The Wire 1x13 Reaction

LOVED SEASON 1. Honestly that Weebay scene with him confessing had me laughing so much, it's genuinely one of the funniest scenes in the show because of how nonchalant he was about the whole thing. Also while D's mom was 100% manipulating him to stay quiet, she also wasn't wrong because Avon staying the king, does keep his family safe, if Avon falls and someone else takes over, they could all be put in jeopardy. Also loved McNulty and Kima's scene, it was great watching their relationship form and it was great seeing how much McNulty cares about Kima. This finale having so many parallels to the 1st episode was so great, so many things changed but yet EVERYTHING stayed the same.

Nyeisha Melvina Clark

In Deadwood when they raise up the telegraph poles Al, Dan, and Johnny have a discussion about the tech. Then there's Blazanov who talks about the intricacies of the technology several times. In MadMen they introduce tech like the Xerox machine or projectors and have an extensive talk about it. All obsolete tech in both Deadwood and MadMen is new tech for the characters which is how the writer introduces the tech to the viewer as well. Explaining it to the characters is explaining it to the viewer. Same method is using when dealing with sci-fi tech. For example in The Wire they don't talk about payphones or pagers because it is assumed the viewers knows what they are, but they do talk about optic fiber surveillance tech because it's not just new for the characters but for the 2003 viewer as well.

Orr Malus

The feelings get so much worse as a heads up

Sol95

Fingers crossed and praying

Marvelous Dolcy

Yup this is it exactly. Season 2 becomes much much better in hindsight.

Arctic_stark

This is my favorite show ever so watching reactions to this is extremely satisfying but y’all are on another level. The way you guys are able to Catch the even the little details is dope to see. I ain’t never subscribed to a fucking Patreon before but I had to tap in wit yall. Can’t wait till you guys get to season 4 (the greatest season of any show ever) it just might break you. 👍🏾✊🏾

Thomas

I never thought you guys would react to The Wire. I thought it would be too urban for yall. So forgive me for pre judging. Your commentary on the themes of the show are so nuanced. 👌🏾

PamRenea

FR… same people who cheered when children got beat up in Attack on Titan and said they deserved it like wtf… don’t like to watch reaction channels except LM and Semblance of Sanity, people with legit willingness to ask questions and basic empathy

space colon

I don’t criticize other channels casually and I said openly that they had good and vulnerable discussions. All I did was point out specific examples of how they approached the show with their reactions. It wasn’t just Pat, was also Rana and Spidey and Suraj. They literally said and did the things I described, even Marketa and Chris and Mickey said season 2 was weak and thought Ziggy and Nicky were pointless characters

space colon

I mean other countries have completely different systems of government that actually protect impoverished people and offer universal health care Like that’s honestly an incredibly naïve and disingenuous thing to say. “I don’t think things could be any other way” You do realize the American constitution has itself been updated and changed repeatedly. There are counties in the US where police travel with social workers and violence is reduced significantly. Like that’s such a defeatist attitude to say things couldn’t be another way when clearly things have changed and other places in the world enact completely different behavior toward minorities and people struggling financially

space colon

how is that any different from deadwood? where the characters bring up and use telegrams? I watch madmen where there is tons of tech that's outdated and I have never used. The show will just read like an early 2000's period piece to new viewers in 2050, just like how deadwood is to us now. no need to understand any of the tech/terms. just get it through watching like osmosis.

T0ast

Should be today

john ross

Any update on next hxh?

Andrew Lynch

Season 2 is indeed fantastic, just different from the first.

craftmania

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the girls like season 2. I actually love it and was surprised by some people disliking or even hating it.

Damien Fenton

I'm actually not really a fan of reaction channels but I'm a fan of LM. I really like how smart and empathetic they are.

Damien Fenton

Yeah, if there's any show that deserves longer reviews, it's this one. There's entire college courses dedicated to this show.

jveezy

Luis, you're more describing someone who isn't self aware and is living compulsively (following their own established patterns of thought and belief systems). Self awareness is specifically the ability to analyze a situation and oneself objectively, and responding accordingly.

ODIS

Your commentary is really top notch. It is very impressive how you are picking up on all the nuances in your first viewing. Some of these insights took me a couple times to pick up.

Adrienne Walker

Not my point. I wasn't talking about issues, I was talking about the technology around which the case against Barksdale is made. "The Wire" is even the name of the show. Setting a story in the past or future either circumnavigates the issue of technology altogether or forces the storyteller to explain the tech to the viewer. Setting a story in the present assumes the viewer already knows what a payphone, pager, and burner are. Fast forward two decades and younger generations are completely in the dark about that obsolete tech. This affects immersion. Imagine Freamon and Prez suddenly start talking about what a pager or payphone are and how they work. Such a conversation would be completely absurd for a young person watching The Wire in 2003, but an absolute necessity for a young person watching the show in 2023. This is exactly what happens in Better Call Saul when Jimmy was selling burners and he does a little infomercial to the gangbangers on what the product actually does.

Orr Malus

Your view assumes that people would act in a way that’s best for them if they knew what that was but that is not true to how people actually act. Think of how many people stay in relationships they know to be toxic or jobs they know they’re unhappy with. People especially Americans will go with the flow and do what they feel will cause minimal disruptions.

Luis

I'd like to add as well, having watched your full discussion: don't be afraid of your reviews being long for this series girls, honestly. I know part of the reluctance to shoot so much footage comes from the editing workload, but Lola you said it yourself that this isn't really the type of series where there'll be a lot to say during the episode itself, but it'll be the discussion afterwards that will have most of the 'reaction', so to speak. I'd rather wait longer for the edited reactions to come out if it means the discussions aren't rushed or abridged. I just wanted to put that out there because you're well used to your regular patrons at this point saying "don't worry, we love your longer videos", but this time around it is genuinely applicable to the series in question for the discussions to be as long as they are.

TeaDrinker3000

It's easy to say the system, but people put the system in place. I personally don't think things could be any other way.

Aj

Lol anything to criticise another channel. You guys acting as if all the Normies are like Pat. Come on, don't be silly

Aj

The first four seasons are all equally amazing, it's pretty much down to personal preference at that point. The only somewhat weak season is the last one.

Aj

To me the biggest irony about that scene is that Daniels' unit and the Feds are ultimately doing the same thing, what is Jimmy attempting to do with Stringer if not 'tie (his) pelt to the wall'? There'll always be someone to take Avon's place, and there'll always be someone to take Clay Davis' place no-one is changing anything. The issue is that Jimmy and Daniels just want the Feds to play along to help them get their own win, whereas the Feds are, like everyone in this show, looking for their own interests and since they hold the cards in this situation want the Baltimore cops to help THEM get THEIR own win. The crazy thing is if they had wrangled it the Feds way to try and roll up Avon and Stringer into Clay Davis, even with plea deals as cooperators they'd have probably seen more jail time than the 7 and 0 years they saw respectively for what Jimmy could pin on them alone. And D'Angelo would've been free. The fuck did you do Jimmy?

Jay Craig

Why do people need to talk/hint about future seasons....

T0ast

I disagree, every issue brought up by the wire is still happening today. Technology has just made it easier to see some of these issues. Many of the issues today are because of laws and ideas that were put in place in bad faith. Deadwood is almost about the creation of a civilization, while the wire is about the degradation that happens when power structures become entrenched over decades in a civilization. But both shows show how people can be affected by both individuals but also institutions. I think David Simon compared the wire to the Greek myths but instead of Zeus or Poseidon the indifferent powerful gods that fuck with mortals are the institutions themselves.

T0ast

I watched The Wire only one time when I was 16 (like 10 years ago) and girls, it’s really enjoyable to rediscover this masterpiece with you !

Juliette

The Wire and Deadwood are similar in the sense that the viewer is thrown into the middle of the story. There's no exposition or anything, the viewer has to figure out who are the players, what is their motivation, how the internal logic of world works, and so on. Because The Wire is set in modern times it will inevitably become outdated. 10 years from now someone watching the show will have a tough time figuring out what a payphone even is, which in turn will affect immersion. In this aspect Deadwood is timeless. Also, if they ever react to Deadwood, imagine the headaches Steve will give them during editing. Hahaha

Orr Malus

The Normies are people that I would actively make up an excuse to get out of hanging out with. Jesus fucking christ I'm so glad our girls actually have brains and hearts.

TeaDrinker3000

I understand where you're coming from fully now. It's a good point, I'd be interested in reading more of your comments as time goes on.

TeaDrinker3000

I can't remember... do we see the fish in Season 4? I'm pretty sure they have new caretakers (trying not to spoil haha)

Chris Truex

"Don't tell her". One line, delivered perfectly. Andre Royo is utterly heartbreaking, just a great actor.

Chris Truex

When I suggested The Wire, given how other reaction channels only chose popular shows right now I didn't have hope. Then they picked it up and I trusted them to love it but not as much as I do, I underestimated the girls. They are great because they truly get it

Karabo

Season 2 is such a weird one, simply because it gets so much better everytime you rewatch it. Like, your initial thoughts on it are "It's okay" then when you finish the show you realize just how important season 2 was, The writing in the Wire is S-tier,

Karabo

Applies to the police as well

Karabo

I never thought about Dee's son. Yup the cyle continues, tragic

Karabo

Honestly that whole montage was so dope and then the music cuts out and you see Omar being Omar and he summed it all up perfectly "All in the game, yo"

Karabo

I feel like Wee-bey would've gotten the word out to rehome them once he heard that Dee got arrested. He may be a murderer but he's not just gonna let his fish starve to death.

Doug

Yeah, and even then, we've been fighting the same problems for 20 years on from when the show aired. Without massive overhaul or trying new things other that more street arrests and more policing, no progress will made. The police and politicians are also in a "game" of their own.

Mo

If Avon and Stringer go down, somebody else steps in and fills their shoes. If Clay Davis goes down- well somebody else will fill his shoes also. I love how well this show illustrates this concept, and how everybody's roles are shaped by the system (or the game) that they are a part of.

Doug

Honestly, I totally agree with the fed. Maybe McNulty had a point if he was accusing them of hunting for splashy headlines, but otherwise, I'd take a corrupt politician over a high-level drug kingpin any day if I wanted to create meaningful change. It's hard to stomach when you know all the personal stories of everyone involved, but imagine how much they could've rooted out if they had let Lester and the team keep digging.

jveezy

The Wire is my all-time favorite show but since it is so old I never expected you two to react to it, so when I saw you were reacting to it I had to sign up for the Patreon! The Wire can be a hard show to follow with the variety of characters, different lingo, and "show don't tell" style, and I am in awe of how well you two picked up on almost every subtle detail despite not even being from the US. My favorite reaction moments for this season were the contrast between Lola being introduced to Omar in episode three (he quickly shoots a guy in the leg) "well Omar, if you shoot a kid, rough start" then by episode eight Omar was shooting Stinkum and getting heart eyes and best character praise for the duration. I also liked when Bubs stood up at the NA meeting and Lola turned into Morpheus saying "He really is gonna be The One!" During the review you questioned if The Wire made for good reaction content, but I definitely think it does if the viewer gets into the show. You both were clearly very invested in the themes, story and characters, and that emotional connection shines through more than another show which might have more outright action or crazy plot twists. I am enjoying the long reactions, and I expect that they will only get longer as the show progresses! I am glad you two enjoyed the first season so much, this show is amazing!

Doug

It worked out so well! David Simon did speak about his plans for a potential season 6 tying the storyline into the large Hispanic immigration to Baltimore which I would have loved but I’m glad we got what we got. If there’s a season of tv that should be shown to Highschool age kids it’s definitely gotta be season 4

space1999

I do see the point the fed was trying to make: That Avon and Stringer are symptoms of a larger problem, but at the same time, they are the ones directly responsible for the violence and terror on the people of West Baltimore. But the game remains the same, whether it's Avon, Stringer or someone else. Incredible season, near perfect. Time to get on boat for the next one.

Mo

delete this

T0ast

If I remember correctly from "All the Pieces Matter", seasons 1 through 3 were written with the assumption that they wouldn't be renewed for another season. David Simon had to fight each time to get one more season and submit scripts to pitch ideas to HBO executives before they'd renew it. Season 4 was also a 1 season renewal, but came with the expectation that they'd get another season if they executed season 4 well (and then they delivered one of the greatest tv seasons ever).

jveezy

No happiness allowed when watching The Wire smh

space1999

I was really excited when I saw that The Wire won the poll. Knew they’d be sensitive to the characters and their real world struggles. They almost always grasp themes and character arcs Was really frustrating watching the show with The Normies. They had some really thoughtful and vulnerable discussions about moments in the show and the general topics the show touched on but sometimes they were quick to attack things they didn’t understand about the writing. Multiple members said things like “season 2 was pointless and awful” some got angry at characters for “snitching” and even several of them were totally insensitive to the kids suffering and cheered when one little boy got beat up

space1999

The true victims in this episode were Wee-bey's fish

Jay Craig

Just when you think this season can't break your heart anymore, in comes Bubbs with the KO.

Mike Conlin

Perfect way to sun it up xD What does your mom think of the show so far?

space1999

Well, that's exactly my point. Being self-aware will allow one to know where one's strengths lie and pursue those avenues. It means that likely Prez will not want to participate in any raids if he feels he's not cut out for it, as we have seen hinted in this episode where he refused to take back his gun. But Lola's implying that he's mindless and if someone hands him a gun he's just gonna shoot someone again. Which to me, doesn't make sense based on how Prez has been portrayed.

ODIS

Really not sure why you felt the need to leave this comment. Did you know this information when you started season 2, David?

ODIS

I truly commend you wonderful ladies for the remarkable insight on the inherent flaws of America's criminal justice system, its deleterious impact on the black citizenry & how inner city residents navigate their socioeconomic reality. Your breakdown merits a round of applause. Y'all get it, I'm sure David Simon would agree. And its doubly impressive since you ladies aren't American. When it comes to analysis & thought-provoking commentary, I don't think there's any reactor channel better. Looking forward to experiencing the rest of this series w/ you gals!

Jr

This is a spoiler, you should really delete it.

TeaDrinker3000

Hell yeah

TeaDrinker3000

On a serious note however, I'm not sure how much I'd agree with the idea that incompetence stems from a lack of self-awareness. With someone like Prez, I think he just genuinely isn't wired the same way as others. He focuses on minutae and abstractions, very much a dude who's either playing with the ants or the clouds instead of what's in front of him. I don't think I would trust Prez in a raid more than any other character, but he's also not a character I value for that particular trait in any regard.

TeaDrinker3000

Can you just.... let them discover all that?

Michael M

Season 2 is a masterpiece, maybe the best if not for Season 4

Sol95

David

Herc is someone I would trust more than Prez if there was a fire. Prez is someone I could trust to watch my wallet when I go to the bathroom, whereas Herc would be the first person I'd think of as to who would steal it.

TeaDrinker3000

Good catch!

space colon

I’m excited for them to see more from prez, was interested how split the two of them were on him

space1999

Omfg yes plz…

space colon

Lola's views on Prez are interesting. In my opinion, incompetence specifically comes from lack of self-awareness. Prez is aware of his shortcomings, which means he can now address them. He's clearly not stupid. It was also shown that he feels guilty about striking that kid. I would trust Prez (at this point in his self-development) in a raid way more than I'd trust Herc or Carver for example.

ODIS

Watching this before it gets block.

Jack SV

Lola, paraphrasing into Baltimore lingo: "Deserve got nuttin ta dyuuu wit it." You're a smart one Lola. You always was. :)

Michael M

Mcnulty told Stringer "Nicely done." in the courtroom of the first episode when they got the witness to lie on the stand. So, everything indeed came full circle this episode. Great season.

ODIS

damn this makes me want you to react to deadwood.

T0ast

"One step forward, three steps back." Lol. Yea Bubs, Lola says just keep walking backwards... :P

ODIS

Totally agree with Lola and Milena, the 13 episodes tell a complete story. I feel like one of the main themes of the show is the idea that things don't change or at least that they can't change with the system in place and this episode really captures that. It's a system that never stops creating victims and incentivizes people on all sides to take power over others and use it. Like Dee's mom said, their family would still be in the projects if it wasn't for "the game" Breaks my heart that something Dee was told to do led to someone dying, just like Wallace. Really shows another layer to his affection for him. I totally get why LM can’t connect to the adults criminal characters who don’t show any remorse and cause these other younger characters to suffer Now Dee’s son gets to grow up without his father in his life just like him and all the others and the cycle continues

space colon

What a wholesome thumbnail, everyone is having fun

HenryM

Youtube's giving a fuck when it's not their turn to give a fuck

Rynsen

*youtube's copyright system holding a gun to this video's head* All in the game, yo...

TeaDrinker3000