The Wire
Watched the first episode and thought it was shit.

Everyone says it's the most amazing thing since sliced bread. And even then, it gives sliced bread a run for its money.

Then, when I tell everyone I've watched the first one and thought it was shit, everyone - that's EVERYONE without exception - says, "Yes, the first episode is shit, as are the next three, but after that it gets brilliant".

Bollocks.

If I don't like something first time I don't force myself to keep doing it until I do like it. Right, I'm off for a cigarette.
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 15:34, 14 replies)

Ha! made me smile.
The wire is very very good though, apart from the first episode, and the whole of the second series is a bit of a detour maybe, but still better than most other things.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Mon 19 Oct 2009, 16:58, closed)

Yeah the Wire is very very good
But obviously not for the 'hmm i can't sit still for ten minutes without an explosion' type crowd.
(mr-lizard Hell's teeth man!, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 17:04, closed)

Yes, explosions would've made it better.
Two explosions every fifteen minutes would make it awesome. Like Die Hard: With A Vengeance.

Is it really that upsetting to people that I just don't like it?
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 9:40, closed)

Chevron

( mrlogic is copying your beard, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 9:49, closed)

Err, no it isnt
Its just that you have been brainwashed into thinking that all tv should be all over and done with on a per episode basis.

The Wire is proper storytelling, with a plot arc that goes from episode one through to the last.

Think of it like a book... you do read, yes?...
(CantSleepClownsWillGetMe Likes: Turtles, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 18:27, closed)

Yes it is.
And I do read. Quite a lot actually given that I'm a writer by trade. And I watch a lot of TV shows with plot arc etc - like Dexter (now that's good writing).

This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. People can't stand it when you say you don't like The Wire. I feel like Peter Griffin admitting to 'not caring for' The Godfather.

Meh.
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 9:31, closed)

.
I never thought the first couple of episodes were shit, but I definitely thought: "what is the big deal about? It's ok, but it's not THAT great"
Actually, I saw the whole first series, really got into it, really liked it, but still thought it was overrated. It's only after letting it sink in for a couple of months that I realised how great it was, the characters somehow became a part of me. Like a really great novel, everything was so well thought-out, the characters evolve, nothing is completely black or white... Very good.
I agree that the second season was the 'worst' (still better than 99.999% of things on tv), the fourth season was AWESOME. Terribly depressing, though.
But honestly, if you like intelligent, well-made television (or intelligent, well-made anything, really) - give it a few more episodes. It really is worth it. :-)
(St. Dymphna, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 1:04, closed)

I just don't get how
the first few episodes of something can be shit, given that they're supposed to draw you into the story (excepting the reordered Star Wars sextology of course).
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 9:49, closed)

You haven't critiqued it.
You've just said it was 'shit'. What made the episode bad in your opinion, and what would have made it better? Were you bored? Did the the characters repel you? Did you find nothing of interest, no story threads you could follow?
(iNsAn1tY has been listening to metal all day, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 12:44, closed)

Ok, I can see how that would annoy you. "Shit" isn't exactly on a par with Barry Norman is it.
And I'll admit that "shit" may be too harsh a word (but it did get a reaction).

It was okay. Yes, it had high production values, and yes, I get that it's supposed to be a gritty, modern, realistic depiction of overworked cops and drugs gangs and whatnot. But I've seen it all before. Ooh look, a guy on the witness stand who suddenly doesn't want to finger the obvious suspect. Ooh, look a female cop who's smarter than the male cops. Ooh, drugs gangs. Ooh, overworked cops. Ooh, someone got killed.

I just found it dull. Which is entirely at odds with my idea of entertainment. Sorry. Documentaries maybe, but not entertainment. Perhaps it gets less dull in later episodes. In fact, judging by people's reactions to the show, I'm sure it does. But I'm still not going to watch it.

Compare it to my previous example, Dexter. That first episode was immense. I recently rewatched it and realised just how much fantastic dialogue, action and "entertainment" is crammed into it. By comparison The Wire didn't even start.

Here's another example. I started reading Harry Potter. Got about ten pages in and stopped. Now this is rare for me. I love fiction, I love reading, I love witches and wizards and dragons and whatnot. But I personally don't like the way Rowling writes. So I stopped reading it.

Am I going to hell for that?
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 13:51, closed)

yes but
I like Dexter, one of my fav current shows, but as good as it is the realism factor wears very thin at times, and when that happens I get distanced from the characters.

The Wire has much fewer out and out TV show moments in it. It takes a story line that’ll get ejaculated onto the screen in 40 minutes by a standard show and spends over 50 hours exploring the environment. It’s a detailed treaties on every aspect of social and criminal justice system fails in the face a tidal wave of money and corruption. How the media drives an agenda that forces all politicians to follow the probation and criminalisation control of drugs, and the disastrous effects on the lives of the people born in the wrong postcodes. It shows us the 1 in 1000 people who risk their careers to actually make a difference, and how the system will destroys them.

Dexter is fluff in comparison.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Tue 20 Oct 2009, 18:04, closed)

I see your point, however...
"A detailed treaties on how every aspect of the social and criminal justice system fails in the face of a tidal wave of money and corruption" and "how the media drives an agenda that forces all politicians to follow the probation and criminalisation control of drugs" simply isn't my cup of tea. I'd pick fluff over tedium any day when it comes to entertainment. Am I the only person in the world that thinks this way?

That said, I watch Heroes and Lost, both of which are fluff and tedium in equal measures.

As I admitted before, it's not that I really think it's shit. I just didn't like it. And it's people's reactions when I tell them that which really winds me up. I mean, come on, it's just a TV show.
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Wed 21 Oct 2009, 14:03, closed)

So you're right...
...and the rest of the world is wrong? Or are you just impatient and perhaps a bit thick?
(Horns, Wed 21 Oct 2009, 21:44, closed)

Yes. The whole world is wrong but me.
That is the point of this week's QOTW.

And you obviously missed my point about smoking.
( mrlogic is copying your beard, Thu 22 Oct 2009, 13:04, closed)