Originally Posted by
econ21
Many people say the Wire is the best TV series ever made. They are quite right, of course. It suckers you in with a vivid and unusual apparent realism, but as the five season grand story arc plays out, what you come to appreciate is how theatrical and positively Dickensian it is. Each season slowly but remorsely builds up to a tragic season end but you care because of the characters, who have a larger than life, almost lovable, quality about them. The story of Stringer Bell in Season 3 bears that out. In season 1, he's a Iago like figure, behind the scenes, charming, manipulating and lethal. Dramatically, his vulnerabilities in Season 3 give him a more human, tragic side. The gangster with the "Wealth of Nations" on his bookshelf would not be nearly as engaging a figure if he was infallible.