TV in years as others have said.

i am getting a copy of S4 E1 off a mate at the weekend

 

[Dan U]

I've watched the first 3 episodes of S4

what can i say - its as good as ever, building nicely towards the new story.
some good new characters and usual shit hot writing

 

[zoooo]

Ooh, I forgot I 'acquired' a whole series of this! Now where did I put it?...

I only got it for Aidan Gillen.

 

[Pie 1]

Bumped because I've just finished Season 2.

Fuck me, is this best TV drama ever?. The hype about it being the first real TV 'novel' isn't far off the mark.

And whilst the nit picking critisism of it not being quite as good as season 1 have a little point - it still blows everything else clearly and absolutely, out of the water.

The fall out in the last 2 episodes from the police to the dockers to the drug gangs and the set up for season 3 was just inspired.
I just sat back as the credits rolled and quoted Bunk to myself: "m o t h e r fucker"

 

[Dubversion]

I watched the first episode last night, and it's looking good already. Managed to download all 4 seasons this week so that's my winter hibernation sorted

 

[saucisson]

And I thought the shield was good...OMG....come late to the wire but its totally compulsive...just watching season one and dont think I have ever seen any tv as good....ever...the fact that there are 4 more series means my evenings for the rest of the year are sorted...no need to go out ever again...I am worried that I will start talking american though....mos def.

 

[Pie 1]

I am worried that I will start talking american

<Trivia mode: Dominic West (McNulty) & Idris Elba (Stringer Bell) are both British actors.>

 

[thebignoisy]

<Trivia mode: Dominic West (McNulty) & Idris Elba (Stringer Bell) are both British actors.>

Yes 2.4 children to the Wire

 

[Dubversion]

Got season 3 of Deadwood to finish then it's heads down and into the Wire.

The Americans really leave us standing with this stuff, don't they?

 

[Pie 1]

The Americans really leave us standing with this stuff, don't they?

Yep.

I mean we do have our moments - Shameless for example (but that's a slightly different kettle of fish)- but I'm really having trouble thinking of much else that has the production, acting power and writing scope of Sopranos/6ft Unde/Wire/Deadwood etc etc.

 

[The Groke]

Got season 3 of Deadwood to finish then it's heads down and into the Wire.

The Americans really leave us standing with this stuff, don't they?

Why do you think that is?

Is it a fundamental cultural difference? Perhaps the difference in the amounts of money/backing offered? The sheer fact that there are so many more of these kinds of shows churned out every year in the States, that by the law of averages some of them must be pretty good, or something more/else.....?

Does that deserve a separate thread?

 

[Dubversion]

I think it is just the size of the market, pretty much. Also, they're all HBO - dunno what the subscription situation is but they probably know they can sell all these shows as well, so they can throw money at them

 

[Orang Utan]

Yep.

I mean we do have our moments - Shameless for example (but that's a slightly different kettle of fish)- but I'm really having trouble thinking of much else that has the production, acting power and writing scope of Sopranos/6ft Unde/Wire/Deadwood etc etc.

The new series of Shameless is well shite, if the first two episodes are anything to go by

 

[Pie 1]

The new series of Shameless is well shite, if the first two episodes are anything to go by

See this also seems to be another problem & adds to Dub's question:
Why then if we do produce something decent, can we never sustain it?

I think one of the reasons is the writing/directing side of things. British productions tend to involve a much smaller team of writers and are often helmed by the original creators all the way through.

HBO series tend to have a lot more writers and see the original creators stepping back once the show finds it's feet.
They also to have a bigger roster of directors for the episodes. This probably has a distinct effect on maintaining quality as no single director becomes complacent - it keeps the whole thing tighter.

Dunno, just thoughts.

 

[Orang Utan]

There are various writers and directors for Shameless though

 

[Dan U]

There are various writers and directors for Shameless though

I read that the 2008 series of Shameless is going 'american' and is going to be 16 episodes. pretty unique for UK drama.

prop's to those watching The Wire - Season 4 is a corker too.

just finished S2 of Deadwood myself, off to find a torrent now for S3

 

[oneflewover]

prop's to those watching The Wire - Season 4 is a corker too.

Absolutely superb TV series, like a grown up persons Hill Street Blues. The whole of season four is available on newsgroups and it is just the dogs. Someone earlier said it was like crack - don't know about that, but I did all four series in about 3 weeks.

 

[Reno]

Absolutely superb TV series, like a grown up persons Hill Street Blues. The whole of season four is available on newsgroups and it is just the dogs. Someone earlier said it was like crack - don't know about that, but I did all four series in about 3 weeks.

Why wasn't The Hill Street Blues grown up ? It was pretty cutting edge in it's time and hugely influential on TV dramas stretching all the way to The Wire, which is great of course.

 

[Ms T]

I'm waiting for Season 3 to come out on DVD (in February, I think). Hendo's downloaded it, but I need the subtitles to help me out with the street language.

Brilliant, brilliant show though.

 

[oneflewover]

Why wasn't The Hill Street Blues grown up ? It was pretty cutting edge in it's time and hugely influential on TV dramas stretching all the way to The Wire, which is great of course.

You are correct in what you say, but The Wire shows the violence, sex and grittiness that is only imaginable in HSB. It shows in some depth the working of the criminal mind and even allows you to have some grudging respect for even the most violent of characters as in Omar or sympathy for street dealers and players as in Bodie.

 

[Juice Terry]

Just finished season 1 and wanted to confirm best.thing.on.tv.ever.

"You come at the king, you best not miss"

 

[saucisson]

I *heart* Omar, I was idly watching the unintentionally hillarious 'Trapped in the closet' Rkelly thing (as you do on a wet afternoon) and he is a policeman in that....(i noticed someone else had posted this observation in music I think as well).

 

[Belushi]

I *heart* Omar, I was idly watching the unintentionally hillarious 'Trapped in the closet' Rkelly thing (as you do on a wet afternoon) and he is a policeman in that....(i noticed someone else had posted this observation in music I think as well).

If I was ever banged up in an American Penitentiary I'd want to be Omars bitch

I havent seen series three yet but Brother Mozone who cmes in in season 2 is also cool as.