Ok im late I know, The Wire

[MachoMyers]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

I'm currently in the process of rewatching it. Even better the second time around, mainly for the things I missed.

One thing that's been sort of puzzling to me is the significance of the theme song... Does anybody know the rhyme or reason behind it?

Only show I have ever rewatched entirely. I watched it two years ago all the way through then made my wife watch it after I was done and I didn't miss an episode with her. My favorite series ever and I was obsessed with Lost and the Sopranos.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

I'm referring to the lyrics/song choice I guess. Not the different interpretation.

I think the theme song is great for this show. It talks about temptations and to avoid them to be righteous. Every character has their own struggles.

You got to keep the Devil, well you gotta keep him in the hole

What I get from that is the devil is the flaw in each character or can be the tempations they have. Bug's drug problem, McNulty's alcoholism (he's got a lot, relationships with his family and women, authority/rank,), Kima's obsession of being a cop, Stringer wanting to change "the game" are some examples.

We see some of the charaters grow, change and "walk the straight and narrow path" (Bugs) but a lot fail and fail to resist their temptations and the devil takes them. An example of that is Mike, we see him as a good kid taking care of his family to what he was at the last episode. Same for Dookie.

Here are the rest of the lyrics


When you walk through the garden, you gotta watch your back
Well, I beg your pardon, walk the straight and narrow track
When you walk with Jesus, he’s gonna save your soul
You got to keep the Devil, well you gotta keep him down in the hole

He’s got the fire, people he’s got the fury at his command
Oh, you don’t have to worry, hold on to, hold on to Jesus’ hand
We’ll all be safe from Satan, when the thunder, when the thunder starts to
roll
We got to keep the Devil, keep him on down, down in the hole

That red horned lousy low-life underneath our boots
Praise the Lord!
I don’t know what it is, two dollar?
That demon meister, three dollar?
That Prince Devil
Just see if you can come up with a figure that matches your faith
You say how much has Jesus done for you
And we got to go in with our hydraulic system and blast him out!
People, can I get an amen!

All the angels, they start to sing all about Jesus’ mighty sword
And they’ll shield you with their wings, people they’ll keep you close to
the Lord
Now don’t pay heed to temptation, for his hands are so cold
You gotta keep the Devil, keep him on down in the hole

Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole

Well people, I got to speak about something
Can I get an amen!
Can I get a Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Have mercy
The Lord is a very, very busy man
I do what I can
But Jesus is always going for the big picture
But he’s always there to help us out of the little jams too

Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Down in the hole
Keep him down in the hole
We got to keep the Devil down in the hole
We got to keep the Devil, keep him on down in the hole

Down
Down, down, down, mighty Devil
I send you down below my boots
Down, down
Filling my life with anger and strife
Go down, mighty Devil
Find a place to live
Down, down, down

[JayBee74]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

Man, I have yet to even watch this show yet.

What are you waiting for?

[DW3]

I started watching the series a month ago! I bought the entire series from eBay for $55.00 shipped! I'm on disc 4 of season 2 currently. The characters really draw you in!


Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

I started watching the series a month ago! I bought the entire series from eBay for $55.00 shipped! I'm on disc 4 of season 2 currently. The characters really draw you in!


Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

It keeps getting better. haha I forgot how many times I've rewatched it and I'm always amazed.

[ehh]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

I finally finished the series last night, 3.5 years late, but it lived up to all of the hype. I was more hooked on, and excited about, Lost while I was watching it but The Wire was more intriguing and fascinating. Like many others, I'll now say that this is my favorite show.

Spoiler

Where to begin...

It was such a unique show, from the very start where many viewers complain about a slow start or not knowing any of the characters or what's going on - it's perfect. We're just thrown into the fire, this is a window into the city of Baltimore.

Like Lost, the characters obviously make the show, too many great ones to choose from. The attention to the small and seemingly insignificant characters is unique. A guy like Cutty, who in the grand scheme of the storyline means little, gets a lot of screen time. There are no heros in the show, the cops are either completely incompetent, don't give a rat's *** or are held down by system and can't do real police work.

Then there's the writing. It's harsh and realistic. No character, no matter how important, has a cheesy or predetermined destiny. No one is immune from getting killed or written off. After Season 1, I never imagined that Avon wasn't going to be the main drug kingpin throughout the duration of the show. Yet it was Marlo, a guy we wouldn't even be introduced to until S3, that was the main kingpin. Hell, Prop Joe was second - Avon was basically a S1 character. Crazy, but that's the circle of life in the drug trade.

Then there's Stringer, until the tail end of S3 I never thought he'd be killed off. That's when I really knew that the show wasn't going to hold back or attempt to please its audience. It was simply Stringer's time to go, regardless of how it made viewers feel or what affect it would have on the show down the line.

Then Brother Mouzone, an awesome character, but rarely in the show since, after all, he's from NYC and only needs to come down to BMore when **** gets real or he needs to exact some revenge.

Then Omar, the most fascinating character in the show, probably because he's the one character in the show that's given some leeway in terms of realism. He's the mythical stick up guy, messing with anyone and sending fear, or at least concern, into the game's biggest players. His death was one of the defining moments of the show, speaking to how it's written. Even the most beloved character, in the midst of what every viewer expects to be the show's climax (a bloody showdown with Marlo) is erased from the show by a 10 year old kid that was pretending to be Omar two seasons prior. Just like the show's ending, it would have been too convenient for Omar and Marlo to meet face to face have at it. Absolutely perfect.

Along the same line of how you think certain characters won't be killed/written off (Stringer, Omar) you are surprised at the characters that survive and advance. Bodie is one of the biggest examples, though he ultimately becomes a casualty of the game. You look at all of the Barksdale Organization people that are killed off or jailed, while you are watching S1 you don't think it'll be Bodie that's basically all that's left of the Barksdale crew in the end. Slim Charles is the other big one, starting as muscle for Avon in S3 but ending up alive and well, and in an important role in the drug trade.

It wasn't all roses for the show however. Season 2 was tough for me to get through. The Sabotka's were insanely annoying characters, especially Frank and Ziggy. The show stayed true to it's style and was still well written, and hell, there are insanely annoying people in real life everywhere you look, but I was happy when S2 ended.

Season 5 was ho-hum compared to S1, 3 &4. I think the media would have been better suited to be featured in S2. By the time we hit S5, the drama we see in the newsroom is minor league compared to what we saw in the first four seasons. The horrors of the drug trade, the depressing and corrupt situation on the ports, the wildly corrupt government and the hopeless school system - by the time we get to a few cutbacks/layoffs and one jackass reporter doctoring his stories it just seems "meh" by comparison. The serial killer storyline was the least-realistic element of the entire series, while somewhat justifiable (especially for McNulty) it was far-fetched and Lester agreeing to get involved with it just didn't sit well with me. I know why they did it but it didn't fit that well with the rest of the series' storylines.

The series ended the only way it could IMO, I was very satisfied. There really was no other way to end it given the show's style.

Overall the show is brilliant. Everyone has different preferences in terms of the style of TV shows they like so not everyone will say this is their favorite show or even like it. But it's not hard to see why so many people consider this the best show ever made. I can't wait to rewatch it again, I'll probably wait six months, maybe a year, but I'm already looking forward to it.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

One of these days, I'm going to sit down and finally watch this damn show LOL.

Of course that probably means now until after Football Season is over which means I'll probably hold off watching it then as well SMH LOL.

[trobinson97]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

Damn Pack, you really need to do yourself a favor and just drop all extracurricular activities and watch this.

[SidVish]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

You have to watch this damn show!

[Streets]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

reading ehh's little write up I think I'm going to give it my third watch through after going through Community. Either that, or I'm giving Sopranos a second viewing. The Wire is far superior though.

[Gibbz]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

The Sabotka's were insanely annoying characters, especially Frank and Ziggy.

Great write-up of the series, but Frank Sabotka was my dude.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

Was rewatching season 3 and came across this youtube video of Jay-z's 'a week ago' with some of The Wire scenes. Thought it was a perfect song for it.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/95oIFvMysr4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[NYJets]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

This was posted in another thread awhile back, but another good The Wire video, focused on Michael.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1F3wIzlUk3o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[JayBee74]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

Terrific show obviously.

On another note I didn't know Snoop (Felicia Pearson) got into some serious legal trouble. I'm glad she had a good lawyer. Now-somebody, HIRE HER!!

Snoop Gets Slap On Wrist

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Ok im late I know The Wire

Terrific show obviously.

On another note I didn't know Snoop (Felicia Pearson) got into some serious legal trouble. I'm glad she had a good lawyer. Now-somebody, HIRE HER!!

Snoop Gets Slap On Wrist

Nothing to worry about when you have Levy on your legal team.