The Wire (TV Series) Soft Eyes (2006) User Reviews

4x02

[formotog · 7/10 · 24 August 2020]

This episode was okay I guess. The Wire has become more and more of a soap opera as it's gone on, the difference being from most soap operas that the writing is actually very good. However, there are so many plot threads and they're all so slow, with a lot of them having little or nothing to do with the detail. This show is a look at life in Baltimore I suppose, but in that regard I am simply not that interested. I came for the crime and police work, and that has decreased more and more with each passing season. I think the extreme realism is both this show's biggest strength and biggest downfall. Something can be very well written, but it doesn't make it interesting. This episode, basically a whole load of not that much happened. We're now following schools and kids, and the ending made it very clear that this season will be addressing the structural problem of a city neglecting its children. Is that a noble venture? Yes, absolutely. Does it make for engaging, thrilling television? Well if these two episodes are anything to go by, it's gonna be a big no from me

Low 7

Great opening episodes of season 4

[851222 · 9/10 · 20 November 2023]

Greetings from Lithuania.

First two episodes of "The Wire" season 4 were very good and in terms of what you have seen before - in terms of quality. Still you have to look with microscope to find more grounded and realistic depiction of life then one seen in The Wire. Even now, with show being almost 20 years old. And with season 4, i think i see were its heading already with kids being in front and center. But thankfully not upstaging characters were already were established in previous parts. And with only two episodes in season 4 i'm already looking forward to see what comes next. Great episode.

This is The Wire

[LeCronopio · 10/10 · 30 June 2020]

I have no close memory -and certainly not from this year (2019)- of experiencing a constant feeling of admiration as the minutes go by on a screen, of knowing that you are facing a work that simply corresponds to another order of quality. The narrative level that The Wire executes is exceptional; It has an epic volume, it is a forest of realities converging in the total circumstance: life in Baltimore, the life of all. Striving to be substantially tangible, The Wire develops with dazzling caution, not afraid to grow too big and push everything too high, but instead makes it its attempt. Life on this trivial planet is necessarily complex and diverse to make us unaware of it; the realities are so many that whoever is not pushed by his own circumstance will be in an inevitable ignorance of the real human struggle. The Wire features everyday cards in an apparently random episode to play the hand and synthesize the plot two seasons later; The Wire shows you a man constantly wanting to redeem himself and failing, taking minute steps in the passage of the days, weeks, months, stumbling and turning four steps back, suffering from being unable to be more, and returning not much beyond where he ever managed to get in Four seasons, to teach you that this is how also redemption looks, that this is a story of a man who seeks to grow: that this is Bubbles. His arc is simply moving, admirable; it is the fight of man.

How a daily eventuality causes the concretion of a whole political plot; how a negligent former detective and a former drug addict cross their redemption in a school, now as a teacher and a tutor; how a letter waits patiently for stations to enter the game, how the background of an old and forgotten friend McNulty feels so organic and plausible, how death and crime and drug trafficking and corruption and kindness and empathy and indifference and love are still truly present, making everything significant to the extent that those who live want to be. It's like this, life is like that, not big closing acts, not dramatic twists, not total answers; life is all the big and small Baltimore stories, life is everyone's constant trivial battle: life is The Wire. That is the premise that at this point I can not deny myself to confirm, that since the end of season three I began to suspect as indisputable: The Wire is the best television series ever made. The Wire is the cuspid of audiovisual narrative, yesterday and today.

Rate: 10/10.

I'm just a poh-lice

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 7 October 2022]

Carcetti, Royce and Grey take part in a televised debate, whilst Freamon gets Rhonda to subpoena senior figures connected to the Barksdale investigation.

This is another excellent episode with great character moments.

A lot of characters are given screen time in this story and we see a lot going on for multiple individuals. The most intriguing aspects for me involve the political battle for the office of mayor which ties in well to crime level and a recent homicide. How this all connects through various well known characters is cleverly done.

The fruits of Freamon's efforts in the previous investigations are not just a devious strategy by the character, but also a great example of a well thought out series narrative by the writers who have the knack of timing certain plot lines perfectly. All scenes relating to this are superb, especially Daniels' comical reaction.

Much like the previous it is a very funny episode is certain aspects. Herc has easily the most humorous scenes after his opening encounter. Plus even though it feels wrong to laugh at car theft, the subject is used to great effect here by the writers and the character Donut.

The corner boys have great moments of character development once again, with strong emphasis placed on Mike and Namond. These are all brilliant characters who provoke intrigue, sympathy and entertainment.

Others with memorable screen time include Herc, Carver, Dennis, Bubbs and Prez.

As always the social themes covered by the writers are fascinating. The contrasting sides to the city are very well done shown. In one scene you see affluent characters dealing with their children's private education whilst the next depicts children relying on handouts from drug dealers to buy school clothes.

Plus the way certain character arcs parallel each other from top of the food chain like Clay Davis taking drug money to the likes of Namond and De'Londa doing the same.

The production values are top drawer as ever. I particularly like the shot of Herc walking through the hall containing the portraits of past mayors.

For me it's a 9.5/10 but I round upwards.

A very nice episode but the ending made it unforgettable for me.

[LamboWalker · 10/10 · 19 April 2021]

Here I am 15 years late watching this masterpiece and it ends with the kid playing a game from the similar time frame called Halo 2, the exact same game I bought today and played the same level as him. That's some coincidence if any!