Rick’s Comments (group member since Feb 01, 2008)

Rick’s comments from the The Wire group.

SPOILERS AHEAD...
Some very good points, don't get me wrong, but I feel that long lists of fan complaints can give the effect of punishing the writers for raising the television bar so high in the first place. None of the stuff we've seen so far has been a dealbreaker, especially in the context of the greatest TV show ever made.

After four seasons, everyone seems to have their pet storylines and characters and vision for the series. The criticism so far has taken two tacks. Some say the show is rushing (and letting some cliches stand in for realism) because of this 10-episode short season... I don't see it, but I can understand why people do. Then again, the creators are taking great care to balance any unusual events with beautifully realistic, exquisitely drawn scenes fore and aft, and to slow things down when necessary. To me, it makes little sense to pick it all apart until the full story arc finds resolution, and we all know The Wire works a season at a time. It's not like other shows.

Another point that folks are grumbling about are the new central plot fulcrums which they feel are too way out and Hollywood-corny (serial killer hoax, Jason Blairish reporter, Omar's wacky escape). Again, nothing that has seriously set off my bullshit detector yet. The worst reactions I've personally had are to this episode's gratuitous appearance of Richard Belzer (wha?), and some of Steve Earle's non-acting. And his crappy theme song. Other than that, this season's stories have kept me glued to the screen. The best show on TV. Did I say that already?

Sometimes I think y'all is some ungrateful muhfuckas.