Re: Spoilers
I do realize that asking folks to hold back on spoilers for a series that is already concluded is a bit of a burden. And I do apologize if folks feel limited in their discussions because of it. But I think there is value in discussing the show before getting to the finale. And, hopefully, anyone new who picks up the series can read the thread and discussions without being spoiled themselves.
Most find that the most enjoyment from The Wire comes with the second, third and forth viewings when plot points are spoiled.
I tend to agree that this is a series that almost demands repeat viewings, allowing for a deeper "reading" of what takes place in each episode. I just don't want spoilers to undercut what might be a legitimate dramatic twist or character revelation -- least as far as my first time through the series is concerned.
Samuel Walters, unfortunately, I won't be participating in any episode by episode commentary, because I don't really remember individual episodes at this point (just general story arcs) and I don't have time to rewatch them. But I do think it's cool you're watching, so I'll definitely read your reviews.
Perhaps what I can try doing, aside from linking to each episode's summary over at HBO, is to find a more generalized line of discussion based on a "theme" from each episode. That way, perhaps discussions can be more broadly based than being about plot points or characters. And, of course, there's always the spoiler tags if folks want to refer to future episodes, seasons, etc. I think there's a great deal of benefit to be had from an in-depth analysis of the show.
Re: The Series
If you think the profanity is gratuitous, David Simon and Ed Burns have an answer to that criticism. I forget which episode it's in exactly, but they build an entire scene in which the only dialogue is variations on the word "fuck." This was, per the commentary, a response to critics who complained about the heavy use of profanity. Simon (who covered the police for many years for the Baltimore Sun) and Burns (who was a police officer in Baltimore for many years) felt that was how these characters would actually talk, and the profanity doesn't decrease.
I just watched the episode, as a matter of fact (Eppy #4). It's actually quite amusing. As for the overall level of profanity, it's not something that turns me off from the series but I felt that, given the incredible detail to realism, it was perhaps the one area in which the series at least approached the line of gratuity -- if not outright crossing it. Ultimately, it becomes part of the fabric of the show and doesn't diminish the fantastic character work or social commentary.
The series uses incidental music in only a few cases. (1) Over the opening and closing credits, (2) Brilliant montages in the final episode of each season. Beyond that, there's one scene involving the Barksdale gang in the first season that uses incidental music, and it's such a great scene that you might not even notice.
Additionally, notice that the camera is almost always at eye level, shot (if I am not mistaken) with a normal length lense most of the time. The show (by design) rarely uses long, uninterrupted takes or complicated dollies and/or zooms. When there are long takes they are usually imporant scenes. And the few times the camerawork uses the vertigo zoom (where you zoom in while dollying out, or visa versa) it stands out even more than it would on another show, and is always important.
Yeah, it's easy to see how deliberate the "production" of the show is, especially with respect to realism. It's that honest portrayal -- as if you were right there with these characters as everything happened, that makes series feel so immersive.
I also wonder, is there a music guide to the series out there somewhere, that goes episode by episode?
I checked the credits for the episodes but saw nothing to indicate the music.
IMDB, though, seems to have some info.
The beginning of the show was disconcerting because I couldn't follow who was who. Then I took a huge break after episode 6, so I had to actually re-watch episodes to remember people. Then I got really hooked and watched the last five episodes or so all at once.
That first episode is definitely a struggle to get through. But already a few episodes in and I know I'm completely hooked. It's actually been more of a struggle to sit back and try to think through, analyze and write about each episode because all I wanna do is just keep watching.
