2 months removed from its ending, I find myself going through withdrawal. There is a plethora of entertaining and comical shows out there that I enjoy, but in terms of captivating me with realistic compelling drama and thought provoking contemporary issues : nothing holds a candle to the glory that is The Wire.
There are a handful of shows that are similar in style and subject, but the depth, accuracy, and sheer brilliance of The Wire is unmatched.
Below is an interesting video with clips of a British columnist giving his 2 cents of why the show is the best of the last 20 years. I agree with his sentiment and hope The Wire potentially is produced into a movie or maybe even makes a comeback because there is definitely a massive void in the media without it.
The Wire may not be my favorite show on television, but it was by far the best and I will miss it dearly.
Shows like The Office, Entourage, and the Sopranos may have entertained me more or warranted repeat viewings with my friends, but in my opinion they were nowhere near the brilliance of The Wire.
Trailer for Final Season:
Although somewhat of a bold claim, the opinion is shared by many
Wikipedia entry highlights
1) The Wire is the highest rated in TV show or movie on community site IMDB.COM.
Why I label it the best show: Personally I give The Wire the distinction of labeling it best show because it captivated me in a way that no show ever has. The Wire served as an infusion of reality, insight, and truth to a world I am personally interested in yet completely out of touch with at the same time. In a nutshell, The Wire made me think,research, investigate, and question a variety of important topics that seem to have faded into obscurity over the years.
The Wire on Education:
What is The Wire about: Lots of people can give a better account of its significance. This guy was pretty right on
” This weekend marks the beginning of the end of one of television’s greatest achievements, as HBO airs the first of 10 episodes that make up the final season of “The Wire.” Creator David Simon’s multi-faceted portrayal of an American city in decline is not only supremely entertaining, but has more to say about America in the 21st Century than perhaps any work of art of any medium this millennium.
The genius of Simon’s creation cannot possibly be overstated. Combining brilliantly written characters with gritty realism and sociological precision, “The Wire” looks at its city, Baltimore, from every angle – police, criminal organizations, politics, unions, schools and now newspapers. ”
So whats happened in The Wire
Plot Summary of the first 4 seasons in 4 minutes
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=mTY_V2s8R4c]
What I learned: I take almost everything I watch with a grain of salt, but there is a very strong sentiment that The Wire was unbelievably accurate in its portrayal of institutions like the police department, the media, drug cartels, City Hall, unions, and the education system. The story lines were incredible but the perspective and insight I gained by watching the Wire is something that will likely stay with me unlike any television show or movie ever has.
There are literally hundreds of brilliant takeaways from The Wire that deal with addiction, greed, corruption, morality, violence, government, progress or lack there of. I’ll be happy to share some of my thoughts on the show down the road, perhaps in person when you have run through all 60 episodes in under 2 months like most people have who decided to watch The Wire.
A Thank you: To anyone associated with this awesome thought provoking show. It was consistently brilliant, interesting, entertaining, compelling, and real. The story lines were epic, the writing was best in class, and the acting was of the highest quality. Characters and scenes will be etched into my memory for years to come.
