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shadowkatFinished watching The Wire Season 1 tonight. It sort of hooks you right around episode 9 and won't let go. I couldn't wait to see the next episode. And I got emotionally invested in certain characters and really despised others. (Stringer Bell? I'm looking at you. )
It bookends rather well - so well in fact that you can tell the writers outlined all 13 episodes ahead of time and wrote them out, story-boarded them, and then did the teleplays. Ed Burns and David Simon are mostly responsible for the plot arc. Ed Burns according to Wiki is a former Baltimore police detective for Homicide and Narcotics division and public school teacher, before becoming a novelist and screenwriter, he co-wrote the miniseries the Corner with Simon, and recently wrote the mini-series Generation Kill in Africa. Simon was head-writer of Homicide Life on the Streets - which was in turn based on a non-fiction novel and in part on Burns' experiences in Baltimore as a Homicide cop.
In regards to how realistic the series is? I can tell you that a former DEA agent, who worked in DC and Baltimore during that time period has stated that yes, this is exactly what it is like. And from my own personal experience working as an intern with legal aid, public defender's office, and defense project - yes, that's what that world looks like and the series is realistic. Depressingly so, in some respects. It reminded me of why I decided not to pursue a career as either a legal aid attorney, prosecutor, or defense attorney and why I want nothing to do with that world. You end up much as Jimmy McNulty and Nekome Greggs discovers in the hole. What's that line from Joseph Conrad's classic novel "Heart of Darkness"? You stare long enough into the abyss, it stares back at you.
Reality aside? The series snakes its way inside your head and grabs a hold of you. Last night I was furious, but I could not wait to see what happens next. The characters live inside you, they take root in your imagination. But not in a fanfic sort of way - more in a -- yes, I've met that guy, or I want to know what happens to him, curious, sort of way, if that makes sense?
It's so tightly written, that Stringer Bell tells McNulty the same thing McNulty told him in the beginning. Nice circular structure. Also every storyline is wrapped up at the end. This season could literally stand on its own, it does not require a second season. Which explains why people who loved the Wire may get irritated with a show like Game of Thrones or True Blood - which is not a self-contained unit and ends on a frigging cliff-hanger. I like both, but I admit the series that wrap up neatly with a satisfying ending to each season - are a treat, there's no long wait, no frantic hunt for more or spoilers, you don't have to commit to it, and it leaves you fulfilled, like at the end of a satisfying four course meal.
Damn, I can't write anything quickly, can I? This is why I don't really like Facebook or Twitter.
The reason I'm writing my impressions after each episode - is I sort of want to see if my views on the series and the characters change as it enfolds or stay the same.
1. I have a serious hate going on for Stringer Bell. OMG. I want him to pay. I want the dude to get cancer and suffer! Feel the same way for Avon Barksdale and Cheif Dupty Burrell and that annoying Senator.
2. McNulty is sort of a tragic hero type, but what is interesting is he doesn't quite fall into the noble hero cliche that we normally see on these shows. He is undercut each time. And even states to Daniels - it was never about Avon Barksdale, it was about me, Jimmy McNulty. And it goes back to his exchange with Stringer Bell - who is in some ways the Drug Dealer counter-part of McNulty or McNulty's mirror self. In the beginning of the series - McNulty tells Stringer who is drawing a cartoon and sitting in back of the D'Angelo court case - where D' gets off and makes Rhonda, the State's Attorney look like an idiot, "nicely done." In episode 13, at the end, Stringer Bell stops by McNulty - leans over him, and whispers in his ear - "nicely done" - this is after D' is sentenced to 20 years hard time for possession. D' doesn't corroborate, instead everyone else does and Stringer gets off - able to continue the cartel, keep it going. McNulty asks Bunch, "what have I done?"
3. In episode 4 or maybe 6, can't remember, Lester tells McNulty that when they come to ask him where he doesn't want to go, and they will definitely ask him this - because McNulty got in their face the same way Lester had - to keep his mouth shut. Sure enough it happens in Episode 13. And McNulty ends up a cop on a boat - waterfront patrol. (Clearly setting up for the next season.) While Lester, amusingly enough, gets transferred back to Homicide detail from the pawn shop, and becomes Bunch's partner. (Was happy with this turn of events.)
4. Greggs isn't sure what she'll do. She doesn't easily give them her shooters. She gives them the one she saw. Does not lie. Bunch tries to get her too and says, if you do, it will play easy, and Greggs states - sometimes you have to play it hard. (Real Police). Her life-partner/spouse, Rosewood, doesn't want her to stay a cop. (I think she was studying to be a lawyer, I could be wrong about that. But I recongized the case file that she asked her life partner about in a previous episode.)
5. D'Angenlo's story is truly tragic. I hate his mom, and I hate his uncle - whose best interests are with themselves and having a nice life paid with money soaked in blood. No choice, my ass. You have choices - that's my problem with that world - they refuse to acknowledge that they have choices.
And own them. But it is true...what D states, when you brought up and conditioned to do one thing, it is very hard to get out of it. It feels...impossible. There's a sense of inertia dragging at you, pulling you back into the hole. Hence the soundtrack - staying out of the hole, but no matter what these characters do - they are in it. It's ironic - their choice to use drugs to escape the hole is what digs them deeper and deeper inside it. As Carver points out - that's why we'll never win - they mess up, they get beaten, we mess up - we get pensions.
6. Bubbles is also tragic...he can't stay clean, it's clear he's fallen off the wagon. NeKome's inability to immediately help him, and McNulty's inability to do it - was perhaps too much? No, I think it goes back to what Walton stated - it's easy to get sober in three days, no problem. It's life, coping with life without drugs that is the problem. It's why you got addicted to drugs in the first place - that's what needs to be resolved. Bubbles can't cope with "reality" - it hurts too much, so he goes back to the drugs. And always will. His story can't have a happy ending.
7. Daniels - lost his promotion...to politics. The white guy got it over him, because he didn't bow to the chief. But the case - he began to care about the case even more than McNulty did. The hope that he could make a difference.
8. Damn, they killed another of my favorite characters. If Avon and Stringer don't get it in the next four seasons, I'm going to be pissed. Wallace. Poor dear Wallace. And Stringer making Brodie and Poot, Wallace's buds, kill him? I don't blame D for wanting to corroborate after figuring that out.
I would. Frigging Stringer Bell. Pure evil.
9. D's mom makes her first appearance, and she is an interesting character...wish there was more of her. Find her a lot more interesting than Avon Barksdale, who sort of just annoys me.
10. Lester gets together with the gal who used to be hanging with D, I rather like that relationship.
They have some nice scenes together. But my ships really aren't romantic, although I think McNulty and Pearlman are hot. I love McNulty/Greggs - particularly how Greggs gets him to help Bubbles.Although it's too little, too late.
11. Oh and Wee Bay copting to every killing on the planet, including the one we know D'Angelo did.
Okay, next week will be S2 - that's next in the netflix gueue. Can't wait to see what they do next.
These two episode redeemed the last two. And while the series is annoyingly male dominated, more women characters popped up. Also admittedly the city homicide/narcotics departments and the drug dealers at the top of the game were mostly men in the late 90s and 80s, it's changing now - we are seeing more and more women. The information age has opened things up a bit.
Overall rating? A-/B+ (somewhere between the two)
It bookends rather well - so well in fact that you can tell the writers outlined all 13 episodes ahead of time and wrote them out, story-boarded them, and then did the teleplays. Ed Burns and David Simon are mostly responsible for the plot arc. Ed Burns according to Wiki is a former Baltimore police detective for Homicide and Narcotics division and public school teacher, before becoming a novelist and screenwriter, he co-wrote the miniseries the Corner with Simon, and recently wrote the mini-series Generation Kill in Africa. Simon was head-writer of Homicide Life on the Streets - which was in turn based on a non-fiction novel and in part on Burns' experiences in Baltimore as a Homicide cop.
In regards to how realistic the series is? I can tell you that a former DEA agent, who worked in DC and Baltimore during that time period has stated that yes, this is exactly what it is like. And from my own personal experience working as an intern with legal aid, public defender's office, and defense project - yes, that's what that world looks like and the series is realistic. Depressingly so, in some respects. It reminded me of why I decided not to pursue a career as either a legal aid attorney, prosecutor, or defense attorney and why I want nothing to do with that world. You end up much as Jimmy McNulty and Nekome Greggs discovers in the hole. What's that line from Joseph Conrad's classic novel "Heart of Darkness"? You stare long enough into the abyss, it stares back at you.
Reality aside? The series snakes its way inside your head and grabs a hold of you. Last night I was furious, but I could not wait to see what happens next. The characters live inside you, they take root in your imagination. But not in a fanfic sort of way - more in a -- yes, I've met that guy, or I want to know what happens to him, curious, sort of way, if that makes sense?
It's so tightly written, that Stringer Bell tells McNulty the same thing McNulty told him in the beginning. Nice circular structure. Also every storyline is wrapped up at the end. This season could literally stand on its own, it does not require a second season. Which explains why people who loved the Wire may get irritated with a show like Game of Thrones or True Blood - which is not a self-contained unit and ends on a frigging cliff-hanger. I like both, but I admit the series that wrap up neatly with a satisfying ending to each season - are a treat, there's no long wait, no frantic hunt for more or spoilers, you don't have to commit to it, and it leaves you fulfilled, like at the end of a satisfying four course meal.
Damn, I can't write anything quickly, can I? This is why I don't really like Facebook or Twitter.
The reason I'm writing my impressions after each episode - is I sort of want to see if my views on the series and the characters change as it enfolds or stay the same.
1. I have a serious hate going on for Stringer Bell. OMG. I want him to pay. I want the dude to get cancer and suffer! Feel the same way for Avon Barksdale and Cheif Dupty Burrell and that annoying Senator.
2. McNulty is sort of a tragic hero type, but what is interesting is he doesn't quite fall into the noble hero cliche that we normally see on these shows. He is undercut each time. And even states to Daniels - it was never about Avon Barksdale, it was about me, Jimmy McNulty. And it goes back to his exchange with Stringer Bell - who is in some ways the Drug Dealer counter-part of McNulty or McNulty's mirror self. In the beginning of the series - McNulty tells Stringer who is drawing a cartoon and sitting in back of the D'Angelo court case - where D' gets off and makes Rhonda, the State's Attorney look like an idiot, "nicely done." In episode 13, at the end, Stringer Bell stops by McNulty - leans over him, and whispers in his ear - "nicely done" - this is after D' is sentenced to 20 years hard time for possession. D' doesn't corroborate, instead everyone else does and Stringer gets off - able to continue the cartel, keep it going. McNulty asks Bunch, "what have I done?"
3. In episode 4 or maybe 6, can't remember, Lester tells McNulty that when they come to ask him where he doesn't want to go, and they will definitely ask him this - because McNulty got in their face the same way Lester had - to keep his mouth shut. Sure enough it happens in Episode 13. And McNulty ends up a cop on a boat - waterfront patrol. (Clearly setting up for the next season.) While Lester, amusingly enough, gets transferred back to Homicide detail from the pawn shop, and becomes Bunch's partner. (Was happy with this turn of events.)
4. Greggs isn't sure what she'll do. She doesn't easily give them her shooters. She gives them the one she saw. Does not lie. Bunch tries to get her too and says, if you do, it will play easy, and Greggs states - sometimes you have to play it hard. (Real Police). Her life-partner/spouse, Rosewood, doesn't want her to stay a cop. (I think she was studying to be a lawyer, I could be wrong about that. But I recongized the case file that she asked her life partner about in a previous episode.)
5. D'Angenlo's story is truly tragic. I hate his mom, and I hate his uncle - whose best interests are with themselves and having a nice life paid with money soaked in blood. No choice, my ass. You have choices - that's my problem with that world - they refuse to acknowledge that they have choices.
And own them. But it is true...what D states, when you brought up and conditioned to do one thing, it is very hard to get out of it. It feels...impossible. There's a sense of inertia dragging at you, pulling you back into the hole. Hence the soundtrack - staying out of the hole, but no matter what these characters do - they are in it. It's ironic - their choice to use drugs to escape the hole is what digs them deeper and deeper inside it. As Carver points out - that's why we'll never win - they mess up, they get beaten, we mess up - we get pensions.
6. Bubbles is also tragic...he can't stay clean, it's clear he's fallen off the wagon. NeKome's inability to immediately help him, and McNulty's inability to do it - was perhaps too much? No, I think it goes back to what Walton stated - it's easy to get sober in three days, no problem. It's life, coping with life without drugs that is the problem. It's why you got addicted to drugs in the first place - that's what needs to be resolved. Bubbles can't cope with "reality" - it hurts too much, so he goes back to the drugs. And always will. His story can't have a happy ending.
7. Daniels - lost his promotion...to politics. The white guy got it over him, because he didn't bow to the chief. But the case - he began to care about the case even more than McNulty did. The hope that he could make a difference.
8. Damn, they killed another of my favorite characters. If Avon and Stringer don't get it in the next four seasons, I'm going to be pissed. Wallace. Poor dear Wallace. And Stringer making Brodie and Poot, Wallace's buds, kill him? I don't blame D for wanting to corroborate after figuring that out.
I would. Frigging Stringer Bell. Pure evil.
9. D's mom makes her first appearance, and she is an interesting character...wish there was more of her. Find her a lot more interesting than Avon Barksdale, who sort of just annoys me.
10. Lester gets together with the gal who used to be hanging with D, I rather like that relationship.
They have some nice scenes together. But my ships really aren't romantic, although I think McNulty and Pearlman are hot. I love McNulty/Greggs - particularly how Greggs gets him to help Bubbles.Although it's too little, too late.
11. Oh and Wee Bay copting to every killing on the planet, including the one we know D'Angelo did.
Okay, next week will be S2 - that's next in the netflix gueue. Can't wait to see what they do next.
These two episode redeemed the last two. And while the series is annoyingly male dominated, more women characters popped up. Also admittedly the city homicide/narcotics departments and the drug dealers at the top of the game were mostly men in the late 90s and 80s, it's changing now - we are seeing more and more women. The information age has opened things up a bit.
Overall rating? A-/B+ (somewhere between the two)
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no subject
Date: 2011-06-24 02:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-24 04:03 pm (UTC)Nekoma - unclear where she's headed. McNulty on a boat at the waterfront. Omar back - last scene is Omar's - where he's clearly back as a thorn in Stringer Bell's side.
The FBI pursuing the politicians. And Brodie/Poot picking up where D'Angelo left off...while Avon's sister and Stringer take over his business as he serves time.
You can do a lot with those threads alone.