[Senator Clay Davis]

The Wire is almost universally recognized by critics as the best TV show ever because its not like other shows that focus on week to week or on a character or two. The Wire is truly like a novel; indeed 70% of the "action" in each season generally takes place in the last 3 or 4 episodes of a season, but that other 30% is just as critical in the other episodes. The catch phrase best used for the show is "All the pieces matter". You may find a scene irrelavent or pointless, but later on that scene will likely have much greater value.

It also is a much more deep and philosophical show than it appears. On the surface its a cop show about busting drug dealers, but beneath the surface its a deep social commentary about the institutional dysfunction that has led to the demise of the American city. Its also is obviously about how the War on Drugs is a failure. Honestly the first time watching the series through I liked it a lot but its when you watch the show through the third and fourth times that you appreaciate the depth and quality of the show.

Just stick with it would be all I can say. Its almost impossible to "get" everything thats going on about the show, but thats because the Wire doesn't want to help people understand whats going on, you have to put the pieces together yourself. And the show has by far the greatest collection of characters ever assembled on a TV show. If they did just a McNulty and Bunk spinoff that might be the greatest show ever too.