HBO's The Wire: OFFICIAL THREAD - my fav new show check it

[CHINAdeals]

Alright, did a search, couldn't find an official thread..anyone else watching this show?

things I can say about it:

- one of the best written shows ever..dialogue is great
- drama wise..acting is superb..above average for sure..and the cast is so 'real' too. no 'big names' (cept for a few I won't spoil)
- the show is 'slooooow'. but rewards patience..builds up really well.
- you really 'feel' for the characters too.. great character development

well if you havne't tried it out.

GET ON IT! ..try it for a few eps..and post up what you think..

Summary: Based out of Baltimore, shows the grit of real life in the inner city gangs, cops, and politicians. Shows the drug game, how the cops play it, and the game the politicians play.

http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/images/wire.jpg

If you liked American Gangster, its like american gangster the 'tv' show almost.

[ptownplayer]

I just finished going through seasons 1 to 3 on DVD...loved it! ...cant wait for season 4 to come out on DVD in december. The concept of having a whole season built around one case makes it great as the character and plot development never feels rushed. Though I must admit the show is probably not for everyone...as it tries to be as real as possible...Theres no flashy looking actors that solve forensics cases in one hour, in a crime lab that looks like a downtown nightclub.

[jmzo]

i jumped on the bandwagon last year and i LOVED it!! If you watch 24, the shield, or any cop series, this is worth worthing. True, it's not like your typical shoot-em up action series, but the suspense building up to the cliffhangers are amazing.

[Amourek]

Great series. The fifth and final season starts in January.

If you like action, look elsewhere - it's a slow burn.

[bigbug]

Any re-run on over-the-air TVs?

[CHINAdeals]

I just finished going through seasons 1 to 3 on DVD...loved it! ...cant wait for season 4 to come out on DVD in december. The concept of having a whole season built around one case makes it great as the character and plot development never feels rushed. Though I must admit the show is probably not for everyone...as it tries to be as real as possible...Theres no flashy looking actors that solve forensics cases in one hour, in a crime lab that looks like a downtown nightclub.

for sure. not for everyone. lotsa patience goes into watching this show but it pays off. almost done season 4

last few eps of season 1 are great..

eh' does anyone know how to play dice?

[Hoodwink]

I love this show. Season 3 I felt was the best, followed by 4, 1, and 2.

Down to earth, realistic, and it makes you root for the "villains". Really blurs the line between right and wrong.

[dell]

Ya this is HBO's most underated, underappreciated and overlooked show. The parallels between this show and Oz are amazing and the Wire totally reminds me back in the day when I got hooked on Oz. I love how the secondary people who were on Oz are the main guys on the Wire. I can't wait till the next season and rekindle with Bubbles, Omar and the rest of the gang. Will we see Avon again? What will transpire with Prop Joe, Marlo and maybe the greeks? Can't wait.

[CHINAdeals]

Ya this is HBO's most underated, underappreciated and overlooked show. The parallels between this show and Oz are amazing and the Wire totally reminds me back in the day when I got hooked on Oz. I love how the secondary people who were on Oz are the main guys on the Wire. I can't wait till the next season and rekindle with Bubbles, Omar and the rest of the gang. Will we see Avon again? What will transpire with Prop Joe, Marlo and maybe the greeks? Can't wait.

Marlo is crazy. his presence and just how he carries himself is impressive..he's made for the part

yahh. i doubt everything will get 'wrapped ' up. or say 'resolved' in a way.the show is about real life .and i guess it really represents 'real life'

neways.. i bet avon will make a showing next season..

se5 is supposed to focus on the media..more on a newspaper +journalists.. what stories get published and why some dont' make it to the press


oh yah does anyone's know how 'bunny' carvin (he's a major i think in se 3/4) got his nickname?

oh and he's playing 'luchero' on prison break (se 3) lol....don't they know he used to be a COP !

[Hoodwink]

LOL so that's who Lechero is! It's been boggling my mind for a while now.

As for Season 5, it will be the last season so it'll be awesome to see Avon back and have the Barkesdale and Stanfield crews fight it out one last time. Snoop scares the **** out of me.

****SPOILER****

I was really sad when Bodie died, the whole crew from the first season, besides Pooh, are basically dead or behind bars. The kids in Season 4 are very good additions to the cast though.

[CHINAdeals]

.[/QUOTE]

change your font to 'white'! (to hide the spoiler)..

that got ruined to me as i was checkin' the forums on the official site at hbo.

grrrr.

somebody put the title to the forum

"HI IM NEW TO THE FORUMS"

and the first line was

***** dies. and it was sad :(

yah that was pretty rough.

i hope marlo gets it in s5.

[Hoodwink]

change your font to 'white'! (to hide the spoiler)..

that got ruined to me as i was checkin' the forums on the official site at hbo.

grrrr.

somebody put the title to the forum

"HI IM NEW TO THE FORUMS"

and the first line was

***** dies. and it was sad :(

yah that was pretty rough.

i hope marlo gets it in s5.

My dumbass Wikipedia'ed the show and the characters in Season 2. So I knew that a lot of things would happen...***** dying included.

[CHINAdeals]

anyone watching season 5? almsot done. last ep sunday!

for one of the best shows ever !

[knapper]

anyone watching season 5? almsot done. last ep sunday!

for one of the best shows ever !

Available on bittorrent already. Only episode I have not watch...

[CHINAdeals]

Available on bittorrent already. Only episode I have not watch...

rofl shoooot. but i have an essay to finish..

how long do you guys think you would last in baltimore

[knapper]

rofl shoooot. but i have an essay to finish..

how long do you guys think you would last in baltimore

I still won't get a chance to watch it until Monday (watch on my commute), so downloading early hasn't helped.

As a middle aged white guy, I don't think I would last veery long in the areas shown in the show. A college(sp) at work used to work in the Baltimore/DC area and has a lot of scary stories. He's a big fan of the Wire, and the reason I know of it, and say the feel of it is very real (not necessarily the actual stories).

To the OP, the Wire is definitely one of, if not the best, series out there. I am really sorry there is only one episode left. But can't wait to see it as the second last really set up a ***** storm... For me, Omar and McNaulty were my favourites. I know what happens with Omar, just waiting to see how things go for McN. Also, does Barksdale factor in the finale?

[CHINAdeals]

I still won't get a chance to watch it until Monday (watch on my commute), so downloading early hasn't helped.

As a middle aged white guy, I don't think I would last veery long in the areas shown in the show. A college(sp) at work used to work in the Baltimore/DC area and has a lot of scary stories. He's a big fan of the Wire, and the reason I know of it, and say the feel of it is very real (not necessarily the actual stories).

To the OP, the Wire is definitely one of, if not the best, series out there. I am really sorry there is only one episode left. But can't wait to see it as the second last really set up a ***** storm... For me, Omar and McNaulty were my favourites. I know what happens with Omar, just waiting to see how things go for McN. Also, does Barksdale factor in the finale?

haha i guess you'll have to wait and seee.

i love the ending with marlo's story though.. great stuff..

dang what a show..serioulsy what a show.. don't forget for season 5 there is a SPECIAL too. called the odyessy.. check it ..and also last word..i can't find the odyssey anywhere though.

gonna miss all those chars..bunk omar freeman even marlo prop joe barksdale snoops chris stringer bell mcnaulty

what a show..

[spike-spiegel]

Prequel vids from HBO:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=HBO&search_query=wire&search=Search

[EGee6]

Final episode is on now ! :o

[AirBosh]

"Nostalgia"

Very good ending to a great series...

[spike-spiegel]

"Ain't no nostalgia here."

Best series finale ever. It wasn't all sad with some happy endings for some. Can't ask for more.

[kleptodathief]

besides BT,and on HBO tv, where else can i watch this show? ive been listening to that sports show guy on the fan590, espn jason smith, and hes raving bout this show being the best bla bla bla


how good is this show? u always xpect the unxpected?

[CHINAdeals]

besides BT,and on HBO tv, where else can i watch this show? ive been listening to that sports show guy on the fan590, espn jason smith, and hes raving bout this show being the best bla bla bla


how good is this show? u always xpect the unxpected?

its one of the best shows i've ever watched drama wise..if not the best

the char. development is superb..talking about real life stories that happened to the actors..the writers/directors...(the writer/director worked in police dept for many years and also as a journalist)..

they never leave any loose ends really.and tie everything together..

its not a shoot em up show..there aren't a lot of 'fight' scenes..but when there are its huge..great buildup..

you have to be patient to watch the show..but after a few episodes i was hooked..great stuff. and they dont' use mainstream actors so much.. purely focus on the story..look beyond the actors.

its really probably the best show you're not watching. maddd gangstar.

[dell]

Best series finale ever. It wasn't all sad with some happy endings for some. Can't ask for more.

After it ended I just smiled and reflected on the whole series. I don't think I've ever been this satisfied by watching a series finale since the Six Feet Under finale which was fitting for that show. Certainly much more satisfying then how the Sopranos ended. The bar scene wake very enjoyable and emotional. Loved the Cheese scene. Life must go on in the city of Baltimore whether for good or bad and thats exactly how things played out. The musical montage was superb making you feel happy, angry, sad and asking questions about the future.

Last week I randomly listened to the Wrap up show after Howard Stern on Sirius and the guys on the show are huge Wire fans. While they were on the air they randomly saw and grabbed the actors that played Bubbles and Michael who were walking in the hallways of Sirius. Andre Royo aka Bubbles had a great story about how Mark Wahlberg ran into him on the streets and said to him that he's glad he's off the streets thinking Bubbles was a real homeless junkie they used on the show.

[soulflare]

That was a fantastic finale! While some characters "won" in the end, it clearly showed that absolutely nothing had changed in Baltimore since the very beginning of the series.

(the writer/director worked in police dept for many years and also as a journalist)..

Not quite, David Simon worked on the crime beat for the Baltimore Sun for numerous years and spent a full year embedded with the city's homicide squad while writing "Homicide: Life on the Streets" (the TV series of the same name was based on his book). He pretty much did the same thing with drug users in the city while developing "The Corner". Simon's co-writer Ed Burns worked as a homicide detective in Baltimore for something like 20 years before becoming a teacher (they met while Simon was embedded). So between the two of them, they had first-hand experience with everything depicted in the show with perhaps the exception of the port story and the city hall crap.


Interesting tidbit: Melvin Williams, the guy who plays the Deacon on the show (bald black guy who kept bugging Cutty and Bunny Colvin), was in fact the Avon Barksdale/Marlo Stanfield of his day back in the 80s.

[dell]

Clark Johnson who plays Gus the newspaper editor directed the finale as he did with the original pilot episode. Clark was on Homicide for most of the series so he is friends with the Wire creators. Speaking of Homicide did anyone catch Richard Beltzer sitting at the bar a few episodes ago? Also after Michael comes home from killing Snoop you can see Dukie watching Dexter on the TV and saying "check this show out, its a serial killer killing other serial killers".

So many things to talk about regarding the finale, I liked the character parallels. Sydnor going to the Judge just like McNulty and saying leave my name out of it. Dukie turning into a junkie like Bubbles was. And Michael turning into the new Omar by robbing Marlos associates. And Wee-Bay with Chris in prison cause they were both the head muscle of their respective gangs and each took most of the murders hits.

[spike-spiegel]

Clark Johnson who plays Gus the newspaper editor directed the finale as he did with the original pilot episode. Clark was on Homicide for most of the series so he is friends with the Wire creators. Speaking of Homicide did anyone catch Richard Beltzer sitting at the bar a few episodes ago? Also after Michael comes home from killing Snoop you can see Dukie watching Dexter on the TV and saying "check this show out, its a serial killer killing other serial killers".

So many things to talk about regarding the finale, I liked the character parallels. Sydnor going to the Judge just like McNulty and saying leave my name out of it. Dukie turning into a junkie like Bubbles was. And Michael turning into the new Omar by robbing Marlos associates. And Wee-Bay with Chris in prison cause they were both the head muscle of their respective gangs and each took most of the murders hits.


That's what made the ending so great. It wasn't all Hollywood. There are some good (Bubz), semi-good (McNutty), bad (the two kids) and it showed how guys we've been watching: Bubz, Barksdale, Marlo... how they ended up. Sometimes they dont go a choice. It's just how things happened. Baltimore continues on. It's so amazing how many emotions they pulled from that series finale alone.

[ggs]

i kinda wish they brought up the barksdale arc again but i can see why they didnt.

its good to see with all the 'good' guys having less-than-perfect endings (bodie, omar, randy, dukie), at least one rises above his circumstances (bubbz).

[dell]

Only Wire fans will understand why this commercial is funny. The lighter side of Levy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUA1PICL8qs

[jaws83]

Only Wire fans will understand why this commercial is funny. The lighter side of Levy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUA1PICL8qs

hahahahaha

best thing i've seen all day

[ggs]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080312

[CHINAdeals]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080312

that's some good article right there.

[IceQue]

Very Good article. Great read!!!

[balou911]

i just started watching this show this summer.

holy crap, season 3, ep 10, about 40min in.

the scene in the bar, you blink you miss it, but he leans over and is seen clearly. holy crap.

[Ch28]

i just started watching this show this summer.

holy crap, season 3, ep 10, about 40min in.

the scene in the bar, you blink you miss it, but he leans over and is seen clearly. holy crap.

Rawls :lol:

[Makaveli the Don]

I'm contemplating whether or not to get into this..or 'Mad Men' anyone have any [unbiased] opinions on which I should go for?

[balou911]

another amazing one - the intro to episode 3, season 4.

amazing.

omar at his best in a robe before breakfast - amazing.




I'm contemplating whether or not to get into this..or 'Mad Men' anyone have any [unbiased] opinions on which I should go for?

well they are both good/great shows on their own merits.
Mad Men is a stylized look at 60's coperate america, where you see a bunch of guys hanging out, drinking, smoking and playing grab ass in the work place. The plot is sometimes slow but fun, with a who is banging who, guess who's prego, and all that fun stuff.

The Wire is similiar in that the main characters are also seen drinking and smoking around the workplace, and some even get laid every once in awhile. but if you prefer back alleys to board rooms, and gun fights over "sword" fights, then maybe the wire is better suited for you. The plot is also long and drawn out over, sometimes, several seasons, but its great for character development.
Fun fact - I was about to say how in the wire, you can see how sometimes the decisions of both cops and bad guys can trickle out, and even the smallest details are very important, kinda like in The Sopranos - and one of the writters for the sopranos is the brain behind Mad Men.

[Makaveli the Don]

well they are both good/great shows on their own merits.
Mad Men is a stylized look at 60's coperate america, where you see a bunch of guys hanging out, drinking, smoking and playing grab ass in the work place. The plot is sometimes slow but fun, with a who is banging who, guess who's prego, and all that fun stuff.

The Wire is similiar in that the main characters are also seen drinking and smoking around the workplace, and some even get laid every once in awhile. but if you prefer back alleys to board rooms, and gun fights over "sword" fights, then maybe the wire is better suited for you. The plot is also long and drawn out over, sometimes, several seasons, but its great for character development.
Fun fact - I was about to say how in the wire, you can see how sometimes the decisions of both cops and bad guys can trickle out, and even the smallest details are very important, kinda like in The Sopranos - and one of the writters for the sopranos is the brain behind Mad Men.

Hmm..I guess the Wire it is for now. Thanks!

[SwiZz]

i finished all 5 seasons earlier this summer.....its really sad that there was only 5 seasons.

The dialogue was really just insane for this show. Really well written.

[Makaveli the Don]

I'm gonna pick up season 1 today. :)

[Makaveli the Don]

So I'm half-way through the first episode and I'm totally confused about everything..seems pretty good though.

EDIT: nvm starting to clear up after I watched the full episode.

[sannin]

I've seen all 5 seasons but I must admit that I didn't enjoy the last one.

[Deadlock91]

i started watching season 1 at like episode 5 , interesting show but dam it sometimes drags on... i like the realism and the fact that it blurs the good/bad line. its not like the cops are all perfect and the drug dealers evil monsters...

Its interesting to watch tough i find it doesn't have that addictive quality ... after you finish an episode your not dying to see the next... i watch 1 ep every other day or something like that.

[Makaveli the Don]

Its interesting to watch tough i find it doesn't have that addictive quality ... after you finish an episode your not dying to see the next... i watch 1 ep every other day or something like that.

Yeah it's not like a drug, but I find that I can actually sit through atleast 2 episodes at a time, just to see what's gonna happen next [unlike some shows/games that I've watched/played recently].

I'm on season 1 episode 8 now. So far, I'm impressed.

[Makaveli the Don]

Done season one. Amazing.

Season 2 episode 1 was too much of a drastic change for me. I'm not a fan of this harbour crew yet. I was so used to Barksdale and the rest of them.

[ggs]

Done season one. Amazing.

Season 2 episode 1 was too much of a drastic change for me. I'm not a fan of this harbour crew yet. I was so used to Barksdale and the rest of them.

trust me, you'll get into it. it's not traditional television just cuz they start a new story arc each season, but it really is great television and i guarantee you will be hooked. besides, you may see some characters again in later eps.

[Liquid]

I've been meaning to get into The Wire for a while now, my sister has the first season box set so I'll start with that when I get the time.

[Makaveli the Don]

trust me, you'll get into it. it's not traditional television just cuz they start a new story arc each season, but it really is great television and i guarantee you will be hooked. besides, you may see some characters again in later eps.

I know I will....I was stupid enough to read the synopsis on the back of a later season..:evil:

[airodus]

I know I will....I was stupid enough to read the synopsis on the back of a later season..:evil:

Yah I had trouble getting into the second season as well. You can almost skip it, since most of the story and new characters get dropped in the last 3 seasons. But of course, you'll miss a year of the main cast.

Not to say it was bad, it is just my least favorite season of the best tv show in history.

[ggs]

Yah I had trouble getting into the second season as well. You can almost skip it, since most of the story and new characters get dropped in the last 3 seasons. But of course, you'll miss a year of the main cast.

Not to say it was bad, it is just my least favorite season of the best tv show in history.

theres no way i'd suggest to skip it, it actually builds a bit into the characters you find later on, and it introduces a major character that reappears in season 5.

[airodus]

theres no way i'd suggest to skip it, it actually builds a bit into the characters you find later on, and it introduces a major character that reappears in season 5.

Yah I watched it. But after watching the rest of the series I almost forgot all about the docks. Lol.

[dell]

I saw the actor that plays Stringer Bell at the film fest for the premiere of Guy Ritchie's Rocknrolla. I couldn't believe he was british and all this time I thought he was american. Man his american accent was bang on for the Wire.

[Hoodwink]

Season 2 is boring and slow in the beginning but once you get past the first 5 or so episodes it goes on a wild ride for the next 5.

Just thoroughly enjoy it in Season 3 (best IMO) and the introduction of school kids in season 4 takes it to another level.

[Makaveli the Don]

Ahhhh, Season 2 episode 3/4/5, that's more like it :cheesygri

[ggs]

Ahhhh, Season 2 episode 3/4/5, that's more like it :cheesygri

THATS WHAT IM SAYIN :)

[rilhouse]

just finished watching the entire series during the last 3 months. what a great show, you really felt as if you got to know all of the main characters. i really liked the finale, amazing stuff.

[Makaveli the Don]

So on the previous page, there's an article about someone who passed away [a character on the show] (the article contains spoilers so don't read it...I learned that the hard way...) was that guy a character that was there from season 1/2? If so who?

[rilhouse]

SPOILER:

i was really pissed at the way omar "got got". i mean, such a character who was such a badass and an influential character throughout the entire series is killed by a 8 year old hopper while buying smokes? they should have come up with something better then that.

that's really my olny complaint with the entire series, which was IMO one of the best shows ever made.

[MusicFirst]

I just finished watching the entire series last week. Sucks that it ends cause it was great to watch. I have to admit tho my hands were in the air when i saw one of the great guys (O) not to ruin it, but be taken down that way. Like damn, I never saw that coming.

The last episode was great tho. It will be missed. I hear the wire starts all over again in the middle east or something, not sure if I will tune into that one.

[dell]

The last episode was great tho. It will be missed. I hear the wire starts all over again in the middle east or something, not sure if I will tune into that one.

The Wire is totally done. I think your thinking about Generation Kill which is the new HBO miniseries about the Gulf war. It was created by the same guys who made the Wire.

[knapper]

Looks like Marlo is now on Heroes, or at least it looked like him yesterday.

[cmx1o1]

yah thats what i thought too and i just finished season 3.

[Makaveli the Don]

i just started watching this show this summer.

holy crap, season 3, ep 10, about 40min in.

the scene in the bar, you blink you miss it, but he leans over and is seen clearly. holy crap.

LOL WTF!

hahaha!

That was awesome!

[reservoir_dogs]

SPOILER:

i was really pissed at the way omar "got got". i mean, such a character who was such a badass and an influential character throughout the entire series is killed by a 8 year old hopper while buying smokes? they should have come up with something better then that.

that's really my olny complaint with the entire series, which was IMO one of the best shows ever made.

agreed completely.. they were building up the Omar-Marlo feud at it's fullest, only to have that destroyed by Kenard..

Also, Was I the only one who ABSOLUTELY needed the subtitles for this show??

[originalnutta]

SPOILER:

i was really pissed at the way omar "got got". i mean, such a character who was such a badass and an influential character throughout the entire series is killed by a 8 year old hopper while buying smokes? they should have come up with something better then that.

that's really my olny complaint with the entire series, which was IMO one of the best shows ever made.

This show is based on reality, and sadly thats what reality is. Going head to head with another "boss" doesn't always happen.
I'm glad it went down the way it did. It was a hard dose of reality.

spoilerSucks that Marlo got away though, but such is life. spoiler

[reservoir_dogs]

This show is based on reality, and sadly thats what reality is. Going head to head with another "boss" doesn't always happen.
I'm glad it went down the way it did. It was a hard dose of reality.

spoilerSucks that Marlo got away though, but such is life. spoiler

Yup, I definitely realized that.. I guess the "Hollywood mind" I had was expecting huge fireworks.. but the build-up towards the feud (Chris getting Butchie, Marlo with the bounty, Omar passing the word in the street about Marlo being a punk, Omar with the list, etc etc) completely didn't live up to the way it ended... but again, I know what the show is about, so it's all good..

[Makaveli the Don]

Season 3 was amazing.

[Makaveli the Don]

Finished the series a couple of days ago.

Absolutely brilliant series.

I never knew McNulty was British and had a British accent!

[Hoodwink]

agreed completely.. they were building up the Omar-Marlo feud at it's fullest, only to have that destroyed by Kenard..

Also, Was I the only one who ABSOLUTELY needed the subtitles for this show??

LOL I didn't need subtitles but after watching it a second time, I realize how much I missed the first time around.

As for the Omar spoiler, it's irony.

[originalnutta]

PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN - DEMIC!


Get your Yelllow tops!!!!

[AirBosh]

Anyone going to watch the "The Line" on the Movie network tonight at 10pm?

Suppose to be the Canadian version of The Wire based in Scarborough ...

Wonder if they will have an "Omar" :lol:

http://www.themovienetwork.ca/theline/

[go leafs]

Interview with Idris Elba (Stringer Bell ) on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101780271)

Another Brit!

edit: There are some minor spoilers from The Office (he plays a new character)

[AirBosh]

Interview with Idris Elba (Stringer Bell ) on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101780271)

Another Brit!


Yea I was surprised too seeing Stringer in the Guy Ritchie movie Rock n Rolla

[Broseph]

*hide*

Omar coming!

[markj]

Season 2 is boring and slow in the beginning but once you get past the first 5 or so episodes it goes on a wild ride for the next 5.

Just thoroughly enjoy it in Season 3 (best IMO) and the introduction of school kids in season 4 takes it to another level.

season two starts off boring but i think its one of the best seasons...has a sopranos vibe to it and introduced lots of main characters...overall awesome series and one of the best cop shows ever made

i agree season 3/4 are the best

spoiler: as for the fate of omar, i actually liked the irony...was a realistic ending because as cool a character as omar was he wasnt too realistic..sure there are people who rip off drug dealers but getting away with it that many times and bragging...come on... end spoiler