to watch T.V. (Or rather, TV shows that come out on DVD.)
In the last day and a half we’ve watched the first 8 episodes from the first season of The Wire. http://www.hbo.com/thewire/ It is totally, utterly excellent. The pace is deliberate and measured, the acting and characterization first rate, and the interwoven stories are intricate and individually and collectively terrific.
The Wire tackles big issues with a series of small and truthful moments. The show actually reminds me of a TV version of Richard Price’s Clockers. There is no higher compliment I can pay to a police procedural/inner city crime drama. In fact, I read somewhere that Price and Dennis Lehane, another great crime writer, have written for The Wire.
My only criticism: the closing credits for the first season look like they were made on someone’s old PC. In a basement. Somewhere in Canada. In 1992. The show deserves better.
God bless HBO.