Holiday Television Alternatives

Christmas is well and truly upon us. This, we know because there is absolutely nothing of worth currently screening on the telly. And don’t even think about trying to download something online because shows everywhere are on hiatus with no new episodes until mid-January.

So, lets say that you aren’t packing up to go on holiday, but rather have lofty plans to simply potter about the house or simply to keep living life the way you do for the eleven other months of the year. What the heck do you watch? Wonder no longer. Over the next few days, Televised Revolution will be delivering a number of viewing options.

Today’s suggestion: Get acquainted with a little slice of genius called The Wire.

THE WIRE
We’re kicking off with The Wire as it is what I’ll be doing primarily to work through this televisual black hole. For those of you unfamiliar, The Wire was produced for HBO, running for five seasons. While the show never reached the popularity of HBO series like The Sopranos, Entourage, or Sex and The City, it had a run that seemed to escape the public consciousness entirely, yet managed to be one of the best shows ever produced for the medium.

So, what the heck is is about? A team of police monitor the phone calls and daily activities of drug peddlers in low socio-economic areas in Baltimore. Unlike most police procedural dramas, this actually showcases the real procedures involved in police work. That is, much of the show deals with the detectives facing the mundane bureaucracy and political infighting that exists within the police service.

But, what makes it great? The shows structure is phenomenally meticulously developed. Each season of the show examines a different element of the construct of the US city of Baltimore. Season one examines the street lives of those pushing drugs in the ‘projects’. Season two takes a look at the proud traditions of the stevedores working the docks (with a focus on illegal shenanigans taking place). Season three takes it back to the streets, but adds a strong focus on politics in Baltimore. Season four introduces some young teens as it examines the school system. And season five takes a focus on the media and media consumption.

If you’re looking for a high quality police procedural where the audience isn’t treated with contempt and stories are not tightly resolved within the hour, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not giving The Wire a crack.

The Wire is available on DVD at most good outlets. Currently season sets are on sale for less than twenty dollars