30 Thoughts I Had While Watching The Wire — Season One
Because apparently I was too poor to be a witness to one of the greatest shows in television’s history.
2002 I was a year out of undergrad. Which means I spent my days and nights working to take care of a household and keep a closet full of the latest in Nike, Rocawear, and Timberland.
I didn’t have an extra $20 every month to pay for HBO. So I didn’t watch The Wire. In fact, I don’t recall many of my friends talking about The Wire either. Part of that I have to contribute to the fact that we lived in New York. The lifestyle that is the crux of The Wire was everyday life to us back then. Some of them were living it.
Teenage runners with baby soft faces. 21 year olds driving brand new BMWs and Benzs. Knowing what courtyards and stairwells belonged to who. That was the daily experience that was embedded in children of the ghetto. I don’t think, at the time, it was something we cared to see played out on TV; especially when we’d seen it in tons of movies on the big screen at that point.
I remember a few years ago, BET was airing it (or episodes sparingly) but you can’t watch a gritty HBO series on cable TV. It’s a waste of binge-watching.
So when I saw The Wire was available on Amazon Prime, I took the bait and signed up. One thing I’ve always loved/hated about HBO was that the network’s shows are too short. However, in the case of Prime being available on a 30 day trial, I was thankful. I figured I’d get through the show relatively quickly. If lucky, I could finish the whole series in a month. (An ambitious goal but I’m going to give it a valiant effort.)
I finished season one over Valentine’s Day weekend. These are the random thoughts I had.
1.) Oh, the episodes open with a quote…means I gotta pay attention (puts phone on mute)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f0Yt0CIV10
2.) I’ve heard this quote so many times but didn’t know it came from The Wire
3.) Why does every cop in every police/gangster movie ever have to be a stereotypical Irish dunk? It’s 2016, time to come up with a new trope
4.) Anything Mc____ means the cop is gonna be a piece of sh*t dressed up in well-meaning intentions
5.) Wait that’s dude from Fringe. I love that show! Watch it on Netflix if you’ve never seen it
6.) D’Angelo Barksdale talks too much. I can see right now — this dude is probably gonna get dealt with one way or another
7.) If I were a cop, I’d be like Freamon. Quiet, observant, pays attention to details.
8.) Okay fuck this Polish detective! Fuck Lt. Carver too! I’ve dealt with black cops who are extra aggressive in front of their white partners. The worst type of sellout.
9.) Literally every movie about hood life or the drug game incorporates the game of chess in some form or fashion.
10.) This kat’s government name is Preston? Really? Dudes in the drug game always have the most outrageously basic names.
11.) Speaking of, it’s weird seeing Michael B. Jordan with the straight-backs.
12.) Okay so the Polish assclown cracked the code. Maybe he’s not that bad. He still blinded that kid though.
13.) It’s a damn shame how they did Omar’s boyfriend.
14.) This fool McNulty really using his kids on Stringer. That’s dangerous but good thinking.
15.) It’s never surprising when you follow drug money and it leads to somebody in city government.
16.) Omar really loved that dude huh? He’s out here in the streets in broadlight doing the most.
17.) I just realized how simple strip club names used to be. Orlando’s. Yet now, strip club names are so creative.
18.) Basketball tourney in the summer, that’s so New York. There has to be a New York baller in this scene.
19.) Wait, wait, they’re finally about to see Avon?!
20.) I knew it! And1 street dude hustled them.
21.) Short anecdote: I’m a big fan of Aisha Tyler’s podcast, Girl on Guy. She had Andre Royo, who portrays Bubbles on The Wire, on her show. She talked a lot about the transition Bubbles go through. Great episode, check it out.
22.) Sonja Sohn is fine in a very exotic type of way. I love her character on this show. I love her relationship with Bubbles too. It’s dope and was likely progressive in 2002 to see a healthy lesbian relationship between two women of color. It’s not the type of nudity and affection that is fetishized or overly done.
23.) Cop gets shot. Shit. Gets. Real.
24.) I can’t see Stringer Bell and not see Idris Elba the person. Got damn he’s a talented actor.
25.) I really hate Lt. Carver.
26.) Poor Michael B. Jordan…I mean Wallace
27.) I knew D’Angelo was gonna fuck things up.
28.) No, nah man, don’t do this. Cmon man, no! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
29.) Doesn’t matter that you see the light and error of what you do. Family over everything.
30.) Damn.
That was literally my reaction to the final episode. The first season wraps up in an interesting way. McNulty gets re-assigned. Stringer is left on the outside. And Bubbles is struggling. As expected with hardcore addicts. I’m really pulling for him though.
Off to watch the 2nd season.
