I find it surprising to see everyone likes this show so much. Sure, the cast, direction, camera and writing are outstanding definitely some of the best on TV, but I found the story to be lacking the entertainment value.
Not sure why this gets such great ratings. I watched a lot of season 1 then skipped to season 3, there's so much profanity, trying to make it real I guess?
So much has been spoken about The Wire's challenging "visual novel" style and deliberate pace that the show's abundance of grade A, straightforward entertainment is often overlooked. For a series whose heart and soul is rooted in realism and journalistic detail, The Wire has actually mastered cinematic conventions, whether it's the show's effortless sense of humor, the expertly crafted thrills derived from "cat-and-mouse" dynamics or the endlessly stylish stick ups of Omar Little.
Some years ago, 'The Wire' was on repeat via 13th Street, but unfortunately I missed the first season. Recently I have watched this again, this time the whole shebang.
If you can sit through 5 seasons of this and i did then you deserve a medal. Yes the acting is excellent and yes some characters are great, but its no way in hell the best show ever made, its slow as hell, you have to understand Baltimore lingo whether it be politics or drug talk.
Do yourself a favor and stop watching after the first season. Regardless of what people say, even if the third season is decent, it doesn't make up for the lost time in season 2.
I started watching "Gran Torino" starring Clint Eastwood but left in a huff 30 minutes in because its inner city characters were laughably simplistic compared to the twisting, wonderfully nuanced lives in "The Wire". Only after watching the Eastwood flick did I realize what a rare accomplishment Simon et al.
I must confess that I did not complete the show long back in 2012 when my friend handed me the DVDs. Back in 2012, I watched the 1st season like for what it was.
......but, sorry guys, in your ruthless pursuit of realism you didn't think to use some poetic license when it came to Omar.
