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I'd encourage you to view the show through a less ideological lens. One of the compelling aspects of the show for me is that the characters are written as human
by grzm 9y ago
I'd encourage you to view the show through a less ideological lens. One of the compelling aspects of the show for me is that the characters are written as human, rather than some tropes. While you may not always agree with the actions they take, you can understand their motivations. And for the most part, they're not simple, by-the-book, characters.
The Season 2 example you provide I think is a good example of this: McNulty is a flawed human (just as we—and all the characters on the Wire—are) and is fully capable of wanting to do right and sometimes not behaving perfectly, just as the people at the station. I think these reactions were quite realistic. Would McNulty have stopped the prostitutes? Would people hearing of the station had other reactions? I'm interested to know how you would have had it play out differently.
Good art can allow us to reflect on the state of our humanity, just as you have here. Some art can be inspirational, but not all of it needs to be. I think the Wire does an exceptional job of illustrating how difficult it can be to fix real problems in some American cities.
- RodericDay 9y agoI still think it's a really good show! This stuff aside, it's a well developed drama with compelling characters and high production values. Even the politics themselves are better than the harrowing status quo in many places. I just think that people to easily bestow upon it the "best ever" distinction. edit: As for how it could have played out differently, I'm not sure. Maybe the madame scenes would have been cut altogether? I think The Shield does a way better job with its "McNulty" equivalent.
- grzm 9y ago> I just think that people to easily bestow upon it the "best ever" distinction. Do you have other contenders? I personally avoid superlatives in general, so I would hesitate before using "best ever" in any context, but I can't think of other examples of American television that I personally would rate higher. Many I've talked to about the show feel similarly. While many tend to use superlatives more casually that I would, I don't think in this case it's necessarily a case of hyperbole.
- RodericDay 9y agoI would rate Six Feet Under higher. The Shield probably a bit higher. Spartacus as well, but people really get mad when I bring that up haha. Also, not american, but Ping-Pong: The Animation. Maybe throw in Utopia there too. Thick of It also.
- jessaustin 9y agoIMHO "The Shield" is the only possible rival to "The Wire". Who is the McNulty equivalent in that, though? Surely not Vic? McNulty was never truly that cynical; his cynicism was an act. Perhaps you're thinking of Shane?