Revisiting The Wire

Tommy Bunz · Post by **Tommy Bunz** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:35 pm

I'd say that The Wire and The Soprano's are about equally funny, just in different ways.

intuition wrote:still haven't watched this show because i'm scared it won't live up to the hype...(that and a lot of the torrent links i found the first time i tried to dl were janky).

It may or may not live up to the hype but you'll still love the shit out of it.

Mark 563 · Post by **Mark 563** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:41 pm

Interestingly, I've also been rewatching the Wire of late. On Sunday we got through the bulk of season 3, with only the season finale to go.

Season 3 is great, but I remember enjoying 4 more. As for season 2, when I first watched it, it was certainly a step down from the first season, but on rewatching it, it's actually much better the second time around.

Jayou Ayen · Post by **Jayou Ayen** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:12 pm

intuition wrote:still haven't watched this show because i'm scared it won't live up to the hype...(that and a lot of the torrent links i found the first time i tried to dl were janky).

Respect our opinions, fag.

Dude, if we say it's the best, it's cause it fucking is.

39

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:14 pm

Lee rather write songs about In & Our burgers and shoot caribou in Alaska than watch The Wire.

Shup Diddy · Post by **Shup Diddy** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:18 pm

Philaflava wrote:Lee rather write songs about In & Our burgers and shoot caribou in Alaska than watch The Wire.

damn.. all you had to do was mention him being the second coming of sasquatch and his posting career would be in a pine box

odium-LSC · Post by **odium-LSC** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:42 am

I don't know, I think the second season is one of the strongest. it's a great piece of television. and to mt1 saying it's a basic cop show

it's insanely better than any other cop show, imo. damn. i can't see how anyone could think otherwise.

Gyangsta 4 Life · Post by **Gyangsta 4 Life** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:05 pm

Excellent programme, although it takes a few episodes to really hook you. On repeat viewings, I usually skip past the cop scenes and go directly to the gangster shit.

One of my favourite scenes is Chris & Snoop dumping a hot one on Avon's SUV, foiling his insidious plan for revenge against Marlo.

Lieutenant Daniels is the ugliest negro alive, I think. He is terribly miscast and was much more acceptable as a crackhead in the other miniseries HBO put out some years back. That whole love-affair subplot he had going on with the lawyer chick is the most improbable shit ever. Yuck.

Also, finding out that Bubbles isn't an addict in real life totally blew my mind.

Y@k Bollocks · Post by **Y@k Bollocks** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:15 pm

drizzle wrote:
Y@k Bollocks wrote: and something with an element of (black) comedy.
tons of shit like this in the wire

if you can't laugh at mcnulty or with omar and bunk i don't know what to tell you

Nah, its totally different. Sopranos characters are way more comedic. The Wire has some funny slapstick kind of moments, but they focus too much on realism to top stupid moments like Ralph Cifaretto's corpses wig falling off while Tony and Christoper dismember it etc.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:16 pm

Y@k Bollocks wrote:
drizzle wrote:
Y@k Bollocks wrote: and something with an element of (black) comedy.
tons of shit like this in the wire

if you can't laugh at mcnulty or with omar and bunk i don't know what to tell you
Nah, its totally different. Sopranos characters are way more comedic. The Wire has some funny slapstick kind of moments, but they focus too much on realism to top stupid moments like Ralph Cifaretto's corpses wig falling off while Tony and Christoper dismember it.

how is the wig falling off any different from mcnulty busting a nut during the raid in season 2

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:43 pm

Icesickle wrote:
Tommy Bunz wrote:
Icesickle wrote:The reason why the second season is one of my favorites is because I watched it again. When you're over the fact that the Wire took a left turn in that season and view it for what is it's excellent.
I've watched the entire series several times now and season 2 is still my least favorite by a pretty large margin. I just don't care for the dock characters as much as the the major players from the other seasons. The Sobotka's just aren't that compelling when put up against the rest of the series.
They might not be as compelling, but they're easier for a rural suburban longboarder from white trash industrial town Pennsylvania stock to relate to than any other criminal in the series aside from D'Angelo. (Aside from Magneto how many people on here know someone like Wee Bay, Marlo, or Stringer Bell?) I also think it does a great job of showing how easy it is to be lured into a life a crime, that is how it starts with seemingly innocous, albeit illegal, "jobs" like intentionally letting a crate slip by your watch and then snowballs into something more serious as your compromised moral compass just keeps on readjusting itself. Finally, Ziggy's downward spiral is hilariously tragic and McNulty crashing a car to a Pogues song and raiding the whorehouse is .

Season Four is probably my favorite season overall though.

Do you really watch fictional dramas looking for characters you can closely relate to?

Gregg Popabitch1 · Post by **Gregg Popabitch1** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:54 pm

my favorite seasons is Season 1 and 3. I didn't hate on season 2 like everyone else. It's hard for me to pick what I think is the worst season because they are all like my children. I love them all so it's hard to pick one that i like the least.

Omar is one of the greatest characters in TV history.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:57 pm

Gregg Popabitch wrote: It's hard for me to pick what I think is the worst season because they are all like my children.

nah it's pretty easy, 5 is the worst

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:35 pm

Thun wrote:
Icesickle wrote:
Tommy Bunz wrote:
Icesickle wrote:The reason why the second season is one of my favorites is because I watched it again. When you're over the fact that the Wire took a left turn in that season and view it for what is it's excellent.
I've watched the entire series several times now and season 2 is still my least favorite by a pretty large margin. I just don't care for the dock characters as much as the the major players from the other seasons. The Sobotka's just aren't that compelling when put up against the rest of the series.
They might not be as compelling, but they're easier for a rural suburban longboarder from white trash industrial town Pennsylvania stock to relate to than any other criminal in the series aside from D'Angelo. (Aside from Magneto how many people on here know someone like Wee Bay, Marlo, or Stringer Bell?) I also think it does a great job of showing how easy it is to be lured into a life a crime, that is how it starts with seemingly innocous, albeit illegal, "jobs" like intentionally letting a crate slip by your watch and then snowballs into something more serious as your compromised moral compass just keeps on readjusting itself. Finally, Ziggy's downward spiral is hilariously tragic and McNulty crashing a car to a Pogues song and raiding the whorehouse is .

Season Four is probably my favorite season overall though.
Do you really watch fictional dramas looking for characters you can closely relate to?

Actually I don't.

It was a bad choice of words on my part. I meant Nickey and Ziggy felt more normal / real than a lot of the other characters in the show. Brother Mouzzone and Omar, while awesome, feel like they're out of comic book for instance.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:39 pm

Thun wrote:
Icesickle wrote:
Tommy Bunz wrote:
Icesickle wrote:The reason why the second season is one of my favorites is because I watched it again. When you're over the fact that the Wire took a left turn in that season and view it for what is it's excellent.
I've watched the entire series several times now and season 2 is still my least favorite by a pretty large margin. I just don't care for the dock characters as much as the the major players from the other seasons. The Sobotka's just aren't that compelling when put up against the rest of the series.
They might not be as compelling, but they're easier for a rural suburban longboarder from white trash industrial town Pennsylvania stock to relate to than any other criminal in the series aside from D'Angelo. (Aside from Magneto how many people on here know someone like Wee Bay, Marlo, or Stringer Bell?) I also think it does a great job of showing how easy it is to be lured into a life a crime, that is how it starts with seemingly innocous, albeit illegal, "jobs" like intentionally letting a crate slip by your watch and then snowballs into something more serious as your compromised moral compass just keeps on readjusting itself. Finally, Ziggy's downward spiral is hilariously tragic and McNulty crashing a car to a Pogues song and raiding the whorehouse is .

Season Four is probably my favorite season overall though.
Do you really watch fictional dramas looking for characters you can closely relate to?

you'd be surprised how often this comes up as a reason for disliking a movie or a tv show

good thing i relate to bunk on every level, from the urbane wit to the keen sense of style and penchant for fine cigars

ackbar · Post by **ackbar** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:04 pm

Icesickle wrote:I meant Nickey and Ziggy felt more normal / real than a lot of the other characters in the show.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:17 pm

I hated season four initially, but it is the best of the five without question.

Perfect from beginning to end. Opening up with Snoop in the Hardware Barn shopping for the perfect nail gun. All the while regaling the helpful clerk with tales of street homicides and then slapping a fat wad of cash in his hand. Ill shit.

Prezbo's new incarnation.

The whole "Omar in County" situation. Tense as fuck. Omar is literally the best character in a dramatic series ever. Fuck what anyone says.

McNulty's shit getting pulled out from underneath him.

Michael recognizing his Omar.

Duquan fucking starting his slow descent into hell.

Randy's life being flushed down the toilet.

Namond being identified as a weak bitch.

And Marlo dissecting Barksdale's legacy while providing vivid illustrations of how devious he is. Partlow and Snoop as his muscle.'

Plus, the fucking political arc is brilliant.

ackbar · Post by **ackbar** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:25 pm

Employee wrote:Namond being identified as a weak bitch.

possibly my fave character arc of the season

Gregg Popabitch1 · Post by **Gregg Popabitch1** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:32 pm

drizzle wrote:
Thun wrote:
Icesickle wrote:
Tommy Bunz wrote:
Icesickle wrote:The reason why the second season is one of my favorites is because I watched it again. When you're over the fact that the Wire took a left turn in that season and view it for what is it's excellent.
I've watched the entire series several times now and season 2 is still my least favorite by a pretty large margin. I just don't care for the dock characters as much as the the major players from the other seasons. The Sobotka's just aren't that compelling when put up against the rest of the series.
They might not be as compelling, but they're easier for a rural suburban longboarder from white trash industrial town Pennsylvania stock to relate to than any other criminal in the series aside from D'Angelo. (Aside from Magneto how many people on here know someone like Wee Bay, Marlo, or Stringer Bell?) I also think it does a great job of showing how easy it is to be lured into a life a crime, that is how it starts with seemingly innocous, albeit illegal, "jobs" like intentionally letting a crate slip by your watch and then snowballs into something more serious as your compromised moral compass just keeps on readjusting itself. Finally, Ziggy's downward spiral is hilariously tragic and McNulty crashing a car to a Pogues song and raiding the whorehouse is .

Season Four is probably my favorite season overall though.
Do you really watch fictional dramas looking for characters you can closely relate to?
you'd be surprised how often this comes up as a reason for disliking a movie or a tv show

good thing i relate to bunk on every level, from the urbane wit to the keen sense of style and penchant for fine cigars

I have trouble identifying you as JEW

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:34 pm

rele? i thought my j-o-o was pretty obvious

but identifying with me as a jew would be more appropriate in this context, and i can see how that would be pretty impossible for you

Mindbender Futurama · Post by **Mindbender Futurama** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:44 pm

can't read all this thread.

i'm finally digging in. i'm at episode 9, season 1.

Omar just got shot in the shoulder...

man, they're hard on McNulty.

this show rules. I slept

i'm in it to win it now.

LOL @ pagers, tho.

old school.

dat piff · Post by **dat piff** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:21 pm

please don't gay up this thread bender..

I'm a big Sopranos fan but the Wire is easily better.. The characters in this series were done so well. McNulty was the fuckin shit.. Omar was the man.. fuckin bubs was dope. Definitely didn't hate on Season 2 at all. For a show to turn like that for a season and still kick ass was insane. I felt like I was watching a different show but it was still sick.. love that shit.. gonna have to revisit the series again.. It's the 1 series I always keep around to replay.. I gave my Sopranos discs away but The Wire is classic..

Mindbender Futurama · Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:30 am

i'm only talking about 'The Wire'. stop talking about me, child.

the intro isn't the best song in the world, but the show is, LOL.

fucking politricks. its easy to imagine that's how shit runs.

Barksdale's hustle conglomerate is DEEEEEP. i can't imagine how he goes down.

or IF he goes down.

Orlando fucked up. When do they cut off his head (and his ugly ass hair, LOL)

man they did that girl foul, when she OD'ed at the party and they just rolled her naked body up in a carpet and threw her out

always liked Dominic West as an actor. dude holds it down like Bill Duke's little brother or something, LOL

I am watching this show slowly. SO MUCH DEPTH.

I like seeing how Barksdale's nephew gets smarter and sees how shallow and corrupt the ghetto is.

wish more people had that awareness.

shit is disgusting, B.

no props to Cam'ron

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:32 am

The show intro is remixed with each season by different artists but the song remains the same. You better pray Drizzle doesn't post some animated gifs he used to rock as his signature.

GLUS · Post by **GLUS** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:51 am

masked terror is the first person in the world who watched and did not love.
i didnt own any of the dvds up until a few months ago when i bought the boxed set.
I made my girlfriend watch every episode with me and then have been loaning them out since then.

Yohan · Post by **Yohan** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:32 pm

I think the only beef people can have with "The Wire" is that they have to think. Some people are looking for some crappy comedy, not hard to understand and just laugh whenever the public laughs.

I thought the characters of the Wire were the best. Actually everything was fucking great.

Hate the fact I was sleeping on it so long. We don't have HBO here (figures) and it hasn't aired on Dutch tv yet. If you really wanted to see it, you'd have to turn in to Brittish television at 1 am or something. It's not popular at all. I often have to explain the show and why it's so fucking great. I hope some national station picks it up and airs it on prime-time.

Tweak Da Leak · Post by **Tweak Da Leak** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:31 pm

I tried to get into the wire but never could

I will stick to my Shield

who was the nigga that couldn't' get into the show because of the homo thug?

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:56 pm

Yohan wrote:I think the only beef people can have with "The Wire" is that they have to think.

That's not true at all. It uses the same devices any worthwhile dramatic series. You needn't be a Stanford-Binet superstar to watch "The Wire."

ackbar · Post by **ackbar** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:32 pm

Employee wrote:
Yohan wrote:I think the only beef people can have with "The Wire" is that they have to think.
That's not true at all. It uses the same devices any worthwhile dramatic series. You needn't be a Stanford-Binet superstar to watch "The Wire."

in fact, i've found the majority of people who like the wire appreciate it mostly on a superficial "dem dudez is grindin' yo!" level

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:56 pm

ackbar wrote:
Employee wrote:
Yohan wrote:I think the only beef people can have with "The Wire" is that they have to think.
That's not true at all. It uses the same devices any worthwhile dramatic series. You needn't be a Stanford-Binet superstar to watch "The Wire."
in fact, i've found the majority of people who like the wire appreciate it mostly on a superficial "dem dudez is grindin' yo!" level

true. there's a pretty obvious correlation between this and the fact that season 2 is often rated as the worst for reasons of 'too many y-ts yo not enough gangta shit'

Roy Johnson · Post by **Roy Johnson** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:16 pm

Tweak Da Leak wrote:who was the nigga that couldn't' get into the show because of the homo thug?

I think it was Dids, IIRC.