The Wire (1 Viewer)

[SacramentoBob]

I've always had a problem with the blatant racism on the show. Why couldn't the crack dealers be middle class whites from the Baltimore suburbs? And the best cops on the show are white -- McNulty, Herc, Prez, and Rawls. Then you've got Daniels who starts out as a seemingly sympathetic character, until it's revealed he is a sellout who bangs a white woman. Do you guys wear KKK robes when you watch this trash?

Because they don't exist and white boys from the burbs wouldn't last 10 minutes selling crack in Baltimore.

What about Frog?

 

[SacramentoBob]

My god, how many times will we have this conversation ranking the seasons and discussing where 2 and 5 fit?

Conversation 1 of this was pretty good; I really hadn't fully gotten into the argument yet but it was interesting to find out what people thought.

Then Conversation 2 was OK, but it was a lot of new people in the thread and didn't really build on the arguments from Conversation 1. However some people loved this new conversation and ultimately enjoyed it more than all the others.

Conversations 3 and 4 were just awesome. They really built on the first conversation, but went deeper and in unexpected new directions.

Some people really liked the 5th Conversation about this, and thought it was a great way to wrap up all the previous conversations. Others thought it went a little overboard.

Like IOU.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

The Wire Being Remastered, Rebroadcast in HD

 

[bigmarc27]

I don't totally understand film, but why does this remaster involve any cropping? Can't they just improved the visual and scale it so that everything fits to the tv? Who cares if there's black bars?

 

[Apple Jack]

I don't totally understand film, but why does this remaster involve any cropping? Can't they just improved the visual and scale it so that everything fits to the tv? Who cares if there's black bars?

A lot of the same people who can't handle subtitles.

 

[Raider Nation]

Many of the cast members reunited a few days ago in New York. The discussion was moderated by Seppy.

Scroll down just a bit and click on the window under the UPDATE:

 

[Raider Nation]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

 

[Raider Nation]

This is terrific but Sepinwall's shirt is distracting. It's four sizes too big.

 

[The Ref]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

Yeah a home depo dumpster. Can't go into a Home Depo without thinking or a gay bar anymore.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Many of the cast members reunited a few days ago in New York. The discussion was moderated by Seppy.

Scroll down just a bit and click on the window under the UPDATE:

This is motivating me to watch The Wire again from the beginning. It would be my fourth time if I follow through.

 

[Raider Nation]

Many of the cast members reunited a few days ago in New York. The discussion was moderated by Seppy.

Scroll down just a bit and click on the window under the UPDATE:

This is motivating me to watch The Wire again from the beginning.

Agreed.

Seth Gilliam's impression of Herc was great.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

You probably know this, but he plays a supreme rich dickface in The Affair.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

You probably know this, but he plays a supreme rich dickface in The Affair.

Yes, Rawls and McNulty reunited.

 

[Bri]

So far kind of don't like Father Gabriel on Walking Dead-other two Wire actors may have zero range, but their parts work well in the show

 

[Bri]

In the reunion link shared earlier, with roughly 14min left Keema suggests the writing is so good they should sell the scripts as a novel. David says "he'd love that."
Here's hoping this happens and isn't just chatter

 

[Bri]

From David Simon's site: THE AVENUE: Book project, Henry Holt Books

In conjunction with William F. Zorzi Jr. a history of the rise of heroin and cocaine as mass-market enterprises in Baltimore from 1951 to the cocaine epidemic that begins in the late 1980s. If you were directly involved in the Baltimore drug trade — particularly in West Baltimore — between those years and we have not made contact with you over the last four years, and you wish to offer your recollections on the rise of the drug trade from back-alley vice to mass-market drug corners, we would love to sit down with you, understanding that for most criminal activity, the statute of limitations now protects the conversation. This is a work of non-fiction journalism and as a work of journalism, we cannot pay sources for information. In addition to those directly engaged in the drug trade during those years, we are interested in speaking to law enforcement officials, political functionaries and attorneys with strong recollections on the subject matter. If you would be willing to sit down with the authors and talk, please email an explanation of your history with “The Avenue” in the subject line to blowndeadlineprod@gmail.com.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

You probably know this, but he plays a supreme rich dickface in The Affair.

I can't even go in to a gay bar anymore without thinking of Home Depot.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I mean .

 

[jamny]

So far kind of don't like Father Gabriel on Walking Dead-other two Wire actors may have zero range, but their parts work well in the show

Don't like the character or the way Carver is playing him? I think he's done a good job so far.

 

[bigmarc27]

I'm on season 5 in my forth start to finish viewing.

Season 4 is still my favorite, but I think I've realized the actual reason it's my favorite and why five is my least... McNulty! He goes from being his least intrusive and annoying in four to his most obnoxious and pronounced in season 5. I can tolerate him through seasons 1-3, in 4 he's a bit player so it's nice, but 5 is just too much. By this point, the "what the #### did I do" schtick is way overplayed.

 

[SacramentoBob]

I was thinking about how the S4 kids ended up being mirrors of other Wire characters. The next generation so to speak. Wasn't sure if Randy was more Bodie or Prop Joe. Thoughts?

Michael = Omar

Dukie = Bubbles

Namond = D'Angelo Barksdale

Randy = Bodie or Prop Joe?

 

[bigmarc27]

I was thinking about how the S4 kids ended up being mirrors of other Wire characters. The next generation so to speak. Wasn't sure if Randy was more Bodie or Prop Joe. Thoughts?

Michael = Omar

Dukie = Bubbles

Namond = D'Angelo Barksdale

Randy = Bodie or Prop Joe?

I'd say prop joe - just business... buy for a dollar and sell for two.

 

[SacramentoBob]

I was thinking about how the S4 kids ended up being mirrors of other Wire characters. The next generation so to speak. Wasn't sure if Randy was more Bodie or Prop Joe. Thoughts?

Michael = Omar

Dukie = Bubbles

Namond = D'Angelo Barksdale

Randy = Bodie or Prop Joe?

I'd say prop joe - just business... buy for a dollar and sell for two.

His circumstances at the end seemed to be placing him on a Bodie path. A "smart ### pawn".

 

[Bri]

So far kind of don't like Father Gabriel on Walking Dead-other two Wire actors may have zero range, but their parts work well in the show

Don't like the character or the way Carver is playing him? I think he's done a good job so far.

I don't like the character; something very untrusting unsavory about him and I suppose I fear one of the regulars are at risk with him around

 

[The Ref]

I was thinking about how the S4 kids ended up being mirrors of other Wire characters. The next generation so to speak. Wasn't sure if Randy was more Bodie or Prop Joe. Thoughts?

Dukie = Bubbles

Namond = D'Angelo Barksdale

Randy = Bodie or Prop Joe?

I always had Randy pegged for a Prop Joe.

I never figured Namond for D. I saw him more of an extension of the Bunny story. The point being with the right parenting, oversight and support you can escape the game.

 

[jamny]

So far kind of don't like Father Gabriel on Walking Dead-other two Wire actors may have zero range, but their parts work well in the show

Don't like the character or the way Carver is playing him? I think he's done a good job so far.

I don't like the character; something very untrusting unsavory about him and I suppose I fear one of the regulars are at risk with him around

Well, then he's doing a good job.

 

[Slapdash]

Looks like they just rousted Rawls from a dumpster.

####### hated Rawls.

 

[Apple Jack]

I imagine they had a lot of fun creating and writing the Rawls character.

 

[SacramentoBob]

I was thinking about how the S4 kids ended up being mirrors of other Wire characters. The next generation so to speak. Wasn't sure if Randy was more Bodie or Prop Joe. Thoughts?

Dukie = Bubbles

Namond = D'Angelo Barksdale

Randy = Bodie or Prop Joe?

I always had Randy pegged for a Prop Joe.

I never figured Namond for D. I saw him more of an extension of the Bunny story. The point being with the right parenting, oversight and support you can escape the game.

Both Namond and D were related to more successful people in the Barksdale empire. Both had high expectations on them because of their name, but couldn't walk the walk. Their hearts weren't in it. D stayed in the game and died young. Namond got out of the game and has a chance at a better life.

 

[sports_fan]

First time watching. 3 episodes in so far. Pretty good but a little slow.

Oh it picks up, trust me. There's just so many characters and storylines you get introduced to at first where it can't help but feel a little slow.

There was a good run of episodes in the latter half of season 1. But now I'm early in season 2 and struggling to continue watching.

When does it hit its peak?

Give up now.

Seriously.

I did stop watching for a while. But I picked it back up a few weeks ago starting with season 2. I've made it to early season 5. It sounds like I've already seen the best it has to offer but I'm going to try to make it through to the end.

 

[chauncey]

I just started watching Boardwalk Empire this weekend. Was that an Omar sighting or was I just extremely drunk?

 

[shuke]

I just started watching Boardwalk Empire this weekend. Was that an Omar sighting or was I just extremely drunk?

Possibly both?

 

[Bigboy10182000]

@colliderfrosty: HBO Confirms THE WIRE Has Been Remastered in HD; Will Be Available on HBO Go Starting December 26th http://t.co/ut7yYofNup

 

[otello]

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/trending/Baltimore-Reporter-shooting-then-and-now-photos-of-The-Wire-locations.html

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I still think III is the best season, it is truly like literature and unlike any other season of any other show ever.

Omar and his conscious

Cuddy and the boxing

Carcetti undermining the mayor

Bunny

Hamsterdam

Stringer, the key to the season, being the bad guy we all wanted dead

Avon getting out

Rawls at the gay bar

The realization that Deangelo was murdered

Dealers having to pay the hoppers unemployment because they had nothing to do in Hamsterdam

How drugs impact communities, truly impact them

The rise of Marlo

and the best conclusion to a season with Stringer getting taken out by the good bad guys, Brother Mouzone and Omar

That's just some of it. I think it was the season where the criminals provided most of the material, and how glorious it was. Brilliant, just brilliant television.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

The scene at the end of 1.05 where they scoop up (and eventually murder) Brandon is just masterful stuff.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Wifey and I are rewatching the entire series - finishing up Season 2 tonight. You know it's a good show when it exceeds expectations on re-watch, especially when I already considered it the greatest TV drama of all time.

It's so awesome when a character you had forgotten about makes an entrance. Television at it's best.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Rawls telling McNulty that it wasn't his fault in the hospital might be one of the best scenes I've ever seen.

 

[Jack White]

Season 5 was the worst of the series, however, it was still better than the best season of Dexter.

The newspaper angle wasn't that enticing, and the serial killer thing was pretty convoluted and unrealistic for sure. The resolution of the storylines and characters though was great. It was a good final season and end of the story for the characters we got to know and appreciate. Not as good as Breaking Bad's final season, but better than the Sopranos IMO.

100% must watch for any fan of the show.

ETA: HBO hamstrung the final season. It was written for its normal 13 episode run, and then HBO made them cut it to 10.

Unless David Simon is lying, that's not the case. He said HBO asked him how many episodes he needed. He originally said 10, then later asked for 10.5. HBO said he could have 11 if he wanted it, but he declined:

In terms of priorities, how was the storytelling different, did any stories have to be abandoned when it wound up being a 10-episode season as opposed to 12 or 13?

The main stories were told exactly as they would have been. By the way, I was given 10 and a half. When I realized I needed more than 10, they asked if I wanted 11, and I said, "No, I need 10 and a half." If I said I needed 12 halfway through the season, from Carolyn (Strauss) at that point, I could have gotten it. They came to me early on, I asked for an extra episode, a 13th, for season four, because we had to add some elements of the political spin-off that didn't get made, so we had to deal with the election and the schools in one season. So I asked for 13, and they gave it to me, and then when we came back for the last season, they said, "School story's over, election's over, you have this one remaining theme, can you do it in less?" And I said, "I think I probably can."

But it was an open question. They said, "Can you do it in 8?" I said, "No ####### way." They said, "How many do you need?" I said, "I don't know. Maybe 10. Maybe 11." So they said, "Okay, beat it out, see what you need." I told them 10 after I beat it out with Ed -- and, by the way, this is also in a year when they're giving me 7 hours of "Generation Kill," so they're not being parsimonious -- and then as we started making it and got towards the end, I realized I might need more story and I said, "Can I go to 10 and a half? Can I do a 90-minute episode if I have to?" And they said, "Sure. Tell us which one you need." At that point, I'm one hour away.

If they gave me 12, and said you have to take 12, then the truth is, certain storylines that were branches on the three that couldn't be serviced in 10, like Prez and Cutty would have had storylines. The main storylines would have had no more or no less work done on them. We said what we wanted to say on them. We would have had more time to service characters who at that point had become peripheral but were favorites of the writers. But at the same time, we talked about it, the writers, and we realized Prez has reached his stasis, as has Cutty. What redemption there has been for them has been achieved, and that's where we want to leave them anyway, so all we're doing there is gilding the story a little bit. A decision was made that that's not really what needs to happen here with the story.

But the truth is, if I'd have gone to Carolyn and said ‘Look, I'm too tight,' then she would've fixed it. She would've helped me fix it. And in fact when I did go to her and said, 'I'm too tight. I may need 11, I may need 10 and a half,' it was like, 'Do what you gotta do.'

 

[tommyGunZ]

Rawls telling McNulty that it wasn't his fault in the hospital might be one of the best scenes I've ever seen.

It was a great scene. Only thing that would have made it better would have been Rawls pulling out a gun and blasting McNulty so we wouldn't be tortured by his existence for the rest of the series.

 

[Swing 51]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

Roughly where was this?

 

[RoxSolid]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

Roughly where was this?

I don't think this is correct. I believe Swing is referring to the scene in season 3 after Omar's girl (short hair) from his crew gets shot in the street. Bunk is on the scene and sees the kids "idolizing Omar" by pretending to be him. The kid is small and does look like Kenard, but I do not think it is him because in season 5 when Omar is seeking out Marlo, he hits up Michael and his crew and Kenard responds once Omar leaves asking "That's Omar??"

 

[Swing 51]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

Roughly where was this?

I don't think this is correct. I believe Swing is referring to the scene in season 3 after Omar's girl (short hair) from his crew gets shot in the street. Bunk is on the scene and sees the kids "idolizing Omar" by pretending to be him. The kid is small and does look like Kenard, but I do not think it is him because in season 5 when Omar is seeking out Marlo, he hits up Michael and his crew and Kenard responds once Omar leaves asking "That's Omar??"

Yep you are correct Rox - Wikipedia used idolized. This was in Dead Soldiers, third episode of third season. Omar's girl was Tosha. Wiki says this is the first time Kinard is seen in the series.

HomicideJimmy McNulty takes the D'Angelo Barksdale file to Bunk Moreland to ask for his opinion. McNulty notices a beaten suspect in the interrogation room and Bunk tells him that he's the drug dealer who confessed to shooting Officer Dozerman. When McNulty asks if the confession came before or after the beatdown, Bunk replies that he arrested the dealer in East Baltimore and had the police car make an unscheduled "tune up" stop at the Western District where the Western Officers had their chance for revenge. Dozerman's weapon however was sold on to a street kid named Peanut. Colonel Raymond Foerster interrupts to tell Bunk that his work on the Dozerman shooting is not over and that he needs to locate the weapon.

Bunk checks the name Peanut and finds 89 matches, all Number 1 Males (BPD's numerical description of black men) in West Baltimore. Detective Holley laughs at Bunk's misfortune. Holley then gets a call himself - the shooting of Tank and Tosha. Holley manages to convince Bunk to be the primary as he already has another case. Holley accompanies Bunk to the crime scene as the assisting detective, while there Bunk considers Holley's opinion that Tosha was caught in the crossfire. Bunk notices children nearby pretending to be Omar and acting out the shooting. One of the children is Kenard. As Bunk ties up his case notes at the office Sergeant Jay Landsman confronts him and orders him to get back to work on finding Dozerman's gun.

 

[RoxSolid]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

Roughly where was this?

I don't think this is correct. I believe Swing is referring to the scene in season 3 after Omar's girl (short hair) from his crew gets shot in the street. Bunk is on the scene and sees the kids "idolizing Omar" by pretending to be him. The kid is small and does look like Kenard, but I do not think it is him because in season 5 when Omar is seeking out Marlo, he hits up Michael and his crew and Kenard responds once Omar leaves asking "That's Omar??"

Yep you are correct Rox - Wikipedia used idolized. This was in Dead Soldiers, third episode of third season. Omar's girl was Tosha. Wiki says this is the first time Kinard is seen in the series.

HomicideJimmy McNulty takes the D'Angelo Barksdale file to Bunk Moreland to ask for his opinion. McNulty notices a beaten suspect in the interrogation room and Bunk tells him that he's the drug dealer who confessed to shooting Officer Dozerman. When McNulty asks if the confession came before or after the beatdown, Bunk replies that he arrested the dealer in East Baltimore and had the police car make an unscheduled "tune up" stop at the Western District where the Western Officers had their chance for revenge. Dozerman's weapon however was sold on to a street kid named Peanut. Colonel Raymond Foerster interrupts to tell Bunk that his work on the Dozerman shooting is not over and that he needs to locate the weapon.

Bunk checks the name Peanut and finds 89 matches, all Number 1 Males (BPD's numerical description of black men) in West Baltimore. Detective Holley laughs at Bunk's misfortune. Holley then gets a call himself - the shooting of Tank and Tosha. Holley manages to convince Bunk to be the primary as he already has another case. Holley accompanies Bunk to the crime scene as the assisting detective, while there Bunk considers Holley's opinion that Tosha was caught in the crossfire. Bunk notices children nearby pretending to be Omar and acting out the shooting. One of the children is Kenard. As Bunk ties up his case notes at the office Sergeant Jay Landsman confronts him and orders him to get back to work on finding Dozerman's gun.

Guess I was wrong - guess it was Kenard. Never knew that.

 

[bigmarc27]

Didn't realize Lil Kinard idolized Omar earlier in the series. Guess that scene when he got popped would've hit me a lot harder than it did if I realized the irony in it.

Roughly where was this?

I don't think this is correct. I believe Swing is referring to the scene in season 3 after Omar's girl (short hair) from his crew gets shot in the street. Bunk is on the scene and sees the kids "idolizing Omar" by pretending to be him. The kid is small and does look like Kenard, but I do not think it is him because in season 5 when Omar is seeking out Marlo, he hits up Michael and his crew and Kenard responds once Omar leaves asking "That's Omar??"

Yep you are correct Rox - Wikipedia used idolized. This was in Dead Soldiers, third episode of third season. Omar's girl was Tosha. Wiki says this is the first time Kinard is seen in the series.

Homicide

Jimmy McNulty takes the D'Angelo Barksdale file to Bunk Moreland to ask for his opinion. McNulty notices a beaten suspect in the interrogation room and Bunk tells him that he's the drug dealer who confessed to shooting Officer Dozerman. When McNulty asks if the confession came before or after the beatdown, Bunk replies that he arrested the dealer in East Baltimore and had the police car make an unscheduled "tune up" stop at the Western District where the Western Officers had their chance for revenge. Dozerman's weapon however was sold on to a street kid named Peanut. Colonel Raymond Foerster interrupts to tell Bunk that his work on the Dozerman shooting is not over and that he needs to locate the weapon.

Bunk checks the name Peanut and finds 89 matches, all Number 1 Males (BPD's numerical description of black men) in West Baltimore. Detective Holley laughs at Bunk's misfortune. Holley then gets a call himself - the shooting of Tank and Tosha. Holley manages to convince Bunk to be the primary as he already has another case. Holley accompanies Bunk to the crime scene as the assisting detective, while there Bunk considers Holley's opinion that Tosha was caught in the crossfire. Bunk notices children nearby pretending to be Omar and acting out the shooting. One of the children is Kenard. As Bunk ties up his case notes at the office Sergeant Jay Landsman confronts him and orders him to get back to work on finding Dozerman's gun.

Guess I was wrong - guess it was Kenard. Never knew that.

I think the point of kinard "seeing" Omar for the first time in season 5 was that Omar was a legend. His status was bigger than the man himself - a myth/fairy tale.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Stringer and Avon's unraveling in Season 3 is just terrific stuff.

 

[Raider Nation]

Stringer and Avon's unraveling in Season 3 is just terrific stuff.

Let's simplify this: everything is terrific except for Ziggy and the knobs at the newspaper.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Stringer and Avon's unraveling in Season 3 is just terrific stuff.

Let's simplify this: everything is terrific except for Ziggy and the knobs at the newspaper.

At times the show falls into speechifying, where it just seems like thinly-veiled Simon rantings coming out of the mouths of his characters. Lots of that with the newspaper stuff.

We all know a Ziggy.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Stringer and Avon's unraveling in Season 3 is just terrific stuff.

Let's simplify this: everything is terrific except for Ziggy and the knobs at the newspaper.

Quit knocking Season 2.