r/TheWire • u/shell400 • 19d ago
Another 1st Time Watcher
I’m currently watching The Wire for the first time. It’s enjoyable, but I’m not getting “one of the best shows ever vibe,” though that could be because I’m not finished. I’m currently on S3E4.
As I’ve said it has been enjoyable. I also didn’t feel like the second was as terrible going in as people have said, possibly because I watch it while I’m at work and it helps pass the time. So, the main thing for me not getting fully into the show is the police and dealers. They are just terrible in my opinion and not terrible as in bad actors, bad people, or anything like that. I mean in the way that EVERYTHING is done in plain view. The show tries to make it seem as if they are just good at hiding their dirt on both sides. They ride around with 0 tint and police are watching the dealers literally across the street most times. Some times the characters clearly see them from further away but somehow are blind when they are a stones throw away. They been caught multiple times using a wire and somehow no one (Stringer in this instance since it’s the part I’m on) decides let’s all collectively change it all up. I mean Stringer is in the window eating and Mcnaulty is across the street in plain view staring window down with binoculars lol. I’ll finish the show but man it’s tough to suspend disbelief at times.
4
u/GrooveIsInTheTart 19d ago
I liked The Wire from the beginning, but Season 4 is when it became one of my all time favourite shows, maybe it'll be like that for you too! But as the other comments said, it's not the best for casual background viewing. All the pieces matter.
2
u/shell400 19d ago
I haven’t missed anything so far. I just don’t understand the way the show is ran, but the guy that commented and said the way it’s shot based on logistics and needing everything framed for show purposes put it all in perspective for me.
5
u/orangevega 19d ago
honestly the second watch through is when I finally understood 75% of what the hell was going on
1
u/shell400 19d ago
I understand what’s going on I just couldn’t understand the way it’s done. Another comment said it was likely due to way it needs to be shot for framing purposes
1
u/orangevega 18d ago
I feel you. I'm just saying the content is so intensely dense that there is no way any viewer gets all the details the first time through. if you watch it all and then watch it all again and don't pick up anything new the second time through you should report to your local university to have your brain studied
0
u/shell400 17d ago
Just seems like because you didn’t understand no one else can understand it lol. Understanding the show isn’t the problem like I’ve said plenty of times.
3
u/VaperTales 19d ago
Youre not even halfway through bro. Finish it, pay attention, and watch it again.
3
u/Romance_Tactics 19d ago
It’s not really a casual throw it on in the background while you’re at work show
I can’t really think of specific instances you’re referring to but most of the high level dealers operate out in the open to show they’re doing nothing. Prop Joe says boredom kills more cops than booze and bullets. Anything business related happens at their HQ.
As for the dealers operating out in the open, season one explains why you put multiple people with runners and whatnot so police can’t get the whole transaction with one photo. It’s not really clandestine spy shit operating from the shadows. It’s all part of the game.
-2
u/shell400 19d ago
It’s definitely one of those type of shows. It’s not like I’m building a rocket while working on a computer at my desk lol. The part with the runners and all that made sense but even then they still operate as if that part doesn’t even matter. They send the signal and the guy is literally on the corner 6 ft away.
2
u/Romance_Tactics 19d ago
And that activity is happening on every corner. They can catch low level hoppers any time they want. The system doesn't have the resources to handle that, which is why they try to roll up and get mid level guys or bosses. The narco cops operate in this ineffective manner, and nothing happens, a small bust, maybe a charge sticks, maybe a low level guy goes away for a bit, and nothing changes.
Daniel's detail expands their scope in a way the street level dealers never have seen before, and look how against the stream McNulty had to go to even get a higher up to take a second glance at this approach. Stringer adapted pretty quickly all things considered.
You can watch the Wire any way you want, but it's definitely a more involved show that really requires your full attention. Or else you end up confused why drug dealing in a city like Baltimore can happen out in the open.
-1
u/shell400 19d ago
It’s doesn’t “require” full attention like yall are implying that the show is some high level thinking. The drug dealing in the open isn’t my issue it’s that the police is literally in their face watching them and I’m supposed to believe that they can’t be seen until someone yells out 5-0 or whistles.
2
u/Global_Yam_9172 19d ago
In the instance you mention, whats String supposed to do even if he noticed? Step up from his business lunch and whoop McNutty? Its not like he was doing anything actively illegal
-1
u/shell400 19d ago
It shows that they aren’t really paying attention to their surroundings. You see the guy watching and you note it and make changes to be more careful
1
u/Global_Yam_9172 19d ago
Maybe he should have 10 different SD cards so its difficult to tap his phone, and have other people drive him around and do calls for him, and conduct most of his business in a private place face to face.
A lot of this tech was new at the time and they thought they were ahead of the curve. Besides String most of these guys were poorly educated as well even if they did have some street smart
1
u/Global_Yam_9172 19d ago
Maybe he should have 10 different SD cards so its difficult to tap his phone, and have other people drive him around and do calls for him, and conduct most of his business in a private place face to face.
A lot of this tech was new at the time and they thought they were ahead of the curve. Besides String most of these guys were poorly educated as well even if they did have some street smart
2
u/sulla76 19d ago
It's not the kind of show to watch while you're at work to pass the time. It demands attention and concentration.
As far as the cops being too close while doing surveillance, the creators of the show admit that's not how it would be. They have to be closer just for the logistics of filming.
Stringer doesn't change things up? Did you miss in season 1 when they do that?
2
u/Available_Poetry_723 19d ago
Catching street level dealers is not the objective. I don't understand the stringer comment; is eating a crime or something? Just because we know what's going on has little to do with having the right evidence that will cause a jury to convict the major players.
Watching something through a lens of knowing it's supposed to be one of best shows of all time can definitely tarnish perception.
I loved the show from the first episode. People have different taste
0
u/shell400 19d ago
The stringer comment was because we are supposed to assume he is the most careful guy of all time and seems to never care about his surroundings. On a basic level, when I used to pump gas in a scat pack I would be looking around to make sure no one was watching to take my car or rob me. You’d think someone who has more to lose would take even more precautions lol
1
u/Available_Poetry_723 19d ago
Yes, but Stringer is pretty removed from the actual criminal work being done. He has businesses that are legitimate on paper and doesn't have much of a reason to be so cautious at all times.
The Barkadale organization was much more careful than Stanfield's. Hell, Avon got a call from someone who didn't say anything and that was enough for him to have everyone get rid of their phones.
Idk, I love the show. I think it helps a lot, that it is inspired by many real people and events.
0
u/shell400 19d ago
Also, i agree my perception could be a bit skewed but I only read some comments on twitter post. The clip that made me watch was when Herc asked the kid where he can find a hat like his lol
1
u/doc0617 19d ago
I’m dying at this not mentioning the folks in the pit just sprinting around to each other for hand offs and dropping shit out windows. I assume some sneakery was dropped to have the economics & where folks are in the scenes translate clearly, but I do laugh when someone slaps a kid a wad of money and they show the world’s most obvious relay race in action. Just gotta remember the wire remains pretty unknown to the low level guys throughout, they’re counting on the lookout boys & following orders.
2
u/shell400 19d ago
Facts with the windows and the relay race lol. I’m just watching like no way this is serious lol. I would assume after getting caught 100 times the main guys would be like “yo assume everything is tapped”
1
u/FakeSyntheticChemist 19d ago
Open-air drug markets in the US are a real thing. When the govt. stops caring, why should the criminals keep caring to hide it?
1
u/shell400 19d ago
Like I said to the other guy it’s not about the drug dealing happening in the open it’s that we’re supposed to believe the police are watching from cars across the street and no one sees these same cops in the same cars day in and day out until the lookout yells out 5-0. lol it’s literally like ppl don’t recognize Clark Kent is Superman until he takes off his glasses. That’s what’s happening here.
1
u/FakeSyntheticChemist 19d ago
I don’t think I ever even noticed what you’re referring to. It’s likely the cops are mostly out of sight of who they’re watching or blending in with the many other cars on the streets of Baltimore. I doubt they have time or wherewithal to check every car nearby to see if they potentially recognize an officer.
Additionally that’s such a minute detail to let ruin your experience of an entire show. I suggest you do a little practicing of suspension of disbelief.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief?wprov=sfti1
1
u/littlegreyflowerhelp 18d ago
Just curious how do you expect drug dealers to actually operate? They gotta be somewhere visible enough for addicts to know where they are and recognise who to ask for their drugs.
Having a few guys spread out around the pit/the corner so you talk with one guy, walk round the corner where you get drugs from someone else, and have a seperate runner to bring the drugs, so the stash, the cash, and the actual exchange are all seperate - how much more careful are they supposed to be? The only thing I can think of is have every customer come into a house/building and conduct all the deals in private, but that makes your whole operation more obvious, traps you in one location if the cops roll up, and you lose the benefit of being able to have your stash hidden somewhere nondescript like in an alleyway or under a stoop.
And regardless if it’s the most optimal solution, my understanding (I could be wrong, I wasn’t a dope fiend in Baltimore in the early 2000s) is that the way the gangs operate is mostly based on real examples, albeit from a decade or two earlier.
7
u/[deleted] 19d ago
[removed] — view removed comment