[The HOFF]

So I just started season 1 on DVD and I have to say this is the most addictive show I have ever watched. I'm a big fan of the Shield but this blows it out of the water.

[Mudcat]

The Wire = best show in the history of television IMO.

[Matt Rain]

Originally Posted by Mudcat

The Wire = best show in the history of television IMO.

If Dostoevsky was black and living in Baltimore today, he would've written The Wire.

Still mourning the end of the show. Final episode was very well done, as was the rest of the series. I don't think there were 10 minutes of filler in all 5 seasons.

[Mudcat]

Were you a watcher of it's quasi-parent show, Homicide: Life on the Street?

I used to think that was the best show of all time. Since then there has been a number of HBO/Showtime/AMC series that have come along which I would rate higher; they just aren't as constrained by network crap as Homicide was; but it was a great show - with many of the same creative people as The Wire behind it (and the same Baltimore setting and many actors/directors etc. in common.)

Here's a bit of coincidental trivia: my current signature, which I set up before seeing this thread, actually comes from Homicide and The Wire. The line was used in both.

[Matt Rain]

Never heard of that show, will definitely check it out.

I thought it was mind-boggling how elaborate the story arc and character development were throughout The Wire. It was NOT written as an easily-digested TV series, which assuredly hurt the ratings - you had to watch every episode carefully from beginning to end to catch every detail... yet everything just made sense and every character was fully developed and instrumental to the story. Never seen anything like it before... and I'm not sure someone will manage to pull that off again anytime soon.

[The HOFF]

Just finished the first season last night. Unbelievable show. Can't wait to start on season 2. Homicide sounds vaguely familiar, I'll look into that too.

[Mudcat]

If you haven't seen Homicide and you end up liking it - which I have to assume you will - I just did you a big favor. Because there must be well over 100 episodes of really good TV to discover. (Or maybe that's a bad thing if you're like me and you get caught up compulsively in good TV when you really should be working and whatnot).

It was never at the top of the ratings but it did well enough to run for several years in the 90's.

I started re-watching it a little while back but Blockbuster only had the first couple seasons. I keep expecting one of the specialty cable channels like Bravo to pick up the reruns but it hasn't happened.

Like The Wire, it was created by David Simon, based on his experience as a journalist with the Baltimore Sun.

Anyway, this thread is about The Wire and I am jealous of anyone just in Season 1, watching it for the first time. You have a lot of great viewing ahead of you. The subsequent seasons are excellent. No let down at all.

[Mudcat]

I see The Wire has a rating of 9.7/10 at imdb.com. I think that is the highest rating I have ever seen there.

I don't know how to check though. I know how to check the top and bottom movies but not TV.

The Sopranos is 9.5.

[shantystar]

lmo

[RobbReport]

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

[RobbReport]

I love the Wire, just need to finish off the last season.

[RobbReport]

you'll also love Deadwood.

[keyboarding]

Deadwood is very good. Shield was really good, too. Different than The Wire, but just as captivating in a lot of aspects. I felt the last season of The Wire was pretty weak as a whole though, didn't like how it ended. Same with The Shield, the ending seemed rushed.

[RobbReport]

i kind of liked John from cinncinati too...

[ryanvick]

Originally Posted by Matt Rain

If Dostoevsky was black and living in Baltimore today, he would've written The Wire.

Still mourning the end of the show. Final episode was very well done, as was the rest of the series. I don't think there were 10 minutes of filler in all 5 seasons.

Season 5, couldn't of asked for more... brilliant concept, wonderfully executed.

Except maybe that Stringer Bell was still alive.

I only wish the experiment where they designated a certain area a 'drug zone' and cleaned up the corners, I think it was a perfect idea, but I am one of those who agree that we would be better off if drugs were legalized.
Guess losing the 'war on drugs' is worth too much to too many people.

[Club]

I've only seen seasons 1-3, but until recently, I thought it was the best show ever made. Now, I think Mad Men is, but that could be because I last watched The Wire over a year ago. I need to get season 4 on Netflix soon.