The Wire - TV Series Review

The Wire tells me the story I need to know that involves the various individual lives in the current Baltimore drug business, as seen through the eyes of the police force, the political forces, the media, and the average civilians. They say each season is about a particular aspect of the city and its issues; it paints a very raw picture that depicts the entire grey area, so to speak, of the unambiguous world.

The Wire major themes are systemized realism, the shades of grey between black and white, the social decay of urban America. Its radiance is uncompromising, realistic in most of the aspects and even dispiriting as it captures the spirit of its environment. In doing so, it poses the audience a series of questions about the essence of crime and justice.

Being an array of powerful scripts and brilliant acting, ‘The Wire’ is somewhat close to depicting real life, presenting the audience with characters who are the result of the environment they come from. Each of the main actors proves exceptional: Dominic West gives a perfect portrayal of the character who goes from inconsiderate playboy to deep thinking family man; Wendell Pierce depicts the androgynous honest and hardworking person whose main worry is his injured leg; and Idris Elba is amazing as the noble heroin Junk yard dealer. This is why each actor contributes to the production’s realism that simply enhances the altogether complex storyline of the show. All the directors do an excellent job of bringing out the identity of Baltimore with the help of real experiences that make the depiction realistic and engaging.

While sparing in its applications, the music in The Wire is effective in supporting its themes. It also applies an opening theme song ‘Way Down in the Hole,’ which is a perfect match for the show’s investigation of the unspoken aspects of urban living.

The Wire tells the raw truth about the city of Baltimore through its exceptional cinematography. Brook’s gritty drama portrays the reality of New York, with natural lighting and the use of handheld cameras. The visuals enhance the story in the same way, allowing the audience raw, unaltered access to the city’s core.

For the most part, the production design of the series faithfully recreates Baltimore and captures its spectrum from abandoned streets to the official corridors of City Hall. Every scene of the show, well-written and designed, gives the story the touch of a tangible reality that many viewers easily associate themselves with.

The Wire uses few formalistic techniques; it avoids special effects and relies on the plausibility of its messages. Those technical aspects also support the storytelling without intruding on it, keeping the series realistic.

The series editing is complex, managing to tell several interconnected stories at the same time. The time is well spaced showcasing the gradual destruction and exposure of the characters along with the social evils in the city of Baltimore.

The use of time and the advancement within the show is carefully measured and planned to present the viewers with a realistic experience. Due to a focus of the show on portrayal of a wide range of characters, it has a great potential for a complex character development and a story telling. While watching the show is sometimes frustrating because of its slow pace, it pays off in the end with the plots that are full of depth.

Dialogue in The Wire is profound, credible and realistic. Starring a multicultural cast, the show captures the real life of people from Baltimore and their goals and challenges in life.

The show ’The Wire’ has numerous strengths such as realism and rich characters; however some audiences could complain about low pace of the show. The series requires careful and time-consuming watching, which may be a drawback to those expecting constantly twisty and turny stories.|The Wire brilliantly portrays the socio-economic reality of Baltimore focusing on its specifics and complexities. It’s raw and gritty and its portrayal of its characters provides the viewer with a deep and emotional experience that leaves one thinking far after the last episode is over.