/r/TheWire

Photograph via snooOG

This sub is for any type of conversation related to The Wire.

To keep it spoiler free, if you're going to make a post about something that's happened in a specific episode, please use the spoiler tags.

Typing:

[This happened in season 2](/spoiler "Season 2")

will appear as this happened in season 2

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Rules:

  1. No image posts
  2. No self promotion
  3. No low effort posts
  4. Racism will not be tolerated
  5. No sopranos circlejerk comments

Violations may result in an immediate ban


The Wire - Complete Rewatch Table Of Contents

/r/TheWire

154,241 Subscribers

105

Why do people die whenever Newports are purchased?

Savino is killed buying newports Omar is killed buying newports Michael’s step dad is killed by Chris right after he buys Newports Ziggy kills that one guy and is seen smoking a Newport right after Stringer is killed in the same episode he smokes a Newport

My only thought it could be a metaphor that these characters self destructive tendencies ultimately lead to their downfall in the end? Either that or the writers smoked Marlboro and wanted to shit on the brand. What do y’all think

80 Comments
2024/12/03
03:08 UTC

20

Can somebody from baltimore talk abt life there when the show was live?

I gotta know what it was like living in baltimore from ‘02 - ‘07 while this show was live on air and how cool/accurate it was.

15 Comments
2024/12/03
03:01 UTC

16

Season 3 Episode 10 "Reformation"

Currently doing a rewatch and it still trips me out how the writers subtlety reveal that Rawls is gay and then never revisit or expand on the topic. One of the Million reasons this show is one of humanities greatest achievements.

6 Comments
2024/12/03
01:35 UTC

17

Namon Revelation

I always thought Namon’s character arc was one of the few bright spots in the show. Upon my most recent rewatch, I wondered - like Dukie is on a trajectory comparable to Bubb’s, and Michael is on a trajectory comparable to Omar’s- is Namon set up to become Royce, Gray, or Carcetti?

32 Comments
2024/12/03
00:11 UTC

8

What are the numbers on Kima's car?

S04E09 where Kima is talking to Bubbles about the guy who keeps stealing from him, there are numbers, like some counter, on her car door just near her window. Anyone knows what I'm talking about?

14 Comments
2024/12/02
19:00 UTC

125

re: Humanizing Landsman

Apart from the parts at the wake(s), when Landsman and Norris quickly respond to save Bubble's life when he tries to hang himself in the holding room, really shows you what he is like under all of his cop persona and company man. Bubs just puked all over him, he is cleaning up still and then just flies into action to save what appears to be a hopeless drug addict that Landsman would usually just shrug off if they died. But when faced with it himself, he was a proper human being.

60 Comments
2024/12/02
14:30 UTC

0

Det. Sydnor

How would you describe him? He’s always snarky and uptight. Not to mention, he ends up being the judge’s new bitch smh I don’t care for him

9 Comments
2024/12/02
03:08 UTC

137

SPOILER McNulty's first words to...

!McNulty's first words to Bodie are "do I know you?" and the reason Bodie is killed at the end of the series is because he knows and is comfortable enough with McNulty to get a casual meal with him. I like that symmetry. He even talks about how people "witnessing shit get got" which is what they got him for. This show rules.!<

9 Comments
2024/12/01
05:17 UTC

117

So my 75 yr old mom asked me during thanksgiving if I've seen the wire

It came randomly over desert and I had to do the math, I didn't see it first run on HBO but still watched it almost 15 years ago. We didn't quite get into Omar theology, but I figured I'd say The Wire is well alive young and old =D

17 Comments
2024/12/01
04:29 UTC

0

We own this city

The show is meh. First time watching it. I'm almost through it.

All these characters from the wire makes me want another season or two of the wire.

Dookie as an actor was just Dookie as a cop. I thought Donut was a more well versed actor. Marlo will always be Marlo.

Jenkins character is over acting - all those head twists? I just see shane from twd.

It's cool that it's based on a true story. I was hoping for that gritty feeling all over again.

Does anything ever compare? Did the wire set me up to dislike all other TV shows ?

Edit: typos

27 Comments
2024/12/01
02:12 UTC

43

Down in the Hole - my first watch!

Just finished The Wire for the first time. Feeling a wave of emotions but i can say I felt optimistic at the end of it - partly because of Bubble's redemption. In a way he sums up the essence of the show for me: humanity prevails in spite of it all. Though Dukie and Randy's fate will stay with me for a very long time though...

I just want to praise the writing and cinematography. Great dialogue with profound lines that make the parallel between the drug game and the game we're in. Moment of self awareness that they're in a rigged system like we are. Existential musings. Sooo good. It's probably why Season 1 and 3 are my favourites. Peak Wire for me is when it's strongly character driven. Though the sociological lens of Season 2 & 4 was interesting.

Cinematography is underrated. Some of the best ive seen. Raw, gritty, docufiction style. But also incredibly stylistic. A big reason The Wire feels so great imo.

Also I think this show has some of the best characters I've experienced in any medium. Stringer. Bubbles. Omar. These are legendary large-than-life characters who continue to live after the show.

Like any great art, is teaches us something. We learn cops can be gangsters in uniforms. Drug dealers can be noble. The importance of living by a code, and never giving up your integrity. The downfall of all the characters was because they forgot this; maybe because they're trapped in a dehumanising broken system.

The show's flawless except for one thing: Omar's Death. Half an episode to deal with the aftermath. Really? Also such a disrespectful death. I don't think he deserved that exit given the GOAT performance he gave.

Season 5 was fine. It was a good bookend. And the serial killer arc wasn't as far fetched as I expected it to be. Journalist angle was again more of The Wire being ahead of its time. Thought it was a fine closing chapter.

Also fuck Herc, the waves of destruction he left behind was enormous. Hammsterdam. Randy. Bubbles. Marlo walking. A collosal fuck up of a human being...

Here's some of my fav moments:

  • Best moment - stringer and avon on the balcony. "Just dream with me" "We don't have to dream no more". How much is said with just those two sentences wow. With the backdrop of a beautiful Balitmore night. For me this was the emotional climax of the show.
  • Angriest moment - randy and carver at the hospital. Blood was boiling for days after that one. Randy let down. Carver feeling helpless. Trying to do good in a system that won't allow it.
  • Most bad ass moment - Michael throwing hands outside of highschool. Easily.
  • Funniest moment - Lester and Bunk interviewing boat staff. Mishi mishi haha
  • most emotional moment - bubbles last speech.
23 Comments
2024/12/01
02:03 UTC

0

So was D just being funny or serious

When the boys were eating mcdonalds mcnuggets and D goes on his tyrade about Mr mcnugget inventing the nuggets, was he being metaphorical or do we actually think he believes the guy who invented the mcnugget was actually named mcnugget....

10 Comments
2024/12/01
00:14 UTC

99

Saddest Death

What do you think was the saddest death in the wire. Wallace gets me every time 😰

167 Comments
2024/11/30
22:10 UTC

40

First watch on s5e7 and I love the hobo serial killer arc tbh

35 Comments
2024/11/30
03:57 UTC

55

Homicide: Life on the Street now streaming in Canada

Noticed that Homicide is streaming on Crave when browsing it today. It lists 6 seasons, but actually all 7 are available. For some reason seasons 1 and 2 are both listed under season 1, causing a domino effect (season 2 is really season 3 and so on). I stand to be corrected, but I don't think you could stream Homicide in Canada until now without a VPN as Peacock is not available up here. Thought I'd share!

7 Comments
2024/11/30
00:46 UTC

16

Cutty Eyes

Does anybody know someone in real life that has the Cutty eyes? 😂 I know it’s random but it seems to be common with dudes from that generation. Could only imagine the wild shit they’ve seen that brings out that death stare

16 Comments
2024/11/29
12:32 UTC

172

The Wire Parody

https://youtu.be/DWmryAVUoL8?feature=shared For those that haven’t seen this Gem yet.

19 Comments
2024/11/29
02:57 UTC

22

We don't have enough love in our hearts for two wars?

It's one of my favorite McNulty quotes.

I was reminded of it the other day when someone posted the big "dope on the table" drug bust from the feds recently. Now that we're supposedly no longer fighting the global war on terror

2 Comments
2024/11/28
21:19 UTC

40

What books should I get if I like the Wire?

I've picked up Homicide, which is so far incredibly interesting and All the pieces matter, which I've not read

53 Comments
2024/11/28
18:02 UTC

11

Two arcs in season 4

Is it fair to say that Namond’s arc in season 4 was realizing he had a soul, while Michael’s was losing his soul. Part of this might be colored by the fact that I didn’t realize that Bug’s dad had molested Michael and Michael was being prejudiced against him for no good reason. (Sharp as a fucking cue ball I know).

15 Comments
2024/11/28
16:50 UTC

86

Who is your favorite character, and why is it Detective McNutty?

199 Comments
2024/11/28
12:53 UTC

10

Big Daddy Lipscomb

Just started watching season 2 again. Never really paid attention to when Frank and Chessy are discussing Gene Lipscomb, aka Big Daddy. They're arguing over whether he played right or left tackle. He in fact played neither, he was a defensive tackle. Defensive tackles don't play left or right, but rather will line up on the strong or weak side of the offense depending on the play.

7 Comments
2024/11/27
20:49 UTC

181

Baltimore criminal organizations dismantled in massive crime bust

Real life Barksdale, Marlo, Prop Joe, and Fat-face Rick gangs taken down together.

Looks like the Feds are back on the war on drugs after finishing the war on terror.

107 Comments
2024/11/27
16:43 UTC

26

McNulty

In season 5, McNulty actually had the entire police force chasing a fake serial killer? 😂 I don't know of it was because of his intelligence or incompetence of the Baltimore PD.

45 Comments
2024/11/27
15:06 UTC

67

Bubbles: “I ain’t seen some of these faces in so long… I thought they were dead.”

Johnny: “Same thing, ain’t it?”

5 Comments
2024/11/27
03:36 UTC

45

Shitbird?

Do people actually call other people this in real life, or is it just another bit of Simon posturing?

I'm from California, never heard that word there. East coast thing?

68 Comments
2024/11/27
02:53 UTC

18

Haven't seen this phenomenal series since HBO Sunday nights. Remember them?

Being a native in from Baltimore, this series had such an impact on so many. So many stories to share and talk about one of the best series on HBO. Every Sunday night was the best day of the week. I cannot belive it has been this long since I waited every week to see the next epoisode, and now doing this amazing rewatch. All the same emotions as well. Tonight, I could not stop laughing when I heard "You ain't nothing but a shakedown artist".

2 Comments
2024/11/27
01:32 UTC

22

Homicide - david simon

Some of you hardcores eill know this bit for those that dont...

I put up suggestions for books to read on here before and thanks to that I read "the corner" Book from where david simon and Ed burns spent a year on fayette stre etc on the corner

Gave me a real insight into addicts in baltimore , as a recovering one from UK it fascinates me. Absolutely great book , I could see the corners in my mind from the watching the wire.

Now I'm reading homicide where david simon this time spends a year in homicide. I can literally see the characters , imigine it all , everything from watching the wire.

No wonder the wire was do realistic he had 2 years of lived in research.

I'm loving it , putting the two together is almost like a alternative version but still familiar version of the wire , but even better wr have there own individual thoughts.

If your obsessed with the wire reading these two books needs to be made a priority One page of the book , sound familiar 🤣

EDIT - i don't know why the page did not attach. when the Edgerton and Ed burns going off and spending a year smashing a drug ring , spending a year on wires and tapes sounded familiar 🤔 😂 ed burns sounds like mcnulty and edgerton sounds like Lester.
Even down to the beef It caused in office

12 Comments
2024/11/27
01:21 UTC

98

Instances where characters repeat the same dialogue as other characters

I think the most notable instance is in season 4 with Namond repeating Clay Davis in the same episode. “I’ll take any notherfuckers money if he’s giving it away.”

Another instance I caught was in season 5 Gus asking what it feels like to work for a real Newspaper, then later Jimmy asking what it feels like to work for a real police department. I want to say in the same episode Gus uses a similar shameless shit reference Clay Davis uses.

Literally as I’m typing this I heard Jimmy say “This fucking game is rigged” Bodie used this line as well.

Both Avon and Brother saying “The game is the game.”

What other instances are there if any?

88 Comments
2024/11/26
22:53 UTC

57

Michael k williams

Mr omar little was my favorite character in the series. I finished the wire and started with the sopranos and to my surprise he has a role in the sopranos too

41 Comments
2024/11/26
10:13 UTC

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