Even greatness comes to an end

And this Sunday, the best television show of its generation, and perhaps *ever,* comes to an end.

After five seasons, HBO will broadcast the final original episode of "The Wire."

For fans of police procedurals, it doesn't get more realistic than The Wire; for fans of stellar acting and nuanced and riveting writing it doesn't get better than The Wire.

It's not an *easy* show to watch.

It's not the show for people who can't see shades of gray - the "good guys" are nowhere near saintly, and the "bad guys" are nowhere near purely evil. '24' fans need not apply.

It can be harshly stark in its depiction of life in Baltimore (serving as a proxy for modern urban America), and it always requires its audience to be actively and intelligently engaged (fans of 'Deal or No Deal' and 'Don't Forget The Lyrics' would have seizures if they watched The Wire), but it's worth the effort.

If you subscribe to HBO, watch the show.

Better yet, get the DVD box sets and watch the show from the beginning.

They're worth the price.

Trust me. :)


Many epic novels have been made into movies or TV series (to mixed success), but this is the one show that would make a great epic novel.


Blog posts/articles on this topic from ADemLament, David Sirota, and In These Times.

Later!