I see that every episode seems to be listed individually here,but,this is my review for the first season of "The Wire"..it was recommended to me by an American podcaster,Michael Vox.
I have watched it all on DVD..Season five (the last season) is just starting in the U.S.Season 4 on DVD is on my shopping list for this week.
A Slow slow , burner ...at first you think,how on earth am i going to follow this ?, all these characters, the judicial and police jargon , and the impenetrable patios, that," well , you ain't maybe never gonna get with that program Iiieeeeat?"...('alright') ,the long slow story arc really pays off...
There are some flaws, the acting quality is a little patchy, but the sum of the parts overcomes that .. i listened to a smidge of the writer's commentary , and i think 'the Wire' does do what he intends..it's not just a 'cops versus bad guys' ..'us and them' , detective story..it does make you think about the 'human condition' through the specifics of the characters...not all the bad guys are 'unsympathetic' characters..not all the 'good guys' are so good...i think we all know this but it's very satisfying to see played out..basically it's just great T.V.
Despite being an H.B.O. programme,"The Wire" has remained a "cult" hit,it seems. Spotting "Wire" characters ,as they go from strength to strength in movies has been fun ..and many of the top characters are British.Hurrah!
In the case of Idris Elba "28weeks later", i just had no clue,his accent is flawless,i'd say. I vaguely recall his appearance in "Absolutely Fabulous"..same goes for Dominic West " Mona Lisa Smile","300",although he did seem more familiar.
Channel four seemed to have aquired the rights to put "The Wire" on its "On Demand" online facility...but nothing has shown up yet..Thing is ,of course is that hardcore fans really only want to see season four and five. We've bought on DVD or downloaded up to now.
. A 'technical' gripe from me..why is this in 4.3 for cryin' out loud? Is it a budgetry consideration?. Maybe this has been an issue preventing take-up by a mainstream outlet in the U.K. I see that it is has shown on "F.X" a digital channel that i do not have
and some of those 'lesser' channels are still in 4.3..whatever...