I just recently started rewatching The Wire and I remembered how good it is and how much I love it.

Series opening scene:

Justin watched it first and kept telling me to watch it, but I could never get past the first episode. It was too complicated and didn’t lend itself to my usual TV-watching style: one eye one the TV, one eye on the computer, attention usually somewhere else entirely. The Wire demands your full attention and rewards your concentration with visual story-telling at its finest: outstanding writing delivered by brilliant actors. Needless to say, I eventually made it through that first episode and then roared through the whole series, berating Justin all the while for not having told me about this great show sooner.

In case someone out there still hasn’t seen it (what are you waiting for!?), the show’s creator, David Simon, said the show is “really about the American city, and about how we live together. It’s about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution they are committed to.”

Over the course of five seasons, all set in Baltimore, the show examines various institutions and the people within them. Season 1 looks at the illegal drug trade, focusing on the police department and the drug dealers. Season changes locations and shows the “death of work and the betrayal of the American working class” as depicted by the stevedores at the Baltimore port. Season 3 looks at the city government and bureaucracy and the nature of reform. Season 4 focusses on education and Season 5 on media and media consumption.

All five seasons are full of great writing and amazing stories, with lines that stay with you long after you’ve finished watching. I’ll leave you with a few of my favorites.

  • The game is rigged, but you cannot lose if you do not play.
  • We used to make shit in this country, build shit. Now we just put our hand in the next guy’s pocket.
  • No offense, son, but that’some weak-ass thinking. You’re equivocating like a motherfucker.
  • Look, man, I’ll do what I can  do to help you all. But the game is out there. It’s either play or get played.
  • Ain’t no shame in holding on to grief, as long as you make room for other things too.
  • Thin line between heaven and here.
  • All in the game yo, all in the game.
  • It’s Baltimore, gentlemen. The gods will not save you.