The Wire

[DomesticG0ddess]

My husband and I discovered this at Xmas after getting Season 1 DVD from his elderly uncle (how cool is said elderly uncle) and we are completely addicted. We're on Season 4 now - anyone else addicted too?

I have ordered that Guardian book - The Wire Re-up. Oh I had forgotten the slimy lawyer to the gang, he was great too. So many great characters. Had forgotten how hot Cutty was too - do you remember that great scene where he spends ages pitching his gym to a bored Avon, trying to get funds, and when Avon realises how little he wants he can't believe he's made so much effort, showing brochures etc ("you only need $10,000, write him a check Slim!)

Re Greggs: Women characters in the Wire are either underdeveloped, or monstruous. Or absent altogether.

Discuss.

(I was actually really upset that in the season 4 finale she is the only pOlice not to experience a moment of personal growth/awareness- can't say more or i'l spoil too much)

Stressed2007, I think I share a similar psychological condition, I'm actually pretty worried about it

Sputnik, yes, I think greggs was real police from the word go, but she grew as a policewoman when she was moved to homicide. And she'll do some growing in season 5 too, you'll see.

I'm not sure I agree 100% that women are underdeveloped on the wire. Clearly there aren't many women on the show.
I don't have a huge knowledge of how ghetto crime is structured, but it certainly feels true. Characters like Brianna's (beautifully portrayed, imho) seem pretty real and really do remind me of mafia women.

I don't think Rhonda is underdeveloped. Of course the whole series couldn't focus on her whinging to friends about mcnulty being a bastard... Oh gosh I realize I can't go on or I'd spoil this for those who haven't watched it all yet!

I do apologize for my poor english, I'm too tired tonight...

I keep thinking about Snoop's final words, talking of female characters.

i loved omar.

i'm devvoed

And the head teacher, or was she the assistant head teacher? She was a great character too.

I didn't realise Snoop was a girl for ages

red, it took me a while, and several instances of someone calling her "girl" for me to get it too

Oh Snoop. She totally reminded me of my former boss

Oh yes, Snoop's last line is perfect: she has totally lived in a man's world, and you wouldn't know she had any feminine side at all, but in that one line you see that she's put all her feminine pride into her hair. Love also that she bears no grudge to her killer - "it's all in the game" I guess.

Please be careful with spoilers!!!! Some of us havent watched it all yet

i was thinking about it some more today... Yes true the headmistress is a great character but again i hated that she was the one who had to deliver the crap official lines while the inspiring reforming teacher figures are male. Maybe i am seeing too mch into this... And yet we get plenty of inspiring fatherly figures (esp in season 4) and plenty of horrible mothers. Although we also get mcnulty leaving the kids home alone to pay a booty call

another great moment: sydnor and greggs delivering the subpoenas at the end of season 3. And Carcetti paying a visit to homicide and telling people to do what they normally do.

Characters i did not "feel": Burrell, the actor reminds me of an eager puppy, i just never found him believabl; terry d'agostino (lester with boobs ), crappy actress imo.

But Masseuse, didn't Presbo look up to that other female teacher (can't remember her name), who seemed to be the only one to be respected by the students?

I agree re Burrell and Terry D'Agostino (mainly because she was horrible to mcnulty)

Yes he did, she was the only one who could get them to be quiet with a look or one word, they all respected her.

Rhonda is an incredible character - I love her.

I actually really like the way the women in this series are not the stereotypical women you usually get, much more complex with much more going on than simple 'maternalism' or 'compassion'

Brianna is a fantastic character - seemingly so strong and loved her son but totally believed in 'the family' (i.e. Avon) first. Was it just the money?

Also the mother in series 4 who was truly horrific but actually just a fucked up version of every other society's pushy mother.

I really struggled with Snoop, mainly because I too, took a while to realise she was a girl and also because I couldn't understand a bloody word without the subtitles.

I agree that the character of Brianna is portrayed beautifully. So many contradictions... (How moving and chilling was the bit when D'Angelo reminds her that she didn't defend him when he got beaten up by some bullies on his porch and he was only 6 or something...).

No, I don't think it is only about the money. It is about "family", a "code of honour", and machismo, power and money. It is a mentality with some similarities to the mafia, where the figure/role of the woman is very complex.

I like Rhonda too.

Snoop (and Chris) scared the hell out of me.

I watched the whole of series 4 and did n't realise snoop was a girl

You won't get me off my high horse so easily

I liked Rhonda in season 1, but after that, she feels like one of the least rounded characters in the series. Despite being tough as nails and potentially incredibly interesting (jewish white woman working in the judicial system in a tough machist environment in a city that's 80% black and 20% irish, sexually aware and conscious and not afraid to show a leg to further her cases etc), she is, imo, underwritten and underutilised. Every other character is complex, conflicted, morally ambiguous, yet she's "easy". I think there is an element of tokenism to her character.

I only knew Snoop was a girl because I had read an interview with the actor (who has apaprently murdered someone!) in the guardian a few years ago.

But I will agree that Brianna is a great character. her showdown with McNulty is one of the highlights of the show.

And yes there is one teacher everyone respects, and that nice PhD student who teaches the special group, and then there's Miss Anna (MM wipes a tear...).

BUt (SPOILER) I found it hard to believe that WeeBey (who's a hard ass soldier with more murders on his hands he cares to remember) is more readily willing to give up his son than De'Londa. ALthough I agree with whoever said that De'Londa is the ultimate pushy mother, and she offers a glimpse into her motives when she asks Bey "am I going to beleft all alone then" (or equivalent).

Perhaps I just find it harder to accept violence in a woman than a man.

Mmmmm yes, Rhonda is "easy" (though you still have to watch season 5... and she has her moral ambiguities...). I can't fault the fact that she is "easy", or with not many conflicts.
Of course she'd deserve a series of her own, I think I'd love that, better than Sex and the city for sure!

I found the weebey/de'londa story line totally believable. But I do accept that women can be as violent as men etc.

can't wait for season 5 now! We're going skiing next week, and i hope the kids will be knackered enough in the evening for DH and I to indulge in a Wire-athon.

(Franca did you like the COnstant Gardenere? I loved taht movie)

Masseuse, we did the same when we went skiing, we watched an episode from season 4 every night after the children were in bed (somehow the prospect of watching an episode at night kept me going on the slopes )

Be aware that the first episodes of season 5 are imho a bit meh... but it grows on you and start to make sense at some point.

No, I haven't read/seen the constant gardener (is it the one with Ralph Fiennes. Do you recommend it? I'm reading george pelecanos "the night gardener" though

DOh

Is the movie good?

The Constant Gardener is a great movie but then I do like Ralph Fiennes a lot. Rachel Weiss is great too.