I'm going to have to sell drugs to make up the whole rent, aren't I?
coupled with institutional and systemic pressures
This was my wife's comment about the series: evil comes with organization. No one associated with a group is innocent, and it is the machinations within these groups that drive the worst events.
If you take out Matt you should pay his half of the rent.
Fuck D'Angelo; the most enjoyable character is clearly Stringer Bell. But, yeah, it's a really good show. I note, for your life's further ruin, that both Henley and (IIRC) Unf really like Deadwood; Al Swerengen might be more wrong-fun than any other character in television history.
The Wire and Deadwood both rock. Get behind me, Yglesias, that skinny Persian can't take us both.
The thing I appreciate most about The Wire is that even the stuff that's wish fulfillment (e.g., the implausibly badass Omar) or comedic relief fits seamlessly into what is ultimately a relentless, hard-driving morality tale. All the elements are so well balanced.
Speaking of The Wire and people who hold up well over time, the Neville Brothers can obviously still manage a stand-up performance.
I just finished the first season of The Wire on DVD. I used to think The Shield was pretty great; this completely altered the grading scale.
I thought Stringer was most compelling when his desire for legitmacy was seen. D'Angelo's humanity was what got to me most of the time. Is it just me or was Avon an oddly underdrawn character?
IMHO, the website is one of the best things about the show, because it explains what the hell happened if you get confused. That little plotline tool is great.
(I can't wait til Season III comes out on DVD-- I hear someone important dies... but that might have been Dumbeldore...)
Man...I've never heard of this show. Sounds pretty good. Maybe I should check it out.