Roughly 22 years ago, I "discovered" The Wire on episode 6 of season 2. I had just watched something else on HBO (probably The Sopranos or Deadwood) and had not changed channels when the cold open for The Wire came on. Honestly, it was Omar's scar that first grabbed my attention - I remember wondering if it was real, how it was acquired - then the guy with the scar talked about Greek and Roman myths, before taking the witness stand to testify that he stuck up drug dealers as a living. At that point I was thinking "well, that's different", when the opening titles started. I was raised in the cornfields of the midwest, and had moved to Baltimore when in my late twenties for 4 years, where I drove past the harbor during my commute. As a result, I was always intrigued by the ships in the port. When I saw the opening credits for The Wire season 2, I thought the entire show was about the Baltimore port, and how cool was that! I thought Tom Waits was saying to keep the devil way down in the hold... This was not an easy show to jump into the middle of, but after seeing mythology, testimony, Gatsby, a mannequin, Ziggy's memories, Bunk's nausea, the Greeks, the "talk" with Cheese, Prop Joe, Mrs. McNulty frolicking, politics, a scene at a real club that I had been to, and a prison murder, I was not sure who was who, or what they were all doing, but I was hooked after that one episode.
Deadwood has to be next for him. It's almost, almost as glorious a watch as The Wire. Actually rewatching it now. Hopefully he hasn't watched sopranos before too
this show is written like a novel. thats why so many people love it (and for those who love this show and don't read- they'd probably enjoy reading too lol). it's like the Great American Novel that so many American authors tried to write- that some say is Moby Dick, or even The Great Gatsby. The Great American novel: an amazingly written story with compelling and legendary characters that encapsulates a moment in time of pure Americana via the vehicle of American institutions (one of the most American things); and although it's still just a snapshot, a time capsule of late '90s/early 00's Baltimore, Maryland, it still resonates and will continue to resonate with viewers for as long as film media and humanity persists. I've re-watched this show from start to finish like 5 times over the years by myself, and each time I notice new things, find new takeaways, messages and meanings in scenes, feel different emotions about particular scenes based on where I am in life, read into actions, motivations and outcomes differently after I accumulate more and more of my own life experience. That is the mark of a great piece of media. I've probably watched clips and moments of every episode and season of this show via reaction channels another 25 times, and sometimes, if the reactor is actually engaged and has a brain, or has a unique perspective (about writing or film-making, for example) I am given new thoughts to ponder, new ideas to chew on, new concepts to think about. This leads me to say that currently I'm watching a few Wire reactions that have really shed new light on this well-trod show for me. I never thought about the thematic elements that pervade the entirety of the show, but also individual episodes (like this one in this reaction). Sure, there are the basic themes that almost everyone picks up on- crumbling institutions, morality, the cyclical nature of macro ("history repeats itself") to the micro (the individual level- the character arcs) etc. However, you are *GREAT* at picking up on the recurring themes of each particular episodes in ways that I would have never noticed them; not on my own, independently. Another great reactor right now is Elie Moses who has more of a film-making background, and he has also given me highly revelatory exposition about the shot selections that echo through the entire series, how they're used, and most importantly why- always to subconsciously signal. The Wire isn't just supremely well-written, it is also supremely well-shot (and acted!!). I highly recommend Elie Moses' channel to others looking for great reactions to this show (and to Binge Buffoon to watch when he's finally done with this show...one day lol). You might learn something new.
Omar on the stand is absolute gold. entertaining as hell. love this episode and I didnt know anything about all the Gatsby references so thanks for that as well.
My reaction to D’s death was exactly same as yours. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention to some of the clues they were giving us earlier in the episode.
This is a comment to get the video more engagement so we can hopefully get more the wire faster, or something? Because I love this show and I love your reactions to it.
Another excellent reaction. You're introducing perspectives I've never considered. Keep being you. Glad you're enjoying this season - it gets better....
you should read Gatsby. In a lot of ways i think of the Wire as a modern Great Gatsby, a quintessential American story that is of its time but also timeless
Just wanted to say, I do watch your other reactions. I mostly watch reactions to things that are really my shit, so it won't be everything. You've got great insight and you pick up on a lot of stuff in this show that other reactors don't, and have picked up on things I've missed (which is crazy when this shows like 20 years old). It's a treat to watch these because you really get it. I'd love to hear more, like a retrospective after the seasons or the show. I feel like you have a lot to say and you want to get it in during the reaction, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts after marinating on the entirety of seasons.
Welcome back friend! Yeah atmit for The Wire "All Prologue" was definitely the best episode in the series imho. And the great thing is is that there are still greater episodes to come for this masterpiece (including this very season). All Prologue is still top tier though. Your takes on the themes and meaning of the episode wasn't entirely wrong and you were on it quite a bit. D'Angelo isn't saying that change is impossible (he himself has changed for the better) but one cannot change if one isn't real with themselves. He's accepted who he really is and who he wants to be and willingly takes the consequences that came with the actions he chose to take, essentially taking accountability. As tragic as D'Angelo's ending is the writing for it is simply chefs kiss. He died but in his last moments he was "free", moreso than he had been since the beginning of the series. Wallace's death was sad and dark af, D'Angelo's demise shocked tf out of me on my first watch as I truly didn't think the show was gonna go there considering how big a character he was and it was just the midpoint of the season. We've lost the "heart" (Wallace) and now we've lost the "conscience" D'Angelo. Things only get darker from here on out.
We lost the heart and the conscience... I love that. Also, I agree - change isn't possible without being honest with yourself first. I think that's what I said in my ramblings.
@@BingeBuffoon It's cool friend. That's what you have us Wire veterans for 😂 But I'm glad you're enjoying Season 2 so much. It truly is just as fantastic as Season 1 is.
Hey Mona, check out the Surrounded by Idiots podcast by Maestro. I posted this reply under one of your comments elsewhere but it didn't appear for some reason. Binge, don't check out that podcast as it contains spoilers.
@@chidiumeh Ohhhhhh thank you friend for the info! Much appreciative. And yeah youtube be tripping sometimes chile 🙄 Imma check out my summer boys tonight!
My reaction was the same as yours when D’Angelo was killed, like how can the show take D’Angelo away from us this soon, but unfortunately this show is BIGGER than D’Angelo
A lot of ADHD moments/tangents in this one. Be advised.
Could D's death have been avoided (was it necessary narratively)?
That scene with Dee and his mother is powerful , such great acting.
I’m glad you see the deeper context in these episodes. There’s a reason why Harvard taught classes on this show.
Roughly 22 years ago, I "discovered" The Wire on episode 6 of season 2. I had just watched something else on HBO (probably The Sopranos or Deadwood) and had not changed channels when the cold open for The Wire came on.
Honestly, it was Omar's scar that first grabbed my attention - I remember wondering if it was real, how it was acquired - then the guy with the scar talked about Greek and Roman myths, before taking the witness stand to testify that he stuck up drug dealers as a living. At that point I was thinking "well, that's different", when the opening titles started.
I was raised in the cornfields of the midwest, and had moved to Baltimore when in my late twenties for 4 years, where I drove past the harbor during my commute. As a result, I was always intrigued by the ships in the port. When I saw the opening credits for The Wire season 2, I thought the entire show was about the Baltimore port, and how cool was that! I thought Tom Waits was saying to keep the devil way down in the hold...
This was not an easy show to jump into the middle of, but after seeing mythology, testimony, Gatsby, a mannequin, Ziggy's memories, Bunk's nausea, the Greeks, the "talk" with Cheese, Prop Joe, Mrs. McNulty frolicking, politics, a scene at a real club that I had been to, and a prison murder, I was not sure who was who, or what they were all doing, but I was hooked after that one episode.
Deadwood has to be next for him. It's almost, almost as glorious a watch as The Wire. Actually rewatching it now.
Hopefully he hasn't watched sopranos before too
@IntoTheWhite04 I've seen both Deadwood and The Sopranos (love them). Apologies.
@@BingeBuffoon that's great and a shame.
this show is written like a novel. thats why so many people love it (and for those who love this show and don't read- they'd probably enjoy reading too lol). it's like the Great American Novel that so many American authors tried to write- that some say is Moby Dick, or even The Great Gatsby. The Great American novel: an amazingly written story with compelling and legendary characters that encapsulates a moment in time of pure Americana via the vehicle of American institutions (one of the most American things); and although it's still just a snapshot, a time capsule of late '90s/early 00's Baltimore, Maryland, it still resonates and will continue to resonate with viewers for as long as film media and humanity persists.
I've re-watched this show from start to finish like 5 times over the years by myself, and each time I notice new things, find new takeaways, messages and meanings in scenes, feel different emotions about particular scenes based on where I am in life, read into actions, motivations and outcomes differently after I accumulate more and more of my own life experience. That is the mark of a great piece of media.
I've probably watched clips and moments of every episode and season of this show via reaction channels another 25 times, and sometimes, if the reactor is actually engaged and has a brain, or has a unique perspective (about writing or film-making, for example) I am given new thoughts to ponder, new ideas to chew on, new concepts to think about.
This leads me to say that currently I'm watching a few Wire reactions that have really shed new light on this well-trod show for me. I never thought about the thematic elements that pervade the entirety of the show, but also individual episodes (like this one in this reaction). Sure, there are the basic themes that almost everyone picks up on- crumbling institutions, morality, the cyclical nature of macro ("history repeats itself") to the micro (the individual level- the character arcs) etc. However, you are *GREAT* at picking up on the recurring themes of each particular episodes in ways that I would have never noticed them; not on my own, independently. Another great reactor right now is Elie Moses who has more of a film-making background, and he has also given me highly revelatory exposition about the shot selections that echo through the entire series, how they're used, and most importantly why- always to subconsciously signal. The Wire isn't just supremely well-written, it is also supremely well-shot (and acted!!). I highly recommend Elie Moses' channel to others looking for great reactions to this show (and to Binge Buffoon to watch when he's finally done with this show...one day lol). You might learn something new.
Omar on the stand is absolute gold. entertaining as hell. love this episode and I didnt know anything about all the Gatsby references so thanks for that as well.
My reaction to D’s death was exactly same as yours. I guess I wasn’t paying close attention to some of the clues they were giving us earlier in the episode.
Always happy for more Wire!
This is a comment to get the video more engagement so we can hopefully get more the wire faster, or something? Because I love this show and I love your reactions to it.
Absolutely. Easily the best. Very enjoyable watching along with someone this intelligent.
Another excellent reaction. You're introducing perspectives I've never considered. Keep being you. Glad you're enjoying this season - it gets better....
lol your editing is hilarious sometimes
Fuck I hope so - I'm definitely trying to be funny sometimes lol.
I've missed these reactions. Haven't read Gatsby but I did read Sirens of Titan as a youngster and it left a lifelong impression.
you should read Gatsby. In a lot of ways i think of the Wire as a modern Great Gatsby, a quintessential American story that is of its time but also timeless
I was one who was pretty thrown off by season 2 on the first watch, but on multiple rewatches this episode does stand up as pretty powerful indeed
Finally! The man, the myth, has returned with another reaction.
21:48 Prop Joe with a Clay Davis Shieeeet
Just wanted to say, I do watch your other reactions. I mostly watch reactions to things that are really my shit, so it won't be everything.
You've got great insight and you pick up on a lot of stuff in this show that other reactors don't, and have picked up on things I've missed (which is crazy when this shows like 20 years old). It's a treat to watch these because you really get it. I'd love to hear more, like a retrospective after the seasons or the show. I feel like you have a lot to say and you want to get it in during the reaction, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts after marinating on the entirety of seasons.
Great idea, I would watch that!
Awwww yiss. The man himself is back.
You wire reactions are some of the best (even though you miss some shit😂) hope you drop more often
Welcome back friend! Yeah atmit for The Wire "All Prologue" was definitely the best episode in the series imho. And the great thing is is that there are still greater episodes to come for this masterpiece (including this very season). All Prologue is still top tier though. Your takes on the themes and meaning of the episode wasn't entirely wrong and you were on it quite a bit. D'Angelo isn't saying that change is impossible (he himself has changed for the better) but one cannot change if one isn't real with themselves. He's accepted who he really is and who he wants to be and willingly takes the consequences that came with the actions he chose to take, essentially taking accountability. As tragic as D'Angelo's ending is the writing for it is simply chefs kiss. He died but in his last moments he was "free", moreso than he had been since the beginning of the series. Wallace's death was sad and dark af, D'Angelo's demise shocked tf out of me on my first watch as I truly didn't think the show was gonna go there considering how big a character he was and it was just the midpoint of the season. We've lost the "heart" (Wallace) and now we've lost the "conscience" D'Angelo. Things only get darker from here on out.
We lost the heart and the conscience... I love that. Also, I agree - change isn't possible without being honest with yourself first. I think that's what I said in my ramblings.
@@BingeBuffoon It's cool friend. That's what you have us Wire veterans for 😂 But I'm glad you're enjoying Season 2 so much. It truly is just as fantastic as Season 1 is.
Hey Mona, check out the Surrounded by Idiots podcast by Maestro. I posted this reply under one of your comments elsewhere but it didn't appear for some reason. Binge, don't check out that podcast as it contains spoilers.
@@chidiumeh Ohhhhhh thank you friend for the info! Much appreciative. And yeah youtube be tripping sometimes chile 🙄 Imma check out my summer boys tonight!
One of the best episodes of the series.
He’s back!
Stellar reaction good Sir!
Ha .. idyllic is the answer to the last clue in my crossword earlier... Thanks...
My reaction was the same as yours when D’Angelo was killed, like how can the show take D’Angelo away from us this soon, but unfortunately this show is BIGGER than D’Angelo
Kool.
I give this comment, in good faith, as willing sacrifice to the TH-cam Goddess, Algorithm.
Amen
Comment traffic more
I forgot you existed lol
lol well that's lovely.
That’s funny because no one even knew you existed before this comment, monteellis4436
@@joshgrobansdrymouth Wipe your chin, it was just a joke because he hasn't uploaded a Wire episode in a long time.
@@monteellis4436 wow what a hilarious joke, you even wrote lol so that means it’s funny wow
season 2 is my least favorite
Season 5 is the weakest I think