Here's ten easy steps to the Wire rehab and you will look as happy as McNulty again
So you’ve watched all five seasons of the Wire, and feel a big and utter void in your TV schedule. What to do? Well, there’s both good news and bad news. The bad news are that there’s currently no show on air or elsewhere to match the greatness of the Wire, but the good news is that there are still many movies and TV series box sets that are very good and in clever combination can give you a healthy dose of “natural police”, gangsters, junkies and life on the streets, and provide as a poor mans substitute in wait for a the Wire Blu-Ray release.
Here’s our Top Ten List of The Wire Cop and Gang Substitute Movies and Series
10) The Sopranos (Blu-Ray)
This was a pretty obvious one to start the list, right? Tony’s antics as a modern mob man has attracted many the Wire fans already. It is perhaps not in the same league in terms of being authentic, but the slow burning drama and character development makes it an excellent watch on its own. And as there’s plenty of seasons available on DVD this will help fill that void for some time. Unfortunately the complete series is not yet available on Blu-Ray, but you can at least get the US import of Season 6 on Blu-Ray.
9 ) Heat (DVD)
A very intelligent action flick with some of the silver-screen greatest; De niro and Pacino at once! They got this one right, but unfortunately their take two with righteous kill wasn’t as lucky. No Blu-Ray release yet…
8 ) The Departed (Blu-Ray)
Another movie with a great cast and a script that can carry them through. Great characters, splendid acting and intriguing story.
7 ) Cop Land (DVD)
Sylvester Stallone is doing a stellar performance, which by default makes this a remarkable movie worth watching for pure historic significance. No Blu-Ray release yet…
6 ) Training Day (Blu-Ray)
Denzel Washington’s bad ass cop is phenomenal. You love him and hate him. A bit off an Omar Little in terms of being violent, but not much else. Omar, we miss you!
5 ) Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (DVD)
The Tarantino of UK tries on the gangster genre quite successfully. A lot of grit and guns, and a few laughs. No Blu-Ray release yet…
4 ) Pulp Fiction (DVD)
A brilliant movie all around. The actors, the script, the story and the execution. If you haven’t seen this masterpiece yet, shame on you. Travolta is on top as small-time gangster Vincent Vega and Samuel L Jacksons quotes are all around the web since 1994 – it’s that good. No Blu-Ray release yet…
3 ) City of God (DVD)
Brazil is surely a world apart from Baltimore, but as in the Wire you’ll get the violence, the drugs and the people in the midst of it all. If you can cope with reading subtitles it’s a must-see.
2 ) Generation Kill (Blu-Ray)
From the creators of the Wire comes generation kill. This mini series is the latest finalised project by mr Burns and David Simon. Just as in the Wire they spent a ton of time on research to be able to depict the soldiers life with great authenticity. You’re getting quite close to a full the Wire fix here.
1 ) The Corner (DVD)
You didn’t know about this one, did you!? A mini series based on the book The Corner, written by the Wire creators David Simon and Ed Burns. This is the story that finally evolved into the five series long The Wire. You’re basically there baby, you’ve got your fix. Straight in the vain; enjoy!
Interesting list, I would add “Homicide Life on the Street – Seasons 1 & 2″ to that list, perhaps number 11. Arguably on of the best cop shows on regular network, ever.
forgot to add that the show took place in Baltimore and I believe David Simon had something to do with the show. A real fix for those who have a jones (70’s speak for addiction) for the wire.
Ah, how could i miss out on homicide – that’s a brilliant show
i don’t exactly think anything is a fix for The Wire but i have found that watching another series before re-watching The Wire is nice haha