The Wire - does it ever get going?
Discussion
youngsyr said:
I have to laugh at some of the "not appreciating grown-up" drama comments and insinuations though - I've studied foreign language films and novels at degree level, so am more than capable of understanding the qualities of a series. There's a difference between being aware of those qualities and being entertained by them though.
It's not a series in the conventional sense though, that's the point. The joy of The Wire is precisely the fact that it accomplishes in one series what Law and Order would rattle through in a single 40 minute episode. It's not written like a TV series is conventionally, which is the main reason why it was never a big audience show when it was first shown. I think the main issue that stopped it being big in the mainstream is that there isn't really a main protagonist; I know McNulty could be considered in that role, but the way the other characters get fleshed out so fully as the series goes on that's not really the case.
The abject lack of exposition is what I love the most about it. If a story was worth telling, it was told on screen, rather than just being explained by a character.
k it then...for another pig sandwich and some tater salad...i'll go a few more
davepoth said:
The abject lack of exposition is what I love the most about it. If a story was worth telling, it was told on screen, rather than just being explained by a character.
[Spoilers below]What, like D'Angelo's first murder?
Or why the old desk bound cop who makes doll's house furniture was on the shelf for over a decade?
Seems to me that there are plenty of pretty key events that are only related to us through dialogue; it just takes several episodes before you're told the complete story.
Clearly there's a lot of love for this series both on here and elsewhere, but I guess it's just not what I'm looking for in a show to sit down and watch with the OH for an hour or two a week.
youngsyr said:
davepoth said:
The abject lack of exposition is what I love the most about it. If a story was worth telling, it was told on screen, rather than just being explained by a character.
[Spoilers below]What, like D'Angelo's first murder?
Or why the old desk bound cop who makes doll's house furniture was on the shelf for over a decade?
Seems to me that there are plenty of pretty key events that are only related to us through dialogue; it just takes several episodes before you're told the complete story.
Clearly there's a lot of love for this series both on here and elsewhere, but I guess it's just not what I'm looking for in a show to sit down and watch with the OH for an hour or two a week.
The Wire is like a novel, it takes a while to get into, but once there it's a "page-turner"
You know that part in a novel where it ceases to be a struggle to get into the characters and story and you suddenly realise you're eating up the chapters? Well that happened to me with The Wire when:
In the first season, it was the point where Presboluski decoded the dealers' pager code and you realised it wasn't a 'normal' drug gang. Or maybe even when McNulty tailed Stringer Bell to the Economics class.
You know that part in a novel where it ceases to be a struggle to get into the characters and story and you suddenly realise you're eating up the chapters? Well that happened to me with The Wire when:
In the first season, it was the point where Presboluski decoded the dealers' pager code and you realised it wasn't a 'normal' drug gang. Or maybe even when McNulty tailed Stringer Bell to the Economics class.
For me, it helps if you realise that there is only one "character" in the show, and that is Baltimore itself.
It's not about McNulty, or Stringer, or Clay. It's not about the newspapers, or the police force, or the drug, or the politics.
It's just a story of the city itself and what happens in it.
Those slow panning shots, the lack of exposition etc... all make sense when you stop thinking about the show in terms of people, and start thinking about it more in terms of the one real character
It's not about McNulty, or Stringer, or Clay. It's not about the newspapers, or the police force, or the drug, or the politics.
It's just a story of the city itself and what happens in it.
Those slow panning shots, the lack of exposition etc... all make sense when you stop thinking about the show in terms of people, and start thinking about it more in terms of the one real character
As a simple answer to the question, yes it does. OP - I felt much the same as you and after 6 or 7 episodes I was wondering what all the fuss was about. I persevered though and it really got into its stride.
I've been watching and enjoying series 2 on FX and found it far easier to get into.
I've been watching and enjoying series 2 on FX and found it far easier to get into.
When i first tuned in (Ep1 se1) i couldn't understand what all the fuss was about, 3 kids sitting on a sofa talking in barely legible english. By the end of season 1 i was hooked, i would get in from work at 23:30 and stay up to watch the episode i had just sky+'ed.
fav scene: Snoop buying the nail gun.
fav character: omar
worst part: season 5 just too far fetched
fav scene: Snoop buying the nail gun.
fav character: omar
worst part: season 5 just too far fetched
Mojooo said:
No it doesn't get any 'faster'.
Each season is better thought of as a 12-13 hour story as opposed to most TV series that have cliffhanger type episodes.
It would be extremely frustrating watching it 1 episode per week though.
I started that way, but quickly got fed up and ended up doing three episodes a night, which was pretty hardcore. Each season is better thought of as a 12-13 hour story as opposed to most TV series that have cliffhanger type episodes.
It would be extremely frustrating watching it 1 episode per week though.
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