I’ve already had my say on The Wire, and such praise has now become commonplace, so if you haven’t been swayed yet by widespread assertions that it’s the greatest TV series ever, nothing I can add will convince you to give this work the attention it deserves and requires. But now that its mind-bending, heart-rending five-season run is complete, I have to offer a RIP bouquet.
I believe one word says it all about The Wire: “complicity.” It’s all there in the complicated portrait of a city. The complicity of institutions, and their complicity in social woes. The complicity of individuals, following their own interests or codes. The complicity of cops with criminals; the complicity of money and power, business and politics, schools and media. The complicity of actors and characters, which gives the film/novel the feel of reality. The complicity of fact and fiction. The complicity of show and viewer, makers and responders, so evident in impassioned online message boards. The complicity of critics, striving to keep an underwatched show alive by attracting viewers. Complicity is the opposite of conspiracy -- it is the genuine invisible hand that rules everything. We’re all accomplices.
As for a review of the fifth and final season, they’re everywhere -- take your pick. All I have to say is that David Simon, Ed Burns, and all the rest of the writers, cast, and crew remained true to the greatness of their endeavor to the very end -- 60 hours that will live as long as television does. All over America today, people are going back to Episode 1, and the pre-title-sequence demise of “Snot-boogie,” to start all over again. The parallel world of The Wire is complete, and it will last forever in our memories.
P.S. If like me you just can't let go, here's a nice wrap-up of last episode by a group of Salon writers. (You may have to watch a brief ad to get to Salon, but once there you should check out another excellent interview with David Simon.)
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