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The Wire/Homicide:Life on the street
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:45 pm
by Marv
No special reason for this thread, I was simply wondering if there are any other fans of these two shows on The Watch. I'm on to season 3 of The Wire and it's awesome. Similar in style and content to Homicide just a tad more glossy.
I've loved Homicide for years, I just wish they hadn't botched the series so badly when it was originally on tv. You can get the whole of one of the best episodes, 'The Subway', on youtube. A fella gets pushed in the way of an on-rushing tube train and is subsequently caught between the platform and the train. The Homicide detectives get called in because he's essentially a living, breathing corpse, cos as soon as they move the tube he'll die. The two main actors won awards for the parts in this episode. Go watch it!
As dozens of commuters look on in horror, John Lange (Vincent D'Onofrio) falls between the cars of a subway train. No one, however, is quite certain whether Lange fell accidentally, jumped, or was deliberately pushed. But the homicide detectives on the scene are certain about one disturbing fact: If any attempt is made to move Lange, he will probably die on the spot. As the grimly philosophical Lange awaits the inevitable, the detectives search for two people -- one of whom may be a killer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhplAN8ie2w&feature=related
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:01 pm
by Cail
I loved Homicide, I refuse to pay for HBO, so I haven't seen much of The Wire, but what I've seen is very good. I highly recommend David Simon's books. Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets is one of the funniest, most horrifying books I've ever read.
On a side note, I've actually met several of the guys from the book Homicide. They're pretty much all local legends.
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:28 am
by sgt.null
Homicide is my all-time favorite tv show. Donofrio is one of julie's favorite actors. the Subway episode is simply on of the best episodes of a tv show.
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:29 am
by CovenantJr
Revival!
A friend just introduced me to season 1 of The Wire. It started slowly, but after about three episodes I loved it.
Now I want season 2...
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:44 pm
by sgt.null
Homicide has been put on dvd for everyone's viewing pleasure. I am at season I - only because i have been getting the Lost series as well.
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:20 am
by Vraith
Never seen the wire, but I loved homicide (despite occasional stupid bits, and the fact that my wife HATED the film techniques).
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:31 pm
by dlbpharmd
I've been wanting to start The Wire for some time now, but Blockbuster has it on long term wait.
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:15 am
by CovenantJr
dlbpharmd wrote:I've been wanting to start The Wire for some time now, but Blockbuster has it on long term wait.
It's worth holding on for.
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 4:28 pm
by dlbpharmd
CovenantJr wrote:dlbpharmd wrote:I've been wanting to start The Wire for some time now, but Blockbuster has it on long term wait.
It's worth holding on for.
You weren't kidding CJr - I'm about 8 episodes into Season One, and it's great!
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:49 am
by CovenantJr
I just started season 2 of The Wire. Like season 1, it's starting slowly. I'm not really sure it's working all that well. It seems to lack the charm of season 1, and the characters are mainly just flitting around aimlessly. I'm increasingly of the opinion that, like the Barksdale case itself, The Wire was a one-off unrepeatable phenomenon. Still, I wasn't sure about season 1 at first either, so I'll give it time.
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:05 am
by dlbpharmd
CovenantJr wrote:I just started season 2 of The Wire. Like season 1, it's starting slowly. I'm not really sure it's working all that well. It seems to lack the charm of season 1, and the characters are mainly just flitting around aimlessly. I'm increasingly of the opinion that, like the Barksdale case itself, The Wire was a one-off unrepeatable phenomenon. Still, I wasn't sure about season 1 at first either, so I'll give it time.
Please do. I've watched all 5 seasons since we last posted in this thread. The 2nd season is definitely slower but be patient, the 3rd season will make up for it. Hang in there!
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:08 pm
by CovenantJr
The last three or four episodes of season 2 were pretty good. Overall this season was a disappointment, thought it had some strong elements and a couple of stand-out moments:
Top moment (humour): Omar's court appearance. Hilarious scene.
Top moment (drama): Ziggy finally snapping. The most convincing scene in the whole season, and I really symapthised with him, dick though he generally was.
Honourable mentions: tying in the Greek (or not Greek, according to the last episode) drug supply to the Barksdale empire; the growing covert power struggle between Stringer and Avon; punching Valchek in the face.)
Dishonourable mentions: an excess of convenient coincidences (e.g. guns landing on boat, weight slipping off Frank's corpse); gratuitous use of fairly redundant characters (Herc and Carver, particularly Carver - very thin justification for his presence); apparently setting up a permanent unit for Daniels etc to conveniently use in future seasons).
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:36 pm
by dlbpharmd
Omar is great, isn't he?
The 3rd season is the best! Keep us posted.
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:49 pm
by CovenantJr
Yeah, Omar is always good entertainment. I can't help smiling when he's on screen, even when he's doing something serious.
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:44 pm
by dlbpharmd
CJr, give us an update!
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:12 pm
by CovenantJr
Season 3 down. Spectacular. Unlike the mediocre season 2, this one really lived up to the standard set by the first season. When it's on form, The Wire is superb.
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:55 pm
by dlbpharmd
CovenantJr wrote:Season 3 down. Spectacular. Unlike the mediocre season 2, this one really lived up to the standard set by the first season. When it's on form, The Wire is superb.
Toldja. I'm afraid you've seen the best, the next 2 seasons aren't so great.
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:14 am
by CovenantJr
That doesn't surprise me. The end of this season seems like it was a real ending, in several ways. Anything beyond it seems as though it would be a little unnecessary.
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:06 am
by finn
Just watched season 1 of the Wire this weekend and started season 2, and it really is the real deal. It has a Soprano's feel to it (I've not looked up the credits to see if there are similarities in writing, crew etc.); the multi-dimentional characters are realer than many of the stereotypes we normally get served up.
Spoilers are right on Cov Jr. especially Omar, tho' I can live the the dishonorables as I want to see more, so an permanent unit works for me and I'd reserve judgement of incidental chatracters as there does appear to be a good chance they'll be of greater significance in the future.
Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:34 am
by CovenantJr
On to season 4 at last. So far, so ok. It's already better than season 2. I suspect it'll be weaker overall than seasons 1 and 3, but time will tell. I find the new roster of faces (on the criminal side) a little jarring. Maybe that's intentional.