Just finished watching the third episode of Season 4 of The Wire on HBO2. Hands down, this is the best show on television. Period. End of discussion. Nothing else even comes close. I have to admit that I am a latecomer to the party. Last year I finally took the plunge and got HBO on DirecTV. Saw that Season 4 was starting in the fall and DVR’d all the episodes, only to have my stepdaughter erase every one of them before I could watch them. For plan B, I asked my wife to purchase Season 1 on DVD. Thankfully, she came through and I devoured those discs in a matter of days. Couldn’t stop watching. Ordered Seasons 2 and 3 in rapid succession. Thanked God that Season 4 was being repeated this spring. I have made watching these shows appointment viewing.
There is so much to say about the show, starting with the smart writing and great acting, the knowledge of Baltimore (which could serve as any major city in the US), and the things that make you think. Season 4 deals with the school system and the stories it is telling can be funny, truthful, and heartbreaking. Each of the seasons have been satisfying television viewing, and putting them all together makes it like reading a novel, as opposed to what passes for good network television that solves problems in 30 or 60 minute segments.
The Wire has spoiled me on network fare. I was a devout Grey’s Anatomy watcher, but now find that I don’t care whether or not I watch from week to week anymore. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good show, but TW is greatness. My wife and my oldest stepdaughter love GA, but won’t watch TW, though I’m trying to convince the wife to give it a shot. It may work yet.
There is so much I could write about that it would be the longest blog post on record. Since watching the show I am on the lookout for blogs, articles, any kind of news about The Wire. I know that it will end after Season 5 (a prospect that I’m not looking forward to), but at least when all is said and done, I will have all five seasons to look back on and enjoy over and over again. There is a reason that HBO site for the show is linked on my blog. There are also forums and recaps at sites like Television Without Pity, TV.com, and others. If you are like me and just now seeing Season 4, sites like Slate, the San Francisco Chronicle and Heaven And Here blogged the season. Be careful not to read ahead of where you are watching the show. And I know I’m missing many others out there. I find that I’m not alone in my fandom. Joey from Straight Bangin‘ is a fan, as is Bill Simmons from ESPN (aka the Sports Guy). I see more and more names popping up at the TWP forums.
This is my shout-out to The Wire, the greatest show on television. Low-rated, but smart, intelligent, well-written, great acted, thoughtful television.
I agree with you: best show on TV, hands down. HBO has a lot of other great ones, but nothing quite so ambitious or breathtaking as The Wire. I’m kind of dreading the start of Season 5, as that means the series will soon be over.
phenomenal, groundbreaking, easily the closest thing to reality television.
Grey’s Anatomy is still on my must watch list, but not with the intensity of The Wire.
My wife wont touch it.
As a teacher, watching parts of season 4 with me was just too difficult for her.
Its literally TOO real for most people.
DaveyWayne,
I’m watching Season 4 now (as you probably read in the post) and it really is intense. I still haven’t convinced my wife to try it, but my sister watched a show with me recently and she enjoyed it. She says she’ll watch the earlier seasons, but we’ll see…