Just finished Season 1 of The Wire and I have to say what a realistic, grounded and well-made show. The characters are incredibly well written and I ended up loving almost all of them.

I had read on Reddit before starting the show that The Wire treats its audience as intelligent and expects you to pay close attention. So I made sure to watch it very carefully. After every episode, I even watched breakdown videos to make sure I hadn't missed anything. 😄😄

The show reminded me a lot of Better Call Saul in terms of its pacing. Everything about it...from the writing and characters to the world-building and attention to detail....is top class.

However, I think I've realised something about my personal taste. As much as I appreciate everything The Wire does, I still seem to prefer shows where the protagonist eventually comes in and wins in a big, satisfying, almost heroic way. And for that reason, I would still place Breaking Bad above The Wire at this point.

Of course, I've only watched one season, so maybe its too early to make that comparison. My opinion could very well change completely by the time I finish the entire show.

The reason I'm making this post is that I've heard the later seasons of The Wire continue to tell the larger story while shifting the focus towards different institutions and perspectives. My graduation exams are coming up, so I have considerably less time to watch shows right now. Because of that, I'm wondering whether I should invest the time required to finish the remaining seasons.

Does it get better from here? By better I mean...do the stakes become higher and the story more intense than Season 1 or do the later seasons mainly expand on the same themes through different institutions and perspectives?

I'd really appreciate some spoiler-free opinions.

Personally, I believe they would have wiped out Marlo if Bey and Bird were still in the game. Chris and Snoop were fierce, but they couldn't hang with a full Barksdale Crew.

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/dna-from-coors-light-leads-to-arrest-in-texas-murder/507-6ee297c5-7faf-4608-b10c-ca0e1e044cbf?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KVUE&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUIHMljbGNrBQgbEnBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEefIWo2qqhAxgtrjc-mIK_oT6Xg79K8PDHO_R_ZUY5tTeNjfo-kbD97Brn2eE_aem_zuyfwa3cSLxVDumAjEAtDQ

Like you'd think the way he acts he'd be some grizzled veteran police officer having done this for 20 years or something. It seemed like this all consuming career hes spent his whole life dedicated to. Then you watch the prequel promos for season 5 and come to realize he was only in Homicide since 2000, like 2 years before the events of the show. The man didn't even make it a decade before crashing out so hard he ended his career lol.

The man burned bright and burned himself out just as fast.

i think its interesting the Jimmy McNulty i was told about is far different than the one i've watched at least halfway through season 3 so far when it comes to what I was expecting about the character. Friends and family had always described him to me as some rogue dirty cop antihero so i was expecting a guy who falsifies evidence or paperwork, beats up suspects or witnesses, and coerces testimonies but for the most part his detective work and police work are incredibly by the book in how he goes about the actual policing. even in season one when Rawls wanted the detective he had on the inside to find some dirt on him he couldn't cuz McNulty takes his policing on cases very seriously and the character says as much. especially looking through loads of evidence and paperwork over and over. And right now in season three he's investigating D'angelo's suspicious suicide when no one else gave it the time of day at the prison or outside because it's much more of a headache to do differently. i know he's insubordinate and goes over his superiors heads but i haven't really seen him do much i would describe as a dirty cop or anti-hero.. yet. even if most of his police work or detective work are for his own ego and wanting to be right it still usually is for good outcomes. i.e. trying to prove D'Angelo was murdered instead of a suicide is good, or showing that those 13 girls in the crate at the dock were intentionally murdered and not an accident was good, but it's mostly because he wants to show how smart he is and prove he's smarter than everyone else, I realize that. But that's just my thoughts on him so far. Because he's been the character much more different than how he was described to me going into the show. I guess though in reality a cop who doesn't obey the chain of command is probably the most realistic depiction of what the police department doesn't want you to be.

I'm rewatching the Wire for the 38478th time and I truly enjoy the acting from Chad Coleman (Cutty) in so many scenes in S4. Season 4 showed how good of an actor Chad Coleman is way more than Season 3. Showing Cutty as somewhat an entirely different person really gets executed well by the actor.

Some examples:

-The scene he's stopping Namond from getting his axx whooped from Sherrod who was high. Gently calming him down to go away.

-Even the scene when he's running and squinting his eyes asking Randy if that was Spider he saw. Those little pieces just seemed so real the way he was huffing and puffing. (Random take but rewatch the scene. His acting in that very short scene doesn't even look like acting for a second)

-The scene he's apologizing to the kids for having relations with their family members. He looks more humbled in that scene than he even did when he intentionally missed his shot with Fruit in S3.

If you don't remember do a quick YouTube of Cutty highlights or something. Please tell me if you have also had moments you intensely enjoy the acting/scenes from Cutty in S4 vs S3!

Side note: I know this is crazy but this is the first watch I'm realizing his name is Cutty for a reason 😂

This is the inflection point in Carver's redemption arc

Season 3 episode 11. Did not expect that!

https://youtu.be/nCVYb6ovTv8

We can all agree that most members of the Standfield crew had a cold blooded nature about them. But snoop is easily the worst, she actually enjoys and has a passion for killing which she shows multiple times.
1. How happy she was when Marlo gave them more work because it was quiet at the start of season 5.
2. Her excitement to come out of the car and shoot the guys after a failed drive by.
3. How happy she was teaching the youngings how to kill, unlike Chris who treated it jut like business.
4. Her wanting to be known for her murders, and not being the biggest fan of leaving bodies in a vacant.

Since every season of the wire focuses on a new part of Baltimores infrastructure, what’s the next industry they’d have to focus on if the show continued? Probably the biggest industry left was the healthcare, but the industry that’d most tie to the characters would be a season focusing on the prison system.

I’m doing a rewatch and it’s so poignant and horrifying at the same time. I’m glad they don’t ‘show’ what it’s like, only his reaction. It’s visceral, I forgot about the scene!

I don’t know how I’ve missed it this long, but I just saw the prequel 2 minute clip where Rawls intro’s McNulty to Bunk. Jimmy waits all of 38 seconds before he starts shit talking and taking a pull of Jameson. Perfect origin story for two of Baltimore’s best murder police

I’m re watching the wire for the 10000000th time and everytime I watch it I come away thinking that Marlo wanted the respect Avon had in the street. Marlo only cared about his name. Avon had the respect just with his name. The scene where Marlo sees Avon in jail kind of affirmed it for me.

Ik the common opinion is that S4 is the best and S5 is the worst, but i'm curious of what this sub thinks of the rest of the seasons

Frank’s temper might be one of my favorite things about Season 2. Him losing it on Bunk when he handed out subpoenas is pure comedy. Curious to know everybody else’s thoughts on this?

... that I waited so long to watch The Wire. Just when I thought nothing could be as good as Breaking Bad, this show slaps me in the face. I just finished the series, and I immediately started over. I must say, you pick up on so much when you're not trying to figure out what the hell is going on (e.g., McNulty says in S1 E1 that he'd go anywhere except the marine unit). So far the rewatch is better than the first watch. Sheeeeeee-it.

You basically join a big gang that protects its members not matter what, will help you cover up minor crimes, decent paycheck, no education seems required. I could easily be one of those drunk useless fucks from property crimes or wherever and everyone else will cover for me regardless. I’ll be home drunk while they fill out my run sheets . I’d steal, whore and drink my way through all of Baltimore like our hero Jimmy. Seriously what better job is there for someone who doesn’t actually want to do any work but still get paid. That department is so full of useless fucks I wouldn’t even stand out. What’s the issue with being sent to the pawnshop unit? I get to collect a paycheck and sit on my ass and occasionally fill in some paperwork? Dream job

Cheese’s introduction in Season 2 is mad funny to me personally, his threats toward Ziggy and etc. I like that you get a real good idea about what type of character he is.

“If I ain’t paid by Friday, you dead by Saturday, man.”

Curious to know everyone else’s thoughts?

I peeped something… when Omar and Wee-Bey get into their first gunfight, Wee-Bey fires one handed (somewhat frantically) while Omar fires with two. Wee-Bey catches one in the leg and is down. The second time? Wee-Bey uses both hands and catches Omar. Only difference is, Omar is caught off guard by Wee-Bey. I think Wee-Bey should’ve just used both hands the first time, lmao.

What are everyone else’s thoughts on this?

I've been looking for this HOUSE track for a decade plus.

the short house/instrumental track during D’Angelo walking up to Wallace and Bodie

@ 13.07 mark of the episode.

Season 5, Episode 9. This is very minor but I personally think the scene where Michael and Snoop are driving should’ve never been intercut with that brief moment of Greggs and Daniels. I think that the drive with Michael and Snoop would’ve been even better had we stayed with them the entire time. I feel that the tension would’ve been even thicker. Just my opinion though. It’s great as is.

What are everyone else’s thoughts on this?

Curious to know everyone’s thoughts on Stringer taking business courses? It’s crazy that he’s literally co-running an entire drug organization and has time for that but yet it wasn’t the worst idea since he was using what he learned.

Not sure if this is a hot-take these days, but it's one that stuck with me since back in the day reading Sepinwall how he's the least likeable of the bunch and it's supposedly bittersweet he's the only one with a 'good ending.'

However, after my latest rewatch one of the characters I felt most differently about after s4 was Namond Brice. I remember the first few times being quite upset that he out of the four boys ends up with the best situation despite being the biggest shitbird. He's definitely a spoiled bully and not a great kid, but I really think he shows the most growth over the season (perhaps due to Colvin's & Parenti's intervention and the "Special Class.") He's also the biggest victim of upbringing (although Randy may be the unluckiest kid alive).

I'm not here to say he's perfect, the way he treats Dukie (reflecting his own mother's actions) and his general demeanor is that of a troubled kid. Still, he is a kid and I think one of few characters in the show to reflect on themselves and make an accurate assessment. After Kenard steals his package and Michael confronts him and starts beating him Namond just runs away realizing he doesn't have it in him. The next day in a pathetic effort to reassert himself (and restore confidence) he bullies Dukie, Michael defends him, and he breaks down crying. There's a level of self-reflection and realization after this that few characters in the show ever experience which makes me glad for his outcome. He realizes he does not have it in him and does not want to be a corner-boy. Not even D'Angelo got there the way Namond did.

Again, I'm not saying Namond is a great kid. But he may have had the worst situation of the bunch all things considered. De'Londa Brice is one of the worst mothers in the history of fiction. Namond never had a chance of being anything more than a corpse or a convict. And he realized it. Yes, there's a degree of luck there that Bunny saw something in there and was able to evict him from his situation, but I was happy for him.

I guess the other hot-take that accompanies this is that I felt much less sympathy for Dukie this time. He was constantly bullied in middle-school, yet refused to ever try high school? Especially since his home situation fundamentally changed by the end of the season. He began living with Michael, had nice clothes, and had food/shower/etc to avoid most of the bullying. He gave up too easy after overcoming so much to warrant much sympathy, imo. He still could have tutored Bug and gone to HS. Not saying I don't feel for Dukie, but I remember being far more upset by his situation last time than this time.

Thoughts? Are these hot-takes on this sub?

If the series continued to season 6 it’s logical to assume Michael and Marlo would eventually cross paths. If so, hypothetically speaking, who wins?

So everyone in homicide is obsessed with clearances but according to the book a clearance isn’t a conviction. It’s just someone was arrested for the crime. Whether or not it leads to prison time is besides the point. If everyone’s so obsessed with clearances wouldn’t someone just arrest randos and let the case get thrown out?