# The Wire on HBO - Hit or Miss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750 "2002-06-06T22:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/1 "2002-06-06T22:50:39Z")
So I watched the first episode of The Wire on HBO (showing almost nightly this week in case you haven’t seen it yet). Now, the first episode of Sex In The City… the first episode of Six Feet Under… the first episode of Sopranos… all had me instantly wanting more. But The Wire? Well…it wasn’t horrible, but it seems like it is only a slightly better filmed version of Law and Order and NYPD and Hill Street Blues…granted, all of the above were decent programming, but still… I guess I will watch episode two…but am I the only one who is somewhat underwhelmed so far? ---
**Author:** ![strangecurrencies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@strangecurrencies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strangecurrencies)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/2 "2002-06-07T01:31:15Z")
I’m with you. I really wanted this to be good, to get me through until new episodes of the Sopranos. There was just no “there there…” BTW, Have you been watching The Shield? It grabbed me as much as The Sopranos. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/3 "2002-06-07T01:43:47Z")
I liked it. But I was only paying half attention, trying to do a take home math test at the same time. Seemed interesting, although they could have had a more exciting premier. Bottom line: I’ll be watching it again next Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/4 "2002-06-07T15:39:25Z")
I thought it was could enough to continue with – I didn’t love the first few episodes of any of the shows you’ve mentioned, but by about the fourth or so I was hooked on all of them. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/5 "2002-06-10T22:10:52Z")
OK…it’s me again. Saw the second episode last night. It notched up in interest - a bit - compared to last week. Maybe this show is going to take time. However - I’ll watch it again next week. (With everything else on hiatus, it’s not like I’m gonna miss any other shows.) ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/6 "2002-06-11T01:39:23Z")
The Wire - where Oz characters go when they die. I think it will be ok once we get to know the characters, well ok enough to pass time. I think the nephew drug dealer will end up killing or giving up the uncle drug lord. ---
**Author:** ![labboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@labboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labboy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/7 "2002-07-09T14:28:51Z")
I didn’t care for it at first but it’s better now. Now great, but anything on HBO is better than comerical tv. I hate commercials they break up the flow of any drama. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/8 "2002-07-09T15:27:49Z")
I like this show and I was plenty ticked when I missed an installment. Incidently, the building in which the squad’s cave-like office is located is a courthouse. I walk by it every day on the way to work and wondered what the heck was being filmed there for a couple of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/9 "2002-07-09T23:30:48Z")
I have to admit I am warming up to the show, and have watched every installment. It is no Sopranos, Six Feet Under or Sex In The City, but it is good…and as labboy said, anything on HBO is better than regular commercial tv. I watched the episode where they explained the pager “code”, but I didn’t understand it…anybody know how it works? Something to do with placement of numbers on a touch tone keypad, but that’s all I could figure out. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/10 "2002-07-10T00:07:32Z")
Personally, I like the show. I’ve watched every episode, and I find it to be an interesting presentation of cop vs. criminal. [slight hijack] My wife and I both despise Six Feet Under. I don’t know what it is, but I haven’t been able to make it through a single episode. I don’t get the appeal of this show at all. There is not a single character I care about. Plus, HBO airs the show almost continuously. Why can’t we get re-runs of The Sopranos instead of episode after episode of SFU? [/slight hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/11 "2002-07-10T00:23:03Z")
I like the show a lot now. My only problem is that they cut away from the action scenes. I don’t want to see a shoot-em-up or anything, but the occasional excitement would help. **DMark** : The code is like this Phone Pad: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - 0 # Lets say the code number was 123-4567, the real number would be 987-6043. For each number, look for the number that is across from it such that the 5 is in the middle. So 1 is opposite 9, with the 5 inbetween. 5 itself switches with 0. I hope this makes it clear. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/12 "2002-07-10T20:12:39Z")
Thanks Qwertyasdfg! Clever code. You got that from the 3 second explanation? Wow. I have to learn to pay more attention… and I agree, a little more action, other than just running across the Pit would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/13 "2002-07-10T21:36:09Z")
I think this show has gotten a lot better in teh last few episodes, as it has become clear that it’s really about the inability of anyone to change the bureaucrary. (Both McNulty and D’Angelo are trying, and generally failing.) –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/14 "2002-07-11T00:56:15Z")
When I saw the coming attraction for this I had a feeling it would be HBO’s first turkey. I really think people have had enough of “gritty” crime dramas. ---
**Author:** ![Danger\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/15 "2017-08-26T23:18:34Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > I think this show has gotten a lot better in teh last few episodes, as it has become clear that it’s really about the inability of anyone to change the bureaucrary. (Both McNulty and D’Angelo are trying, and generally failing.) > > –Cliffy Yeah, I agree. It has gotten a lot better now. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/16 "2017-08-26T23:42:04Z")
Omar coming! And he’s a zombie! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/17 "2017-08-27T00:55:06Z")
Sheeeeeeeeit. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/18 "2017-08-27T03:05:01Z")
Once you get through the first fifteen seasons, it all starts to come together. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/19 "2017-08-28T02:23:32Z")
It’s oddly fascinating to see people’s first reactions to what’s now held up as a masterpiece. (I was late to the party, came across the season two opener late one night by accident and was quickly hooked) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750/20 "2017-08-28T04:49:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Sheeeeeeeeit. > mmm Wasn’t that 25th Hour? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wire-on-hbo-hit-or-miss/112750.md?page=2)