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From Amazon.co.uk
Television really doesn’t come much better than this. Criminally ignored by far, far too many people, The Wire has proven itself to be that rarest of things: an intelligent, clever, character-driven show, that’s lasted more than one season.
This boxset brings together all the episodes from the maiden series of The Wire, spread across thirteen episodes. Yet those episodes, unlike many in the police genre where the show spends a good deal of its time, are dedicated to just one case. Furthermore, it follows both sides of the case. Thus, there’s the Baltimore police department, with its statistics to manage, its internal politics to manage and its chain of command to respect, set against a highly organised drug gang, who too have more than their fair share of problems.
The Wire is a slow burn show, taking time to delicate put its pieces in place. Rarely do you get a dramatic end to an episode, and it’s not afraid to humanise and blur the lines between good and bad. But, bluntly, there’s nothing--not even The Sopranos--that US TV has broadcast in the last ten years that can hold a torch to it. This first series is genuinely outstanding television, and really deserves your attention. And the good news? Excellent as it is, this first series isn’t even the best that The Wire has to offer…--Simon Brew
Product Description
Dominic West, John Doman, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Deirdre Lovejoy Directors: Brad Anderson, Clark Johnson, Clément Virgo, Edward Bianchi, Gloria Muzio
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
71 of 74 people found the following review helpful
By mr dotcom
Format:DVD
I watched the first episode of the Wire a few months ago and wasn't sure what to make of it and allowed the box set to gather dust on the shelf. However, while on holiday I started watching 2 or 3 episodes at a time and suddenly it had a rhythm that wasn't there before. This isn't some quick fix TV like Lost or 24, this unfolds like a novel (unsurprising as the show features writing from the likes of Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos) and rewards the viewer who follows the simple instruction on the cover of the box 'Listen Carefully'. I'm now on series 4 and it gets better and better - I envy those who haven't yet discovered this brilliant series - they have such an treat in store for them.
205 of 216 people found the following review helpful
By C. J. Weekes
Format:DVD
Over the last few years the quality of the US dramas have been outstanding. The shortned List -: 24, West wing, Battlestar Galactica Rome, Deadwood and of course The Sopranos.
I borrowed The Wire on the strength of this and it was very hard going at first. It had a gritty and unappealing setting(inner city Baltimore). The Pace was pendantic and there was so much street slang and police jargon, it did not seem to be going anywhere. I had not even read the reviews. I was truly going to return it. But at about the 6th or 7th episode. I began to understand the reason for the earlier seeming directionlesness.They were laying the foundations, indeed there was line I think the character Lester made about building things piece by piece till all the characters fit. I aslso began to realise what the writers had done they had created a whole universe, I simply had to see things in thier context.
Now having watched all 3 Seasons on DVD. I concur with the other viewers is saying that this is truly an extraordinary piece of work, A tale of an American city taken from different perspectives as an allegory for something that is happening in the society at a more profound level. Kudos to the writers for the complexity and depth and to HBO for being so bold (as they have always been). The acting is simply seamless, you could be forgiven for thinking you are watching a documentary. The show scope is breathtaking. It has truly raised the bar on what televison can produce
I borrowed The Wire on the strength of this and it was very hard going at first. It had a gritty and unappealing setting(inner city Baltimore). The Pace was pendantic and there was so much street slang and police jargon, it did not seem to be going anywhere. I had not even read the reviews. I was truly going to return it. But at about the 6th or 7th episode. I began to understand the reason for the earlier seeming directionlesness.They were laying the foundations, indeed there was line I think the character Lester made about building things piece by piece till all the characters fit. I aslso began to realise what the writers had done they had created a whole universe, I simply had to see things in thier context.
Now having watched all 3 Seasons on DVD. I concur with the other viewers is saying that this is truly an extraordinary piece of work, A tale of an American city taken from different perspectives as an allegory for something that is happening in the society at a more profound level. Kudos to the writers for the complexity and depth and to HBO for being so bold (as they have always been). The acting is simply seamless, you could be forgiven for thinking you are watching a documentary. The show scope is breathtaking. It has truly raised the bar on what televison can produce
96 of 104 people found the following review helpful
By deadgehog
Format:DVD
The Wire was made by HBO an american cable network. By being on cable HBO avoids the censorship and popularism that makes much of the american TV that we receive bland (if polished), this has allowed it to create series of the quality of the Sopranos and Deadwood. The Wire has failed to "break out" in the way that those series have and was only shown on FX289, a little watched SKY channel, in the UK. This does The Wire a grave injustice as it is arguably superior to either of the aforementioned shows as it possesses an ensemble cast as strong as either of them with fantastic performances from Idris Elba and Andre Royo among others. However, it is in plot that The Wire surpasses any other show I can recall, most detective shows are episodic containing one or two crimes at the start of the hour that are solved in the last 5 minutes. The Wire breaks this mould following a team of detectives trying to catch Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell two dealers who control the drug trade in East Baltimore over a whole series rather than an episode. This perhaps accounts for The Wire's lack of success on TV as one missed episode means you fail to see the jigsawlike case completed and fully understand what happens. The show is also unusual in that it shifts perspective between the police, criminals and addicts and in doing so becomes more than a CSI style whodunnit, and more a show about institutions and the people within them. In short the most fantastically clever thing on telly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is the best series i have ever seen
if you have not seen it yet then I would like to swap brains so I can watch it all again.
Published 11 days ago by Mr. Christopher J. Hopkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of The Wire Season 1 by HBO
I never saw the original series but having had chance to start and watch it on the recommendation of a friend, decided to buy it. I am not disappointed... by the end of disk 1 .. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Justin Rowles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just for the subtitles!
You really get into the series and having it on DVD has the added advantage of subtitles which means I can follow some of the faster more heavily accented exchanges! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Psychobabble
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply BRILLIANT!!!
The Wire: Complete HBO Season 1-5 [DVD]
The Wire in my mind is without question the finest television series ever made......yes ever! Read more
The Wire in my mind is without question the finest television series ever made......yes ever! Read more
Published 2 months ago by MattHarwood79
2.0 out of 5 stars
Senseless, maybe
I have bought the complete series - all five of them - and if I had not read the rave reviews I would not have been so rash. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dillon the Villain
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a joy!
This is so well made - a critique of the crazy management by objectives world we ilve in where everyone is trapped in the system to some extent. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it, great qualityDuncan Horastead . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I love it, great quality
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Published 4 months ago by Duncan Horastead
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
arrived very quickly despite christmas post and is amazing, takes a few episodes to get into it but once youre i you'll be hooked, ill defo be buying the next season
Published 4 months ago by bex
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's not for everyone
In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit I originally bought Season 1 based on the high praise from others whose opinions I respected. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. T. Abbott
4.0 out of 5 stars
great
took me some getting into and almost stopped watching after the first few episodes but now i'm addicted to it!
Published 5 months ago by Andrea Fairman
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