Access Blogs
Access Video Blogs
Staff Blog: The Final Episode of "The Wire"
By Brando Piggue
On March 9th, one of the best (if not the best) shows on television will air its final episode. “The Wire” is a crime drama created by a former police reporter of The Baltimore Sun, David Simon, and a former Baltimore homicide detective, Ed Burns. The show focuses on the American drug war in Baltimore, Maryland. The very thing that makes “The Wire” great is the same exact thing that pushes what should be a large audience away. Simply put – it’s too real, too brutal and too honest for most to handle.
The cast is made up of lesser-known actors that fit naturally in their roles. Real-life Baltimore figures were cast to provide real Baltimore history, slang and culture. The majority of the episodes are based on real events that took place in Baltimore.
On March 9th, one of the best (if not the best) shows on television will air its final episode. “The Wire” is a crime drama created by a former police reporter of The Baltimore Sun, David Simon, and a former Baltimore homicide detective, Ed Burns. The show focuses on the American drug war in Baltimore, Maryland. The very thing that makes “The Wire” great is the same exact thing that pushes what should be a large audience away. Simply put – it’s too real, too brutal and too honest for most to handle.
The cast is made up of lesser-known actors that fit naturally in their roles. Real-life Baltimore figures were cast to provide real Baltimore history, slang and culture. The majority of the episodes are based on real events that took place in Baltimore.
“The Wire” tells the story of those people whose voices are rarely
heard; those who live and breathe this life whether they are the drug
dealers, the cops chasing them, or the kids born into the street life.
It tells the true story that the media chooses to ignore; the Black on
Black crime, the unwritten code of the street and, essentially, the
business model that the illegal drug business has been successfully
following for decades.
Each season tackles several hot button issues. Season one featured the war between the police and the drug gangs. Season two revealed how drugs are smuggled thru the ports and distributed in the inner city. Season three gave the audience an inside look of a drug empire from the drug lords to corner boys. Season four, which to me is the defining season, involves the failing school system and the youth that are trapped between the fine line of humanity and politics as usual, as the mayoral race heats up. The fifth and final season is about the role the media plays in reporting stories; profit over content.
Even though Sunday’s episode is the final episode, “The Wire” still lives on. In every major city there’s a Marlo or an Avon selling drugs, people who do the drugs, cops chasing them all and the people caught in the crossfire. “The Wire” will forever play out on the streets. The cast and crew will change but the plot will remain the same.
Each season tackles several hot button issues. Season one featured the war between the police and the drug gangs. Season two revealed how drugs are smuggled thru the ports and distributed in the inner city. Season three gave the audience an inside look of a drug empire from the drug lords to corner boys. Season four, which to me is the defining season, involves the failing school system and the youth that are trapped between the fine line of humanity and politics as usual, as the mayoral race heats up. The fifth and final season is about the role the media plays in reporting stories; profit over content.
Even though Sunday’s episode is the final episode, “The Wire” still lives on. In every major city there’s a Marlo or an Avon selling drugs, people who do the drugs, cops chasing them all and the people caught in the crossfire. “The Wire” will forever play out on the streets. The cast and crew will change but the plot will remain the same.
Well said. I'm sorry I missed the whole thing now. I'll have to go rent the seasons and catch up: thanks for the review and the perspective!
For whats it worth - I ended up in Baltimore near where the wire is shot on location in MD.
Scary place, feels cold and its hard to believe that this is part of America.
No main street, I dont even remember seeing a post office oh yes they have a big Federal court there though.