DVD-The Wire

I first got interested in The Wire from reading a post about in on a libertarian blog. I doubt that the producers of the show are libertarians, but you can't watch this show without getting a libertarian viewpoint on a lot of things. Needless to say, The Wire is one of the finest television shows that I have ever watched. I cannot praise it more highly or recommend it enough. You need to watch all five seasons of this one. You will not be disappointed.

The show is set in Baltimore and concerns cops and drug dealers but in a way you've never seen before. It covers all angles and is unflinching in its viewpoint. Sometimes, you want to laugh. Other times, you want to cry. The plots are involved. The characters are deep. The dialogue is unforgettable. The scenes are explosive. It watches the way a novel reads.

For me, the characters are what make it worth watching. You have McNulty, the drunken maverick detective. You have Lester Freamon, the "natural police" who makes doll furniture and is the finest cop on the show. You have Omar, the shotgun wielding robber of drug dealers. Then, there is Stringer Bell, the Adam Smith reading drug kingpin. You can't decide whether to loathe him or admire him.

The show covers every facet of Baltimore--the police department, the street, the ports, city hall, the schools, and even the newspaper. There are so many layers to this show that you will be dizzy keeping track. And there are surprises. The show develops organically, and you will be surprised where it takes you.

The only flaw in the show is that it doesn't provide any answers, but it does hint at them. Drug legalization is one. Cops involved in their communities is another one. Segregating thugs from students in our schools is another.

Like I said, I can't recommend this show enough. If you want to watch something quality, The Wire is your ticket. It is a crying shame this show never got any Emmy awards or more viewership. But it does have a cult following, and I think it will grow as time goes on.

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