Archive for May 13th, 2008

And where does that leave The Wire?


Just endured the worst productivity blackout of the year as I rampaged my way through the entire fourth series of The Wire. And even at a relatively well paced 3 episodes a day, it puts an end to all kinds of normal social activities.

I was fortunate that I’d already got through a lot of The Shield when I was introduced to The Wire. If only because for a short time I’d deluded myself that The Shield was as good as the police series was going to get. You certainly couldn’t do it the other way round. The Shield, for all its good points (and Vic Mackie rolling about in millions of dollars of stolen gang money is pretty good), is still a ‘crime-o-the-week’ copshow, with a relatively simple beginning, middle and end to each episode. It’s still great, but it’s a light snack once you’ve dined out on The Wire.

Where's the love McNulty?

The Wire has plot coming out of its arse. It’s so slow burn that it takes most of the first series to get the initial wiretap up at all. It’s the most English American TV show out there, a real series that demands total attention, not so much because you’ll miss a key plot moment, but because every character is just so well brought out. Even the minor characters are fully rounded, so that when Ray, the most useless, can’t solve a case detective dies of a tragic stairmaster injury, you’re actually left feeling sorry for the poor sunovabitch.

The Wire‘s not just about the crime, the most interesting parts happen when you follow the money as it escalates from crack corners to political lobbyists and beyond and you see that the machinations of the drug gangs are ultimately no different from those of the top politicians. Only The Wire could leagalise drugs in a major American city for nearly an entire series and almost get away with it.

Now I’ve done with series 4, I’m left waiting for series 5 on DVD and that, I’m told, isn’t until September and is the end of it. Cut us off just when we’ve become addicted? That’s as cold as it gets. Where’s the love McNulty?