The Wire Finale
From the Sports Guy:
Speaking of Baltimore, after watching the season finale of “The Wire” this week, I wrote up an extended rant about the show and how much it means to me, both as a writer and a human being, and how I believe it’s the most important show of my lifetime, how I can’t remember being more attached to four TV characters than the four school kids from Season 4, how I simply can’t fathom why more people wouldn’t give it a chance … but it ended up sounding too preachy, so I’m just going to say that it’s my favorite TV show of all-time and leave it at that. Name another show that could peak during a season in which its best character (McNulty) basically disappeared for 12 of the 13 episodes? How is that possible? What a show. I miss it already.
I just finished watching the season finale of The Wire. It is moments like this that I feel like an inadequate writer. The episode was visceral, moving, tragic and hopeful. Show me another show on television that can turn your stomach inside out, leave your head and heart spinning, and avoid all of the pathetic cliches and manipulative plot devices that pervade shows like Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, 24 or any other top-rated show on TV. The Wire’s lack of viewership is scandalous, so I’m here to say this, right here, right now, that I am going to make it my mission to pimp Season 5 of The Wire from moment it is announced, to the first episode, all the way through the season (possibly series) finale.
The Wire is uncompromising, true to life, intricate, gut-wrenching and embodies the best and boldest of televised drama and of fiction in general. Do yourself a favor, if you haven’t watched The Wire, rent/buy/on-demand Season 1. You won’t be disappointed.
The Wire – The Complete First Season
