US: The Wire USA TV show
- Thread starter Helen Barber
- Start date
That’s a shame because series 3 onwards are the best in my opinion. I’m rewatching it all now and I think The Wire is great but even I’m dreading series 2... it’s so dull.
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I think series 2 is also where I left it. It became a slog and was only watching as it was the big thing at the time.
Went throught the same with Mad Men. Bought the boxset, made it half way through the 3rd series and just thought "Why am I watching this".
Went throught the same with Mad Men. Bought the boxset, made it half way through the 3rd series and just thought "Why am I watching this".
It's the show that started my 4 episode rule. I wasn't really enjoying it, and was going to stop watching, I probably would have if I hadn't been watching along with friends, until I watched episode 4, then it all kind of clicked into place for me. There are some truly great stories and scenes in it, but it can also be slow and methodical, as they are (for the most part) trying to keep it as real as possible.
So now I try and give new shows 4 episodes to see if they grab me, unless they are absolutely awful and are unlikely to improve.
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Season 2 is both slow and cumbersome and quietly brilliant. The tale of a man trying to do the right thing for his people as the world and industry shifts around them is... well, brilliantly done. I cried at the denouement. But then I cry when Bambi's mum gets snuffed, so that's no useful barometer.
As others say though, The Wire is not something you can take your eyes off. It demands and deserves close attention, and most of us struggle with that these days. I find it easier to engage with stuff like The Bridge and Gomorrah now, because the subtitles force me to. The new series of Unforgotten is on ITV and that (I discovered late) is a brilliant series too. But I may have to put the subtitles on that as well, to force myself back into the attention habit.
One thing I must say though, is that comparisons between The Shield and this are... well... just not on.
The Shield is like Breaking Bad, brilliant in a comic book, OTT kind of way, but not realistic at all. The Wire is 'boring' at first glance because it's totally believable and refuses to take short cuts to get to to the dramatic payoff. Which is why, when those payoffs come, they are exquisite.
Edit: for too many toos.
As others say though, The Wire is not something you can take your eyes off. It demands and deserves close attention, and most of us struggle with that these days. I find it easier to engage with stuff like The Bridge and Gomorrah now, because the subtitles force me to. The new series of Unforgotten is on ITV and that (I discovered late) is a brilliant series too. But I may have to put the subtitles on that as well, to force myself back into the attention habit.
One thing I must say though, is that comparisons between The Shield and this are... well... just not on.
The Shield is like Breaking Bad, brilliant in a comic book, OTT kind of way, but not realistic at all. The Wire is 'boring' at first glance because it's totally believable and refuses to take short cuts to get to to the dramatic payoff. Which is why, when those payoffs come, they are exquisite.Edit: for too many toos.
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Associate
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Greatest show ever, if struggling treat it like a ten hour film. I love season two despite the criticisms but I live close to a port and have always loved container ships and dock areas.
I’ve stopped recommending it to people as they expect something that will hook them early on so most tend to give up, it’ll always find the right audience.
I’ve stopped recommending it to people as they expect something that will hook them early on so most tend to give up, it’ll always find the right audience.
Agreed, you need to stick with it, plus each series adds more depth and ends up more like a 50 hour movie.
Season 2 is my favourite as well. Easy to feel sympathy for Frank and the dockers, plus its worth it for the Omar court scene alone.
Plus if anyone fancies rewatching, the version on Sky / Nowtv looks like its the remastered 16/9 1080p from the last few years.
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My partner literally needed subtitles whenever Snoop was on the screen
The actress who played her, Felicia Pearson, is from Baltimore.
If you want to see a good Baltimore based series, seek out “Homicide, Life on the Street.” Its top notch.
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