The Wire (S1)
Jun. 2nd, 2009 06:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
falafel_musingsI've been ill today, can't stop coughing. Ugh.
Well, finally finishing The Wire: S1...
If I'm being honest, I wanted to love this more than I did. I mean, when there's that 'Down in the Hole' theme, a Tom Waits song performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama, of course I want to love this show. But I've struggled with it. I don't know if I'll continue.
I'd say it comes down to my own taste and issues, not any fault of the show itself (which is first rate). I've never been crazy about the crime genre, either in TV or literature. So even the very best, well-constructed, realistic, powerful crime story is going to be a little wasted on me. Also, it's very realistic. Which isn't a criticism, but personally I don't have a lot of stamina for heavy realism. I'm a fan of Mike Leigh or Larry Clarke films, but if you asked me if I wanted to watch a 13 hour film by those directors I'd be reluctant. Even if it was a great 13 hour film. The pace was often too slow for me. Much of the crime plotty stuff I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to. Mostly I loved individual dialogue scenes more so than the overall story - 'Snot got shot' and 'Mr Nugget'. Scenes like that.
Even though there was a great balance between the law and the crooks, I was much more invested in the street characters. They had more grit and poetry to them. I found characters like McNulty, Kima and Bunk were mostly likeable, but I didn't care about their side of the story as much. I got a little worried over Kima getting shot, but I was fairly certain she'd pull through.
*sigh* Bodie and Wallace were my favourite characters. That ended well for me, didn't it? That scene was so disturbing and soul-killing. I'd almost been scared off the show by Brandon's murder. I think after Bodie killed Wallace I've got to get out of the game. I felt very much like DeAngelo did about the whole thing. Aww, I had respect for Dee in the end. Bodie and Wallace just made me so sad. I guess it was obvious from the chess scene that Wallace was going to be the pawn who was out of the game early and Bodie was going to be the smartass pawn who fights his way across the board. It's kinda poetic that one pawn takes the other pawn out. Horrible, but poetic. It is going to be hard to shake that image of Wallace crying and Bodie yelling at him to "Be a man!" while his gun hand is trembling. I felt like they were both victims really. Bodie is right that in the game you have to step up or step out. They were both 16 year old kids who were trying to do their best; the only difference being that Wallace thinks in terms of 'good' or 'bad' and Bodie thinks in terms of 'strong' or 'weak'. Bodie is never getting out of the game now. He's sold his soul to it. That's almost as tragic as Wallace's needless death.
On a lighter note, I adore Bubbles. Who is that magical actor who plays Bubbles? He is magical. He's the one character that tempts me to keep watching despite the ruthless violent depressiveness. I loved the friendship between Bubbles and Johnny Weeks (but Johnny has AIDs so I'll have to deal with him dying too, no doubt). My favourite moment of the series was Bubbles standing up for his "sincere desire to live" at the rehab meeting. It was one of the few uplifting moments. But then he failed to tell McNulty he was getting clean and ended up using his money to buy more dope (noooo!) The other character I think is outstanding is Omar. He's a legend. He is like the Baltimore Robin Hood. I had to get this icon of Omar's scary yet hysterical expression in the final scene.
So yeah, I'm really undecided over whether I want to watch more. There are some characters I love, but I don't like getting invested in characters only to have them die horribly and then having to go on without them. It happens too much to me. But if I quit now I will miss Bubbles hats, Omars whistle and Bodie spitting through his teeth.
Well, finally finishing The Wire: S1...
If I'm being honest, I wanted to love this more than I did. I mean, when there's that 'Down in the Hole' theme, a Tom Waits song performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama, of course I want to love this show. But I've struggled with it. I don't know if I'll continue.
I'd say it comes down to my own taste and issues, not any fault of the show itself (which is first rate). I've never been crazy about the crime genre, either in TV or literature. So even the very best, well-constructed, realistic, powerful crime story is going to be a little wasted on me. Also, it's very realistic. Which isn't a criticism, but personally I don't have a lot of stamina for heavy realism. I'm a fan of Mike Leigh or Larry Clarke films, but if you asked me if I wanted to watch a 13 hour film by those directors I'd be reluctant. Even if it was a great 13 hour film. The pace was often too slow for me. Much of the crime plotty stuff I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to. Mostly I loved individual dialogue scenes more so than the overall story - 'Snot got shot' and 'Mr Nugget'. Scenes like that.
Even though there was a great balance between the law and the crooks, I was much more invested in the street characters. They had more grit and poetry to them. I found characters like McNulty, Kima and Bunk were mostly likeable, but I didn't care about their side of the story as much. I got a little worried over Kima getting shot, but I was fairly certain she'd pull through.
*sigh* Bodie and Wallace were my favourite characters. That ended well for me, didn't it? That scene was so disturbing and soul-killing. I'd almost been scared off the show by Brandon's murder. I think after Bodie killed Wallace I've got to get out of the game. I felt very much like DeAngelo did about the whole thing. Aww, I had respect for Dee in the end. Bodie and Wallace just made me so sad. I guess it was obvious from the chess scene that Wallace was going to be the pawn who was out of the game early and Bodie was going to be the smartass pawn who fights his way across the board. It's kinda poetic that one pawn takes the other pawn out. Horrible, but poetic. It is going to be hard to shake that image of Wallace crying and Bodie yelling at him to "Be a man!" while his gun hand is trembling. I felt like they were both victims really. Bodie is right that in the game you have to step up or step out. They were both 16 year old kids who were trying to do their best; the only difference being that Wallace thinks in terms of 'good' or 'bad' and Bodie thinks in terms of 'strong' or 'weak'. Bodie is never getting out of the game now. He's sold his soul to it. That's almost as tragic as Wallace's needless death.
On a lighter note, I adore Bubbles. Who is that magical actor who plays Bubbles? He is magical. He's the one character that tempts me to keep watching despite the ruthless violent depressiveness. I loved the friendship between Bubbles and Johnny Weeks (but Johnny has AIDs so I'll have to deal with him dying too, no doubt). My favourite moment of the series was Bubbles standing up for his "sincere desire to live" at the rehab meeting. It was one of the few uplifting moments. But then he failed to tell McNulty he was getting clean and ended up using his money to buy more dope (noooo!) The other character I think is outstanding is Omar. He's a legend. He is like the Baltimore Robin Hood. I had to get this icon of Omar's scary yet hysterical expression in the final scene.
So yeah, I'm really undecided over whether I want to watch more. There are some characters I love, but I don't like getting invested in characters only to have them die horribly and then having to go on without them. It happens too much to me. But if I quit now I will miss Bubbles hats, Omars whistle and Bodie spitting through his teeth.
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 06:59 pm (UTC)They were both 16 year old kids who were trying to do their best; the only difference being that Wallace thinks in terms of 'good' or 'bad' and Bodie thinks in terms of 'strong' or 'weak'.
That's a really great analysis. Being in 'the game' tells you the latter is the only important one, and sadly that seems to play out more convincingly for the young people caught in its snares.
The characters you mention caring for have great story arcs to come. However, the show remains brutal in its grim realism and remains slowly paced. Also, you will undoubtedly get your heart broken more than once every season. Given this I was prepared for an awfully bleak series finale, but it ended on a rather positive note.
If you want I can share some spoilers via e-mail that might make you want to continue, or decide for sure if this is the right time to check out.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 09:35 pm (UTC)I find Bodie interesting because he is so committed to his work and finds a sad noblity in doing things right - right in terms of what the game dictates that is. I'm sure if Bodie was born somewhere else he could have put his dedication and ambition to better use. Wallace was an intelligent kid with lots to offer too. He was just flakey. He had the conscience to know he was in something bad, but he lacked the conviction to stay or break free. Who is better out of Bodie or Wallace? Is it better for a kid to have convictions or to have a conscience?
Yeah, spoilers might be good actually. I'm not sure I can hack this show in the long run. But I'd be curious to know what happens to Omar, Bodie and Bubbles. I really like DeAngelo too, but I'm wondering if his story has been resolved now he's going to prison. Send me a PM if you like!
no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 09:44 pm (UTC)I didn't think to put the subtitles on! I did find the accents and street lingo hard to understand at first, but I slowly got a feel for it.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 10:06 pm (UTC)Wallace's death might be the finishing point for me. It was such a horrifying upsetting moment, not just for the victim, but for the two killers who were kids of the same age. Just the illustration of how the young people are being destroyed in this environment.
get the scene of Omar testifying against Bird. It's great.
Ooh! THAT I want to see. Omar is magnificent.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 09:08 pm (UTC)I am not getting over Wallace's death anytime soon. But oh! Omar coming back? Omar coming back? I can't quit this show. Your analysis is brilliant - like the chess game. You are brilliant. And I understand you - but me? I can't. I won't. I adore this show.Wow. It has blown me away.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-02 10:13 pm (UTC)I'd love to hear your Wire analysis!
Also; thanks for bookmarking my Mad Men fic. *hugs*