Before this season, I had #2 ranked as the worst one of the five. Didn't grab my attention as much as three and four did. I'd rank 'em: 4, 3, 1, 2, 5 at this point.

And yes, I think Season 5 is the worst of the series. Don't get me wrong, it's better than 95% of all TV out there even at this level, but I never really got into the newspaper storyline, not to mention the only character which rose above a cliche was Gus. There was just too much going on to cram into two fewer episodes, and it didn't really start to get good until the Clay Davis trial. The last three episodes redeemed this season, definitely.

shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

EXTENDED THOUGHTS

Seeing Dookie shoot heroin at the end broke my heart. Remember when he was all happy playing on the computer in Prez's classroom?

Now what? With my life an all.
I have to find a new goal or something.

Prez, my favorite character.
I have suffered for all of them, but after the whole five seasons, my top dramatic moment will always be when Prez made that terrible mistake in season 3. I was speechless for minutes.

OTM.

also, am I wrong or was Bug one of the little kids wearing a white t-shirt and working a corner?

Andrew, nice summation. But what's this about a t-shirted Marlo going back to the game? I missed it...!

Sin, I hope you're wrong about Bug. I'll have to rewatch that whole last part.

Wonder if Kenard was getting busted for Omar's murder--he was being taken in by homicide, eh?

The best part about that ending montage is that it leaves you able to discuss the fate of all these characters and what was actually going on rather than telling you. Really kind of a cool way to continue the show without it actually continuing.

Yeah, Bug was not working the corners. Michael definitely isolated him from all that.

Dookie becoming the new Bubbles was one of those soul-crushing moments, too.

Though I did notice Kennard was was one of the four kids Bunk saw acting out the shootout at the Barksdale stash house in Season 3. Kennard was the one who yells out 'I want to be Omar.' I mean, just for little moments like that, which tie into later seasons, you're definitely rewarded if you're a hardcore fan.

Great link, Dr. Bill. Pretty much my exact thoughts, too.

Finally, I had heard Dominic West talk about a possible Wire movie down the road, maybe in 2-3 years in some interview this week. So, it may not be completely over...

I don't think it's healthy how emotionally attached to this show I am.

I've been kinda sad since I watched the ep Saturday night.

After his mid-season cameo w/Marlo, I was hoping that Avon would've been part of the final montage.

I wanted a bit more Randy this year too. I think him and Avon's storylines both kind of ran their course, though.

Dominic West talked about a movie? I thought David Simon said anything else added to the show would just repetitive? I loved the idea they had for a season 6 if there were to be one(Baltimore's Hispanic pop.), but I just don't see how that would work in the span of 2-3 hrs.

SHIT! I hadn't noticed that!

!! I hadn't realized that was Kennard too. Which goes a long way toward explaining why he killed Omar once he became "all gimpy."

Kennard is also the kid after Omar grabs Michael in Season 5 who upon seeing him limp away, says 'THAT'S Omar?!?'

One positive of The Wire ending is that the odds of me never having to see or hear Steve Earl again in my lifetime dramatically improved.


Until I watch the DVDs, I guess.

I TIVO'ed the final Wire episode on Sunday and hemmed, hawed, did whatever it took, to avoid watching it, like avoiding saying goodbye to a friend. I watched it today and was not disappointed. Reading this thread, I realize I missed some of the subtlety and may have to watch again.

Terrible, terrible website.

Black people love "The Wire," too.

Black people LOVE the Wire.

My understanding is that tape trading (yes VHS) of Wire episodes is HUGE in the hood and swap meet world.

Boy howdy. It was bad enough watching him and his massive comb-over, then come to find out that's who's singing this year's theme. I always muted it though.

When was the shot of Rawls in the gay bar? Season 3? I was surprised that never factored into things. (And kind of glad it didn't, come to think of it.)

Yeah season 3. I guess he would've been ok at the state level...he was a decent cop, just not a great human being.

It was that and then the "Rawls sucks cocks" thing later on. Nothing that really could have been done besides those two things- the Landsman chuckle in the bathroom was funny enough.

http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/wire...id-simon-q.html

Great Simon Q+A from after the finale. Really good stuff.

Nice to finally have a resolution to the Cheese/Randy Wagstaff mystery.

Also this:

LOL at "laying pipe".

Thanks for posting the link to the Simon interview. Loved it.

It was a bad thing to find after 4AM when I wanted to go back to sleep, I'll say that much.

RIP Bodie, Bird- from final montage.

Bird died?

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/...al_montage.html

i watched all of season 5 in the last week, finishing it up tonight. wow. i'd still say it is probably the weakest overall season, but you can't just top season 4. that's close to impossible. great show.

three nights this past week i had dreams where prominent characters were featured. back-to-back nights i had a dream that marlo had kidnapped me and another where i was slinging for him on rooftops.

I was watching Bulworth this evening and who shows up? Fuckin BUNK!
He plays a CSPAN reporter. Young too and in it quote a bit.

Just started episode 7 of season 2. [spoiler]Bodie just bought a flower arrangement.[/spoiler] This is now in the top 10 shows of all time, and I'm so mad at it.

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"Chris Barksdale from Baltimore"



Speaking of Wire people in other stuff, I watched the movie I Think I Love My Wife a couple weeks ago and Omar and Bunk are both in it. Not worth going out of your way to see it just for them, because they're only in it for about a minute total, but it was still a really cool surprise.

David Simon will be receiving a honorary degree from DePaul at my commencement in mid-June. I heard this yesterday and it blew my mind.

One of my graduation pictures will be with that prickly bastard.

I just finished Season 1. Couple things:

1. Great freaking show
2. Omar is one of the best characters ever, right out of some Sergio Leone western. Classic.

I wish I could watch Season 1 for the first time all over again.

omg i know.

In the middle of season 1 now, moving slowly through it. It's brilliant.

It came to me by the recommendations of, like, all of my professors. My thesis adviser, who's way into theory of urban space. Another is trying to teach a freshman writing seminar on it next year!

Season 4 is the most perfect season of television ever made.

It totally is. :::sigh::: The Wire.

Is Hamsterdam season 4?

That's season 3, I just finished it.

Watched episode 1 of season 4 last night. I'd say up to this point the last two episodes of season 3 are the best Wire episodes and maybe the best two hours of television ever aired.

4>2>the rest

The greatness of season 4 sneaks up on you.

Some people I've heard don't like 2, I think it's cool.

not comfortable w the presence of working class whities

Season 2 is my least favorite. I'm just not into the docs.

I liked Hamsterdam, but it felt so unreal, I didn't really think it matched up to the reason of the series.

I loved 2, and I see the beauty of 4, but 3 was my favorite. The Hamsterdam experiment, the Avon/Stringer resolution, Omar creating the need for Brother Muzone...I just thought it was the best combo of The Wire's perfect blend of drama, social commentary, character development and flat-out entertainment.