You read it here first. It is the only TV show to have its own AGB category. Without even clicking - or hovering, you cheat - on the links, regular readers already know what I'm on about.
The Wire: Get. On. Board.
For a year or so, it only appeared on overseas blogs and newspapers. In the last year there has been the occasional article in Australian papers. Last week Ross Stevenson was talking about it on the radio: "Burnso," he announced to his on-air partner at 5:37 am, "get The Wire." The word is starting to spread.
Today there is a review in the Green Guide. But come on: comparing The Wire to Underbelly is like comparing Ripping Yarns to The Body in Question, Herman's Head to Q&A, The Biggest Loser to Crusty Demons Beyond the Apocalypse, or Hugh Jackman to a singer.
The Wire is incomparable... no matter how many times I compare it. I mean, it is better than Packed To The Rafters:
An obscure US crime drama, The Wire, goes beyond TV to become a must-watch DVD experience, writes Greg Hassall.
FORGET Underbelly, the most-talked-about show at the moment is The Wire, an obscure US crime drama that wrapped up production more than two years ago. Some people finished it long ago but can't stop proselytising, others are at various points through the show's five seasons. The one thing they have in common is that they didn't watch it on TV — certainly not on Channel Nine, where it aired sporadically over the years in the dead of night; not even on pay TV, where the first four seasons have aired. No, The Wire is a DVD show, pure and simple.
In the opinion of many, this writer included, The Wire is the best television show ever made. Dense and complex, brutally realistic but rich in allegory and symbolism, it demands and rewards a level of engagement that other shows don't.
I watched the first episode a few weeks ago, wasn't overly sold but this isn't the first recommendation so I'll grab the next one and have a look..
Posted by: Moses @ BeerandSport.net | 06 March 2009 at 12:01
I missed The Wire during it's original run as it was on during HBO's "Golden Age" (2000-2006) and frankly I didn't have enough time to watch everything!! There was just a gluttony of great shows on that channel at the time - The Wire, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Sex and the City (for my lady), Oz, Deadwood....Cathouse: The Series.
After the celebration that was the end of The Wire series and an endless stream of "this is the greatest TV show of all time" reviews I felt I just had to watch it.
Not. Disappointed. In. The. Least. I just finished Season 1 in 2 weeks of almost continuous viewing and am getting through Season 2 now.
I thought that The Sopranos had created the most complex "world" on TV, but that has nothing on The Wire.
What the hell happened at HBO??? They have just been putting out DRECK over the last two years. For 2000-2006 they just could not miss. Some of their new shows have almost been unwatchable - John From Cincinnati (horrible Californian "spirituality"), True Blood (Vampires???), Lucky Louie (some kind of wierd Live TV sitcom -- live TV isn't funny). It's just been an assembly line of bullshit.
Posted by: James Dudek | 06 March 2009 at 23:07
John From Cincinnati: try-hard cooloid spiritual surfer wank. I lasted about three episodes.
True Blood: try-hard, teen cooloid spiritual vampire wank. I lasted about half an episode.
Posted by: Tony | 06 March 2009 at 23:54
I loved herman's head.
even before the Bart Simpson chick sang Cry Me A River.
and The Wire?
it's only obscure, to MSM reviewers' who don't deserve the comp DVDs they receive.
Posted by: Ann oDyne | 12 March 2009 at 19:17
Ok, downloaded and being viewed. Views to follow.
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 12 March 2009 at 20:26
Better than Deadwood? Cripes, it must be good. Tone, have you seen The Street? Exquisite. And what is it with Foxtel with the best channel on TV -- Showcase -- they don't even include its content in the lists they send to media. And I bet they spend shiploads on marketing.
Posted by: Slatts | 15 March 2009 at 16:47
Slatts, I loved Deadwood, but I reckon it sagged in the arse end. While seasons one and two, especially season one, were very good, they were running out of steam during season three. The makers must have known it, too, which is probably why it was canned after season three. Probably cost a quid to make, too.
The Wire is definitely better than Deadwood. A lot of viewers will tell you the best season was season five, the closing season about the media and the Baltimore Sun, but I reckon the makers tried too hard to close it off. For the record: I prefer seasons one, two and three. Still, season five is certainly better than any season of Joe from Cincinnati, True Blood or Wipeout Australia.
Posted by: Tony T | 15 March 2009 at 18:58
Great show, really enjoyed it. Refreshing to see them not go for the big end of season cliffhanger. Getting my hands on Season Two tomorrow and looking forward to going nuts on it.
I still reckon the first series of Murder One was a ripper. They lost the plot in the second year, but the first one was great. Overall I'd rank The Wire higher, but for a cliffhanger finish Murder One was more than worthy.
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 16 March 2009 at 20:27
NO Wire Cliffhangers! Ever!
Posted by: Ann oDyne | 23 March 2009 at 19:09