"Not a single tired cliche, characterization short-cut or unbelievable plot point. Not a single action motivated by anything other than the character's personality. If Dickens were alive today he would have been one of the writers.
The older I get the more critical I become of film/TV. I almost don't like anything anymore. It's easy for me to explain why so many other shows are poorly made. I wish it was easy to explain what makes The Wire so good.
It is violent, and season 4, because it deals with children, is very depressing. Everyone I meet, I ask them , have you seen it? And I ask them, 'what else do you think is as good as The Wire?' Perhaps there are shows I've missed. So far, everyone has said, 'such and such is good...but not as good as The Wire.'
What makes the Wire special is that it is more than entertainment. It is, excuse the hyperbole, a vision of truth. It is us. Laugh at me. I would too. Then watch. Start with Season One, Episode One."
Most valuable tv series ever
George Sands | USA | 01/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As far as I am concerned, this is the best tv series ever. Not only is it great drama, it has meaningful social commentary. THe writing, acting, directing is top notch. How can it not be with writers like Pelecanos, Price and Lehane? I wish someone would pay attention to this series as it could help heal a multitude of cities with urban blight. Every college student should see this and high school and college courses should be given based on this series. It nails urban ills. Every sociology, education, poli-sci student should see this series before getting their degree. I mean it. I hope Baltimore can rise again. Last time I was there in the late 80s, it was just like the Wire. I had to submit a review because it sure deserves more than one star."
Goodbye to a television classic
E. T. Higgins | south of the border | 02/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"with only one episode left of 'the wire', i thought it would be appropriate to say goodbye and to thank everyone who had a hand in creating arguably the best drama in the history of tv.
that would include the genius of david simon(homocide:life on the streets),tom fontana(oz)and guest writers such as george pelecanos and richard price(clockers).also, a group of actors unmatched in the annals
of television. you can not replace a series like 'the wire'; you can only hope that the creative minds of simon and fontana can come up with another series down the road.that 'the wire' was not peppered with emmys,
demonstrates how far mediocrity is ahead of real art in this country, and i'm not just talking about television.
after 'the wire' is no longer, i will have only a few shows left to watch:
'the shield', 'rescue me','brotherhood', 'dexter', big love', 'real time with bill mahar', 'curb your enthusiasm' and 'the office.'
as you may notice, except for 'the office', there is nothing else i watch on major network tv.the reason: that's where most of mediocrity lives!"
Wow.
T. Bumpus | Florida | 09/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What can be said that hasn't already been said? The series is a complete knock-out that works on all levels (as compelling drama, as comedy, as character study). Best of all, the series operates as a shocking expose on the fraudulence of the war on drugs, a social study of the vicious cycles of Baltimore's inner city life, and a treatise on the ineffectuality of supposedly progressive governmental institutions. Disturbing and genuinely moving."
We gotta keep the devil...
Kevin Buckner | Washington, DC | 09/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"when I was a kid (late '60's-early '70's), some students on the local college campus used to call me 'tv', because I could tell what was on every channel, every night of the week, in every time slot...suffice it to say, I watched way too much. This was before cable and the good stuff; 'Naked City', The Twilight Zone', etc., was few and far between, it always depressed me that the medium wasn't better used to enlighten the masses. All that wasted potential.
Fast forward to 2002...'The Wire', I didn't have HBO, I'd heard about The Sopranos, Sex and the City, OZ...good, but not really my cup. Fortunately, my wife's collegue loaned her season one...wow...I haven't been the same since. My faith in the possibilities has been restored. Let there be no doubt, this is the best television series...EVER. Many have said that on this page, it is not hype, while they changed a few names 'to protect the innocent', anyone, like myself, who has lived in the Washington-Baltimore region know who the players are. Truly, this is a sociological study for our times, Baltimore is simply the microcosm...America is in critical condition and the prognosis is not good. 'The Wire' is a biopsy we all need to pay close attention to and pray we have the will to acknowledge our collective state of disrepair and work towards recovery.
I ramble, I digress, yes indeed...doesn't change the fact that this piece is one for the ages...'we gotta keep the devil, way down in the hole'."