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Topic:
The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 7:24pm
Subject:
The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
- Date Edited:
12/31/07 5:07pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Zaz
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Well, Ive decided to try this again. In the past Ive posted threads on The Wire and they never really caught on, but Im hoping things are different this time.
Anyway, after getting a new lease on life from HBO (a network that seemingly has no idea what a true treasure they have on their hands), The Wire is back for a fourth season. Many critics and scholars have seen the entire season and have said that its utterly brilliant, easily the best 13 hours of television that HBO has ever produced in the opinion of more than one critic. It is also being called the most accessible season so far, which is good for potential new fans of the show who may have been turned off by the intracacies of the show in the past.
That's not to say that the show isnt complicated. Quite the opposite, in fact; The Wire is a show that demands patience but ultimately rewards one' loyalty with subtle nuances and brilliant writing. Its been referred to many times as a 'visual novel', and that is probably the best way to describe it, IMO.
For those of you havent seen it or have been living in another galaxy the past few years, The Wire is far and away THE best show on television. It premiered this Monday on HBO On Demand, a week early than regular HBO, and if you have the service I implore you to give the show a chance. Its so friggin brilliant its scary, although you should give it a few episodes before you make a decision on it either way. The Wire has been called a 'visual novel' and should be treated as such. After all, you wouldnt expect a novel's entire plot to come to a head two chapters in, woud you ?
Anwyay, like I said earlier, the new season of The Wire is being called the best 13 hours of TV that HBO has EVER produced by critics and scholars alike. Please, do yourself a favor and Tap In...
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darth_boy
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 7:35pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Yeah this is on my "to watch" list, ill probably sit through the first 3 seasons in a week.
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I am now a mod favourite & allowed to post hateful messages This Post was Brought to you by the U Mad? Society of the JC (UM?SJC)...you lost darth_boy love you long time Dodi/Diana '08 
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 7:43pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Yea, I just watched the first three seasons back to back to back on DVD a few weeks ago and I loved it. Have you ever seen the show or are you diving in for the first time with the DVDs ?
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darth_boy
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 7:50pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
- Date Edited:
9/7/06 7:51pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
darth_boy
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DVader316 posted:
Yea, I just watched the first three seasons back to back to back on DVD a few weeks ago and I loved it. Have you ever seen the show or are you diving in for the first time with the DVDs ?
I only watched the first episode, but went on holiday, so didnt end up watching more.
Usually i watch shows all at once, like this summer i watched all 5 seasons of Shield in 2 weeks. And last week i did all 3 of AD...
And right now im through Season 1 of Deadwood, ill probably start the Wire once im done with S2 and 3 of Deadwood
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I am now a mod favourite & allowed to post hateful messages This Post was Brought to you by the U Mad? Society of the JC (UM?SJC)...you lost darth_boy love you long time Dodi/Diana '08
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 8:00pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Heh, we've got quite a few shows in common, dude. Im a huge fan of all of those shows you mentioned.
As far as The Wire goes, well, youre definitely in for a viewing experience unlike anything youve seen before. I know that may seem a bit dramatic but I just cant stress how great this show truly is. And dont worry, severian will vouch for me once he posts here lol. 
Just make sure you give the show four or five episodes to start moving though. Like a good novel, all of the action doesnt happen in the first chapter, you know ?
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darth_boy
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 8:08pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
- Date Edited:
9/7/06 8:09pm (3 edits total)
Edited By:
darth_boy
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Yeah im used to giving shows a chance. Some of the drama builds, season 5 of the shield was so intense.
To be honest, everyone i know watches the same shows as me, because i watch so much tv
like this seasons shows...How I Met Your Mother, The OC, Greys Anatomy, Cold Case, House, The Unit, 24, The Simpsons, Avatar the Last Airbender, Extras, My Name Is Earl, 24, Prison Break...
And from January...Scrubs, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Sopranos, Boondocks, The Shield, Big Love...
^ basically a large variety of shows, almost everyone hates or loves something in that selection.
And thats not including any new shows i might like or the summer shows (Monk, etc). Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip looks encouraging so far.
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I am now a mod favourite & allowed to post hateful messages This Post was Brought to you by the U Mad? Society of the JC (UM?SJC)...you lost darth_boy love you long time Dodi/Diana '08
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 8:09pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Not to get off topic, but The Shield was friggin incredible last season. The cat and mouse game between Vic and Kavanaugh was utterly brilliant in what was arguably the best season to date. Cant wait until January when the new season begins.
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darth_boy
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 8:15pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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DVader316 posted:
Not to get off topic, but The Shield was friggin incredible last season. The cat and mouse game between Vic and Kavanaugh was utterly brilliant in what was arguably the best season to date. Cant wait until January when the new season begins.
Yeah agree 100%
I was bloody intense, i dont think ive ever been that captured by a tv show. I dont know how they are going to top that season.
Although possibly Sopranos in its prime was just as good.
*back on topic now
You have to give credit to HBO though, some of the best stuff on TV is made by them.
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I am now a mod favourite & allowed to post hateful messages This Post was Brought to you by the U Mad? Society of the JC (UM?SJC)...you lost darth_boy love you long time Dodi/Diana '08
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severian28
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
9/7/06 11:43pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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You cant even say " for the kind of show it is " in regards to The Wire, because its the most unique television show of all time in its plot if not exactly the best. ( I think as of right now, speaking overall in the one hour dramatic, it would be Deadwood )
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" Dying all the time. Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind. Aint life unkind? " - The Rolling Stones
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 12:31pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
- Date Edited:
9/8/06 12:32pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
DVader316
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Glad to see that youve joined us, severian. 
Anyway, here's the episode summary for the regular HBO season premiere this Sunday at 10pm :
Episode 38: 'Boys of Summer'
In the fourth-season premiere, four West Baltimore teens get a summer education on the streets with school on the horizon. Meanwhile, Councilman Carcetti campaigns for mayor.
Amd here's the episode summary for this week's On Demand premiere, debuting this coming Monday :
[/i]Episode 39: 'Soft Eyes'[/i]
Freamon ruffles a few feathers with a round of subpoenas to VIPs; Herc gets an eyeful behind closed doors at City Hall; Marlo reaches out to the neighborhood kids; Carcetti scores points during a televised debate.
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severian28
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 1:51pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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I can already tell this is going to be the most heartbreaking of all The Wire seasons, which is really saying something, and with the main pov switched to those four kids you know where the heartbreak is going to lie. Brace yourself.
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" Bring the sled " - Al Swearengen
" Dying all the time. Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind. Aint life unkind? " - The Rolling Stones
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 2:33pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Oh, yea, definitely. Dookie probably wont come to a good end no matter what, and Im sure the other boys wont fare well either.
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 3:46pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Here's a little something from Matt Roush's column over at tvguide.com :
Question: Season 4 of The Wire is starting (the first episode is excellent, by the way), but I get the same sense of dread that I get every time a new season of this show starts. I know that there's a good chance I'll never be able to see the end of these characters' stories. What's the chance that HBO will do the right thing and give The Wire a fifth season to end the story naturally? - Matt
Matt Roush: I'd be a lot more confident if the messy situation with Deadwood hadn't happened. But that's a different story, and let's hope HBO takes the high road and gives this most excellent series a fifth and final year. Having seen all 13 episodes -check out my review - I can tell you that while this particular season's story has a satisfying arc, the elements are in place for one more dynamite season, and fans will not be happy if it's canceled. The best we can hope for is that critical acclaim will help drive more viewers to the show this year, and maybe HBO's strategy of moving its movie night to Sundays as a lead-in will also do the trick. And if not, HBO needs to live up to its "not TV" motto and disregard ratings where a show this uncompromising, this powerful, is concerned.
While we're on the subject, I loved this letter from a different Matt (when did this column become Matts Ask?): "The Wire is back! The Wire is back! The Wire is back! The Wire is back! Not really a question, but this should be every other post on your Ask Matt column. After rewatching all the third-season eps and the two very good docu-promos running on HBO now, I am stoked for the new season.... The Wire is back!!!"
Is it ever. Possibly the best season yet. If you care even a whit about important contemporary drama, something that goes beyond the bounds of crime fiction into the realm of political literature about the slow death of a major city, you owe it to yourself to watch The Wire.
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severian28
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 3:49pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
- Date Edited:
9/8/06 3:53pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
severian28
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There is a permeating sense of dread as well as hope. Its as much about the decay of inner cities as it is about life and vibrancy in those same places if one so chose to see it. Im from an inner city neighborhood and this show absolutely nails it. The Wire may very well be the television equivalent of Robert Kennedy.
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" Dying all the time. Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind. Aint life unkind? " - The Rolling Stones
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 5:41pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Click here for a story on local boy Tristan Wilds, who plays Michael Lee, one of the central characters this season on the show.
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DVader316
Registered:
Feb '00
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Date Posted:
9/8/06 6:20pm
Subject:
RE: The Wire : The Best Show on TV You (Probably) Aren't Watching
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Sorry about the double post, but I just found a recent link to a really great interview with David Simon which covers just about everything on The Wire. The spoilers, if any, are extremely minimal. Check it out here.
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