Talking the Wire: Season 1 Episodes 1,2

My weekly conversation with Nicole and Elizabeth!

So...now that we've watched the first couple of episodes, what do you think? Does this show live up to the hype? Do you still want to "Talk The Wire"?

Nicole: My first though was that it definitely didn't live up to the hype. The acting in some places didn't seem all that great to me, and I was wondering what all the excitement was about. Of course, we are watching the very few episodes so the series is very new and still finding it's feet. I was a little overwhelmed by all of the action and all of the players in this story. There are a bunch of people to track...The FBI, the police, the criminals...and everyone has these agendas and particular personal relationships.

Amy: It doesn't live up to the hype yet, but I could definitely see the appeal after one episode. I will keep watching for sure as I feel it's the kind of show where the tension builds slowly, and that feels a lot more realistic than a lot of television. I did feel like I needed to wash my ears without soap, though, LOL.

Nicole: I definitely agree with you.about both the appeal and the attention because as I was watching I kept seeing the potential, and though I was a bit confused, I definitely wanted to see what was going to happen next.

Elizabeth: I am not feeling it yet. I think I need to feel a connection to a character before I can really fall completely into the story, and right now I'm just overwhelmed with all the new people - trying to remember names, faces, interactions, etc. Like you both said, I do see that it has potential - I am curious to see how the storylines will develop, and I like the idea of getting the viewpoints of all the different players - good guys, bad guys, etc.

There are several different divisions and factions in this series, the police, the FBI, the drug dealers...is there any group that is more interesting for you to watch? Have you established any loyalties this early on?

Nicole: I am having such a hard time keeping everyone straight! I don't really have any firm loyalties, but I am finding that I am liking a few out of each of the group. I really love the beginnings where the guys are hanging out and talking about life and applying its principles to what is going in the street and just for a general education. The conversation about Jackson being on the 20- dollar bill, and how he had to have been a president because there was no other way that an ugly white man was going to find himself on a piece of currency. If you don't know anything about presidents, then that is one way that you will be able to recognize at least a few of them.
Amy: I am totally confused about this. I'm hoping it all gels in my mind and makes sense. I feel fairly invested in all of the stories at this point and find the way in which they unfold to be interesting. I thought the Lance Reddick character's conversation with his wife (what's his name on the show?) to be absolutely brilliant. "You can't lose if you don't play the game."

Elizabeth: Hmmm. I don't think I've picked a "side" so far, but again, I am certainly interested to see how each segment plays out. I'm specifically interested in the narrative style - it seems very much like Lost, in that it throws a whole bunch of people at you right away, and then takes (I'm assuming) the rest of the season to sort them all out.

Which character do you like the most and why? And then which character has been the most memorable?

Amy: I like the female cop and I admittedly like McNulty. I feel something for the conflict going on in D'Angelo Barksdale as well. I think I'm really going to like this show for the complex and flawed characters.

Nicole: Which one is D'Angelo? Is he the head guy? I am feeling something for the cousin who used to manage the towers but was demoted. The series started with him getting away with murder and playing the tough, but he also seems to be conflicted about the fact that an innocent man may have been killed for testifying against him.

Elizabeth: I like Kima, the female cop. I like the actor who plays Stringer, so I'm interested to see how his character plays out. I have a feeling this might not be a show where I actually LIKE very many people, but still find them fascinating.

Watching the Wire (and talking about it. Because I like to talk about what I watch)

Remember when Elizabeth and I watched and discussed Supernatural? And then I became totally obsessed and tweeted about it all the time, too? (#TeamDean!)

It was so much fun we wanted to do it again with another show. And then Nicole wanted to do it, too, so it's more of a round table this time and such a fun one!

We chose The Wire but since I tell you why I want to watch it below I'll be quiet now, except to let you know we'll be watching and discussing 2 episodes a week so if you've ever wanted to watch this show often hailed as the best show ever, (yeah right that's LOST) then please join us!

Watching The Wire

An Introduction

How did you first hear about The Wire?

Nicole: I don't really know. The Wire was one of those shows that over time just seeped into my consciousness. Everyone was always talking about how good it was and how realistic, but I am pretty sure that I might have been in the middle of watching Oz on demand and that was all of the gritty realism that I could take at the time. The Wire was also on on that time when it was impossible to hear anything bad about HBO programming. They literally could do no wrong- even though I am still mad that they canceled Carnivale before I could figure out exactly what was going on.

Amy: Well, I think I probably read about it on the TV sites. I used to read TV blogs and TV Guide Online everyday before books marched in and took over my whole life. I don't have HBO so I couldn't watch it. But unlike any other media art form, I almost always trust television critics. They really know their stuff so if they liked the Wire, I figured it was at least worth my time.

Elizabeth: I was watching the fantastic show Six Feet Under on HBO when The Wire premiered, so I knew about it right from the start. (And Nicole - I hear you about Carnivale - my husband and I still have dreams that some other station will pick that series up and at least give it an ending!)


Were you interested in watching it right away? If you were what stopped you? You do realize this show is no longer on the air, don't you?

Nicole: I was watching Oz all of the tine and didn't have any room for The Wire. But I also think that I may have tried to watch a few episode in the middle of the series and couldn't get into, and just thought it was best to not join in watching in the middle.

Amy: I've never had HBO so I couldn't watch it when it was on. I've been interested in watching it for a long time though. If you tell me it's well written, I'll probably be interested.

Elizabeth - I initially dismissed it as just another "cop show" - I knew that if it was made by HBO it would probably be good, but it wasn't until I started hearing raves about it that I actually decided to watch it at some point in the future.

What have you heard about the show?

Amy: Just that it's incredible, very dark and gritty.

Nicole: I have heard the same thing as Amy. It's supposed to be super realistic.

Elizabeth - gritty and realistic, and apparently "the best show ever on television".

What are your expectations on the show? Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to or dreading?

Amy: I'm interested in how I handle the darker side of it, if I'll be appreciate the art through it.

Nicole: I am expecting to watch a good show. I read The Turnaround by George Pelecanos and I really enjoyed reading it so I am very curious to see his work on the small screen. This was one of those shows that was discussed around the "water cooler", so I am hoping that Amy, Elizabeth and I will be able to have those moments as well.

Elizabeth - I've seen SO much praise for The Wire that I have incredibly high expectations. I almost worry going into it that there is no way it can live up to the hype surrounding it. I'll be interested to see if I can get over the "cop show" aspects, because I don't normally find those all that interesting.