The Wire: Greatest Show Ever Made

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Tuco

Tuco

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I know I'm late to the game so I'm probably just reiterating everything that's been said for years but I was just thinking about how of all the characters and themes in the show Carcetti rustled my jimmies the most.

I knew it would happen, too. When they introduced his well-meaning but ambitious politician I knew they'd make a likable character and have him corrupted by a gray system. I knew they'd show a glimmer of hope and change and it'd go to shit because of the system.

But still. We'd have a totally different show if Carcetti took the money from the state, kept his promises to Daniels and focused his efforts on doing what he promised and cleaning up Baltimore. Instead as soon as he gets in a position to help he focuses on winning the governorship and everything goes to shit. Yeah it was Carcetti's choice but look what it got him: the governorship.

Fucking thing sucks.
 
iannis

iannis

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Yeah. You knew it was gonna happen because it's a trope. It's a trope because that's what happens. And it fucking sucks. It would be an entirely different show if the Mayor wasn't trying to run for Governor. It'd be an entirely different country.

We want it to be one way, but it's the other way.

Edit: Shit's as old as representative government. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was not an original or novel concept. I think with Carcetti what they managed to add was a little bit of relevant detail to the standard devils bargain. In that case it wasn't greed, it wasn't even ambition -- it was straight up arrogance with a dash of narcissism. Black campaign manager guy watched it happen as it happened, and it even shocked his jaded ass into impotent anger.
 
chaos

chaos

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I think the thing that is really frustrating about Carcetti is that he isn't straight up corrupt like Royce was. He's well intentioned, even for not taking the money from the state etc. But he probably really believes that as governor he would be in a better position to help the city, one that outweighs taking that money once. But to see him fall short on his promise is kind of sad.

Yahoo spoiled Omar's murder in an article today, shit is not right.
 
Tuco

Tuco

I got Tuco'd!
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chaos_sl said:
I think the thing that is really frustrating about Carcetti is that he isn't straight up corrupt like Royce was. He's well intentioned, even for not taking the money from the state etc. But he probably really believes that as governor he would be in a better position to help the city, one that outweighs taking that money once. But to see him fall short on his promise is kind of sad.

Yahoo spoiled Omar's murder in an article today, shit is not right.
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The other thing I forgot to mention is that when Carcetti was campaigning to become Gov he promised half of whatever funding to another district. That money was supposed to make it morally acceptable to skip to the governor's seat instead of fixing bmore.
 
ohkcrlho

ohkcrlho

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Re-watching again because my girl never saw it (a sin i know).
And still is the best show ever.finished 1st season and she is enjoying a lot
 
Crone

Crone

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I've tried to watch this show at least a half dozen times, and I think I'm just watching it at the wrong times. I get distracted, busy, and kind of bored in the first couple episodes. I can never get very far.

It's terrible, because everyone says how good it is.
 
iannis

iannis

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Its starting to get dated enough that some elements in the production could distract you. I think I watched a season of it again last year and I noticed things that were like, "Well -- that's a soundstage, isn't it?"

Or it may just be because it was a rewatch and I wasn't quite as engrossed in the script.

It was the vibe of the thing that pulled me into it the first viewing of it. And yeah, if you're busy/distracted then the vibe won't catch you. The writing really is very good. But hell, you know, I have to be in the mood to read Dostoevsky. And I know going into that book that it's going to be absolutely masterful.
 
TomServo

TomServo

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I would say give yourself a solid half day and do about 4-5 episodes straight. Shit is like shakespeare for urban america.
 
Slaythe

Slaythe

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I love Season 1 on a rewatch but I do remember having some issues the first time through. Just so many characters that all look alike (lol black people right?) and story lines to follow. I distinctly remember not reallycaringabout anything until a specific moment with one character and that doesn't even happen until like episode 9.

Rewatch the season is ace though, but there is a lot of depth you're just kind of dropped into.
 
TomServo

TomServo

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Tuco_sl said:
The other thing I forgot to mention is that when Carcetti was campaigning to become Gov he promised half of whatever funding to another district. That money was supposed to make it morally acceptable to skip to the governor's seat instead of fixing bmore.
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That shit is straight up taken from Omalley's (current governor of Maryland and former mayor of baltimore) campaigning. He left in place a administration that saw the hand chosen successor charged criminally and forced out of office. He is every inch Carcetti with the same infidelity (has twins with a mistress) and whose wife is a raging alcoholic and baltimore city district judge.
 
Bondurant

Bondurant

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Problem is video format : 4/3 480p isn't really engaging nowadays, unless you have a $1000 AV upscaler. If you're downloading RIPS from Internet and watch them with on your shitty monitor, chances are you'll get more fun burning ants with a lighter.
 
Ossoi

Ossoi

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Crone_sl said:
I've tried to watch this show at least a half dozen times, and I think I'm just watching it at the wrong times. I get distracted, busy, and kind of bored in the first couple episodes. I can never get very far.

It's terrible, because everyone says how good it is.
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took me several attempts too, it took 6-7 episodes for me to get hooked
 
Adebisi

Adebisi

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I didn't see the true brilliance of the show until the scene in S1 where Rawls pulled McNulty aside and told him the shooting of Kima's was not his fault. In any other show the Rawls character would've been like "YOUR BADGE AND YOUR GUN ON MY DESK! YOU'RE FINISHED, MCNULTY!" in an eye rolling, lazy writing, cliche cop-copboss scene. No other show takes the more complicated grey area where real-life exists like The Wire does.



Edit: for those who don't have the context here, Rawls hates Hates HATES McNulty for reasons seen earlier in the season.
 
spronk

spronk

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uya6w3U.gif
 
ohkcrlho

ohkcrlho

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Adebisi_sl said:
Edit: for those who don't have the context here, Rawls hates Hates HATES McNulty for reasons seen earlier in the season.
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That scene is really great because you realize rawls is a "professional" and doesn't fuckin care about his hate towards McNulty due to a bigger problem in hands (kima being injuried)
 
spronk

spronk

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that whole episode or two where the cops go from being bumblefuck lazy guys who scheme to do as little work as possible, to ultra professional batman-level crime fighters when a fellow cop is the victim was pretty cool, especially with the long buildup of "man these guys are all shitty cops"
 
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