Roush on The Wire
Question: I always intended to watch
The Wire but never got around to it, until now: I decided to watch Season 5. Obviously I'm a bit confused, but what else is new. So I watched a few shorts, sort of have an idea of the people/institutions involved and intend to watch Season 4 On Demand to acquaint myself. Question: Must I watch Seasons 1 through 3 in order to fully understand the show, or can I just jump in ($160 for the first three seasons on DVD is a bit steep)?
— Ellen
Matt Roush: There's no question you'll get more out of The Wire the more familiar you are with the previous seasons. The cameos from characters from past seasons really resonate if you've been following the show from the start. But the storytelling this season is so robust that it shouldn't be a problem to dive in and savor the brilliance of this expansive urban tragedy. The fictionalized Baltimore Sun newsroom is a new setting with new characters, so use that as your entry point and you should be fine. But if you're like most latecomers to this series, you will become so engrossed that you will find yourself searching out the earlier seasons to appreciate the full power of David Simon's vision. (I'd think they could be rented in video stores or on NetFlix, not that I ever have time to indulge in those things.)
