Fat Ninja

I know that crime dramas are a dime a dozen these days. Between all fifteen versions of CSI and the ten offshoots of Law & Order, it is physically impossible to go a single day for want of a romanticized version of how well our legal system and its agents operate; especially now that some of these series are in syndication. The one thing that all of these shows seem to be missing is a sense of human fallibility. Their characters are simply too good for them to serve as a legitimate sounding board for the socioeconomic woes facing many of our major cities. Their portrayal of events is often so horribly one-sided that it really demonizes the criminal element by removing humanity and motivation from the equation.

The Wire is another kind of beast altogether. Chronicling the war on drugs in Baltimore, The Wire looks at the fight from both sides of the line. Now, I had heard murmurings of what a great show it was, but I never did anything about it. But when my friend Ozzy started haranguing me about it, I knew I had to jump on it as soon as possible. Responsible for getting me hooked on Battlestar Galactica and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, I knew Ozzy had another winner for me, so I went out and rented disc one of the first season. Three episodes later I was chomping at the bit for more, but my next run to Hollywood Video found me listening to a horrible story about how the last person to rent disc two had never bothered to return it.

I was at a loss. Laura and I were both hooked on the show’s premise and presentation. So, we went out and picked up season 1 for ourselves. We’re now three discs in and eating up every second of the show. Despite showcasing a cast of actors/actresses I’d never really seen before, the cast is absolutely brilliant. Characters are well crafted, and you’ll become attached to members of each side of the conflict.

Still, what The Wire does best is give an unflinching and harsh look into inner city crime. The whole thing just feel so raw and real, forcing you to understand the circumstances behind the criminal mind. It sheds light on the inherent goodness in people you might condemn offhand, while exposing the corruption of the incorruptible. The war that The Wire portrays isn’t a nice, clean. Its world of greys can often make it easy to judge its heroes and sympathize with its villains; and that’s what makes it the best crime drama out there.

Share This