Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JMO]

I just watched the fourth season again over the last couple of days and i am in awe once again. Is their better writing on television? I don't think so.

So this thread is for appreciation of this modern masterpiece. Who else loves 'The Wire'?

Oh and since each season has its own slant, which is your favorite? Tell me why too because sure why not.

My favorite is Season 1 and I;ll get into why when this thread starts to slip.

[swetepete]

If there is better writing on TV, I don't know where.
I thought four was the best, because I'm a teacher, and thought the evolution of the Prezbalywski character was really well done...really, he was a far cry from the doofus of the first season, shooting rounds up into fourth story windows in the middle of the night and accidentally blinding people.
I only got turned on to 'the Wire' a few months ago. The only other shows at the moment that even come close are, I think, 'dexter,' 'deadood,' 'rome,' and 'the sopranos.' Network TV is such pap, by comparison...'Prison Break' indeed. I'm not trying to hijack the thread or anything, but do you guys have any other recommendations?

[JMO]

Hijack away...as long as we don't talk about Prison break. Shows like that have a logical end point. The problem is when they are popular they cannot end rationally and become bloated pieces of crap.


I also love deadwood and the Sopranos. Deadwood is great. Definitly Ian McShane's role since Lovejoy. The only show that comes close to 'The Wire'.

[Son Deureo!]

If you liked The Wire, you'd also like the other two TV shows based on David Simon books about Baltimore, Homicide: Life on the Street and The Corner.

Homicide was NBC's semi-hit series about the homicide detective unit. The banter between the detectives is great, as are the interrogations with the murder suspects. It ran for 7 seasons on NBC.

The Corner was a six-episode miniseries about the true stories of the lives of people living near one particular corner in inner-city Baltimore and how the crack and heroin trade affects their lives.

Both of these are readily available for download on Bit Torrent, but I have yet to find season 7 of Homicide.

My favorite season of The Wire was the third season. The results of the Hamsterdam experiment were just fascinating, as was the government's reaction once the secret came out about it. Add to that the mounting tension between Stringer and the just-paroled Barksdale, and you've got some really gripping drama.

Every season of The Wire was amazing, though. I don't think of ever watched as much TV in so little time as when I discovered The Wire and started downloading it. I really hope they come out with a fifth season.

[stumptown]

Cool that someone would mention Homicide. I loved that show, especially Andre Braugher's character and the way he could interrogate people so well. Did you see the 3 part series where three cops were gunned down by Steve Buscemi and Braugher tries and tries but he can't break him. Awesome stuff.

[Son Deureo!]

Yeah, that whole bit with Buscemi as the pretentious high school dropout white supremacist was great. I love how they also hinted that a member of the homicide squad put him down in the end, too.

They had some really incredible guest stars in Homicide, James Earl Jones, Robin Williams, Bruce Campbell.... but the regular cast was also so good that the guest stars just fit right in seamlessly. Not many network TV shows beat Homicide.

[swetepete]

You guys seem to like cop shows--what did you think of 'the Shield?'
I was always pretty impressed by that show as well. Generally pretty loathsome characters, but complex enough to be interesting...and in that 'horrific protagonists' vein, I'd recommend 'Dexter' as well.
Anyway, there is a fifth season of 'the Wire'. HBO says it will be the last. Not sure when that comes on--late this year, I would expect.

[JeJuJitsu]

[JMO]

[JMO]

[stumptown]

[endo]

I first heard about The Wire on another message board and after watching the first episode, I soon watched seasons 1-4 in just under a month.

It's fantastic and you really become attached to each character.


Omar is one of the greatest television characters of all time. How could you not root for the guy?


Also the scene with McNaulty and the prostitutes during season 2 was funny as hell.


My order for all the seasons would go:

Season 1 - The beginning of it all. I was hooked from the start.
Season 4 - The school kids could really act and Prez was great too!
Season 3 - The experiment made me really see things differently.
Season 2 - Felt a little slow at the beginning, but ended well.

[mastercabs]

I really liked Season I and have just started in on Season II. I used to be a teacher in West Baltimore apparently there is mention of William H. Lemmel in season IV. I am really looking forward to seeing how all of that is handled. I checked out some of the threads on this and they apparently observed at my the school where I used to teach (Lemmel) and interviewed the former principal (Mrs. Holley).

It was my first year of teaching and Jesus was it ever tough. Never having stood on the other side of a desk before, getting sworn in as a teacher because I had a pulse and a college degree. Even if Season III turns out to be complete crap, I'll still watch it just to get to Season IV.

cheers,

Sean

[endo]

You're going to love season 4. It's fantastic, but you need to watch the previous seasons first.

Thoses kids were incredible actors.

[JMO]