Thanks For Killing Any Chance Of Decent Sleep, FOFC! (thread about HBO's The Wire)

[Izulde]

So I was in Blockbuster the other day and remembered FOFC talking about how great The Wire was.

Picked up the first disc of Season 1 to try it out. Figured I'd watch the first episode tonight and chill.

It's now 4:13 am and I'm cursing because I finished the disc and am hooked on what's happening. While it's too early for me to declare it best.series.ever or anything like that, this is easily among the top 3 ever for first three episodes of a series.

The dialogue just sizzles and snaps, the characters rock (even though half of them are giant fucking pricks) and the story hooks in like nobody's business.

Thus far, Lt. Daniels is my fave character, though props to Mr. Sneaky Detective who went out to GG and works on his artisan stuff.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Izulde

So I was in Blockbuster the other day and remembered FOFC talking about how great The Wire was.

Picked up the first disc of Season 1 to try it out. Figured I'd watch the first episode tonight and chill.

It's now 4:13 am and I'm cursing because I finished the disc and am hooked on what's happening. While it's too early for me to declare it best.series.ever or anything like that, this is easily among the top 3 ever for first three episodes of a series.

The dialogue just sizzles and snaps, the characters rock (even though half of them are giant fucking pricks) and the story hooks in like nobody's business.

Thus far, Lt. Daniels is my fave character, though props to Mr. Sneaky Detective who went out to GG and works on his artisan stuff.

How ironic that you posted this... Yesterday I noticed the Wire season 1 was on HBO On Demand this month. So I watched the first five episodes on my day off before my wife started to get grumpy.

I agree, that it probably isn't quite in the "best series ever" category yet, but it has been a very enjoyable series thus far, and if the last half of season one is just as enjoyable I will have to hunt down season 2 somewhere (or hope it comes on HBO on demand next)

[spleen1015]

What took you guys so long?!

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

What took you guys so long?!

I think it was aired in the few years that I got seperated and then divorced. I did not really watch much tv for a few years there. I actually have played catch up over the last two years on many other shows (like Lost for instance) that aired during the same time.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

What took you guys so long?!

Lack of regular HBO access over the last few years played the biggest role.

By the way, exactly how many seasons are out on DVD and is the series still running?

[Calis]

The good news for you guys is the series maintains that level(or at least close to it), throughout. You've got lots of good TV to watch.

Some people are not fans of Season 2 because it takes a pretty drastic turn in focus, but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

Now I have to watch it again. Definitely ranks as a show I could watch over again for the first time. I think it's one you'll rank higher as it goes on rather than lower as well.

edit: It's 5 seasons overall, and I believe all 5 are available on DVD now.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

4 > 2 > 1 > 3 > 5

personally

[Calis]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

4 > 2 > 1 > 3 > 5

personally

That would be my list, except I might flip Seasons 1 and 3. I can't decide on those two.

[Logan]

I wish I had the pleasure of enjoying this show for the first time again.

If I had to rank them, I'd go 3 > 1 > 4 > 2 > 5, keeping in mind that those first 4 are as close as possible to all being tied and 5 is just a minor, minor notch below.

[spleen1015]

I would rank them as follows

4 > 1 > 5 = 2 > 3

I loved Clark Johnson in Season 5. That character is awesome.

[Logan]

spleen I think we need a PM discussion to figure out your beef with S3.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The Lady Wife and I have been watching this series on DVD for the last year or so. We're near the end of Season 4. We've been Netflixing them, but I recently bought the entire series last month from Amazon during one of those crazy-insane sales. (I bought the entire series of Deadwood the next day.)

The show really is incredible. In a way it's almost ruined TV for me. It's that good.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Logan

spleen I think we need a PM discussion to figure out your beef with S3.

There's really no beef. Every season was good stuff. It was really hard for me to rank them. Originally I had them 4 > 1 > 3 > 5 = 2 and I switched it.

[spleen1015]

Alan, Season 2 will be On Demand starting March 9th.

hxxp://www.hbo.com/apps/hodschedule/hod/categoryweeknum.do?WEEKNUM=4

[QuikSand]

It's pretty much to the point that for me, The Wire is one of those "two kinds of people" things. If you haven't watched it ... and by that, I basically mean if you aren't a diehard fan and dejected every day that it is no longer in production ... then I really don't know what you and I have to talk about, you're almost certainly not my kind of person. With time and the availability of reruns and DVDs and Netflix, it's pretty much to the point that there's no longer any excuse for missing the show.

I know that sounds like the usual "my TV show is great and you suck" puffery. I can live with that. My TV show is great, and if you don't love it too, you probably do suck.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

It's pretty much to the point that for me, The Wire is one of those "two kinds of people" things. If you haven't watched it ... and by that, I basically mean if you aren't a diehard fan and dejected every day that it is no longer in production ... then I really don't know what you and I have to talk about, you're almost certainly not my kind of person. With time and the availability of reruns and DVDs and Netflix, it's pretty much to the point that there's no longer any excuse for missing the show.

I know that sounds like the usual "my TV show is great and you suck" puffery. I can live with that. My TV show is great, and if you don't love it too, you probably do suck.

This is how I feel about those folks who gave up on Lost.

[Bad-example]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

It's pretty much to the point that for me, The Wire is one of those "two kinds of people" things. If you haven't watched it ... and by that, I basically mean if you aren't a diehard fan and dejected every day that it is no longer in production ... then I really don't know what you and I have to talk about, you're almost certainly not my kind of person. With time and the availability of reruns and DVDs and Netflix, it's pretty much to the point that there's no longer any excuse for missing the show.

I know that sounds like the usual "my TV show is great and you suck" puffery. I can live with that. My TV show is great, and if you don't love it too, you probably do suck.

+

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

This is how I feel about those folks who gave up on Lost.

Lost was much easier to catch up on for me because the entire series (all 4 seasons or whatever it was) was available online on abc.com to view. I think I literally watched the entire history of Lost episodes over the course of 1 week or 10 days and I didn't regret it.

I guess I am just now getting around to the wire because this is the first time i have seen Season 1 on demand, and netflix/other places haven't had it watchable online. (I don't like watching movies or shows illegally online for personal reasons so never took up that option).

So far I am up to episode 6 and like I said before, hasn't given me any reason to not want to watch it any longer. There are several likable characters as well as several not so likable characters that you can't wait to see what happens to them next. I am a pretty easy tv critic though, so for me to not like a show means it has to be pretty bad. I fully expect based on the good things others have said to enjoy this show.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Lost was much easier to catch up on for me because the entire series (all 4 seasons or whatever it was) was available online on abc.com to view. I think I literally watched the entire history of Lost episodes over the course of 1 week or 10 days and I didn't regret it.

I guess I am just now getting around to the wire because this is the first time i have seen Season 1 on demand, and netflix/other places haven't had it watchable online. (I don't like watching movies or shows illegally online for personal reasons so never took up that option).

So far I am up to episode 6 and like I said before, hasn't given me any reason to not want to watch it any longer. There are several likable characters as well as several not so likable characters that you can't wait to see what happens to them next. I am a pretty easy tv critic though, so for me to not like a show means it has to be pretty bad. I fully expect based on the good things others have said to enjoy this show.

I think McNulty was what really made me want to watch this show. He gets the hooks in you very early in the series.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I think McNulty was what really made me want to watch this show. He gets the hooks in you very early in the series.

Definitely.

[QuikSand]

heh, literally minutes after my post above, I got an email to my personal account from HBO:

*20% Off The Wire Merchandise and DVDs. Offer good online and at our store in NYC on 42nd and 6th. Orders must be completed by 11:59pm EST February 17, 2009 to qualify.

Sweet deal, baby. (I have no idea if buying stuff from their store makes any sense even at 20% off, I just thought the timing was funny)

[LloydLungs]

I would say if you're already hooked, you're going to be declaring "best series ever" as you get deeper into it. You haven't even scratched the surface yet. You won't believe the depth in this thing. You'll be seeing tiny minor stuff that might come back into play two, three seasons later. It's unbelievable given the instability of television how meticulously this whole thing was planned out.

Personally, it took me a while to get truly hooked. I could immediately appreciate that it was an extremely well done show, but I have trouble with shows with HUGE casts. I don't think I fully bought in until near the end of the first season.

The second season was so different, I went through almost the same process, but got hooked a few episodes sooner. By the time I started the third season, I was becoming the show's slave. By the fourth season, I was a drooling mess and changing my Netflix plan to make sure that I didn't have to wait even a single day between discs. And by the fifth season I just said "screw it" and bought the whole thing instead of bothering with Netflix. Now I'm currently going through my second run (I'm on the third season) and I honestly see myself watching this series pretty much on a loop for the foreseeable future.

I thought it went on a steady incline in quality from seasons 1 through 4. S4 is so good there are no words available for it, but it broke me. S5 is a small step back, but still great.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I really loved the Second season. Frank Sobotka is awesome.

[DeToxRox]

Season 2 starts off slow but it is awesome. Sobotka is the man.

Check The Shield next. It's the natural order of things.

And remember, Treme, David Simons new show comes out next year about life in New Orleans (specifically Musicians) post Katrina. It'll feature a lot of guys from the Wire.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

And remember, Treme, David Simons new show comes out next year about life in New Orleans (specifically Musicians) post Katrina. It'll feature a lot of guys from the Wire.

Being a lifetime New Orleanian, I cannot wait for this. I have yet to see a TV show get our city right -- most aren't even close -- but David Simon is going to do it.

I just walked right by Wendell Pierce coming out of a recent Hornets game. I managed to avoid acting like a huge dweeby fanboy. I think.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

Being a lifetime New Orleanian, I cannot wait for this. I have yet to see a TV show get our city right -- most aren't even close -- but David Simon is going to do it.

I just walked right by Wendell Pierce coming out of a recent Hornets game. I managed to avoid acting like a huge dweeby fanboy. I think.

That's awesome. Bunk was probably my favorite character and I can't wait to see him on this show. I just hope HBO gives it a chance to succeed, though I think the subject matter will be enough to bring people in.

[bbor]

Best show ever.

I'm on season 4 of the shield now....i consider it as The Wire-lite.

[DataKing]

I absolutely loved The Wire. When I first discovered it I had a similar experience to Izulde...simply could not turn the thing off. I believe it was on HBO On Demand after the 2nd season had aired on HBO. I had heard good things about the show, and figured "what the heck...let's watch an episode and see what happens." Six hours later I was still glued to the same spot on the couch, debating whether to sleep for a few hours or watch more episodes before work the next day.

Sleep lost.

[Lorena]

Glad you started watching Izulde!

My favorite season by far was Season 4... just wow. My least favorite was Season 2 but it was still great. All the other seasons were a tossup.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

The show really is incredible. In a way it's almost ruined TV for me. It's that good.

I totally agree, it's so awesome and the characters are so deep, that no show can ever compare. It's The Wire way up there and all others are several notches down.

I'll have to pick up The Shield sometime as I heard a lot of good things about it.

[sabotai]

I've watched through the series twice now. First time was through renting the DVDs off Netflix, the second time was after buying the entire series from Amazon when they had that insane sale.

My favorite characters are Lester Freeman and Omar Little (even if they are the popular choices). I also really liked Chris and Snoop.

[Logan]

Quik was it you who went to that meet and greet with cast members in Baltimore, maybe around S3/S4?

[Peregrine]

I've met a few of the cast members, here and there. Andre Royo (Bubbles) and Sonja Sohn (Det. Greggs) had an appearance at a wine store in the area to support a local charity - it was pretty neat to be able to talk to them some about the show. I still love the Wire, re-watch it frequently, and definitely believe it's the best TV show ever.

My advice if you're watching it on DVD is to turn the subtitles on - the first time I did this, it was a revelation, as there's so much of the dialogue that for me, is hard to understand, but with subtitles you get a lot more subtle nuances.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

I've met a few of the cast members, here and there. Andre Royo (Bubbles) and Sonja Sohn (Det. Greggs) had an appearance at a wine store in the area to support a local charity - it was pretty neat to be able to talk to them some about the show. I still love the Wire, re-watch it frequently, and definitely believe it's the best TV show ever.

My advice if you're watching it on DVD is to turn the subtitles on - the first time I did this, it was a revelation, as there's so much of the dialogue that for me, is hard to understand, but with subtitles you get a lot more subtle nuances.

I always turn on subtitles anyway because of my hearing impairment.

But it's a good tip.

[Izulde]

So I had my mom pick up the complete series in WI where the sales tax is half that here in Fayetteville and she'll be sending it to me later this week or earlier next week.

Should I wait until it arrives to keep going or should I hunt up episodes online?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I always turn on subtitles anyway because of my hearing impairment.

But it's a good tip.

I always watch everything with subtitles too ironically enough.

So I finished the entire first season yesterday, roughly 48 hours after starting it. I'm ready for season two now

Unfortunately it doesn't come on demand until March, so I might have to wait until then. I could put it at the top of my netflix rental list, but I'm already roughly 9 months behind on movies there in my queue. What a pain!

[spleen1015]

You could always watch Season 1 again while you wait.

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Should I wait until it arrives to keep going or should I hunt up episodes online?

It's worth the wait.

Originally Posted by spleen1015

You could always watch Season 1 again while you wait.

Definitely, you catch more things the second time around.

[Ryan W.]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

4 > 2 > 1 > 3 > 5

personally

+1

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Lorena

Definitely, you catch more things the second time around.

I definitely enjoyed it more the second time around. You have more context for some of the subtle stuff earlier in the season because you know what's coming later in the season (and series).

Really, I'd say I study The Wire more than I watch it. It reminds me of my old days in college as an English major. It's definitely a great example of a series you should own on DVD rather than rent.

[Peregrine]

I don't know how this happened, but I never saw these short "prequels" that the Wire did for promotions - pretty cool stuff. They are listed under Related Media on this page.

Amazon.com: The Wire: The Complete Series: Dominic West, Reg E. Cathey, John Doman, Aidan Gillen, Clark Johnson, Deirdre Lovejoy, Thomas McCarthy, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Andre Royo, Sonja Sohn, Agnieszka Holland, Alex Zakrzewski, Anthony Hemingway, Brad Anderson, Christine Moore, Clément Virgo, Daniel Attias: Movies & TV

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

I don't know how this happened, but I never saw these short "prequels" that the Wire did for promotions - pretty cool stuff. They are listed under Related Media on this page.

Those were pretty good, and gave you a little better idea as to where some of the characters came from. I especially liked the one with a young Prop Joe.

[thesloppy]

I think the proper headline for this post would be:



"These are for you, FOFC"

[tucker342]

I still need to finish watching the entire series but it really is one of the greatest shows ever.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I think the proper headline for this post would be:



"These are for you, FOFC"

Awesome.

[Alan T]

I did the only thing that I could think of. Convinced someone else to add the Wire season 2 into their netflix queue and then let me watch the DVD each time before they returned them.

Am watching Season 2 episode 1 and 2 today so I can get the dvd back to her to be sent back in time for more next week!

[StLee]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I think McNulty was what really made me want to watch this show. He gets the hooks in you very early in the series.

I'm the opposite. He was what made me not love the show 100%. I so badly wanted to see him get offed every freakin' season.

The character whose screen time always made me happy was McNulty's one-time partner, Bunk Moreland. Man, would I love to have a beer or 18 with him.

[lordscarlet]

I've only watched one season, but I think Omar intrigues me the most.

[Bad-example]

Bubs was the most compelling character for me. His struggles and sadness came through so vividly. An amazing performance in a show chock full of them.

How about that Clay Davis? Sheeeeeeee-it.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

It's pretty much to the point that for me, The Wire is one of those "two kinds of people" things. If you haven't watched it ... and by that, I basically mean if you aren't a diehard fan and dejected every day that it is no longer in production ... then I really don't know what you and I have to talk about, you're almost certainly not my kind of person. With time and the availability of reruns and DVDs and Netflix, it's pretty much to the point that there's no longer any excuse for missing the show.

I know that sounds like the usual "my TV show is great and you suck" puffery. I can live with that. My TV show is great, and if you don't love it too, you probably do suck.

Yes. I would gladly disown family members or loved ones who had a bad word to say about the show.

[Lorena]

Brother Mouzone and Omar for me.