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The Wire - It's all over. **no spoiler**

char1ie

By char1ie
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char1ie

char1ie

Posted
Posted

Last night HBO showed the final episode of the final series of The Wire. The fifth series was as good as the previous four, this time focusing on the role of the Baltimore Sun and of the press generally. The link between policing, politics and an obsession with Compstat, the metrics-driven crime measures that Rudy Giuliani loved so much, is still in evidence.


Like a lot of good series it has ended before getting tired. A very smart programme, it isn't perfect but even with its faults it manages to be the most realistic crime drama on the box. Where most British crime drama is based on the Agatha Christie tradition of murder, mystery, investigation, confession, The Wire focuses on the challenges of gathering evidence in an under-funded, bureaucratic, low-motivation police force.


David Simon's book - Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets documents The Wire's creator's year with the murder police in Baltimore and has the same themes. Simon's experience is the reason The Wire is so accurate. HBO's subscription system has also contributed to The Wire's success. Being more relaxed about viewing figures has allowed the writers to dispense with the traditional narrative structure in a single episode and concentrate on great story telling. The use of slang and street speak is anathema to most American TV production and again reflects HBO's confidence as a make of quality TV.


Audiences love villans and good guys, a simple plot, clear story telling, a nice clean struggle between right and wrong, and a happy resolution. There's none of that with the Wire. Instead the good characters are flawed and hampered by the system within which they work, the bad guys are part of the same system and there is never a happy ending. The mix of politics, statistics-driven policing, poverty, bureaucracy and the culture of crime combine as a single common enemy. The story is long and acts as a powerful critique of modern inner-city crime prevention methods.


Charlie

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SeanMacGabhann

SeanMacGabhann

Posted
Posted

I was in NY last weekend and the final episode was airing - it were a right bugger avoiding spoilers


The back page of the New York Times just contained one picture (of one of the corners) and the words "The End" - sigh....


At least I have all off series 5 still to watch


cheers for the update char1ie

barrymarshall

barrymarshall

Posted
Posted

I am halfway through series four - got UK edn because I wanted to prolong the enjoyment.


Heard that the UK won't get series four on telly till summer but won't get series five till next year - this true?! Cos if so, I shall have to download series five from the interworld.


Still the best programme on TV ever, though, IMO.

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