Why ‘The Wire’ is the Best Show Ever with Van Lathan | The Bill Simmons Podcast | The Ringer

The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with The Ringer’s Van Lathan about his rewatch of HBO’s ‘The Wire,' quarantine thoughts, COVID-19’s impact on Louisiana, ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance,’ and more.
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[@davidtan3523]

Slim Charles was the smart pawn that got to the other side of the board. Boodie was a G tho.

[@aquemini154]

No one took Slim’s advice and they all got got

[@olubukonla7352]

Slim was nt a pawn. Slim was a rook, knight or bishop.

[@him4440]

@@olubukonla7352 definitely

[@jordyundieground3270]

I imagine right now hes the new prop joe

[@danshowlund]

Slim was never a pawn

[@timstradley5819]

It really is hard to pick a show that tops the wire. Incredible show in every possible aspect.

[@loganerb3952]

Personally I like breaking bad the most but that’s not a slight to the wire at all. They’re both incredibly well written. It’s like a 100 vs a 99 😂. I liked the wire more then the sopranos by a lot tbh!

[@raymondsims7042]

@@loganerb3952 I love breaking bad but it’s not even close to being as great as the wire🤷‍♂️like not even remotely close. The wire has to many amazing characters, storylines, the writing is more layered and meaningful, and it just has far more depth than breaking bad. Both are great the wire is a tier above breaking bad though

[@loganerb3952]

@@raymondsims7042 i vehemently disagree! But that’s okay it’s just an opinion

[@raymondsims7042]

@@loganerb3952 yeah of course it’s just our opinions.

[@swampduck2609]

No The Wire is objectively better.

[@DeeL3]

To this day, Bodie's death still hurts. I still remember being in a slump when he died for a good couple weeks.

[@BostonsF1nest]

What about Omar? For how strong of a character he was, the way they did him in the end is an absolute fuckin disgrace

[@orionpavlos4479]

@@BostonsF1nest Man, I thought the exact same thing. Little Kennard?

[@BostonsF1nest]

@@orionpavlos4479 in some ways it makes sense because it was Little Kenard who was imitating Omar in the streets with his friends after Omar and his crew had that gun fight with the Barksdales, but on the other hand I would have loved to see Omar and Marlo have a showdown

[@missbhavin4philly]

Like we knew him personally

[@Vinny.X]

The message is false prophet when the killing of a tv thug hurts more than the killing of REAL innocent children daily. Man has society been deceived.

[@walidchouai6094]

I feel like the wire is such an important artistic achievement. It exhibits an exploration of the modern American society in such a realistic and stunning way.

[@jeffreyjoseph1212]

I agree expect with the use of the word modern. I think people would find a way to corrupt whatever system was in place

[@walidchouai6094]

@@jeffreyjoseph1212 yes I agree with you. Each historical period had aspects of corruption and power abuse. I used the word modern because the events took place in recent times that's it.

[@beckyleonardis6331]

What Van said about The Wire was kind of perfect! Because when you're in your 20's and you watch a show for the first time and you don't really put too much thought into it. Then 20 years later, you rewatch it, you start getting emotional and thinking about it afterward. The same thing happened with me. When I rewatched Rescue Me, a couple months ago. Some of the storylines hit me hard. It still hurts. But not as much, now. I'll stream The Wire and a few other shows, this summer.

[@MrMburciaga]

Westbrook is the Brodie not "Bodie". FYI.

[@brotherdandy]

I'm glad a fellow Westbrook fan caught that.

[@lubbucs546]

I think Westbrook knows he looks like Bodie and just got the name wrong and just stuck with it.

[@DanteFiero]

@@lubbucs546 I hope your joking

[@toneriggz]

My favorite aspects of The Wire are the subtle moments and callbacks. IE Rawls being gay, Michael being abused, My Name Is Not My Name vs My Name Is My Name, Bunk chiding Omar for negatively influencing the youth and Omar being killed by little Kenard, etc.

[@toneriggz]

Like I said, it's a subtle moment. It's strongly implied by his excessive homophobia and the fact he was in that gay club. The show didn't always spell everything out blatantly and that's what I appreciated about it.

[@27jayarthur]

Tone Riggz “My Name Is Not My Name vs My Name Is My Name” That went over my head. Explain this one for me please.

[@nickm8874]

27jayarthur two quotes. Spiros says to the Greek “my name is not my name” when they are planning on disappearing. In season 2. So when Marlo shouts in prison “my name is my name” it is meant to work as a juxtaposition. Two entirely different approaches to the same game ...

[@toneriggz]

@@nickm8874 Exactly

[@27jayarthur]

Nick M thanks, I knew the Marlo line but didn’t remember the Spiro one 👌🏾

[@macfilms9904]

At HBO I covered The Wire for it's whole run - and I'm with Van Lathan, Bodie was my favorite character, and Bodie's death hit me the hardest.

[@callenjohnson81]

That's cool..from listening to this my favorite is probly McNulty & I'm a 42yr old black guy who grew up in inner city Indianapolis around drugs n all the the street stuff & generally I don't think I'm fond off or admit the police.. I don't think any way about them.. something about the horny achoholic cop who breaks all the rules to get things done.

[@MrThobias711]

I love that they focused on "Real Police" the distinction between the good cops and the bad cops. It's focused on how thats nuanced politically rather than racially. Ziggy I always hated too but after the last couple times I rewatched I noticed that he really is a fragile character. Living in the shadows of his very important father and not living up to that. He is very misunderstood.

[@turgid4391]

i hated ziggy at first. but i started to understand him a bit more. I think officer walker and cheese are my two most hated characters.

[@brotherdandy]

Van you've just earned a massive amount of my respect as a fellow appreciator of Crash Course.

[@iank3924]

Easily my favorite show and it's at the top of my list. This show has more to say than any show ever made. If you want to make an argument for other shows that's fine, but that might also mean you don't truly understand the importance and lessons the Wire teaches.

[@jeffreyjoseph1212]

The wire being on top of anyone's list is clearly justified but you're pretentious/elitist if you have any quarrels with the sopranos being someone's #1. That show does everything perfectly and in my opinion hits emotional cues better than any show

[@jeffreyjoseph1212]

Also ...lessons that the wire teaches? It only teaches one overall lesson and that it's "you're f'd no matter what "game" you choose to play. It's a brilliant show and it's so on point in terms of society that it makes a compelling argument for nihilism

[@raymondsims7042]

@@jeffreyjoseph1212 sopranos was phenomenal but it’s not quite on the wires level

[@sifatshams1113]

I watched The Wire after first watching Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and Mad Men and usually really love dark, complex antiheroes like the ones in those shows but the Wire really made me feel most for the truly decent characters like D'Angelo, Cutty, and Bubbles. I usually find characters like them hoakey and annoying.

[@Thor-Orion]

What about Dookie? Poor kid.

[@raymondsims7042]

@@Thor-Orion amazing character but very sad story

[@rosserjake]

​@@Thor-OrionHeartbreaking

[@micahlouis6990]

Yeah, you have to take it back to that chess game where D'Angelo teaches Bodie and Wallace about Pawns and Kings. Bodie was hell-bent to make it as a "smart ass pawn" even back then, and a pawn he stayed. That one hit hard. Also when "Snitchin Randy" got beat up at the group home while Carver raged on his steering wheel over the futility of the system got me ugly crying for real. I've known a lot of Randys, and they all hurt.

[@Thor-Orion]

Slim Charles and Freamon are my favorite characters on the Wire.

[@maurovaz6081]

Bodie evolves, he learned a lot from D, straight away he gives shit to Poot for having the kids beating up people for no reason, he remains in the game but he is not the same person he was at the start and before dying he finally accepts to cooperate with the police because he had enough of it.

[@toneriggz]

Interesting that Van mentions Edison. One of the people who worked for Edison was Lewis Latimer, a Black inventor who created the light bulb filament. He used to live in Flushing, Queens and his house is still maintained in Flushing.

[@puremercury]

Lewis Latimer didn't invent the light bulb filament. He invented an improvement to the original carbon filaments used by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan. And we haven't used carbon filaments in incandescent light bulbs in over 100 years.

[@MrThobias711]

I've actually rewatched the wire twice this year. Probably 5 times in all. one thing you catch after years of separation is that Rawls is gay. If you're not aware then go back and pay attention.

[@ThePhilosopha23]

i mean the camera fixates on him in a gay bar, not exactly a re-watching revelation

[@BostonsF1nest]

I’m pretty sure everyone notices that the first time around... don’t need to see the show 5 times to pick up on that. Something that’s actually worth noting is Kenard is the little kid who pretends to be Omar in season 3 after the shootout with the Barksdale stash house. They mentioned it on the podcast. Mind blown.

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

They showed him in a gay bar.

[@chipsthedog1]

Too many great characters Omar of course, D'Angelo (if only he had more time) Bubbles, Chris & Snoop, Marlow, Stringer Bell, Avon, Prop Joe, Clay Davies, Bunny Colin, Brother Mouzone, Lester, Cutty Michael, Namond & all the kids really. And that's just scratching the surface. What a show

[@DaveFurbush]

The rewatch at 23/40. I did that with the Sopranos last year. Wow. Dead on.

[@TheRingerNBA]

You can watch full episodes of 'The Wire: Way Down in the Hole' with Van Lathan and Jemele Hill here: therin.gr/LFqyhMs

[@jjmoola1065]

Van is doing a rewatchable and if he thinks Ziggy is "despicable" he totally doesn't get the point of the Wire. Ziggy had a tremendous heart but his heart was hampered by his lack of intelligence and constantly not being take serious. He was one of the most tragic figures and I'm sure WE ALL KNOW AT LEAST ONE ZIGGY

[@robpierce2verbs]

Why is Bill drinking from what appears to be a 2 gallon coffee cup?

[@antivalidisme5669]

Randy, Dee, Duquan, Bodie, Michael, I miss you so much! Take care guys, always take care

[@he8500]

It definitely is one of the greatest TV shows of all time, it really opened my eyes up to that criminal life properly, people wouldn't appreciate it today because it's too real

[@taxtact7263]

Greatest show ever

[@BuffdatRatt]

'Edward "Eddie" Walker' is the name of the corrupt patrol officer from season 4.

[@ekimberle]

Love it, love the pod, love J and V!!

[@Bugjuice6193]

Great stretch there with the comparison between the mindsets of Lebron and Mike. starts at around 15:00 mark.

[@iank3924]

I live 10 min from SVSM high school. Lebron's been taken care of since 7th grade. I'm not saying he had a great family life and didn't struggle, but really since he was 12 he became more than your average kid from the west side of Akron. He's not like Namond from the Wire or something. Once Lebron got to HS he was a local celebrity. By the time he was a junior he was a national celebrity. By the time he was a senior he was driving a hummer to school. You guys are over playing his struggles.

[@cashwoods8125]

Lebron doesn’t have the fire that Jordan had and, didn’t have that father to push him he’s always been athletic and talented and constantly seeking validation.

[@justinsparks3257]

More to the point why do we keep fucking sidetracking about basketball stars during a look back at the wire? I'm interested in discussions about the wire and how it relates to modern society, not a 10-minute sidetrack about Michael Jordan's new documentary.

[@CGlied]

I think it's pretty clear that the worst person on The Wire was Michael Lee's mother, Raylene. Followed closely by Brianna Barksdale.

[@mikeriley8507]

Namond's Mom! She's easily the worst.

[@301Cardosi]

Yeah she was terrible. I remember when she wouldn’t let Dookie in the house smh

[@toneriggz]

Wee-Bey checked her ass tho LOL

[@JudgeDredd_]

Mike Riley she was bad but no offense, D’Angelo’s mom pushed him to take one for the fam not realizing what she was asking him to do. In my opinion she was far worse than Namond’s mom.

[@leroysteele666]

Nah bugs pops is the worst Mike stepdad. Chris literally beat his brains outs he seen the signs

[@mikeriley8507]

@@leroysteele666 Good one. I forgot about him. He's got to be up there for the worst. Probable child abuser. Good call, Leroy.

[@janaavery]

Walker...Officer Walker

[@farrellcityking1]

Greatest... Show.... Ever.... Made!

[@BloggerMusicMan]

Interesting discussion. Interesting Van Lathan would pick Rawls or Ziggy Sobotka as the worst person on The Wire. Neither are particularly inspiring, but I can think of a lot of genuine sociopaths on the show that are far worse than those two. Rawls isn't even among the two or three worst police officers for me. He's a ladder chaser, he plays politics and the numbers game, he's aggressive and unpleasant, but he's less corrupt, more straightforward and a lot smarter than Valchek and Burrell. I feel like he'd be better than Herc, Colichio and Walker as a street cop too in my view. Ziggy is not that bright and makes all kinds of rash, impulsive decisions, but he also becomes a lot easier to understand in the context of being another kid not fit for the world he grew up in. What takes him off the list for me though is that when he kills someone, he confesses quickly and the murder really eats him up inside. That is not at all like many characters on The Wire. My worst characters would be DeLonda Brice (Namond's mother), Marlo Stanfield, Clay Davis, Scott Templeton and Maury Levy.

[@BostonsF1nest]

Marimow

[@him4440]

agree with all of those other than Marlo, Marlo was actually a dope character

[@lamonthunt8711]

The Wire is Timeless

[@o0O420]

Van is my Guy.

[@eddyrapide]

The most irredeemable character on The Wire? Sorry guys, but it's got to be Marlo. He murdered dozens and dozens of people. That has to count! And, unlike Avon, he gave nothing back. Ziggy, Rawls, and Eddie Walker may be assholes in their own particular ways, but notwithstanding all his incredible lines and Jamie Hector's masterful portrayal, Marlo is irredeemable on a whole different level.

[@traviskrueger9531]

He did give money to the kids right before the school year started, of course purely for selfish reasons to raise the rep of his name. In a similar vein you could say Omar’s giving out of drugs and money was he was shown to do had selfish reasons as it gave him security in having people to look out in his interest although I clearly feel Omar does this primarily with more altruistic intentions.

[@daveburlin8493]

I love this. Greatest show ever. I will be checking out the podcasts you mentioned. And I will most likely reach out and invite you to my podcast. I have rewatched the entire season every year starting in January, since 2013. Omar was never my favorite. FYI. Stringer for sure, then Marlo.

[@olubukonla7352]

It' s Omar, Strang, Bodie & Brothah Mouzone for me.

[@olubukonla7352]

The worst people on the Wire, are McNulty, Templeton , Ziggy, Kenard and the cop who broke Donut's fingers.

[@shawnmoney8055]

After watching for the 20th time lol, I’ve come to an conclusion that the Greek might of been the smartest character in the whole series along with Freamon. I can watch 3 more seasons of him trying to catch the Greek.

[@riverofcustard3233]

It's all in the game, yo

[@shortie9103]

No doubt!

[@NickLandess]

"worst" character - the lawyer needs to be in that conversation.

[@markwilletts1252]

This is about The Wire for literally 10 mins, wish they would have talked about the wire the whole time

[@trey4285]

Best show ever

[@darrelljones3965]

Shiiiiiiiiiiiit -clay Davis

[@pauljansen1137]

yeah..still love that one..or how about: "what the fuck did i do?" from Jimmy lol!

[@reggielewis4196]

I love the wire but the Sopranos is the best tv show of all time. The wire season 2 takes it down a notch.

[@slybady]

How do I apply for a job with The Ringer?

[@Will_kid_cortez]

What about OZ

[@Ray-gd3zo]

Will Cortez second best show ever

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

The Shield

[@raymondsims7042]

@@Ray-gd3zo oz is awful😂

[@TheMagnanimousMany]

Heard it said on another podcast: stats aside, many want LeBron to be considered the GOAT because he's happy. People like the image of having it all that LeBron gives off. Even before the doc, between the stories many are learning about now and the behind the scenes footage, Jordan always seemed upset about something, seeking perfection. We don't want our epitomes of success to be tied to such impossible feats that require entire parts of your being to be sacrificed. In a way, it feels hopeless

[@FishtownRec]

In all honesty marlo doesn’t have one good quality about him except for giving kids a 100$ bucks. And that’s officer walker man come on!

[@dayra6425]

05:30. Bodie stayed a pawn .. when d’angelo is teaching them chess .. bodie refused to go up the ladder .. he stayed a soldier

[@mikeyblaze3450]

The entire time, watching the wire. I thought he was the one, that would go vs Marlo. And take everything back. He just needed a stringer on his side. To make it happen

[@supaflow2006]

Kenard, officer walker, Rawls, De Londa Brice. Four characters no one rooted for

[@waveali5620]

They are talking about Officer Walker and yes he would be number two on my list of unredeemable characters. Stan Valchek would be number one on my list.

[@BostonsF1nest]

Marimow

[@BlueSea92]

Worst character? Scott Templeton the journalist hands down!!

[@jvincc7297]

Worst death on The Wire? I gotta go Wallace and D being a very close second. Both wanted out of the game and both had a conscience.

[@olubukonla7352]

I dn t feel bad fr Wallace. He should have stayed his ass on the Eastern Shore w. His Grnny

[@him4440]

@@olubukonla7352 facts, was doing too much

[@CayMauzTheVlog]

Watching sopranos now. Breaking bad next. So far the wire is my favorite show all time

[@BostonsF1nest]

3 things that pissed me off the most about the Wire: 1.) We never got that Avon Barksdale vs Marlo battle they were gearing up for at the end of season 3 2.) Omar’s death is one of the worst deaths in TV history. For how strong and great of a character he was, to do him like that is an absolute fuckin shame 3.) Marlo gets away Other than that it’s one of the greatest shows of all time

[@raymondsims7042]

Yup the wire used being anticlimactic in the most brilliant way😂🤷‍♂️it wasn’t your normal “tv show” they wanted to make it a big more realistic. So yup Avon goes to prison instead of taking down Marlo. Instead of Omar going out in a shoot out he’s killed randomly by a child. Instead of Marlo getting what was coming to him, he gets to walk away free. Instead of dukie getting adopted by prez he doesn’t and gets on drugs😂it was a brilliant series!! I just love that they gave me nothing that I wanted, and it made perfect sense

[@grady187]

Rewatched season 1 last month and it still gets me when Griggs gets shot

[@fentanyljones6956]

Has anyone seen Russel Westbrook, Bodie, and Vince Staples in the same room?

[@mohammedamran4318]

Breaking bad , the sopranos, the wire are the best 3

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

The Shield

[@mohammedamran4318]

@@OdintheGermanShepherd yep sorry that is my 4th

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

@@mohammedamran4318 I absolutely love all the shows you listed!! I’ve never seen it, but I hear Ozark is super good too.

[@raymondsims7042]

@@mohammedamran4318 nah the wire is top three for sure, but breaking bad and sopranos wouldn’t quite make my top five. They’re phenomenal shows (in my top ten) but not top 3 or 5. I’d say the wire, got, mr robot🤷‍♂️

[@Ray-gd3zo]

The wire the Best show ever . Oz is Number two

[@raymondsims7042]

Yeah the wire is the definitely the best ever but oz though?😂😂oz is kind of bad

[@antucoblack2652]

As much as I enjoy the Sopranos, it feels like a less serious cartoon when compared to the Wire.

[@OdintheGermanShepherd]

Great way to put it. I agree. Paulie Walnuts seems like such a clown after watching the Wire.

[@alexresa9039]

It definitely is more comedic, but the sopranos is probably more realistic depicting LCN, than the wire did of its criminal element

[@raymondsims7042]

@@OdintheGermanShepherd how dare you disrespect paulie?😂😂🤔

[@laterrydorsey303]

IM PUTTING THIS IN ALL CAPS, SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE HOW SERIOUS I AM.... YALL NEED TO DO GOMMORAH!! LIKE... NOW! THE SHOW IS LITERALLY IF THE SOPRANOS AND THE WIRE FUCKED, AND HAD A BABY! ITALIAN MAFIA FAMILY, MOVING WEIGHT, IN THE PROJECTS, IN ITALY!! MASSIVELY UNDERRATED...

[@raymondsims7042]

I’ve heard about that mate I put it on my list!!

[@LearnLiterallyEverything]

DOPE!!!!

[@charleskemboi1521]

HBO been dropping dimes since day1

[@mr.mr.4772]

Westbrook's nickname is Brodie not Bodie.

[@puremercury]

Our motto when the isolation is over: "Tonight we're gonna party like it's COVID-1999!"

[@BostonsF1nest]

I agree... Rawls, Officer Walker, and Ziggy are definitely the worst

[@JackSmith-xy4gy]

Imagine being that unprepared an ignorant you can't even remember officer Walker it's literally all they had to do was prepare for that pod especially van he's a real lightweight intellectually. I'm not surprised he reacted like such an immature child with Kanye when he was buried at tmz.

[@CayMauzTheVlog]

I think they should of had michael do omar in instead of kenard

[@fexhaitchiii6530]

What about maurice levy? Ziggy the worst?? Ziggys one of the more admiral characters.. walker and rawls are definately on that list with levy number one.

[@BostonsF1nest]

Marimow

[@iank3924]

Guys in terms of evil and morality you really don't think Chris or Marlow aren't the Jordan and Pippen of the Wire? Instead you think Officer Walker and Ziggy are the worst? Walker and Ziggy are bad people but man, they do not touch Marlow and Chris.

[@misternogood]

Marlo and Chris at least care about each other on some level. Chris actually looked out for his family before he went in. Marlo is pretty soulless though. OFFICER WALKER is just a total jackass. There is nothing redeemable about him. He picks on children. He robbed BUBBLES. He tried to get the police to take wage war on HS kids ["they said it was a declaration of war"]. Can't think of a character in the whole show with nothing redeemable...only SCOTT TEMPLTETON's sneaky ass is as bad to me.

[@iank3924]

@@misternogood umm... I get your point but Chris still has murdered at least what 20 people? Probably more. Walker is awful but he's not a murderer.

[@misternogood]

@@iank3924 oh, in terms of who did the worst stuff, Chris isn't surpassed by anyone probably. But I meant more "no redeeming qualities" of which, Walker has none. Chris Partlow is a complete nightmare though.

[@iank3924]

@@misternogood for sure. I hear ya

[@timnoblett4442]

They ask the question who is the least redeemable characters, but brush right by the obvious one's - Naymond's mother and Scott fucking Templeton.

[@BostonsF1nest]

Marimow by a mile

[@adamskorupskas2184]

Well actually, Tesla invented the lightbulb and Edison and his goons stole it.

[@mikeyblaze3450]

You sure about that. Everything I've read. Which I can be wrong. Tesla was more about helping with ac DC. The light bulb was Edison

[@89five3five]

Clay Davis was un redeemable

[@jevogroni4829]

lol like ”it's it nice how it's not a black show though amirite?”

[@eboooo]

Me and Michael b Jordan are the same age.

[@damonfriedburg7740]

The Wire was amazing, but Breaking Bad is the 🐐.

[@ra2186]

If a football game is that big of a deal then their priorities are all messed up.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

it's definitely top 5 season 5 kinds ruined it being the best ever

[@raymondsims7042]

No it didn’t 🤷‍♂️still the best show ever

[@Kayenta66]

No love for Mad Men???

[@Cbart23]

Frank Sobatka!

[@dennishaty899]

The Wire's Season 1, 3, & 4 are as good as TV gets and no other series has a season that can better those three. But its Season 2 & 5 are just decent offerings, not excellent ones. They are watchable not because of those two seasons' main plot lines, but due to the other plot lines being continued through them. The writing about the port and unions isn't as clean nor as interesting as the writing in 1,3, or 4. We can easily tell Simon and Ed Burns are not familiar with its environment, the port authority, or international criminal elements. Season 5 is just a contrived one that has a mediocre plot line and is meant more to tie everything up. It's a montage of a season, missing only a Kenny Loggins song in its background. Character arcs are written to conform to it and not the other way around. It is a bad attempt to discuss print journalism and a lukewarm ode to Simon's first career. I am interested in how the podcast runs thru and discusses Season 2. And if everyone here is being truthful, we're doubting they'll reach Season 5 and give it anywhere near the treatment they've given Season 1.

[@puremercury]

Season 2 was very good. It expanded the show significantly. Season 5 was mostly a misfire. Season 4 obviously is the best.

[@mattsavage6365]

​@@puremercury I wouldn't say it's obvious. I've discussed this show in several forums and there's usually a split between 1,3 and 4. Personally, I'm a season 1 man myself but I can see the argument why subjectively people see season 3 or 4 on top.

[@jimbo7900]

While I understand how season 2 is less liked, for me, it is the best season by a solid margin. It plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy and the acting is fucking superb

[@dennishaty899]

@@puremercury It expanded the show and maybe my description of it as being decent was too harsh, but it is a step down from the writing and plot development of seasons 1, 3, and 4. It gave us an understanding of how dope gets to Barksdale and Marlow from overseas origins, but its season's main plot was weak and the characters weren't the fully developed ones in other plot lines.

[@dennishaty899]

@@mattsavage6365 I agree. It doesn't have Snoop or Chris and the story lines of of the young schoolkids was dynamic and interesting, but Season 1 had the best scenes and introduced us to characters who were fully developed. A lot of the weakness in the following seasons stem from them not wanting to recreate tensions and scenes from season 1. In my opinion, Bunk is one of the top 3, if not THE best character in TV history and pairing up with McNulty produced some of the best TV ever.

[@darshin95]

The Sopranos is still better i'm sorry

[@raymondsims7042]

The sopranos isn’t even close to the wire 🤷‍♂️and I’m a sopranos fan. But the wire is just on another level

[@iddqd06]

Like like like like like like like

[@pheeqzie]

Bodie Killed Wallace so No!!! There are other redeemable characters on the show, Gus perhaps, Bunk, Cedric walked away than become the next Burrell.....

[@jamiegodfather]

Officer Walker

[@warrenharrison5572]

This was hard to watch.

[@donaldsmith3926]

I had watched both "The Sopranos" and "The Wire" during their first runs and started again on Amazon. Cruised through "The Wire" and enjoyed it as much or more; could not take "The Sopranos" a second time. There was not a character who had redeeming qualities enough to counter their psychopathy. Of course, bought dope in West Baltiimore for years and had a natural feeling for the show. Read about a fella who had read "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in high school or college and loved McMurphy and kinds hated the Big Nurse. Read again in middle age his opinion changed to sympathy for Nurse Ratched, who he now viewed as trying to keep order against a troublemaker. It's one of my all-time favorite books and I'm afraid to read it again and find my opinion so changed that I might not like The Chief as the best character.

[@Chicken_Hawk]

Office Walker

[@YellowJello57]

David Simon is perfectly qualified to be the voice of the Black American experience... no... wait.

[@bakusbakul4327]

Zee Plane Nobody said he is, but he didn’t do an injustice either.

[@YellowJello57]

@@bakusbakul4327 Not so sure about that. When you think about "The Wire", what springs to mind? I suspect, for most people, the answer is something like "drugs, gangs, murder and political corruption". Sure, the stories were compelling, the characters felt real but that happens in lots of TV shows and Hollywood movies. Does "The Wire" say anything particularly positive about its subject matter? I would argue that it does not. I posit that it exploits.

[@bakusbakul4327]

@@YellowJello57 To most people I know, The Wire is about life in Baltimore and its people. The drugs, gangs and murder is just part of the everyday life. I'd say it does show something positive especially in Season 4 with the kids. You see they're all like kids anywhere else in the world that are filled with potential. Yeah there's no fairy tale ending to it but that's life in general. Not everything turns out good.

[@toneriggz]

He was a crime reporter in Baltimore and based his writings on that. I don't think his purpose was to create a fairy tale ending but rather show how corrupt and cyclical the drug trade is. He exposed the bureaucracy in the legal system and how it's all bullshit and all about stats. There is no real solution unless drastic measures are taken. But he's also worked on other shows like Treme, which focus on New Orleans right after Katrina. But he doesn't just write about the Black experience. His most recent show is an alternative history show about Jews in Newark during WW2 (Plot Against America).

[@puremercury]

The Wire never tried to be "the voice of the Black American experience."

[@emiliotorres-hamlin6321]

GEORGIA?!?!?!?!

[@jdubb007]

Officer Walker is the worst

[@Dollar-zb2ik]

“The black guy”...when describing a character from The Wire 🤦‍♂️

[@marshallwallace1]

BODIE!!

[@pauljansen1137]

Top 3 in my book..only "Sopranos" and "Breaking Bad" are slightly better..but that is just me loving those bad guys being portrayed as actual humans!

[@nickm8874]

Paul Jansen if you think breaking bad is better then you need to go back and watch the wire again. Thoroughly. It’s not even close. There’s so much more to the wire. I’m sorry if that sounds patronizing but you’re so, so wrong

[@pauljansen1137]

@@nickm8874 if i'm so, so wrong..how come breaking bad scores a 9,5 on imdb..highest score for a series ever? don't get me wrong..the wire is amazing..but to say..the comparison is not even close..that is in fact patronizing lol! no but seriously..everyone his own flavor, right?

[@puremercury]

@@pauljansen1137 People like the plot and anti-hero aspect of Breaking Bad. Plus, it had unbelievable direction for a cable TV show. The Wire is a denser and loftier piece of work, though.

[@mattsavage6365]

The one show that I can see surpassing The Wire to me in the near future is Succession but I won't give up the throne to it until it's over. Breaking Bad is great but in my opinion it has more scenes that could've been cut without changing much of the show while in The Wire most scenes add something meaningful to the plot or a character. Breaking Bad has the more interesting editing and cinematography but I'd still give The Wire the edge. I haven't done a Sopranos re-run, yet, might be in the mix but it'll probably just solidify in the top 5 to me.

[@pauljansen1137]

@@mattsavage6365 ok..good argumentation..only show that might come close to my top 3 could be "Fargo"..but that one i can only Judge when they actually air it again (would have been april)..

[@jamesdixon2917]

My favorite character was Bunny Colvin and the most evil character was Chris Partlow.

[@raoulhery]

The worst character...naymond's mom

[@eboooo]

Nobody is a natural blonde past puberty.

[@adedia7789]

Too long talking about MJ

[@theeggreat4]

Ohio football

[@jeffreyjoseph1212]

The sopranos never had a character named ziggy. Sopranos wins

[@joserosas8290]

True, but the Sopranos didn't have a Fuzzy Dunlop

[@jeffreyjoseph1212]

@@joserosas8290 herc is one of my leadt favorite characters. He is the typical meat head whl believes he deserves respect because he has rank

[@raymondsims7042]

@@jeffreyjoseph1212 the wire is clearly better than the sopranos . And I live the sopranos but the wire for me clears it

[@vanslang5385]

Not even the best show on HBO, The Sopranos…FUGETABOUTIT!

[@raymondsims7042]

Stop playing 😂😂😂I love the sopranos it’s one of my favorites. It’s not close to the wirr

[@dirkamondant3445]

Both wrong,Namens mama is the worst character