The Wire is Perfect - No One Wins 

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Watching this and remembering that D "wanted to be able to breathe" made the fact that he was strangled to death that much more genius. Holy fk.

It was one of the few TV show where beloved characters were never safe, Omar got killed, D’Angelo was killed. In plot twist Marlo “a bad MF” got away with shit he did. Such a masterpiece

The Wire and the Sopranos were both masterpieces deconstructing the fallacy of the American Dream and the cost of its pursuit. The Wire on a macro societal level and the Sopranos on a micro personal level

"At least , in the end the one consolation we have, is that Bubbles made it out of the basement" . That brought a tear to me eye, because as much as in the grand scheme of things this means nothing, to Bubbles (and us) it is everything. I think it speaks to how we can't change the system but small personal , individual change is something we can hope for. Bunny Colvin might not have changed how the police department does things but he got Carver to change his whole outlook, its not much but at the same time, it is EVERYTHING.

Of all the terrible people on this show no one made me more angry than Delonda. Namond had no chance in the streets. She was so greedy and corrupt she was pushing her son into a life he clearly couldn’t handle and would no doubt destroy him for her own financial gain.

i love that the wire shows us that time really is a flat circle. the more shit changes, the more shit stays the same.

The show reveals that the biggest villains aren't the dealers, the stick-up boys, or the muscle for the drug kingpins. It's the politicians, judges, and the top leadership in the police.

Michael is to me one of the most reliable characters on the wire he represents another inner city kids being forced to grow up too fast and it's his trauma that stripped away that care free nature that every child needs to be a kid but unfortunately for some of us not everything can be protected with righteousness alone sometimes people will point you down the wrong path and you will choose to walk but this doesn't mean your a bad person because when young boys are hungry the line between right and wrong becomes very blurry

The Wire is such a layered tv show ! Completely raw social commentary on failed systems be it education, law enforcement or even judiciary.

One of the best ever crime shows! As a white, 62 year old male, this series really opened up my eyes on many things but especially empathy for young black kids and the very limited options these inner city kids have as they grow. It's little wonder so many of them choose to "be in the game" as that's all many of them know.

slim charles won😂 did he not. He might be the only character who only had one battle with death. That was when Omar ran down on Slim when he thought he had some to do with butchie death. Other than that his resume ran clean everyone respected him. And he was able to buy the greek plug from marlo at the end.

As a guy who lives a couple miles from the neighborhood this takes place in, this provides me actual reason to watch the wire. I never wanted to watch it cuz I thought that it would just be another stupid hood story and I hated seeing hollywood make a quick buck off of people that I grew up with. But this might make me watch the show.

Happy new years, and glad tackling a show I know must mean much to you personally. At least art like this shows people can try to change, or at least make sure not to let their stories and the tragedies not be ignored

Would’ve never expected you to talk about The Wire. Hands down one of the best pieces of media.

My toxic trait is daydreaming about Sage’s Rain making a video examining my life

Spectacular video, what a star studded cast. I avoided watching the wire for a long time because I wasn’t in a mental place to process our very real black pain on screen. Imma make it a point to get around to experiencing this tragic masterpiece…. Thank you Sage peaceful new year 2 you & yours

Avon did not order D to get killed, that was all Stringer.

A good judge is a one who isn’t needed A good police is one that isn’t needed

The wire is hands down the greatest television series of all time. Nothing else even comes close.

Clay Davis won,the Greek’s won,pearlman became a judge so she won

I'd say if u look at a few characters from where they started the show and where they ended it, you can find a few winners: Daniels left the force after getting promoted a few times with his dignity + a nice pension and he's literally a lawyer w a judge gf. Rhonda starts as a new lawyer who's desperate for someone to love her, and ends the show a judge and dating Daniels who seems to treat her v well. Namond goes from a kid w one parent in prison forever and another parent desperately tryna make him follow the same path and ends the show adopted by one of the most respectable characters in the entire show in Bunny + being given a chance to make a real (legit) life for himself and have a real future. Slim Charles goes from a guy w a lil bit of authority, but still subservient to others like Stringer to taking their place. Carcetti goes from a small time councilman in Baltimore to becoming mayor and then governor. Yeah, McNulty loses his job that he loves but he ends up becoming a better man who's basically stopped being self destructive and as many characters say, "an asshole". That's just off the top of my head.

I normally look for your Chanel for anime/ movies but now you covering my favorite show! Props to you

This was one of the best videos on the Wire I’ve seen. I really hope you make more!

This is a really great commentary on The Wire.

No mention of season 5 and how journalism/media is part of the institution as well.

Love the variety on this channel

Such crazy coincidence… just finished binging the show for the very first time. (Starting the rewatch later today). And not even a day later, heres this vid from one of my favourite video essay channels.

Thank you for this video was unexpected but highly appreciated Happy New Year

I still need to watch this show

Great video to start the new year!

Hey dude you should be really proud of this video essay. I loved your Junji Ito videos and a few years ago your animated series videos was an outlet for my initial artistic relationship with tv, but I think you’ve gone a few levels up with this one. I’m a Marxist, and in grad school for philosophy and social policy, and someone who loves this series, and I’ll tell you this is a well-done materialist and phenomenological analysis of capital in The Wire.

Wow this video was amazing! Love this show and this video did it great justice!

That’s crazy never in a million years I would think sage rain would make a video on the wire i’m shocked great vid.

This video blows my mind, the amount of detail you went into is amazing :) love the content, this forever changed how I see the show the wire🙂 keep up the good content

this is what I needed.From your Naruto deep dives to one of the best shows ever created, I learn so much from what I'm reading/watching when I hear your analysis/conjectures

The Wire is one of the best TV Dramas of all time and this video essay was an excellent breakdown of the various story lines in this series.

commenting before i even watch the video because the title itself already inspired what i’m about to say. you would love the tv show black sails. it’s heavily inspired by the wire and has a lot of parallels. it’s amazing.

This is a really well constructed video that articulates all of the complex, fascinating, and sad aspects of the story, how it affects the characters in different areas and the parallels to real life.

Love it when you choose a new movie or show to make a video on

Amazing, intersectional analysis. Thank you for sharing!

Dude- love your vids. They always make me feel something

Great essay, keenly observed, well done and thank you.

What a depressing, yet very real story. I get angry at myself for having an opportunity to help the homeless or the outcasts, but not doing it because other people tell me I can't. Now, I think another potential threat to people like those in The Wire is artificial workers, AIs. Machines stepping into the job market where real people could be working, now that's messed up.

i really never expected you to talk about the wire, it is a very very pleasant surprise :D the series is full of good and complex characters, i hope that one day you can analyze Omar, Lester or Bubbles, my favorites; love your analysis ❤

This was very well put together

Dude this was Such a Great Breakdown! Greatest Show Ever!

Great video man

There’s a line in the drugstore cowboy that I feel fits this movie so well “we played a game we couldn’t win to the utmost”

I admired your theis on the wire so true on every levels. And not just Baltimore, every city.

18:40 The Rule of Rose OST for this video is too much a good music choice for the topics in this vid man, this is why I'm subbed.

Although he lands on his feet, Bunny Colvin is the most righteous victim of the systems depicted in The Wire.

I worked on all seasons of The Wire at HBO - and didn't pay that much attention- thought it was just another cop procedural & wasn't interested. But I got the whole show on DVD and after hearing so many good things, I sat down & watched it - and was blown away. I've since watched it a number of times and it really is the best show, and best condemnation of American institutions and capitalism ever put to screen. The decay of the rust belt, the bleak unending Game that chews everyone up & destroys families & individuals- it's all there & it's only gotten worse. I see Bubbles doing the nod everywhere I go - the dark, shattered underbelly of the American Dream - which is called that because you have to be dreaming to believe in it.

I disagree. Marlowe won - last one standing with the crown. McNulty won - he got out. Commander Daniels and (Judge) Rhonnie Perlman won. Rawls became the Commandant of the MD State Police. Herk and Carver won. Lester won - he got to hire with his ex-stripper. The list goes on.

7:30 Franks brother is an important symbolic character. He does nothing wrong but also helps nobody.

Okay I’ll watch the wire for the 4th time

super well done 👍🏼

This was summed up beautifully 🥲

Worst thing the states have ever done take tradesmen workshops out of the school

watching for the first time, I'm at the beginning of the 5th season now, what a masterful series

BABE WAKE UP SAGE UPLOADED

No way we copped a wire episode, god is good 🙏

This was great 👌🏾 I’m still fascinated by The Wire after all these years

"I am I and my circumstance." Succumbing to circumstances and becoming corrupt will always reveal the individual's weaknesses and failures.

Wire isnt only the greatest drama of all time,but in fiction. It even Top breaking Bad.

my love hate relationship with the wire continues. So powerful, such impactful lessons, it pains me that the world is this way for so many people.

The wire is amazing good. I used to think Breaking bad was the best show, but it doesn't compete with the heartbreaking realism of the wire. Great video, have a sub.

The greatest TV show of all time

Slim Charles Won in the end

This video solidifies your channel for me.

You guys gotta get them likes up 🆙

I love all of your essays. I would love for you to do one on exclusively Omar Little. That character, something about him. He’s on my amount Rushmore of Fictional Characters. Kratos, Uncle Iroh, Omar, Indiana Jones 😂. Great job man, so good!

Through this analysis you present, I do also find interest in looking at the city. Throughout the show Baltimore is shown to be its own character of sorts, one that was built up and slowly eroding away by capitalism. Remember reading an essay from a classmate a while ago about a similar concept of the show

Brilliant breakdown of an unrivaled series, and it shows problems that plague Western society, not just the US. I was pushed into dealing by my father who wanted a cheaper supply and then he stole the business from me when it was built up and bought my brother in to get access to my customers and I was then pushed out. Serious drug problems followed so I can watch this show and really connect, it is a game but I didn't create it or the rules. It sucked the life from me and left me a shell which I am getting away from but the world is going down the drain while in the UK where I live some 21 Trillion pounds of the rich's money is hidden in offshore tax havens denied to our economy. It's only getting worse, and it's capitalism, buy for a dollar and sell for 2 so shareholders can get their dividends each year that is dragging the system down, as it was meant to do as a company with shareholders needs to grow it's profits each year to grow. The future is always portrayed as worse than the present in cinema which means it's only going to get much worse, God help us all at the bottom, because like you say, our elected gods will not save us, only rape us. Great video Friend!!! All the best.

I'd like to see Omar White and Ronnie from Power interact.

Damn this video is fantastic, easiest sub of my life

Nicely done

I came back to this channel as soon as I found out Tai Lung was returning for Kung Fu Panda 4.

i read the title and immediately said "no there is a winner....", stopped myself and really thought about it. even being on s4 currently (already having an idea of how its going to end + seeing clips of s5 and s6), its clear that there WILL not be a winner. there is never a real winner in the game

Can't say that I agree with your analysis of the show as a condemnation of capitalism. The problems of Baltimore and its denizens are based more in the universal weaknesses of the human condition than in any particular economic system. Where men go, so do greed, fear and the lust for power.

Bro. We like the same type of content, i stg. This channel is lit 😂. Keep it up.

Since Tai Lung is returning to Ku Fu Panda this year I hope we get a video about him before the film releases in March.

Great video

I need to watch this show again

One of the best shows of all time

The Greatest TV show.

I don't think the underclass and the myths are particular of capitalism. It will happen in all systems, it happened in communism, old school monarchies, dictatorship, fascism...

Brilliant analysis as always! What do you think about the echoing of many of these themes in 'We Own This City"?

Great video. Didn’t even mean to watch the whole thing.

this reminds me of the end of belly- not the scene but the message behind it

Hey man I love your videos and have been watching you for a long time I was wondering if you had ever watched the older anime called Inuyasha? I would love to see your analysis of the characters and different aspects of the show!! Please if you can 🙏

One side just loses more slowly

Cool vid bro.😺

Im kinda mad u didnt spend more time speakin on Bodie.

I dont know i think Lester won he got marlo got a full pension when he should have got jail and whould up with a baaaad woman

This is the best social critique I have ever come across.

The Wire showed everyone the everything is connected & it’s never as simple as follow the rules & you’ll be ok

Whenever i introduce someone to the wire i always have to preface it with "remember its just like real life, there will be no happy endings"

The wire is one of the greatest shows ever. I definitely got it over breaking bad. I just need to watch the sopranos now to see what’s the hype about.

Hey man if you are familiar with the show snowfall I would love if you could make a video about Franklin