re: Potentially Unpopular Opinion Re: The Wire

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also, hot take alert: the "kid" storyline in season 1 is so much better than the one in season 4

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Yes, because the "kid" storyline in Season 1 is realistic, probably lines up with hundreds of kids from Baltimore from the 70s to 90s (and beyond), while Season 4 is an urban fairlytale (and it shows, although I still like it).

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frickin right? I never liked or understood that character choice. What was up with that whole deal?

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I have no idea. He's sticks out so much more on rewatches too

I didn't know a ton about the show when I started watching it. I was shocked at the sudden change for season 2. Had you told me the general premise of season 4, I'm not sure it would have sounded promising. But that was my favorite season. I grew to care about the kids and storyline, which shocked me.

i think of the wire as a 3-act Shakespearean play with a slightly-related, 2-act sequel

the Greeks are the example of real criminality, but ignoring their whole importance, the real conflict of seasons 1-3 is in 2 with Stringer running things while Avon is locked up. their mutual downfall is cemented when String has D killed

but, to get back to the Greeks, their most important contribution is "my name is not my name", which is contrasted by Marlow's meltdown in prison



it shows the futility of the street-criminal culture and why they will always fail, compared to the real criminals, who get away

yeah i agree, i liked S2 the first time but thought 1 and 3 were better, now i think 1 and 2 are neck and neck and certainly a step up from S3.

I agree with season 2 being essential to the series but that entire plot could have evolved the same with Nick being involved in the drug distribution and getting caught up.

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the Greeks are the example of real criminality, but ignoring their whole importance, the real conflict of seasons 1-3 is in 2 with Stringer running things while Avon is locked up. their mutual downfall is cemented when String has D killed

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Great point here about Season 2 and Avon vs. Stringer. I would disagree slightly on the mutual downfall and say it was set in motion by not just one but TWO critical Stringer decisions...the plot against D...and...going around Avon and Brother (the least realistic character on the entire show) with Omar.

I believe Avon would have eventually got over D, and in Season 3 it looks like he may have, at least temporarily. Remember, he could have dimed out Stringer to his sister, but he didn't, in part to protect the business. Him and Stringer would never be tight like brothers again, but they could have stayed partners in the business. Maybe it wouldn't last long-term, but Avon was a soldier and he treated the game that way.

What's much harder to survive is putting hits out on, and double crossing experienced killers like Brother (yak) and Omar. In real life these are the type of guys you either get them, or eventually they hang around long enough to get you. Stringer would have been better off going full out (again) after Omar like Marlo did and finishing off Brother while he was in the hospital. I know that's a hard proposition, but he left too many loose ends.

That whole main plot was the wire they had which Nick was a part of. Everything could have been the same if his uncle turned informant to save the union and later met with the Greek to save Nick from going to prison.

And I thought Nick and D’s arcs mirrored each other’s. A lot of similarities there.