Grid Effect

You know it’s been a successful venture when within a week after the series ends, people begin speculating about a film and despite infinite amounts of closure, fans still want more. We aren’t privy to insider knowledge, but we probably spend about 40% of our time at work scouring the internet for Wire related news and commentary. Since Monday, this is the best we’ve found.

Hey, speaking of a movie, several actors have already locked in a deal to finance the thing, though David Simon isn’t feeling it at the moment. We’d go see it, but the format would have to be so dramatically modified were not sure it would resemble the television series at all. Still, the rumor is a prequel, so if it brought us a young Bunk, Bodie, Omar, Bubbles, etc. Well, lets just say they have us by the nuts and leave it at that.

Thing is, David Simon isn’t so hot on the idea at the moment. Simon, as intelligent, insightful and down to Earth as he appears to be, seems like he would require a lot of ego-stroking to convince him to do anything, “come on Mr. Simon, you’re so smart and so talented, no one could make a film depicting urban and American decay as well as you.”

This guy from the Baltimore Sun, not so surprisingly, pisses all over the finale (and the season in general). While I agree that the series lost a bit of authenticity this year, and that at times, the newsroom characters felt a little one-note in their motives, this scathing piece just wreaks of sour grapes. I think part of this backlash from journalists (who by in large loved the series before this season), is due to them not being removed from the institution under fire, and either can’t see this season for what it is or refuse to do so.

Here’s a letter of appreciation from David Simon to the fans, of which 1.8 million watched his finale. Naturally it doubled in ratings when on demand was no longer an earlier option. Not tremendous ratings, but respectable for HBO. To quote Norris in the first cold open in the fifth season premiere, “Americans are stupid people by and large”. One of them however, wasn’t David Simon, who instead attended a Pogues concert. I knew there was a reason I liked this guy.

We can’t think of a better way to spend an evening in March. Other than watching The Wire.

Here’s some streaming video of them shooting the final episode. Not exactly riveting, but they keep all spoilers under such tight wraps, I’m surprised there’s actually video available of them shooting. /sarcasm.

A scene by scene breakdown of the final montage with “hilarious” commentary. Its not terrible, but The Wire is too good for us to be facetious about the final montage.

Actually, we take that back. This opening credits of Wire characters to the Survivor music in the background is hysterical, particularly Dukie’s introduction.

Several cast members reflect on the past five seasons. We haven’t read it yet, but listening to actors discuss a series that they are involved with and a fan of is always an insightful, fresh perspective. And that is probably the last time you’ll ever hear me say anything an actor says is insightful.

Final thoughts on the series and its characters later today.