Customer Reviews
The best TV show ever?? - By: Barry Bootle, 06 Jan 2009 
So many people have waxed lyrical about The Wire already, it almost seems superfluous to write a review. But I feel I have to.
As a jaded old cynic, I sat down to watch the first series with a fair degree of scepticism. Surely it couldn't be as good as everyone made out, could it? And after the first three or four episodes, I was convinced my reservations were well grounded. Yes, it was unfolding very nicely, there was some excellent characterisation & some super dialogue, and, although it was proceeding at what might be termed a leisurely pace, there was no lack of action or intrigue. So far, very good television. But the best TV ever? Was it better than Boys From The Blackstuff, GBH or The Sopranos? Was it even as good as State of Play? I didn't think so.
But then, about five or six episodes in, something happened & I was utterly transfixed, & remained so until the very end of series five.
The thing I found utterly refreshing was the way the viewer is assumed to be an intelligent human being, capable of independent thought & analysis. We are not spoon-fed plots; characters have real depth & complexity rather than being reduced to 'goodies' & 'baddies'; we are constantly encouraged to think for ourselves. This may be the reason it has not enjoyed the commercial success of shows like 24, Lost & Prison Break, but is also makes it a joy.
I'll give a small example to try & illustrate what I mean. One of the main characters is a high-ranking cop, hard as nails, cynical, ruthless - the ultimate alpha male. In the middle of series three we see this character, for a few seconds,in a gay bar. This is totally incidental to the scene, the episode & indeed the whole plot, so is not neccesaryin any real terms - but it challenges all the preconceptions the viewer may have had about that character. That is the genius of The Wire.
A small word of warning. The world David Simon has created is a dark, violent place where death is an everyday occurence - consequently, you will often become attached to a character only for them to be bumped off. The fact that the show's creators are able to do lose key protaganists constantly is another testament to their brilliance. In The Wire, the actors are not the stars. The city is the star, & the city will never die.
The best TV ever? I'm not qualified to say. But the best TV I've ever seen? Definitely.
No ifs, no buts...The Wire is the most captivating TV show ever!!!! - By: A. Lewis, 02 Jan 2009 The Wire is utterly captivating, well written, brilliantly produced & simply the best TV show ever. A big statement i know but having been introduced to The Wire two months ago i am now on series 4 (there are 5in total) & totally obsessed & unlike many TV dramas that loose their plot after one series, this just gets better & better. The characters evolve, the plots thicken & the waters get even murkier between what/who is right or wrong. I have constant debates with friends about which series is best, who to love & who is good & which characters currently precidein my top 5 (currently: Lester, Carver, Cutty, Boadie & Clay Davis just for his one liner). The way David Simon & Ed Burns explore each character makes you feel like you know or at least understand them & even though the plot is setin Baltimore, the issues can be related to many cities. Unlike many other TV shows on today, The Wire makes you think & challenges you. Since i started watching it, i have brought all the books that accompany the series (The Wire: Truth Be Told) & previous works by David SimonThe Corner: A Yearin the Life of an Inner-City Neighbourhood], [[ASIN:1847673112 Homicide:]. If you should only buy one thing, buy The Wire. You won't be disappointed & i can only say how envious i am of what awaits you. ENJOY!!!
Ground Breaking? - By: Mark Regan, 21 Dec 2008 
While I agree with the majority of reviews here saying what a great series this is (it really is good) I can't agree with anyone saying its ground breaking. The book that The Wire is based on has been used to create a different cop seriesin Baltimore, Homicide: Life on the Street. The similarities are there as is the quality of plot & acting, its THE cop show for me, this is good news for some of you as it means that if you have enjoyed The Wire you can now start watching Homicide, THAT is the series that deserves the 5th star. Watch it & you'll see why.
Please tap into one of the most brilliant TV drama's of all time - By: Mr. David M. Berry, 16 Nov 2008 After Soprano's came to an end last year over herein blighty last year I was wondering would another series come along to give it a run for it's money.
I'm not sure what people think of David Chase's Mafia Epic but I can imagine cries of overrated being called out, I personally found utterly engrossing TV & simply sublime, I was somewhat sad to see it end but grateful Chase chose it to go out on high & yes I was perfectly happy with the opened ended abrupt ending to the final episode. Chase never was going to do conventional.
While I admit Showtime's Dexter started to fill that void, the 1st season was a great intro to the world of Miami's most interesting serial killer the 2nd season took the concept & ran with it, the 3rd season seems rather sedate but seems to hotting up, I knew it was falling short of Tony Soprano's Journey.
At last I've found my void well & truly filled & HBO's (god these guy are so far aheadin the game) The Wire may well eclipse Chase's genius series. David Simon a Journalist who had written the treatment for what became the TV series Homicide Life on the Street, alongide ex Cop Ed Burns also like Simon a award winning writer of Drug related crime lliterature conceived this exemplelary series.
An excellent basis for what is simply one of the most engrossing thing I've ever seen, knocks spots off most theatrical releases & it's broad canvas & rich characters make for a series which becomes more addictive each episode, I watched the 1st seriesin just over a week & the 2nd is a done deal as well, can't wait for season 3 which I should start today.
Season 1 introduces us to a rich vein of characters on both sides, the cops at times are nearly as dirty as the dealers. a detailed exmaination of the Baltimore underbelly where the dealing heroin is just an everyday thing. A Detail of cops is put together to build a case against a relatively unknown drug dealer called Avon Barksdale who has managed to elude the spot light but due to some of his people beating a conviction & the murder of an eye witness, the Baltimore Police department is determined to brings some convictions using wire taps, surveilance & paperwork .
Dominic West (yes he is a Brit) heads the cast as the not always likeable but compelling Homicide Detective James "Jimmy" Mcnulty seconded from Homicide to the detail after intiating the investiagtion due to his connections to now Legal Judge Daniel Phelan played by Peter Gerety, who Jimmy lets slip details of a recent case that failed involving Avon Barksdale's crew members who leans on Frankie Faison's Commisioner Ervin Burrell to act, Jimmy always a thornin his superior Major William Rawls side, gets deeper involvedin the situation & puts Burrellin a compromsing situation which resultsin the detail being formed due to the Judge's inability to stop shouting his mouth off after Jimmy rather naively takes him into his confidence. Mcnulty joins Lieutenant Cedric Daniels crew, a stern no nonsence performance from Lance Reddick.
The group whichin includes Detectives, lesbian Kima Greggs, Lester Freamon, Ellis Carver, Thomas "Herc" Hauk as well as Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski, only there due to his fatherin law being Deputy Comm Valchek, someone who will figure prominentlyin Season 2. Daniels is also afforded by Burrell some dead beat near retirement officiers who give the impression Burrel has no intention of letting this investiagtion run for too long, enough time to humour the Judgein his quest for convictions & is looking for either quick results which doesn't dig to deep or closing it down due to failure to bulid a case
Mcnulty continues his Homicide cases alongside partner the deep voiced Detective William "Bunk" Moreland (Wendell Pierce) who Jimmy continues to investigate current cases which have connections to his investigations with the Detail a murder with ties to Barksdale.
Although when Lester (an excellent Clarke Peters) starts to uncover money connections that lead to highly connected officials, the investigation has the breaks halted on it & the team are told to concentrate on the hoods & the drugs.
As well as this we get the perspective of the drug dealers, as well as Wood Harris's intimidating Barksdale, Avon's right hand the superb Idris Elba as Stringer Bell (another Brit) including Avon's own nephew D'Angelo a superb Larry Gillard Jnr, who has recently beat the conviction which helps to fuel the beginnings of Daniel's Details investigation.
D'Angelo isin charge of his patch & has under is command a group of would be gangster teenager pushing heroin on the neighbourhood which the Detail zero onin for the majority of their operation. Gillard is brilliantin conveying the uncertainty of his dealingsin his Uncle's empire & is the moral concience of this season
Amongst this are colourful characters like Junkie Bubbles (Andre Royo) who is also a snitch for detail cop Kima Greggs. Michael K Williams charismatic homosexual under dog Omar who is a blightin Barksdale schemes & after Avon's orders resultin the death of his lover becomes determined to be the flyin Avons ointment by upsetting his operations.
The Wire is simply astonishingly good, the acting is consistently brilliant & the storytelling & plotting is masterful, I thought maybe the critics were maybe going over the top with their plaudits for this HBO drama but it is that good & is without doubt the greatest TV series since HBO's own Soprano's.
The Bomb - By: Song2, 11 Nov 2008 This Wire is a great show, I'm no TV buff but think that this is the kind of stuff television was made for- it is complex & difficult but worth every single minute of your attention. It's greatest acheivement for me is that this is an ensemble piece with something like twenty main characters, all of which gradually unfurl throughout the series.
If you want to be challenged, watch this.
If you're going to be offended by the language, don't.
