television and filing

[vaznetti]

I have just filed three year's worth of student exams and papers, because students seem unwilling to come and get these things after the end of the term. And by "filed" I mean, "put up on the top shelf of my bookcases, where I can't get to them without standing on a chair." Now one part of my desk has a lot less paper on it, but the other part still has a stack of papers about a foot high to be filed and/or shredded. There are other stacks as well, but those are only a few inches high and thus don't really count.

We watched the first two episodes of season 1 of The Wire last night; it was as good as I expected it to be. I'm not sure why I keep putting this show off, considering that my two contenders for "best show ever" are Deadwood and Homicide, and The Wire is basically a David Simon show made by HBO, and the first couple episodes were directed by Clark Johnson. The only thing i didn't really care for, to be honest, was the character of McNulty: right now he seems very much the maverick detective, fighting the good fight against the forces of political bureaucracy. Or what he defines as the good fight, anyway. This is a character type I find irritating; I am hoping he will grow on me, although history suggests he may not.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the rest of the season despite that, because I have faith that the ensembleness of the show will far outweigh my irritation with any single character, no matter how important he is.

Comments

[greenelephant.livejournal.com]

Three years' worth?! Don't you get to shred them after a year? I don't know what I'd do if I had to keep things longer than that.

Thanks for reminding me about The Wire. It's a show I've been meaning to check out.

[vaznetti]

The registrar's office says: five years. Which is a pain, but not the end of the world.

[the-grynne.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why I keep putting this show off...

That seems to be everybody's reaction. :D

I'm do glad that you're enjoying it.

[vaznetti]

It's very good. And seeing you post about it all the time finally made me decide to watch it.

[elliotsmelliot.livejournal.com]

Hello, it's me, Tarah. First, I blame you for reviving my interest in writing and therefore here I am on Livejournal. Second, yay for the Wire. I agree McNulty comes across very strong and a little cliche in the beginning. To me he evens out and I appreciated him more as the season and series progressed. I started re-watching season one on the plane to and from England, which was probably not the best choice to watch in public since I kept having to shield certain scenes from the children sitting across the isle from me. Anyway, it held up on my second viewing, a good season in itself and an introduction to the rest of the series. Enjoy!

[vaznetti]

I figured out who you were from your cryptic introduction! It's nice to see you around here.

To me he evens out and I appreciated him more as the season and series progressed.

This is good to know. I kind of feared that the McNulty thing might end up being like my insurmountable loathing of Mulder, but it seems like he might grow on me.

I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the season!

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

McNulty gets more complex and less cliched as time goes on. I like that he isn't softened. And the other characters grow in prominence as the story unfolds, until he's just another member of the ensemble.

[vaznetti]

And the other characters grow in prominence as the story unfolds, until he's just another member of the ensemble.

Excellent! That's good to know. I got the sense that the ensemble would take over the show, but it's nice to have it confirmed.

[veejane.livejournal.com]

I can't stand McNulty, and never got over that fact. Mostly, it's because I dislike the actor and think his accent work is crap.

Luckily, I loved the Barksdale family so much I was able to mute McNulty like unto a buzzing fly.

[vaznetti]

Well, it is a good sign that you were able to keep watching through your hatred of McNulty. So I feel emboldened, and will continue.

"What the fuck did I do?"

[hisreasons.livejournal.com]

Personally I find McNulty to be an interesting variation on the "maverick cop" because he usually makes trouble in a passive-aggressive, downright weaselly way, not in the Dirty Harry walking tall kind of way. He often does things simply to be a nuisance. He was never intended to be likable.

He is also, in many ways, right. The department is fucked up. Other good po-lice on the show know this, albeit they're less obnoxious about it.

Anyway, stick around for some of the later season one episodes. McNulty, as you heard, ends up facing his asshole side.

By the way, have you gotten to know Freamon yet?

Re: "What the fuck did I do?"

[vaznetti]

Personally I find McNulty to be an interesting variation on the "maverick cop" because he usually makes trouble in a passive-aggressive, downright weaselly way, not in the Dirty Harry walking tall kind of way.

Yes, this was the sense I got from him -- although in fact that was precisely what made me ia bit nervous, as I worried that he would end up grating on me the way Mulder did.

I am not sure who Freamon is -- I'm not good with character names at the moment.

Re: "What the fuck did I do?"

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Freamon is this guy (Lester is his first name.) He's the cop who was working in the pawnshop unit. I love him. (But I also love Stringer Bell, which ... well, I just don't know about myself sometimes :P)

Re: "What the fuck did I do?"

[hisnewreasons.livejournal.com]

I am not sure who Freamon is...

Look for the guy with the tiny furniture. He's basically a stabler, wiser version of McNulty.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

McNulty is a total jerk sometimes - but he's meant to be that way (and he is good police, but his way is not the only way as many others often have occasion to remind him!) I do love him in one season that's in episode 4 of season 1 though - and his byplay with his partner, Bunk, is kind of awesome. BUT McNulty isn't the "hero" - there are lots and lots of characters and in many ways he's one among many.

YAY! I'm so glad you're watching "The Wire" - it's maybe the best show I've ever seen on TV in part because it manages to sustain the quality across four seasons.

[vaznetti]

...and he is good police, but his way is not the only way as many others often have occasion to remind him!

See, that's pretty much all I need -- knowledge that there's going to be some persepctive on the character, even if he's right about the problem.

And I really like Bunk, the little we've seen of him, and the way he and McNulty are partners.

[hisnewreasons.livejournal.com]

Everyone must like the Bunk. It's the law.