Just curious for those who aren't impressed yet, what are your problems with the show? what do you like about it? what do you like about mm, bb, etc. that makes them better than TW?

I'm an unabashed wire lover and have seen all the other shows that are thrown in the best show ever conersation, so i'm always curious why people like one over the others.

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Read Sepinwall's reviews on the episodes as you watch it. They bring a lot of minor details to light and help you keep track of all their characters an their relevance.

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thanks for this tip, i just looked up some of his newbie reviews on the episodes i've seen and it does help clear some things up, particularly with the beginning of season 2. truthfully, i'd never even heard the word 'stevedore' before, so this was a tough group to follow at first

[This message has been edited by unicyclist_ag (edited 3/25/2012 2:47p).]

It took me a while to really enjoy the wire but I love it. It's a slow show but it portrays as a very realistic show and season 3 and 4 are very entertaining. Plus it has one of the greatest characters in Omar and one of the greatest scenes in history where Omar and Bunk have a conversation on a bench.

I watched every episode with captioning on, it really helped both with the street and cop lingos and the "bawmer" accents.

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I watched every episode with captioning on, it really helped both with the street and cop lingos and the "bawmer" accents.

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I can't imagine watching this show without captions. Probably would not have finished S1.

Never had a problem.

it was tough at the beginning but i actually enjoyed trying to figure out what they were saying. it made the whole thing feel more real. plus, it wasn't so much about understanding the words, it was more about deciphering the lingo

never had a problem either.

but i completely understand those that want to use captions, cause the accents and talk are tough at times(which is IMO a huge reason for why the shows is so realistic and adds to the awesomeness of it)

I suck with accents. Guy Ritchie movies might as well be in latin.

Just started watching, myself. 4 eps into season 2. Though I enjoyed season 1, I wasn't blown away either. For one thing, the hype surrounding the show led me to believe that I would be instantly hooked. And actually the first several episodes generally ranged from hard-to-follow to just plain boring. But when I finally got it through my head that they're going for realism over pulpy action, I really began to appreciate it. Very few episodes-so far, anyway- leave on a high drama cliffhanger (Lost, Breaking Bad, etc), so the craving for instant gratification is rarely there.

However, season 2 has much more of a hook into me. Maybe because there are far more story lines. Or maybe I'm more accustomed now to the characters and dialogue. Anyway, I'm pretty excited, and very much looking forward to seasons 3 and 4. One thing that keeps bugging me, though: why no HD, dammit??

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Just started watching, myself. 4 eps into season 2. Though I enjoyed season 1, I wasn't blown away either. For one thing, the hype surrounding the show led me to believe that I would be instantly hooked.

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too bad you weren't warned sufficiently. I've always told people you have to give it at least 4 eps just to get your footing, and really 7-8 eps before it becomes really enjoyable. once you make it to the 10th/11th episodes of the 1st season, you get that punch in the gut that they've been setting up for much of the season.

The Wire is not for everybody. For example, my wife never got 100% into it. She likes lifetime, the bachelor[ette], and the Oprah network. Maybe that is more your style.

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The Wire is not for everybody. For example, my wife never got 100% into it. She likes lifetime, the bachelor[ette], and the Oprah network. Maybe that is more your style.

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Not to keep beating a dead horse but the true beauty of The Wire is that it's designed to be a huge story that takes all 5 seasons to tell. I really don't think you can judge it until after you've completed it.

When I was watching it, there were hardly ever any water cooler moments (but when they do have them, they are awesome) but eventually I just realized how invested I was in the characters and how enthralling it is. I think you'll start to feel this way in seasons 3 and 4 but I personally think 2 is pretty awesome as well.

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One thing that keeps bugging me, though: why no HD, dammit??

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If I remember correctly, when the show started in 2002 that really wasn't an option. Somewhere along the lines of the 4th or 5th season HBO approached them about filming in HD and the creators decided not to because they didn't want to take away from the grittiness. I think it was a good decision personally.

[This message has been edited by Sex Panther (edited 3/26/2012 9:53a).]

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It's like a great novel. Once you're done you keep reflecting and realize what you just read/watched is a masterpiece.

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+1

The show just sneaks up on you. I watched season 1 and wondered what the big deal is. By the time I watched the final episode, I was in disbelief at how well everything was done. It is indeed a masterpiece.

Stick with it and stop worrying about all the praise. It is eye opening.

I began watching it on a whim on HBOgo and really enjoyed it. After finishing it off I decided to make a run at Oz since it too had good ratings and was on before my serious HBO watching. Took off a lot slower, but finally got into it and was amazed to see how many actors actually had roles in Oz and went on to The Wire.

The Wire is to TV as The Great Gatsby is to American literature. It's excellently written but you really need to finish the whole piece and let it simmer to fully appreciate it's quality. The work is a classic American tale that dissects a segment of society of which most of us will never be a part. That said each one of the characters was accessible and relatable even if their situations are not.

[This message has been edited by tysker (edited 3/26/2012 10:49a).]

Slow getting into it because you need to get to know the characters

Once you do the slow pace is reframed as intentional.

White people tend to love the Wire because they think it is a realistic view of life in the inner city.

the main difference for me in regards to the wire and something like BB is the investment in characters. By the end of season 3 or so, you are invested in so many characters in the wire from all angles. BB, which Cranston owns, really left me without that same investment with many of the major sub-characters. Some of them yes, but others were downright brutal on screen as far as acting and storyline. Not all their fault, but that is where BB lacks for me. Still an awesome show, one of the best...but we are making distinctions here.

I just think The Wire is the perfect television example of when writing, acting, directing, and production all come together brilliantly over a long period of time. Much like the Godfather or Chinatown on the big screen.

[This message has been edited by Bunk Moreland (edited 3/26/2012 12:15p).]

^This. Just in terms of sheer number of characters that you care about, The Wire takes it to a whole new level. Ultimately, I really only care about Walter and Jesse on BB.

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the main difference for me in regards to the wire and something like BB is the investment in characters. By the end of season 3 or so, you are invested in so many characters in the wire from all angles. BB, which Cranston owns, really left me without that same investment with many of the major sub-characters. Some of them yes, but others were downright brutal on screen as far as acting and storyline. Not all their fault, but that is where BB lacks for me. Still an awesome show, one of the best...but we are making distinctions here.

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this is why I continually feel like the wire is better than breaking bad (and other comparable shows like the Shield), no matter how good BB keeps getting (IMO, each season has been better than the previous one). The Wire tried for such an unbelievable high degree of difficulty and, IMO surpassed it almost the entire way through (I still need to watch season 5 again to give it a fair shake). BB has a lower degree of difficulty, but executes it almost perfectly.

so if this were diving or gymnastics, BB might end up with a higher score, but The Wire would be weighted more and ends up the better show.

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so if this were diving or gymnastics, BB might end up with a higher score, but The Wire would be weighted more and ends up the better show.

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I like how you attempted to butch up what was clearly a gymnastics comparison by throwing diving in there...even though watching diving is no more masculine than watching gymnastics.

[This message has been edited by TomHaverford (edited 3/26/2012 12:50p).]

at least I didn't say rhythmic gymnastics

I consider The Wire both the best and my favorite show. There is a difference there though. I like Sons of Anarchy more than Mad Men, but I think Mad Men is a better show. Even if The Wire is not your favorite, after watching the series it is hard to imagine it not being at least close to the top of best shows.

When I started catching up on The Wire I started The Shield at the same time. In the beginning I definitely found myself more addicted to starting the next episode of The Shield than The Wire. I can't remember when exactly The Wire changed, but as many have said, you'll get to a point and you see the whole thing and it is pretty awesome.

One reason for all love is people thinking it is realistic. Honestly, I have no idea what the drug seen in Baltimore is like, but I think the story it tells is real. Even with highly fictional story lines of Season 3 and 5 you still see the big picture affects.

I've never scene a single episode of the wire, but plan on starting this week....hope it lives up to the hype.

I'm the other way, I tried to watch the Shield but couldn't get interested.

I thought the wire sucked. Made it through just a few episodes. non stop f bombs in another cop show.

dont know if it's been mentioned yet but micheal k williams (omar) is scheduled to play old dirty b@stard in a biopic coming up soon.

this pleases me.

They cussed a bunch in Band of Brothers too. I guess that sucked as well.

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I thought the wire sucked. Made it through just a few episodes. non stop f bombs in another cop show.

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You can't be serious, man.

The investigation scene with me and jimmy where only variations of **** were mentioned was my favorite non dramatic scene of the series.

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They cussed a bunch in Band of Brothers too. I guess that sucked as well.

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I'm not saying it sucked because they cussed non stop. I'm saying I thought it sucked because it was boring and just another cop show. Nothing special to me. They also happened to cuss non stop, just an observation.

I'm sorry if someone not liking a show you happen to like offends you or otherwise hurts your feelings.