(Working On A Title) Wednesday – The Wire

The Wire

Well after many long years of catching shit, the words, “You’ve never watched the wire”, can no longer be used against me. This past weekend my wife and I finished up the final episodes to a series that no one watched when it originally aired, yet (most) everyone claims is the greatest show ever written. For those of you unfamiliar, which at this point should be a small number but you never know, The Wire is a show that ran for 5 seasons on HBO from 2002 through 2008. The main storyline follows Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) as he tries to take down the drug ring that runs the ghettos of Baltimore. While maintaining this main story, each season focuses on a different part of “city life” and while set in Baltimore you can see the glaring similarities to any other big city in the U.S. The seasons focus on, in order, The Drug Trade, The Unions (Docks), City Government, the Public School System & Print Media (Newspapers). Eventhough the main focus shifts from season to season, all elements show up throughout each one.

I don’t even know where to begin. This is what television is supposed to be. A tightly wrapped package with a solid beginning, a solid middle, and a solid end. The show never loses focus, in fact, it’s so focused it requires rewatches. I’ve talked to multiple people who have visited the series a few times already and each have mentioned different things that I sure as hell missed, or would have missed had they not mentioned them. It’s deliberate in everything it does and leaves no loose end. At least that’s how I feel. I haven’t yet begun scouring the internet for other peoples feelings/interpretations or breakdown of what happened so there could be a few things I have missed. If there are, I can’t see how it could add to or take away from this experience. I really can’t put into words how well executed this show was and how enjoyable it was. The writing was amazing, the casting was perfect, the acting was top notch, and they never failed to throw you for a loop when necessary or it felt right. It is THE perfect example of how television should be done.

When I finally embarked on this journey, fellow site contributor Jack “MovieFreak” Falvey asked me that when I finish, to see if I found any comparisons of this show to Game of Thrones. Oh boy, did I ever. It is similar in one thing, but it is that one thing that has been the constant throughout any good story, and seemingly our reality as well. What is that thing? Quite simply, it’s all about “The Game”, and how you play your role in it. I can get into all the comparisons and contrasts, and maybe one day I will, but for now if you enjoy one, you will certainly enjoy the other. You should definitely see both. For now I will leave you with this…