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The Return of HBO's THE WIRE!!
Stringer favors more profit and less violence. This makes him a hero, no?
For the record, everyone named "Herc" enjoys "Theme From Shaft."
It’s the return of McNulty, Greggs, Daniels, Omar, Barksdale and Bell! But will those who missed seasons one and two become awash in confusion?
Variety says:
It’s the return of McNulty, Greggs, Daniels, Omar, Barksdale and Bell! But will those who missed seasons one and two become awash in confusion?
Variety says:
… brilliant crime drama, which is so assiduous in its storytelling as to be almost impenetrable to the uninitiated. Those along for the ride since the beginning have rightly come to savor this as one of TV's premier hours - a meticulously written, superbly acted program that demands undivided attention. Season three again unfolds slowly, with four screened episodes leaving a litter of unanswered yet thoroughly enticing questions. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… as vividly written and superbly acted as ever. But let it also be said that those who don't follow the drama regularly might wind up utterly lost. It is not an hour that panders to newcomers. Either you're on board or you're not, and if you're not, well, good luck. … a series that's uncommonly rich, with crackling good dialogue and dynamic characters.
USA Today says:
… a dense, difficult series … powerful and fearlessly grim drama about drugs, crime and despair can still stand with the best series on TV.
TV Guide says:
... Smart and subtle, yet also brutally powerful, The Wire will never be the most popular crime drama on TV. It will just have to settle for being the best.
The Rocky Mountain News says:
... superb and lamentably Emmy-deprived … splendid writing and compelling performances. … The brilliance of The Wire is its texture, applied with fine strokes instead of the customary TV trowel. … Latecomers to The Wire needn't be hesitant to join the party at this point. The catch-up curve isn't steep and this season carries every bit of the dramatic and literary heft of the first two years.
If it delivers on the promise of the first four episodes, the best show on television might be even better.
TV Barn says:
… pound for pound the best drama on television … I defy anyone, once absorbed into “The Wire’s” profane, amoral universe, to not keep watching. …
9 p.m. Sunday. HBO.
Looking for bumper stickers, plush toys and girls’ underwear covered with cute cartoon double-amputees? Visit The Herc Store!
Readers Talkback
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By the time this show began a couple of years ago, I was so sick and tired of "cop shows" that I refused to watch it. Even though it was on HBO, I just could not get myself interested in another show about cops and criminals/drug dealers/whatever, after years of NYPD Blue, Law and Order, CSI, and the countless ripoffs and spinoffs of all those shows. Anyways, is it worth picking up this season and will it be too difficult to crack?
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It would be pretty difficult (nay, near impossible) to begin anywhere besides the first episode. Before I saw Season 1, I watched the second season's opener and was immediately lost. I caught up last year thanks to HBO InDemand, and "The Wire" is now one of my favorite shows (HBO hardly errs in quality, with a couple exceptions, namely "Arli$$, and "Entourage." There is no such thing as a poor HBO original drama).
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Yes, if you haven't watched it you won't get everything the show has to offer. But that doesn't mean if you start watching it now you will not get it. It just won't be as rich. So what, you can still savour this season. It really is one of the greatest things to hit TV in the last few years. And that's saying a lot.
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I didn't watch the first season, and then tried to watch season 2. It was not until 9 or 10 epsidoes in that I really thought I understood wtf was going on. After watching season 2 again, it all makes sense now, but there are still references to season 1 I am not in the loop on. In short, its possible, but difficult.
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(Starting with the very rare serious side): If someone were to ask me if it is possible to be caught up in the series by picking it up anytime after the first season, I would have to say "no". However, WATCH "THE WIRE" ANYWAY!!!!!! This is like saying you shouldn't start reading a comic book because you do not have the first issue. And for the love of god, HEED THIS WARNING - THIS SHOW UNFOLDS SLOWLY - ALL POINTS WILL BE ADDRESSED!!!!.....worse than those who say "I missed the start, so I do not watch." are people who say "It didn't say who killed that guy." and stopped watching after ONE EPISODE! You wanna complain that cop shows have gone to shit? This is why - one hour story completion. (Now...I bring you back to the insanity): OMAR!!!! OMAR!!!! OMAR!!!!! SMELL THAT? - THAT'S FEAR MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!! FEAR OF OMAR!!!! CAUSE OMAR DON'T FEAR YOU - YOU FEAR OMAR!!!!...And thus, you come at the king, you best not miss! - - - George, The 7th Chicken!!!!
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Bar none
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*whistles Farmer in the Dell*
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But I REFUSE to pay sixty bucks extra for a required digital package for the sake of ONE channel. Until the greedhead cable companies offer an ala carte option, I will wait until the DVD.
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I understand the anti-cop show bias, but an even more important show for anybody to watch than the Wire is the Shield.
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It might be difficult to follow but it will be well worth it once you finally get what's going on. It is hands down the best show on HBO if not TV in general. Better than The Sopranos or 6 Feet Under or Deadwood or anything else. The first season is coming out on DVD very soon. It is well worth the rental or purchase. You could probably also download the episodes from seasons 1 and 2 off something like shareaza or kazaa. It's a slow series and you might wonder why you keep watching it week after week as it will seem like nothing is happening but by the 6th or 7th episode, everything will start coming together.
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Sept. 19, 2004, 8:53 p.m. CST
so beginning with the season 2 opener wouldn't be a good idea?
by Toe Jam
because i just got hbo in-demand and i was planning to watch seasons 2 and 3 concurrently and then probably check out the season 1 dvd set when it comes out next month. now it looks like i'll just have to wait until after viewing season 1, then get season 2 on in-demand, then get season 3, which will likely be on in-demand by that time. fuck. this is gonna take me forever. and i was so psyched about getting into the wire!
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Yeah, if you don't want anything that resembles realism perhaps it is. The Shield is a cartoon. An overheated farce that goes over the top in attempts to shock. There isn't a realistic bone in its stunt-storylines body. Now if that's the type of TV that you like than go for it. But don't call it more important than The Wire. The Wire gives the viewers an inside view of what actually goes on inside the police headquarters and on the streets. It paints a vivid picture of the death of the working class and inner city neighborhoods. It shows you the true political struggles that go on inside the police force and inside crime organizations. It doesn't rely on gimmicks or exaggerated shootouts to pull in viewers. It stays true to the story. David Simon, the man behind it, spent years as a journalist covering the streets of Baltimore and keeps the show grounded in reality. Its a show that requires its audience to think and pay attention. It has three well known novelists (Richard Price(Clockers), Dennis Lehane(Mystic River) and Georeg Pelecanos (Right As Rain), real freakin' writers, turning out scripts for the show. Its easily more important than the antics of The Shield.
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Ohhh...Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy.....tsk tsk....I understand not wanting to pay the high price for the one channel....but for god's sake, MOOCH FROM THE FRIENDS THAT HAVE IT!!!!!! It's simple, tell them they "look nice in that outfit" and then ask "watcha doin' on Sunday night?" when they say "HBO YOU MORONIC TWIT!" You know you got a true HBO fan and then start a discussion like "Are they really that good? Can you show me sometime?" And POOF!!!! YOU ARE IN LIKE FLYNN!!!! Waiting for the DVD's is just too damn long....And thus, now get with it! - - - George, The 7th Chicken!!!!
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Here's some more press on the Wire for the hard-to-convince: Newsday:
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Sept. 20, 2004, 10:17 a.m. CST
Yes, this has beent he best show on TV for two years and yet som
by Razorback
I would agree with those who say that it is very difficult to just join the show. Find sites that talk about the previous seasons so you are not lost, because you will be very lost eventually. You can tell the Emmy Awards are crap when they miss out on this show. The best acting, actors, writing, directing, and the most realistic characters I can imagine any TV show ever having (past, present, or future).
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EXCELLENT! That was the best 2 minutes on tv ever...
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Sept. 20, 2004, 6:07 p.m. CST
Take it from one who watches a LOT of TV; the Wire IS the best T
by Macstone
However, if you're not on board yet; it'd be better to wait for the DVD of season one and play catch-up from there rather than jumping on with 2 or 3. This show is so rich and thick with plot that you really need to see it all. In fact, I remember reading somewhere that the entire series was intentionally written with a beginning and an end; so essentially it's just one story. The previous posters who mentioned the plot development being slow are dead on correct, BUT WITH IT! It's worth it; I promise. PS: I like the Shield too, but it didn't deserve to be mentioned on the same page as the Wire.
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The new them song sucks.
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Bring back the first season theme song!
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