39. "3 episodes in and this show is amazing. No one else is doing this. " In response to In response to 0
I was reluctant to watch this because I was thinking this would be a super slow , low action series like Treme (which I didn't finish so I may be wrong about that show). I was just remembering seasons of the wire, still my all time favorite show, where it would many episodes to get payoffs. I've been reluctant to even go back to watch the Wire because I am afraid it might be too slow.
It seems like David Simon solved for that issue (or am I the only one?) by cramming a shit ton into each episode. The pace is so fast that I can't step away to the kitchen to grab a drink and not miss something important.
And the pace has to be so fast because they are covering so much. A lot of people are saying this should have been a longer series. I think I disagree. I like that they had to be disciplined with the storytelling and that the series warrants a rewatch.
I keep thinking about this topic and series in lesser hands. It would so easy to make a series about corrupt cops and the justice department lawyers who exposed them. Instead, Simon is the only person out there who is really good at exposing how a system is corrupted from top to bottom where good people can't get shit done, average people ending up doing bad things and bad people thrive. The corruption is so to the core of the system, you would have to break it down completely and rebuild. David Simon is having a conversation on policing, crime, police brutality that is lightyears ahead how politicians and the media is discussing this topic.
It's the closest I've seen to long form journalism as television and I wish there was more of it. Can't wait for my work day to end so I can finish it.
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson