He may be a crack/coke/heroine addict, but he was fairly functional, and still made the time to iron his clothes. Which is more than I can say for myself. I pretty much throw my clothes from the laundry into a duffel bag and wear the wrinkled ass clothing out in public like a bum. No shame in admitting that Bubs is lowkey inspiring… one of the greatest tv characters of all time

I know Avon and Stringer butted heads, but aside from that, the devotion and deference everyone else (I.e Chris, snoop, we bay) show to their respective leaders is kind of wild. Chris and we bay don’t even think twice about serving a life term. Chris and snoop’s devotion to Marlo seems the most extreme.

I feel like the mafia constantly has power struggles, but have no idea about gangs, but would expect it to be similar.

Dude doesn't blink an eye calling McNulty, "Bushy Top", but has a conniption during his job interview when the guy mentions he has to, "take a tinkle".

Disclaimer: This is my favorite show bar none, I just thought this was a little funny. I get that they're trying to show he was out of his comfort zone.

There’s a lot to like about the series finale. But one thing in particular: 1. When Kima owns up to her part 2. When McNulty and Lester forgive her is just delightful

I finished the wire 2 days ago and one of my favorite moment was the conclusion of Marlo.

It represents the fact that he can’t be another thing that a hoodmaster, Social advancement is at a standstill, and even with Stanfield's success, he won't feel truly comfortable or accepted in the world of the "big boys," the world of people who exploit all these street dealers. If Stringer had understood that, he wouldn't be dead.

The difference between Marlo and Stringer with Avon is that one does what he does because he comes from the streets and has no choice to survive (at least not at the base, without much financial education, just pure resourcefulness), and the other two have no code of conduct and want to get rich by denying all morality (a symbol of unbridled capitalism). Both have simply forgotten that the floor above is hermetically sealed off to people like them.

My first watch, I managed to watch the entire show in about 10 days . Can't believe I had never heard how amazing it is. Got the rec from Breaking Bad sub which was previously my favorite franchise lol. Anyway I'm almost done which is so sad. The characters are amazing. So much grey, like in real life. I'm on the part where the FBI is explaining the details of the "red ribbon killer" and they all describe McNulty. Perhaps one of the funniest parts of the whole show! "They're in the ballpark" What an eternal masterpiece. So glad I followed the recommendation. Not ready for the last episode though. ETA last episode thoughts Marlo and Ley did not deserve a happy ending, although I think Marlo likes killing more than money. Sad about many of the kids storylines especially Daquan. Loved that Bubs got to join his family. Started with McNulty ended with McNulty. Poetry. Art. Heart wrenching.

This is a specific ask for those of you that have seen the show multiple times. I started watching the wire last month and it's amazing, I can't believe I slept on it for so long, etc.

A very long time ago, like 2011 or 2012 era, I tried starting it and didn't get very far into the episode I started on, which up until recently I assumed was the first episode. The scene I watched was of Herc (I know it was Herc bc I remember thinking this guy looked like Hank from Breaking Bad) running after a drug dealer while the dealer was swallowing the bagged drugs as he ran, so as to not be caught with them. Eventually Herc catches him, and tells him something along the lines of he'll have to pass the bagged drugs eventually once he uses the restroom or something like that. I assumed this was the first scene of the first episode but fast forward to today and I'm currently almost done with season 4 and I've not come across this scene at all.

Since I started the show this year I assumed back then I just started on the first episode of a season other than season 1, but after checking the first few minutes of season 5 ep 1 it's not that either. I'm certain I didn't dream it, I KNOW this scene exists and it put the Wire on the radar for me I just took a loooong time to get around to watching it but I'm going crazy trying to find this scene and confirm it was real. PLEASE someone who's had a few rewatches tell me I'm not crazy or tell you recall this scene.

Spoiler warning.

Is it really believable that Maurice Levy, whose whole deal is that he represents people involved in criminal activities, would hire a former cop (Herc) in his law firm? This is how Marlo’s phone number gets leaked. I just don’t buy that he would let a former cop anywhere near his law firm. Maybe this has been talked about before.

https://f004.backblazeb2.com/file/screenplays/posts/the-wire-2002/episodes/The%20Wire%20100%20-%20Series%20Bible.pdf

Found this online. It diverges quite a bit from the one that was filmed, but is really good. Just as good as the one that was produced.

Another one of the small details. As if they wrote this show in the era of streaming and re-watching.

Michael comes to Cutty's gym and stands ringside with Curry watching a sparring match. Cutty notices and rests his forearm on Mike's shoulder while shouting coaching advice. He never actually looks Mike in the eye, but it's obviously a fraternal move/body language. But Mike, not wanting to be touched-for obvious reasons and particularly by older men-side steps away.

On the first watch it's probably noticeable but could be chalked up to regular/average amounts of homophobia that are normal or at least not uncommon to most men. I'm sure this is why Cutty takes no offense. An entertaining detail to me.

SPOILERS FOR SEASONS 4 & 5

I just finished the fourth episode, I've watched the show in its entirety a few years back. But damn I didn't remember it being so good - Norman spices up the Carcetti plot a lot. He's funny and the perfect equilibrium to Carcetti's bland councilman-ness. Both actor just seem at home in their roles, I find myself rooting for them even though I found Carcetti a bit unpersonable in the previous season.

Marlo obviously is the archetype of the psychopath much more than Avon was, Avon and Stringer were at least capable of changing gears. Marlo is just as I remember him from the "co-op scene" (can't wait for that to come up again though), though there's more depth (the underhanded "wear it in good health" to Omar when he held up the card game was hilarious). I know how Omar's story ends (perfectly IMHO) but for now these two will provide tension.

And the best part is the school kids. Man this is just really how school was for me in the South when I was an exchange student, hall passes as a currency, women with short practical hair who can make any class room quiet down by just appearing, and the violent pencil stab would have been comical in any pedestrian show but it's perfect here. Michael IIRC ends up sad too which I'm already devastated about even though the character hasn't had that much time yet, and of course Duquan is a tragedy. I feel for him knowing where he is by SE05 ending. But again, spot on portrayal of addiction and the cyclical nature thereof.

I can't wait to watch this unfold (and someone call Mr. Lyen for me!)

Is it known how Devonne is connected to Avon? I've heard she is Stringer's cousin, but I'm not sure if this is true. Can anyone confirm?

In the movie ride along with ice cube and kevin hart they’re looking for an Omar character. Kevin hart asks, “what are we looking for, does he have a scar and everything?”

I've watched series on YouTube where an expert or former specialist will break down scenes (gambling scene, military scenes, mob scenes in movies, serial killer scenes, etc) and they'll pull from tv shows and movies describing whether it's accurate, what they would or wouldn't do etc. Has there been any that show a clip from the Wire and break down the inaccuracies or accuracies? maybe a former Homicide detective. It's funny because I watched a Homicide detective show Training Day where they take the money and he said narcotics was the most corrupt department because they do take the money and no one knows how much was found (Herc, Carver lol)

When Bey says this quizzically to Bodie in the pit, it always cracks me up since I figure everyone knows who he is.

The introduction of the port and the workers at first felt out of nowhere and it took away some momentum but i can see the purpose of it. Just exploring a completely different corners and angles of the city. And Frank Sobotka was probably my favorite character, the actor Chris Bauer literally carried the season on his shoulders. Amazing emotional intensity and i loved his attitude/vocabulary.

Seeing the team together working on a different case made me beyond happy and the way how they enhanced Prez was amazing as well. I love how the show just naturally progresses. Another thing i wanna praise are the gunshots. By no any means the show is about nonstop shootouts but when the guns will go off, i love how loud they are with amazing echo. It sounds real with shell casings falling over the ground. And it also makes the gun as something you don't wanna play with - everyone in this show is scared of using guns. Everyone carries one with them but always holstered. Which helps so well with the escalation of all kinds of situations.

No music but only ambience of Baltimore helps a lot to pull you into this immersive world. There is no music that will stimulate your ears or force you into different moods - you are inside the rooms with the detectives with the walkie talkie on the background, computers clicking and so on so on.

After going through first two seasons i wanna say this: what i love and appreciate about this show is how matured and well written it is. All characters will shower you with different emotions, moods. I just don't feel like my time is wasted, nothing annoying or out of place or over the top because this is a television after all. The show understands its own skeleton and provides the viewer with the most rich and complex writing. So yeah second season was even better in my eyes - already did first two episodes of S3 and the momentum keeps going. It is insane how meditative but so fast the pace is.

Stringer in seasons 1-2 seemed like a cool and smart character. Then he just turned into a complete idiot

I finished the wire for the 1st time late last month and it is hands down the best show I’ve ever watched.

I’ve seen alot of people saying S2 is their favourite season however upon my 2nd re watch I still can’t get into it.

Can someone explain to me what they love about S2 specifically?

I know none of us are strangers to the 11/10 writing on this show, but I gotta point this out.

In S3e1, they first talk about bringing the murders under 275 for the year to help Royce against a potential Carcetti campaign. Colvin asks them “You can do anything to bring felonies down, like reclassify an agg assault, but how can you make a body disappear ?” And, obviously in Season 4 Marlo does just that. Long story short, I love this show.

This David Simon quote makes me appreciate the show even more:

instead of the old gods, The Wire is a Greek tragedy in which the postmodern institutions are the Olympian forces. It’s the police department, or the drug economy, or the political structures, or the school administration, or the macroeconomic forces that are throwing the lightning bolts and hitting people in the ass for no decent reason. In much of television, and in a good deal of our stage drama, individuals are often portrayed as rising above institutions to achieve catharsis. In this drama, the institutions always prove larger, and those characters with hubris enough to challenge the postmodern construct of American empire are invariably mocked, marginalized, or crushed. Greek tragedy for the new millennium, so to speak. Because so much of television is about providing catharsis and redemption and the triumph of character, a drama in which postmodern institutions trump individuality and morality and justice seems different in some ways, I think.

Going through a little The Wire withdrawal after watching the entire series. I've heard We Own This City is the same vibe and somewhat of a sequel of sorts to the Wire... just curious what you all think of this series and if it holds a candle to the Wire?

Jay tells McNulty “It’s all about self-preservation, Jimmy. Something you never learned (A Stranger Among us)”

I never really understood what Jay was trying to get at with this line. Was he basically telling McNulty to stop doing stupid shit ?

I just did my second rewatch. I waited five years so I could forget a good bit and really enjoy it the second time. I forgot Rawls is closeted, and it never comes out. In a lesser show, they would have outed him. I think it's great that they showed how a person in power can hide in broad daylight

S1E5 opening: Avon at the girlfriend's house and listening to the Big Fat Morning Show. Chris would appreciate it.

Finally have a partner that likes the grime and tragic comedy of Baltimore. I am able to translate the significance of the details in each scene and help her connect the dots as it unfolds. Scenes like the S1 bounty on Omar and his crew are done so authentically by the Barksdales that it's a new appreciation for me to rediscover these deep yet brief discussions.