Timber

Procedural? Really?

Gunde

But it doesn't. There's no other show like it. None.
That doesn't change just because someone don't like it.

Mike86

It's a decent series but tremendously overrated if you ask me. Very slow moving for my tastes, and generally I'm one who likes a slow burn type of series/film but it's too slow for its own good in my opinion. I get that it probably was closer than a lot of shows to showing how a case was worked, but it doesn't make it better for it if you ask me. I also had a tough time getting on board with most of the cast/characters as its a large ensemble that interchanges quite often so there isn't really much in the way of a character arc or whatever to get attached to.

RichC2

It was essentially rated R and well over 2 hours long, so I'm authentically surprised OP didn't enjoy it.

Why So Blu?

If you're not a fan of The Wire then you have horrid taste in film and television. I'm kidding but the only negatives I have ever heard of have been the beginning of season 2 and the docks. Once that connects then everyone who ever said anything bad about it changed their minds.

dsa_shea

I just finished the 3rd episode of season 2 about 20 minutes. Yes, it is a slow burn but I can already see where this is going and the picture that is being slowly painted. Also, they really integrate a lot of different characters into the plot. You never get the sense that there is only one or two main characters as there really isn't.

MysterioMan007

I watched it all the way through a few years back and, while I enjoyed it to a certain extent, I find it to be a terribly overrated show. It was slow and plodding and full of unlikeable, bland characters from both sides of the drug trade.

That said, I did think Omar was magnificent, as well a couple of the others, but on the whole, I can think of a ton of shows I'd rather rewatch than this. Do I think it's the best show ever on television? No, but everyone's entitled to their opinion and I wouldn't really argue with anyone who did.

Bill Needle

I generally agree with what you wrote. I watched the entire series over the course of a month. I would call it a top 100 show, but well outside my top 10. While I enjoyed it, I have never been tempted to go back and rewatch any of it. To "slow and plodding and full of unlikeable, bland characters" I would add the show just had an overall dreariness thanks to the subject matter and the setting which I think has an accumulative negative impact on the viewer.

I have wondered if watching it over a compressed a time frame helped or hurt my opinion of it. I might have lost interest and never watched it through if it had taken all six years to do so. Then again, I may have had more time to savor the series and individual episodes if I had watched it as it aired. That said, I came in late to Breaking Bad and marathon-watched the first three seasons just as the fourth was starting and enjoyed that immensely, just as I did the last two seasons watching them as they aired. I don't think it much affected my overall enjoyment of Breaking Bad one way or the other in that case.

creekdipper

Talked to a friend who lived most of his life in Baltimore (and still goes back to visit relatives). He was there during the O'Malley years, and he says that the show is a really accurate depiction of the city from his experiences.

mcnabb

I think the whole problem with The Wire expectations is that when people start throwing around 'The Greatest Show of All-Time', not every great show works for everyone, so you are setting them up for expectations it may not meet.

For example, I think Mad Men is one of the greatest shows ever, IMO, but I will not say that to my friends who have never watched it simply because I know the show isn't for everyone. I will always recommend it to anyone saying I loved the show, but I just know that not EVERYONE will thinks its the greatest so there is no need to throw that tagline around. The one's that will like it will probably agree with me, but I know there will be some of the my friends who will watch it and say, "I just don't what all the fuss is about?"

My point is that a show can be great, but it just doesn't appeal to everyone, so that is why there is this is essentially a thread 'Why can't I get into the Wire?" It's the same as the movie Taxidriver, as many of my friends told me it is this classic movie, and then I saw it and wasn't impressed. It is still a great movie to many, but it just didn't work for me.

Mike86

I can agree with that and I think that was largely the case with me and The Wire. It just got talked up by so many people (particularly on this website) that when I watched it I sort of just felt like "this is it?" Not a bad series but it doesn't live up to the hype. Same thing with Game of Thrones. I'm probably guilty of talking up Breaking Bad and other shows though too.

cdollaz

In my original post in this thread, from 2009, I mentioned that I was bored while watching season 1. Since it is on Prime, I decided to give it another shot, and my experience was much better this time. I just finished season 1 and liked it a lot.

Onward to season 2...

OldBoy

does HBO Go show the HD or SD version?

Gunde

Watch it again now that you don't have those expectations and I'm sure you'll join the club who sees the light

Original Desmond

I have all seasons in HD, ready to watch

I tried a few times in the past but haven't got through the 1st episode

I know it's a great show and when i get into it, i will be sweet

Any tips to get started ?

No spoilers obviously, are there are key episodes in Season 1 which when i get to, they are a "whoomp there it is" moment of brilliance ?

morriscroy

(As an aside).

Not to be a wet blanket, but If I have to "psych" myself in order to get into a particular tv show (or movie), then I have to question whether it is a show/movie that I would want to watch in the first place. Especially if I tried to watch the same show previously, but gave up after a few episodes.

This is independent of whether it is a good/excellent show by fan or critical acclaim. (ie. There were many "excellent" shows which I found difficult to watch, which I gave up after a few episodes. On the other hand, there were some "godawful" shows which I found I actually liked to watch, regardless of how much it was panned by critics and/or it was canceled early).

Original Desmond

That is true mate

I can get into most trashy reality dating shows quite easily

Groucho

The first six episodes or so set the plot, it doesn't get 100% going in the pilot. So I would commit yourself to watch at least those before giving up.

bluetoast

If people just say it's the best show ever and that's the only reason you're watching, that's not necessarily going to get you interested at first, especially since it starts slow. Just know that there are great moments, and you'll get to like some of the characters a lot, and don't focus on the "best show ever!1111" shit.

I got into it because it had a ton of actors from Oz, and I was very interested in seeing those actors in a different setting, and that's what hooked me into it at first.


Tips:

Don't feel like you have to binge this show. Sure, if you want to see a few in a row, that's cool. But this isn't Orange is the New Black. A ton of stuff is going on, and sometimes it's good to think about what happened for a bit before continuing.

The first episode sets up a lot. Read an episode summary after you finish, or even watch it again (or both).

In fact, if you feel confused, don't be afraid to read the Wikipedia summary of the episode you just watched. Don't read ahead or click into character pages obviously.

There are a shitload of characters. Don't worry if you can't keep track in the beginning. If you've seen The Sopranos, it's sort of similar, at first not being familiar with all these roles and hierarchies, but with even more people.

Noonan

The first couple of episodes are very slow to get going. But I promise by mid season 1 you'll be binge watching. I did the same thing...watched the first episode a few different times trying to get into it. Once I kept going, I never looked back. Best show ever.

jjcool

The few times I have tried to get into this show, I had the same reaction. The first few episodes are so incredibly boring. I still haven't gotten past them.

Count Dooku

Seriously, you should watch (at least) the first three episodes all together like a movie.

Unlike most TV series, The Wire throws a lot of information and characters at you right from the get-go, and does not stop to go over and re-introduce that material.

Watch as much as possible at the beginning in a minor binge, you'll get grounded in the world of the show, then you can sit back and enjoy the rest on a different schedule, but you will have much less trouble following what is going on.

Another thing to do is to find Alan Sepinwall's episode recaps, and read them after each episode.
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/0...t-newbies.html

Goat3001

I would try to commit to watching at least 4 episodes before giving up this time. But if it doesn't work for you then I say move on. Not everyone will like every show, even the ones that are considered 'great'.

Don't try to grasp everything right away. Just watch. The show hits the ground running and it feels that you need to know everything and everyone already. You don't. After a few episodes, it'll all make sense.

mcnabb

I'm going to give it another shot this summer, as I need something to watch as the only good show until the fall is Mr. Robot. I tried watching it last summer but got bored after a few episodes. I'm going to take a different tact this time as I tried watching it expecting a big cliffhanger (WTF moment) at the end of every episode that pervades TV today. My friends (who loves the show) told me not to watch it that way, as it's not like your standard Cable Drama.

bunkaroo

I recall needing at least the first half of Season 1 to really get going with it.

Also, if you find yourself wanting to multitask or look at a mobile device while watching, don't. Some lighter shows you can get away with that, but with The Wire you really need to pay attention and drink in all the details.