The Wire: Season 3 [DVD] [2007]

So much has been spoken about The Wire's challenging "visual novel" style and deliberate pace that the show's abundance of grade A, straightforward entertainment is often overlooked. For a series whose heart and soul is rooted in realism and journalistic detail, The Wire has actually mastered cinematic conventions, whether it's the show's effortless sense of humor, the expertly crafted thrills derived from "cat-and-mouse" dynamics or the endlessly stylish stick ups of Omar Little. And all of that is important to note, because without drawing the audience in, the show's searing themes and atypical goals wouldn't hit as hard as they do. There are so many moments where the show's immediate pleasures seem to almost trick you into thinking that there will be a satisfying ending to wrap everything up. But no matter how hopeful things get, there's never any escape from the show's inherent sense of classically rooted Greek tragedy. There are no happy endings, there are no heroes or villains and plot lines often end with very little resolution. The only constants are the gods (the corrupt systems of order; "The Game," so to speak) and the inevitability of their design. Every character introduced chooses to either play by the rules or become a victim. Now, there's no doubt that Greek Tragedies are one of the oldest storytelling formats and that many dramas have already pondered upon the destructive relationships between and within modern American institutions. But very few works of art have seamlessly fused both and none of them have done so with as much confidence, resonance, ambition and realistic, in-depth, examination, as The Wire. No matter what aspect you wish to explore; the working class, the drug subculture, police forces, school systems, politics, journalism, or almost any other major force of power or source of downfall in a capitalist society; the writers and cast of the show have done the research, pinpointed the probable problems, and embedded a vital sense of drama, perfect pacing and brilliant, almost mythological, characterizations. The result is a masterpiece; a series of 5 finely crafted, concise and powerful theses, each contributing to a near-flawless whole that, hopefully, will become aknowledged, not only as one of the most vital commentaries on inner-city America of our time, but also as one of the greatest works of fiction ever made.

Stunningly good, again. Who'd have thought that a TV show about cops and gangs would be so subtle, 3-dimensional, funny, moving and intelligent? Everybody who wants to understand drugs, crime or America should watch it! In this season, the makers of The Wire have expanded the universe of the show by adding a new political dimension while bringing the focus back to the drug-littered west Baltimore streets of the first season, where names like Barksdale, Omar and Prop Joe still "ring out". It's the same old "game": gangs fighting for street corners, sergeants demanding arrests and Jimmy McNulty going behind his boss's back to pull strings for a short-cut solution to his big case... I have no wish to give away the plot, which is a humdinger, but suffice to say it the story is jolted by realism and twists just like in the first two seasons. New people join the game, others leave it, and one man thinks he may have struck on an answer to clean up the whole scene... And the characters are so well drawn, it is hard to believe these are actors. I mean, surely the guy who plays Omar really is chillingly ruthless and charmingly eloquent? And surely the guy who plays Jay must really enjoy needling his subordinates in a gross and funny way? But actually the men behind McNulty and Stringer are both British, which shows how convincing the whole dramatic illusion is, even though it often feels like a documentary. Please note, you must watch the first two seasons before this one (or at least you REALLY should because they are excellent and you will spoil the fun if you discover the plot backwards) and, yes, the DVDs of all three seasons have subtitles, and you will probably need them, unless you are a Baltimore drug dealer.

The Wire is a fantastic crime drama set in Baltimore. This is the third season and re focuses on Avon Barksdale and his crew. Season Two was good but I think this is better. Its still gritty and has a few nice surprises to keep you hooked. If you've never seen the Wire watch the first season before you watch this one.

After watching the frst two seasons of The Wire (which is essential to understanding the third) I was prepared for a further excellent season with the third, what I wasn't prepared for was that this season is not only the best of the three but that it's by far the greatest season of any cop show I've ever seen. All the series' staple characters are here, with lots more screen time for Omar and Bubbles (both sadly absent for much of season 2) as well as a more McNulty-centred plotline which grounds the season well while still managing to keep track of an extraordinary number of characters all of whom are given a great deal of depth normally so missing in modern TV police drama. Season three concerns itself primarily with two things; firstly with an exploration of the political structure which has previously been little more than a looming malevolent presence in the background as well as the upper ranks of the police force, secondly with trying to round off some of the series' long-standing conflicts. That second point makes this by far the most dramatic season of The Wire so far. The new characters this season are absolutely brilliant, particularly Major Colvin and ex-con Dennis. They lend an enourmous amount to the show and are magnificently acted, written with a great deal more depth than was given to the dockyard workers in season two. Season Three of The Wire is not just the best season of the show, but is the most incredibly dramatic and powerful cop show ever made. I've yet to see season four, but if it's even half as good as this one then it should be absolutely brilliant.

Schon die ersten beiden Staffeln waren in ihrer narrativen und dramaturgischen Perfektion nicht mehr steigerbar. Dass es Creator Simon auch in der dritten Staffel gelungen ist, dieses Niveau zu halten, zeugt nicht weniger von seinem unerschöpflichen und realitätsgeprüften Erfahrungsschatz als Reporter sämtlicher urbaner Milieus wie von seinem erzähltechnischen Genie als Drehbuchautor. Mit Intelligenz, Witz und Engagement greift die dritte Staffel lose Stränge aus den ersten beiden wieder auf und dokumentiert sie soziologisch konsequent zu Ende. Dabei kommen Fans des amerikanischen Humors ebenso auf ihre Kosten wie Freunde des Shakespeare'schen Theaters. Dass weder die Handlung noch die Dialoge dabei jemals konstruiert oder pathetisch wirken, verhindert Simons profundes Verständnis und Nachempfinden jener bitteren sozialen Realität, die dieser Serie ihre nach wie vor unverwechselbare authentische Dichte und Komplexität verleiht. Fazit: The Wire, Staffel 3, strotzt von sozialpädagogischer und künstlerischer Inspiration!

Une série géniale. Et puis en anglais avec possibilité de sous-titres en anglais. Excellente série qui mélange policier, politique, journalisme.