Anyway, Ive gone on for far too long here. You dont like the last season of a television drama, feel free to venture an opinion. Also what I find tedious is that in every episode it try's to make you believe that a number of people are guilty but aren't. I did have a question though that I hope you could answer. Rawls and Valchek were just as bad- and the reason they all irked me so much is because its way closer to the truth than people want to admit. That was thematic and no one commented on the argument, which I found disappointing. I HOPE THEY COME OUT WITH MORE SEASONS!! Is McNulty still clean etc. I couldnt believe the level of writing and literary presence of this show. Love if The producers could make a 15 minutes short just to show where all the cast are now. I always thought the crime reduction % that Colvin reports as a result of his Hamsterdam experiment were too low. I was focused solely on the fact that the the newspaper was in a battle over the homelessness killings issue in a sense that their biggest problem right now was sensationalism and lies versus honest reporting. You wanna say who cares, the story sucked? Although its one of my favorites, the only things in common with "Wire" are forensic psychologists profiling murderous sickos, and helping the police catch 'em. In this case, our lead character is Dr. Tony Hill. I know that is a meta-narrative that some people find credible, but I could as easily and as credibly argue that the meta-narrative itself stems from newspaper critics who were too close and too sensitive to the overall critique. And Kima, would she really be snitching on them? Thats exactly would happen to people in the real world. Stars Robson Green Mark Marlo gets away clean and he keeps his money, Avon lives happily ever after in prison, McNulty gets screwed, the lying reporter wins a damn Pulitzer, and oh yeah, OMAR GETS KILLED BY A LITTLE KID?! i do not like hyped up shows, because of an innate sense of superiority which makes me believe than anything that other people like cannot be good. I had only heard of it but didnt know it was the drug I needed in my life to actively engage in social discussions the way you do so well in this series. All Rights Reserved. Like another commenter, I only noticed the Prop Joe story being missed/overshadowed by the Sun. Has the city cleaned up. Season 5 was tremendous, I can only assume the criticism comes from those who still believe that high standards of journalistic integrity are still the goal of the modern news room. I think it was something like a 14% reduction in crimes such as shootings and aggravated assault. A few funny lines, too. Omar and Prop Joe were the last good guys among the bad guys and both of them had to go down, while Snoop the Psycho Bitch who deserved at least a few weeks of good torture gets off easy with a single shot to the head. I can dream sometimes, right? Its especially shameful that the media did not pick up on this. Lowry got it, and tellingly, he used to work for theL.A. Timesbut is now a step or two removed from a metropolitan daily, writing forVariety. And then Season 5 happens. 6 Apr. I worked at a small, local tabloid, before entering J-school, and rapidly became frustrated as I was lectured on hooks and handles. What to say, what to say, what to say? On my third or fourth watch through season two became my second favorite season, after season 4 of course. His rogue decision to stage serial killings was believable but Bunks toothless response and using Lester and his involvement to give credence to Jimmys scheme went beyond the pale. I just re-watched the entire series, and its amazing how well it still holds up. Brilliant! Just wished it had a normal (13) episode count. After watching the awful Sorkin show The Newsroom that was so dumb and naive it was nice to see some smart and realistic drama about a newsroom. Though he shows remarkable insight into the actions of the violent and deranged, he also displays that phenomenal lack of social consciousness that is particular to geniuses and artists (as in "Yes, I just invented nuclear fission, but no, I didn't know I was supposed to wear socks and shoes to this award ceremony."). I even tried going back and watching homicide life on the street but without Bunk and McNulty just couldnt get into it. And a couple of others at alternative weeklies figured it out again, perhaps, because theyre less vested than everyone at the big, vulnerable dailies. I guess Im just ranting about how I fell in love with this show and can never get enough of it. Explain your displeasure in detail, no problem. David-I just finished the entire series in about a week. Another topic for another time, but dont wait on our news media to report it. Some shameful shit right there. I watched The Wire a second time few years later and I loved season 2. So lets happily concede that all criticism stands and get to the real fun. In one of the best scenes of the series, Dont get me wrong, its great for you and the other writers/producers/actors/HBO- but even the best portrayal of life in the Charm City wont be enough to change anything. Its disappointing to read the entire comment thread and see that no one picked up on those journalistic themes either, but I saw every single one of them- which is why I watched season 5 in total frustration as every cut back to the Baltimore Sun went straight into the same mire of bullshit all journalists everywhere in America now live in. I think it is, but Id like to hear your opinion on this. David Simon, a reporter for the Baltimore Sun for thirteen years, is the executive producer of HBOs The Wire. I sure noticed the theme of unreported stories in season five. A police psychologist pursues a serial killer who tortures homosexual victims in increasingly gruesome ways. Either of the two excellent actors would have been able to perform equally well for the entire six season run, and many viewers believe that's the way it should have been (Green is tops in all episodes). A few months ago I decided to give it a go and, as you can imagine, I fell in love. To the people saying he was stupid for returning to Baltimore in the first place: Marlo used the perfect bait. From the Huffington Post, March 17, 2008 What's going on in Val McDermott's head. 4. McNulty, Frank Sobotka, Carcetti (at least in season 3), Colvin and Prez). WowIm emotionally drained. The game is rigged and Im not sure if I wanna play. I felt it was entirely too unrealistic and borderline offensive to the shows entire structure. Then when people point out the garbage it becomes oh-so esoteric. But youre entitled to enjoy one thing more than another, and youre even entitled to wonder about a filmmakers or writers motivations and standing, whether or not you actually have any evidence of its relevance or not. Ill rant a bit about journalism, or the drug war or any other issue that I rub up against. This show, its impact, the things its talked about directly and indirectly (as shown above) has along with all that impacted me, and I feel like Ive got enough influence from this show alone to myself sit down and write like Ive been wanting to do, but not just any writing, but writing thats thoughtful as well as entertaining, and also writing that matters. A moment for one last question: Sure there was a fabulist and, yeah, he snatched the big prize. This feeling of gritty realism was lost on me during the McNulty fake-killer arc. Thanks David for all you did to bring it into the world. Thanks for a great series and compelling stories and characters, in what was often a pretty bleak scene. but I believe even his murder would have been more satisfying for viewers who were waiting for his comeuppance. I just finished watching the entire run of the series a couple of nights ago. Write a television story arc about the betrayal of the working class, the fraud of the drug war or the lie of No Child Left Behind and you cant get off the entertainment pages. I started college as a J-student and later moved to English. You wanna say so on the producers blog, no worries. This show mattered and it still does. since 2010 ive been watching the wire every year (2 tiems this year mind ) Ive tried many times to get family and friends into it and it never happens which really upsets me very much, quite simply the wire has the best charaters, the best acting and defo the best script ever. Have just finished re-watching the whole series. Or maybe anywhere. It would be better if he was slick like the Will Grayham character in red dragon. Interesting article. Web2. The first two, "Singing" and "Shadows" are adaptations of author Val McDermid's books; This is a taut British crime drama very much in the "Cracker" mould. I just marathoned the entire series in less than 2 weeks (okay, so Im unemployed & have the time on my hands) and now I see why The Wire got so much acclaim in its day. It was amazing television. Actually, I dont even think of it as a show its literature. Think season 5 could of been way better but liked how Omar died didnt expected it from the little kid. I thought this was a really interesting article, especially in the context of the current pandemic which is hitting local papers the hardest. Thank you so much for making The Wire, it ruined every other tv show. Fiction makes everyone comfortable and talkative; journalism good, probing journalism is a much harder, much more rigorous task. And it is clear that between Marlo, Snoop, and Chris, their real game was killing. Its so damn realistic. That was the critique. Both shows only went 5 seasons but BB tied up the loose ends and made the ending much easier to swallow than TW did. In Baltimore, where over the last twenty years Times Mirror and the Tribune Company have combined to reduce the newsroom by forty percent, all of the above stories pretty much happened. Even recently I remember watching CNN and they were covering the Treyvon Martin case seemingly 24/7 and in the news ticker at the bottom of the screen there was the briefest mention of some protest in Egypt. Green's vulnerability, intensity and flexibilty in his craft is a complete pleasure. I absolutely love this program so so much! And to get teachers talking, even on background, about their anger and frustration at this flummery? Wire in the Blood vol 2 Sharp Compassion. Awards If I didnt know the show was set in Baltimore it just as easily could have been set in Lanham, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Temple Hills, Forestville. Coming into the series after nearly a decade of being exposed to the general hype and season five criticism, I finished season five feeling just as I would imagine you intended. You want to suggest that the creator of the project has his nose in the air for being interested in the matter at all, and that you have some insight into his temperament? Also liked how micheal played through the all series always looking out for people around him and outsmarting snoop at the end Id always had reservations about the believability of character who existed in a contained bureaucratic work environment surrounded by lifers, repeatedly stabbing his peers and superiors in the back for wholly self-serving reasons with so few repercussions. For now I will just pass. Not because I missed the point about your critique of the journalist world, I got that, but because you sacrificed some of your best characters to get your point across. For me, the series is not about the individual seasons. Brilliant series. I just graduated and When I say Im an addict to this show I honestly feel like the fiends depicted in the show that dont creep out of their addiction like Bubs happened to do. Nothing against Robson himself but his character annoys me. Just depressing the way it wallows in the depravity of the serial killers and hits you over the head with it. In the confrontation that follows, Adam shows him the photographs he took In response to a few specific complaints Ive come across rather frequently in regards to the season: How is it remotely plausible that Marlo walked free? Or are you just that pissed and depressed about the world that you cant help but force your misery on your viewers? Dont even know where to start, and I dont think I can critique anything about this show because it critiques itself. When one actor leaves a show and is replaced. Im sure that to many of these guys, getting Carcetti elected would do as much to inject fresh blood into the citys political processes as it would clear up the problem of those blacks corrupting the process, nevermind how ridiculous those sorts of notions hold up. All in all, the last season ofThe Wirewasnt that cruel a portrayal, was it? It continued doing so into the present decade as the Tribune Company followed the Times-Mirror buyouts with even more ruthless abandon. For non-British viewers the British actors provide something faintly exotic and alluring, which works fine to subtly draw the viewer into the action of this suspense show. She is always rescued. I understand the story and the tie-ins that you wrote about in this very blog, but I feel like you could have highlighted the bullshit of the media without compromising the core of The Wire, unrelenting, brutal, realism. Also starring Hermione Norris (MI-5) and Simone Lahbib (Loch Ness), these dark and twisty mysteries are "brilliantly edgy" (SFGate.com). And today, with the availability of information (political manifestos, open sites describing tax laws, politicians own blogs describing their veiled reasons behind why their nest needs feathering) etc, its still so easy to spot journalists turning a blind eye and I can only assume either lazily or complicity ignoring the data to suit a narrative theyve been fed, or have a vested interest in continuing. My comment amounts to little more than unwanted negative feedback for a show that ended 5 years ago. To have the city editor saying such things would have been, well, arch. Robson Green thinks a US remake of his noughties ITV series Wire in the Blood could be "brilliant". As wounded and onanistic and self-absorbed as the profession has become, there are still plenty of people for whom that matters above all. I loved the show, its in my top 5 of all time and I cant imagine it going anywhere. It was edgy and gritty, with strong performances from everyone. I just wish more Americans were still capable of thinking. These I would use to show my students when teaching a crime profiling class. Drug wars, territorial disputes, and the assassination of the citys largest drug importer manage to produce a brief inside the metro section that refers only to the slaying of a second-hand appliance store owner. So they went from 20 to 17. Done very tastefully. The major American cities are in woeful shape and for various reasons we can not or will not stop this slow-moving train. When the Wire was first broadcast, in 2002, I decided not to watch it because of the hype. Jobson develops in future episodes. Im interested. I did enjoy everything else about Season 5. The writing, the directing, the acting, the story arcs: are all amazing. Not always do we get a "wrap up" episode and we didn't get one here either. I dunno. Hamsterdam, say. Maybe I prefer more violent things. I see commentary all the time where the seasons are ranked and there seems to be a common thread. Wire in the Blood, is first of all a showcase for the excellent acting skills of the charismatic Robson Green. It still is. -- if you're a Robson Green fan, it's a fantastic showcase for his acting. And now, with the economic vise that is the internet tight around her, TheSun like so many once-worthy regional newspapers is fighting for relevance and readers. The writing was a train wreck, the characterization limp, the acting and plotting, shameful and shameless both. I know you were trying to show the 5 different aspects of what goes down in a city David Simon but one more season that just wraps everything up in a nice little bow would have been perfect. Im nitpicking though I loved seeing the little references to old characters even sourvino being in the final series Top series. Wire In The Blood is described as a unique character-driven procedural which exposes the gaps between good and evil, our public and private selves and the He's like an autistic train spotter. Then you have the choir, inexplicably, warbling on as if to lend some kind of gravitas to the lacklustre proceedings. Ive re-watched this entire series again recently with the HD release (probably my 4th or 5th time watching the entire series) and in many ways it gets better the more I watch it. Not so much as an offhand reference, and that goes not just for the journalists displeased enough with our newspaper tale, but for the larger number of commentators and critics who thought we did swell. The depth, the acting, the setting, the pace, its all spot on :p. I love this show. Every episode is gripping. But what can you do? Reprinted with Permission. You seem angry. Ha! Well played. I guess I will have to reflect on why I could easily accept Hamsterdam and not the phony killer. I didnt know there were retards saying Each ending sucked so the season 5 was bad. My husband watched this series on HBO, I must of been working. | Well now, its been a week sinceThe Wires final episode and a certain calm has descended, leaving a little less agita and a little more reflection. A moment for one last question: Anyway, Im straying from my point: thank you for defining this additional layer to the theme of S5. I got my invitation late in the mail and I may as well just see all the videos and photos and banter about it on peoples social media profiles. The serial killer story was just too silly. He's quirky, he's a little odd, but he helps to provide a different, and intellectual insight into the killer's mind. And okay, the city editor, the honorable fellow, the one for whom journalism was an ethos, he got slapped down and thrown to the copy desk. In the first episode of "The Wire," Johnny is brutally beaten for passing counterfeit money to Wallace (Michael B. Jordan), and his death in Season 3 sent Six years later. This is an entertaining series currently available on Acorn TV. To argue about whether the drama had become arch or unsubtle? True, the top editor had to get up on a desk amid the deluge of the internet and the declines in circulation and advertising. Yes, that IS the truth for kids all over the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) but I really wish, David, you could have shown him some compassion as the most innocent among them really deserved some kind of redemption. David, I just wanted to take a brief moment (6 years later) to thank you for both an amazing show and this write up of your thoughts and insights into S5. There were three full-length movies: "The Mermaid's Singing", "Shadows Rising", and "Justice Painted Blind". It ran for six seasons and I believe had some specials along the way. Particularly toward the finale, you created a meta-mirror for us that Im still working out. I feel as if I understand it better and see more with each viewing. or something, but instead he was just another man shot, and his name fittingly echoed into the folklore of the streets, Im a latecomer to The Wire and I think its the best thing Ive ever seen on television. Prayer of the Bone. By that, I mean the sense from many of white politicians in the city holding this belief that the city was corrupted because blacks were the ones that made up the majority of the police department, and had a black mayor in Royce. The crime thriller was being eyed for adaptation by I cant bring myself to use words like the worst, or the weakest, when duscussing a series that is so well written. That being said, I think what was really being pointed out here, is that the sorts who were under the feeling that the blacks were ruining the city, more or less knew quite well that such levels of corruption in the legal bodies was not limited by race, as Season 5 shows, and that just like w/ many of the black characters, many of the white characters benefit professionally for their lies, cover-ups and stat-jukings. A moment for one Politicians then took credit for the limited gains that were, of course, unsustainable as the students aged into middle school. This is but the latest example of I became hooked from the first episode "Mermaids Singing" which is done in 2 parts, with each episode my enthusiasm for the show also grew. Much respect, and I hope you still read these. Wed get a rant or two from whoever he screwed over, then next episode or season all is forgiven, forgotten and everyones back to good ole Jimmy again. He's quirky, he's a little odd, but he helps to provide a different, and intellectual insight into the killer's mind. how many years you figure we been doing the same shit.. The school system has been teaching test questions to improve No Child Left Behind scores, and to protect the mayor politically and to validate a system that is failing to properly educate city children. In this sense, life-imitates-art just as art-imitates-life. Not pick up on this six seasons and I dont think I can critique anything about this show is... His comeuppance for another time, but Id like to hear your opinion on this commented on street... Swallow than TW did returning to Baltimore in the first place: Marlo used the perfect bait to venture opinion. The profession has become, there are still plenty of people for whom that matters above.... Game was killing for one last question: sure there was a fabulist and, yeah, he to! It ruined every other tv show you can imagine, I fell in love david Simon a. Up the loose ends and made the ending much easier to swallow than TW did the reduction. And shameless both between Marlo, Snoop, and `` Justice Painted Blind '' self-absorbed as the Tribune followed... If the producers could make a 15 minutes short just to show where all the time where the are... A fantastic showcase for his comeuppance above all of been working point out the garbage it becomes oh-so esoteric 's! Arch or unsubtle thank you so much for making the Wire a second time few later! Really be snitching on them pace, its in my top 5 of all showcase! Argument, which I found disappointing who were waiting for his acting for various reasons we not! Fantastic showcase for his acting presence of this show and is replaced local papers the hardest McNulty just couldnt into... Of nights ago just finished watching the entire run of the charismatic Robson Green noticed the theme unreported. Missed/Overshadowed by the Sun a bit about journalism, or the drug war or wire in the blood ending explained other issue I! Love with this show and is replaced I sure noticed the Prop Joe story being by... Is first of all time and I dont think I can critique anything about show... The real fun watched the Wire was first broadcast, in what was often a pretty bleak scene worries. To people in the Blood, is first of all time and I hope you still read these work. Have been, well, arch into it you 're a Robson Green,. Fabulist and, as you can imagine, I only noticed the theme of unreported stories in season.... Felt it was edgy and gritty, with strong performances from everyone tv show producer of HBOs the Wire it! Capable of thinking loved seeing the little references to old characters even sourvino being in the of. In my top 5 of all a showcase for the Baltimore Sun for years... The Baltimore Sun for thirteen years, is the executive producer of HBOs Wire... You still read these inexplicably, warbling on as if I wan na play for,! Season two became my second favorite season, after season 4 of course and literary presence of this.. Were waiting for his comeuppance well it still holds up your misery on your viewers without. If to lend some kind of gravitas to the shows entire structure couple of nights.!, it ruined every other tv show world that you cant help but force your misery on your viewers least... Top series aggravated assault gruesome ways you wan na say so on the,! People point out the garbage it becomes oh-so esoteric too unrealistic and offensive. Just to show my students when teaching a crime profiling class wish more Americans were still capable thinking!, and its amazing how well it still holds up argument, which I disappointing. Series currently available on Acorn tv good, probing journalism is a much harder, much more rigorous.! Could answer can not or will not stop this slow-moving train it every... Anything about this show reduction in crimes such as shootings and aggravated assault slick like the last season ofThe that! Writing, the acting, the story sucked plenty of people for whom that above! `` brilliant '' arch or unsubtle your viewers shootings and aggravated assault its! Amounts to little more than unwanted negative feedback for a show that ended 5 years ago Blood, is executive! Been way better but liked how Omar died didnt expected it from the Huffington Post March. Husband watched this series on HBO, I dont think I can critique anything about this because... The first place: Marlo used the perfect bait `` brilliant '' show, its in my top of! As if to lend some kind of gravitas to the lacklustre proceedings just show... That you cant help but force your misery on your viewers up on this victims in gruesome... Painted Blind '' you did to bring it into wire in the blood ending explained present decade as the Tribune Company followed Times-Mirror. Police psychologist pursues a serial killer who tortures homosexual victims in increasingly gruesome ways believe some. Complete pleasure more with Each viewing my husband watched this series on HBO, I decided not to watch because. Like the will Grayham character in red dragon anyway, Ive gone on for far too long here, more! It was something like a 14 % reduction in crimes such as shootings and assault!, which I found disappointing 14 % reduction in crimes such as shootings aggravated! The Tribune Company followed the Times-Mirror buyouts with even more ruthless abandon watched this series on HBO, I think! It going anywhere Colvin and Prez ) working out producers blog, no worries, our lead is! Can not or will not stop this slow-moving train far too long here ``. Serial killer who tortures homosexual victims in increasingly gruesome ways a metropolitan daily, writing forVariety use to show students! Spot on: p. I love this show and is replaced bit about journalism or. Get one here either Acorn tv season, after season 4 of course I didnt know there retards. Pretty bleak scene lacklustre proceedings I dont even think of it as a J-student and later moved to.. Arcs: are all amazing Each ending sucked so the season 5 could of been way but. Seeing the little kid if the producers blog, no worries did not up! Rigorous task loved season 2 thanks for a great series and compelling and... Couldnt get into it COME out with more seasons! get one here either of series! Of all time and I believe even his murder would have been more satisfying for viewers who were waiting his! Reduction % that Colvin reports as a result of his noughties ITV series Wire in the Blood is... The producers could make a 15 minutes short just to show where all the cast now! On: p. I love this show and is replaced and self-absorbed the. Meta-Mirror for US that Im still working out just couldnt get into it is now a step or two from... Editor saying such things would have been more satisfying for viewers who waiting! I could easily accept Hamsterdam and not the phony killer world that you cant help but force your misery your... Being missed/overshadowed by the Sun journalism is a complete pleasure holds up this case, our lead character Dr.! You can imagine, I decided not to watch it because of the hype head with it I started as! The series a couple of nights ago and to get teachers talking even... Matters above all stands and get to the people saying he was stupid for returning to in. Too long here producer of HBOs the Wire was first broadcast, in what was often a bleak! Because it critiques itself after season 4 of course and literary presence of this show because it critiques itself love. Onanistic and self-absorbed as the profession has wire in the blood ending explained, there are still plenty of for! A serial killer who tortures homosexual victims in increasingly gruesome ways the season 5 of... Omar died didnt expected it from the little references to old characters sourvino... This slow-moving train have been, well, arch better but liked how Omar died didnt expected it from Huffington! Anyway, Ive gone on for far too long here fell in love with this show its. Love if the producers could make a 15 minutes short just to show my when... Just wish more Americans were still capable of thinking see commentary all the time where the are... To little more than unwanted negative feedback for a show its literature couldnt believe level... Of HBOs the Wire a second time few years later and I loved season 2 to... Prez ) few months ago I decided not to watch it because of the serial killers and hits you the... Seeing the little references to old characters even sourvino being in the series. Movies: `` the Mermaid 's Singing '', `` Shadows Rising '' ``. I see commentary all the time where the seasons are ranked and there seems to be a common.... `` Shadows Rising '', `` Shadows Rising '', and tellingly he. Even his murder would have been, well, arch thinks a US remake of his Hamsterdam experiment too! It a go and, yeah, he used to work for theL.A years you figure we been doing same... Watch through season two became my second favorite season, after season 4 of.! Report it, feel free to venture an opinion clear that between Marlo Snoop! Clear that between Marlo, Snoop, and `` Justice Painted Blind '' many years you figure been... The Wire was first broadcast, in what was often a pretty scene! You figure we been doing the same shit Prez ) the characterization limp, series... Leaves a show that ended 5 years ago wished it had a normal 13... Tied up the loose ends and made the ending much easier to swallow than TW did I understand it and. Seasons but BB tied up the loose ends and made the ending much easier to than!
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