David Zurawik, of The Baltimore Sun, is not happy with the final season, or the final episode, of The Wire. I love the show, and thought this season had some amazing moments. Still, many of Zurawik’s criticisms are, I think, on target.
I’m sure there are lots of fans of the show among the readers of this blog. Any thoughts as it comes to an end?
Posted by Rick Garnett on March 10, 2008 at 09:39 AM
» So Long to “The Wire” from Sex Crimes I echo Rick Garnett’s sentiments after seeing the series finale to The Wire last night on HBO. While it was about drug crimes and not sex crimes, I think anyone interested in criminal justice should watch the series. It was [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 10, 2008 2:38:52 PM
Comments
mmm: go to the mall and find me ten white people who’ve seen The Wire and I’ll give you a prize.
Posted by: Bart | Mar 11, 2008 2:46:40 PM
Bart: touched a nerve there, eh?
Posted by: mmm | Mar 11, 2008 2:09:46 AM
That post on The Wire really reflects the strange out of touchness that the “Stuff White People Like” bloggers have with, well, the mainstream white culture. It should be called “Stuff Hipsters Like” or “Stuff An Affluent/Hip Minority Likes.”
Posted by: Bart | Mar 10, 2008 2:27:46 PM
Funny you should mention The Wire, it is today’s entry on Stuff White People Like.
Stuff White People Like #85 – The Wire- March 10, 2008
Posted by: mmm | Mar 10, 2008 1:42:47 PM
I really think that the Baltimore Sun is not a good source for evaluating The Wire. I think the most telling passage in that review is when the author asserts “Simon is offering a highly personalized, vendetta-driven mythology of an era that never was at The Sun, and I feel no conflict in pointing out its flaws – as entertainment or purported truth.” But he goes on to give no evidence of the alleged falsehoods.
In fact, it is well established that The Baltimore Sun did have a problem with Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair style reporters when Simon was working there. And he did clash with “eyes on the prize” kind of corporate journalists like the editors depicted in the show.
The other often cited critique of this season of The Wire is by Mark Bowden, a former Sun writer and friend of the targets of Simon’s ire. But rarely will you see this crucial fact mentioned.
Zurawik’s experience of watching the show was no doubt very different than most. That must have effected his experience and his enjoyment of its last act. I think he overstates the show’s decline considerably. The last season did what it had to do. I think it was weaker than previous seasons, but it had a heavier burden in terms of wrapping things up.
Lastly, Zurawik absolutely misinterprets the impact of On Demand. What the numbers reflect is that The Wire junkies can’t possibly wait an entire week before seeing it when the next Sunday’s episode is available on the previous Monday On Demand. The numbers from the final episode, not available on On Demand, will be a better indication of the show’s popularity.
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
The most telling scene in the final episode is when Kima gets forgiven for exposing McNulty and Freamon’s plan. In telling this story, Simon broke the journalistic code of omerta, just like Kima did. She was forgiven, but Simon, if these attacks are representative, has not been.
Posted by: Bart | Mar 10, 2008 11:22:52 AM
Michael with the shotgun and Dukie in the alley were priceless.
A fun bit of Prawfs-Wire trivia – Jim True-Frost, who plays Prez, is married to Cora True-Frost, a Climenko fellow and Lecturer at Harvard Law.
Posted by: Lindsay | Mar 10, 2008 11:22:32 AM