My criticism of the Wire is the language. However, the language lends to the authenticity.
I watched the Wire years after it was produced, all five years of the series, and realized that it was an exceptional criticism not only of Baltimore but of cities caught in the corruption of black politics. The emphesis is on black. It is not racist, but cold hard reality.
One year concentrates on education and the attitudes of teachers and students and parents and lack of parents. One year concentrates on the Port of Baltimore and the effect of declining business and union corruption. One year concentrates on the news paper and prescietly, fake news, really fake news.
Throught out all episodes is woven the corruption of local and state politicians and police. Present always is the disease of drugs that effecte everything from kids growing up alone to addult sisters who live normal lives but are plagued with druggie brothers. The scope of drug penetration into all aspects of life is just breath taking.
When there was the real rioting in Baltimore and the black mayor and the black DA just stupidly tried to sweep it all under the rug, it was more real than the prescient Wire.
In my mind The Wire is one of the best TV series that was ever produced. The Wire is right on the money exhibiting America at it’s very worst. It should be watched and studied by good politicians to know what they are up against.
Watching the Wire felt like it was a documentary.