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Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

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Original poster

THE WIRE - worth persisting

31 replies

singsinthebath · 04/05/2010 23:25

I was given a boxed set of the first series of the Wire. DH and I have watched the first two episodes and (maybe because I'm knackered) am finding it hard to get into the plot. Yet everyone says it's such a wonderful series.

Should we keep going?

OP posts:

Molesworth · 04/05/2010 23:26

Yes, keep going. It's bloody brilliant

Original poster

singsinthebath · 04/05/2010 23:27

How many episodes did you watch before you were hooked?

OP posts:

Molesworth · 04/05/2010 23:29

About 3 I think. I found it hard to hear what on earth they were saying at first, but as you start getting used to the lingo and getting to know the characters and intertwining storylines, you'll be hooked. Well, we were anyway!

cyteen · 04/05/2010 23:30

Definitely keep going. An unscientific straw poll of friends and acquaintances suggests that three episodes is usually enough to ensure total addiction.

ifancyashandy · 04/05/2010 23:30

Oh. My. God. SOOOOOOOOO envious that you've got it all to come! Stay with it. Oh and a trick I was given - watch it with subtitles for the first few episodes (till you get used to the Baltimore accent.)

Oh, how I you.

LowLevelWhinging · 04/05/2010 23:30

I really struggled with this too. It seemed so, well, Cagney and Lacey cheesy cop show. Complete with the loose canon "but he gets results you stupid chief!!" character (to quote Homer Simpson).

It's lonely outside The Wire Fanclub

And we watched about 5 episodes.

scoutliam · 04/05/2010 23:30

scoutliam · 04/05/2010 23:33

Sorry, in too much of a hurry to say it is sooooo worth it, i promise you.

Took me about three episodes to tune into the slang and get hooked.

You will love it!

Original poster

singsinthebath · 04/05/2010 23:33

Yes, the accent is tricky. So subtitles it is, and allegedly one more episode for total addiction. Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:

Original poster

singsinthebath · 04/05/2010 23:34

And LLW I'll join your club if that doesn't work

OP posts:

bloss · 04/05/2010 23:35

Message withdrawn

LyraSilvertongue · 04/05/2010 23:38

I couldn't get into The wire. DP was hooked after a few episodes but for me there was far too much concentration required. I gave up after about 3-4 episodes.

Molesworth · 04/05/2010 23:39

I still haven't watched Season 5 because I can't stand the thought of not having any more to watch

LowLevelWhinging · 04/05/2010 23:39

ifancyashandy · 04/05/2010 23:41

I watched 'Luther' tonight hoping to get a Stringer Bell fix. Idris is still a fine looking man but it's not the same...

LyraSilvertongue · 04/05/2010 23:44

Maybe I should start again from the beginning with subtitles.

mehdismummy · 05/05/2010 08:08

omg how lucky are you only being on season 1!! this is my fav tv programme ever!! i also watched luther for an idris fix, the man is fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

susitwoshoes · 05/05/2010 08:20

Worth persevering, as others have said takes a few episodes to get into it, with many pauses to work out what may or may not have been said (the DP was much better at deciphering the lingo than me). Definitely needs concentration, it's not like 24 where you can watch 4 episodes back to back, we used to discucss each episode for about an hour afterwards! I found it helped have a buff man to watch (McNulty for me, yum) when I was struggling with the finer points of the plot.

Has anyone tried watching it a second time? I would kind of like to, but don't think it could ever match up to that first viewing, like going back to a book you loved and not enjoying it as much second time around.

CatIsSleepy · 05/05/2010 08:34

it took me about half of the first season to get into it!
after that I loved it, and me and dh watched the whole lot pretty quickly. Brilliant stuff.

cyteen · 05/05/2010 09:41

susitwoshoes, I've watched S1 three times and most of the others at least twice. They all repay repeated viewings, because there's so much going on and so many nuances of character and plot that you get different things out of them each time. Well, I did.

OP, don't worry if you don't end up getting into it. It's not compulsory!

twosofar · 05/05/2010 19:12

The best thing ever on TV ever - ya feel me?

stressed2007 · 05/05/2010 19:42

This seriously is one of the the best series ever made.

fruitstick · 05/05/2010 19:49

Yes yes yes yes

We are currently watching it through again and am halfway through series 4 (the best one).

The first time I watched it was just after DS2 was born so I wasn't on fine form. I really didn't understand a word that was going on until about 3 episodes into series 2. DH had to keep translating it into Radio 4 for me.

This time round we have had the subtitles on which makes a HUGE difference. Go back and watch again with the subtitles and it is much better.

The second time round is much better because you are much more aware of how characters and relationships develop - and at what point things went wrong or right for them - so things seem even more poignant.

For series one, I would recommend fixating on D'Angelo. He's the star of this series for me and his journey through it is what got me hooked.

Enjoy.

Clayhead · 05/05/2010 20:36

The D'Angelo story is fantastic, I agree.

midnightexpress · 05/05/2010 20:40

YYY, a million times yes. It took me three goes to get into it, and now I've just finished season 2 and hooked. Fortunately sil has all 5 box sets so I still have 3 whole seasons to go. Tis like Xmas.

D'Angelo definitely the star in S1, Stringer Bell for me in S2.

Ooooh.

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