All Wired Up

A snapshot analysis of HBO's first season of The Wire (2002), and how it uniquely operates within the larger space of the television drama.

The first season of the HBO television series, The Wire is distinctly different from other series out at that time and before its release in 2002. Other American television shows such as Friends (1994-2004) and Seinfield (1989-1998) are comprised of many seasons containing short 20-30 minute episodes. The episodes were particularly episodic as they contained their own mini narrative that contributed to the larger story. Each episode had a clear beginning, complication and solution. In comparison, the first season of The Wire is made up of only 13 episodes but are about an hour long. Unlike Friends and Seinfield, each episode of The Wire reveals a bit more of the same long story in a slow and detailed manner. It is important to pay close attention to each episode as each contains a slab of the 13 episode long narrative. 

The Wire does this differently than how there are many chapters of a single book. The episodes seem to stop when the running time is reached rather than at particular narrative climaxes or cliffhangers. The 1978-1991 television series, Dallas did this well. Each episode lead to the next in a way that left the viewer hungry for more, enabling a 'binge-watching' cycle to ensue. Drama series, Dynasty (1981-1989) and the Dallas spinoff series, Knots Landing (1979-1993) also utilised a similar style, finishing each episode off in a way to leave everyone excited for the next instalment, and finishing each season off in a way that leaves the entire nation along with international fans of the show wondering "who shot J.R.?" The Wire in comparison is a lot slower and requires patience and commitment to get through the series. The detail can sometimes come as an information overload to the kind of viewer who watches television for the purpose of entertainment and escapism. While The Wire tells a fictional story, it constantly throws you back to reality. Its realist style and focus on serious issues effecting people in America does not allow itself to be taken lightly, and demands you to keep your brain switched on throughout the whole running time. 

The way that the characters are positioned in terms of good and bad also makes The Wire a somewhat challenging watch. Initially, knowing that drug dealing is bad, the viewer sides themselves with the police. However rather than being the hero types you hope for, the members of the law enforcement use questionable tactics to gain information and advance in their cases. They often use others to do the work for them and sit around quite a lot. The drug traders and users in comparison are humanised by show-makers and shown to be dealing with important issues. Using urban slag, that is at times polarising, the show certainly creates authentic sense of empathy and curiosity.