The Wire

[brixtonvilla]

Having to skip through this thread - have only seen Series 1. Can someone put "spoilers" in the thread title?

Magnificently good series - better even than the Sopranos.

 

[kained&able]

yeah put spoilers on the thread then i can start speculating as to where i reckon next series is going to go.

I can't fucking wait.


dave

 

[London_Calling]

I saw all 50 episodes for the first time - and the second time, I was digesting slowly - over the early summer. I really wish I was back at the end of season/series 1 with it all still in front of me . . .

I do have 6 seasons of the Sopranos remaining, but it's not the same . . .

I'd suggest taking it slowly, like the most expensive bottle of wine you know you'l ever have the pleasure of.

 

[marty21]

i'm just about to start watching series 2, will only watch one episode tonight

 

[London_Calling]

I say watch them all twice, then move onto the next episode!

 

[May Kasahara]

i'm just about to start watching series 2, will only watch one episode tonight

That's what we all say

 

[Dillinger4]

I said that last night.

I watched 4!

"motherfucker? motherfucker!"

 

[London_Calling]

I watched 4!

"motherfucker? motherfucker!"

That really narrows it down

I guess you're talking about the kitchen, fridge, window scene.

/no spoilers

 

[marty21]

I said that last night.

I watched 4!

"motherfucker? motherfucker!"

that was a brilliant scene

 

[Dillinger4]

That really narrows it down

I guess you're talking about the kitchen, fridge, window scene.

/no spoilers

motherfucker!

 

[Dillinger4]

I think my favorite wire episode is E10 of S2.

But the motherrrrrfucker scene is definitely one of the most memorable!

 

[Dan U]

shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

is all i have to say.

how do i get spoilets put in the thread title then? PM a mod?

 

[Vintage Paw]

After the Law&Order SVU thread, where I declared my undying love for Homicide Life on the Street (currently working my way through the entire box set - I love my husband for buying it me ) I have just finished downloading the full season 1 of The Wire.

Just in the middle of burning it all for easy viewage. Will watch tonight 1 ep of Homicide, first ep of The Wire, then tonight's ep of the new series of SVU.

Gritty crime overload? Naw.

 

[The Groke]

I still don't get it.





I feel like the only person in the world who has watched this - given it a good go mind - and remained unmoved.


Wasn't bad just.........wasn't anything special IMO and after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes I have never been inspired to go back and watch any more.

 

[Orangesanlemons]

Binged on The Wire and watched all four series in a month. With no re-up around i've had to go back to Homicide: Life On The Street.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit...

 

[London_Calling]

You’re far from alone. As I understand it, The Wire struggled in the USA as well – certainly non-urban USA – to the point where there were some doubts about whether the next season would be funded.

Fwiw, It’s the most complete experience I’ve ever had in front of a screen, I was in awe and spellbound from episode 1 to episode 50. I wish I could begin to describe the reasons but it’s so difficult this side of a thesis. Okay, I suppose the top level themes – the ambition and scale of what they set out to achieve – would be somewhere to start; for example, the death of the American City, of the traditional working class, of metropolitan industrialisation. The scale and impact of the drugs industry throughout the society, the impact on personal morality of institutions, whether the police, the drug gang, the school, the union, Government, the Church, the prison system, the cost and morality of social polorisation and disenfranchisement . . . and so it goes on, and on. Just an immense undertaking.

All of that before telling some good yarns though very distinct creative sensibilities.

And the whole bloody thing comes off.

 

[The Groke]

^^^^^^^

See, everyone always makes it sound so great!



Perhaps I have some kind of genetic defect that renders me immune to the charms of the program.

Is there a support group I can join?

 

[London_Calling]

The entire mid-west, I believe.

 

[The Groke]

The entire mid-west, I believe.

 

[Orangesanlemons]

I still don't get it.





I feel like the only person in the world who has watched this - given it a good go mind - and remained unmoved.


Wasn't bad just.........wasn't anything special IMO and after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes I have never been inspired to go back and watch any more.

If it's any consolation I felt exactly the same after the first four-odd episodes. I'm not sure if it was tiredness or lack of concentration but the show really didn't do much for me (thought the dialogue was corny, couldn't wade through the corporate stuff) and I struggled for weeks to get into it.

Then I played it on the computer wearing headphones, forcing me to pay attention - full attention - to it.

Result: another addiction.

Give the next few episodes a go, trust me - momentum builds.

 

[May Kasahara]

I still don't get it.





I feel like the only person in the world who has watched this - given it a good go mind - and remained unmoved.


Wasn't bad just.........wasn't anything special IMO and after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes I have never been inspired to go back and watch any more.

(((Swarfy)))

 

[Vintage Paw]

Well, I've watched ep 1 and I'm finding it hard to work out who everyone is. The Homicide room doesn't look like the old Homicide room Did I see something in the opening credits about being directed or produced by Clark Johnson? He was Meldrick in Homicide - I love him

So, my verdict after just 1 episode - not a patch on Homicide. It hasn't got the humorous camaraderie, the sarcastic banter - well, not as much anyway. Still some good old Baltimore accents though, which I love. So far I'm fed up of all the swearing - Homicide didn't have it and didn't need it quite frankly, and was still the grittiest show I've ever loved.

I'm holding back on a final judgement though; to write off the whole series at this point would be stupid. We will watch ep 2 tomorrow, and I'll report back again.

Maybe it didn't help watching an ep of Homicide directly before - I'm so smitten with that show it's hard for anything to match up.

The camera work was different, the feel was different. Ok, so it is a different show after all, but still, I was expecting the same kind of thing. Maybe it will get going in the future. I did manage to catch the opening of ep 4 somewhere or other, them trying to get a desk through a door - that was quite funny.

So far my fave character is the short fat black guy who smokes cigars. See, I don't even know any of their names apart from MacNulty. And I don't even know his first name.

So, people, persuade me it will get better - I want to love it like I love Homicide.

 

[Dubversion]

I'm holding back on a final judgement though; to write off the whole series at this point would be stupid. We will watch ep 2 tomorrow, and I'll report back again.

you've answered your own question. The Wire burrows under your skin, it doesn't get in your face.

and the guy with the cigars is Bunk
An example to us all.

 

[The Groke]

Then I played it on the computer wearing headphones, forcing me to pay attention - full attention - to it.

Result: another addiction.

Give the next few episodes a go, trust me - momentum builds.

Maybe this is the way forward.

I still have all of season 1 & 2 downloaded and gathering virtual dust.

I also have my new laptop and some nice earphones, so perhaps I should lock myself in a cupboard with these and not come out until it clicks.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I still don't get it.



I feel like the only person in the world who has watched this - given it a good go mind - and remained unmoved.


Wasn't bad just.........wasn't anything special IMO and after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes I have never been inspired to go back and watch any more.

Me too to be honest. It was well done but nothing that exceptional, I thought.

 

[stdPikachu]

I'm another person who didn't get into it at first - it took me a good four or five episodes of the first series to convince me. Like Dub says - it's a slow starter, there's none of the schmaltz of your usual CSI clone cop drama, it's warts'n'paperwork'n'all. I never thought I'd find myself identifying with Baltimore skag dealers, but I do, the writing and characterisation is so good.

If, however, you think CSI is fantastic and The Wire is shit even after watching all the episodes I'll set Mouzone on your ass

 

[Orang Utan]

Well, I've watched ep 1 and I'm finding it hard to work out who everyone is. The Homicide room doesn't look like the old Homicide room

It's not supposed to - it's a different programme - none of the characters in Homicide are in The Wire, although many of the detectives share personality traits of the real-life detectives in David Simon's book Homicide: Life On The Killing Streets
And Bunk does chomp on cigars and is rather rotund, but he's not small - he's a big falla.

 

[May Kasahara]

"The Bunk don't swim! And I ain't too good at floating, neither."

 

[Vintage Paw]

It's not supposed to - it's a different programme - none of the characters in Homicide are in The Wire, although many of the detectives share personality traits of the real-life detectives in David Simon's book Homicide: Life On The Killing Streets
And Bunk does chomp on cigars and is rather rotund, but he's not small - he's a big falla.

It's because I'm so completely absorbed in Homicide I just expected it to be a sort of cross-over thingy. What with people saying that many of the people involved with Homicide being involved with making The Wire. I guess I'll settle for the sexy Baltimore twang.

Bunk seemed smaller in height to me, maybe it's just because he was with MacNulty most of the episode, and he's tall.

I can tell he's going to be a favourite - his story about shooting the mouse with his gun was funny, took me back to the Homicide days.

Do you think I'll ever be able to give The Wire a fair go while I'm comparing it to Homicide all the time? I just can't help it. There should be a support group or something

Oh, and if by saying there are no Homicide characters in The Wire that means there isn't even a one episode cameo by Munch then I want my money back

 

[Dillinger4]

"The Bunk don't swim! And I ain't too good at floating, neither."

***POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT***















I love the scene with Bunk when he is doing the surveillance on the boat in s2. He is shitting it at first, holding onto the sides, then by the end he is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a captains hat (or something)!.