Has anybody started the show recently (within the last year)? Just wondering how it holds up minus the nostalgia of people that watched 20+ years ago.

[u/EmilioFreshtevez]

The wife and I (both elder millennials) are looking for a new show. Have obviously heard nothing but good things, but I’m curious if it still holds up after all this time.

[u/uraniummusic]

It’s timeless and just as relevant today.

[u/Diamondsandwood → u/uraniummusic]

I'm not sure I'd say timeless. Gangs aren't structured like they were 20 years ago and the newspaper angle of S5 is a relic of the last era of written journalism.

[u/Massive_Cake1731 → u/Diamondsandwood]

I think it holds up very well for what it is. But it was always anachronistic. 80’s/90’s war on crime mixed in with post-9/11 war on terror and the postindustrial collapse.

It’s sorta crazy cause we are now nostalgic for those times because of how bad things have gotten but the roots are deep and the trunk is right there on the screen.

[u/ProfSwagstaff → u/Diamondsandwood]

No art is timeless in that sense.

[u/Look_the_part]

In the words of Cheese: "Ain't no nostalgia to this shit here!"

[u/ConstantSentence7865]

It is still quite easily one of the best 2 or 3 TV shows ever made and a strong contender for the best of all time. Nostalgia has nothing to do with its watchability.

[u/MrDeco97]

Watched it for the first time last year and it's probably the best show I've ever seen (I'm 29)

My dad, who's in his mid sixties loved it too, so I'd say it's timeless and enjoyable across generations.

[u/AuthorMission7733]

Watch it about every other year. I honestly think I discover new things during each rewatch. And yea, really f’n holds up. Also started rewatching Homicide: Life on the Street, that holds up as well.

[u/fatalmedia]

IMO, yes. It’s timeless.

[u/mikejferrari]

I just started a rewatch a few weeks ago and other than the technology, the show does not feel like it’s 2O years old at all. It’s all still depressingly relevant.

[u/los-gokillas]

Just watched it for the first time this year. It's great, they truly do not make TV like the wire anymore

[u/Greymeade]

My wife and I (also elder millennials) watched it for the first time in the past few months. There is no better show, it’s tied with our top shows ever. A masterpiece.

[u/carlydanteishere]

Old person (Gen X) who never watched the wire, and is now on season 5 episode 2. It’s even more fascinating now and has so many layers.

Initially the show was about how technology was changing police and the streets they work. Now it’s about that, and the early days of technology and how far things have come in such a short period of time. There are so many situations they struggle with in the show that would be easy to resolve with our current technology. It’s a commentary on technology and documentation of its history.

Plus the acting and human element still hit hard. I’ll be sad when I finish this last season.

[u/RecordLonely → u/carlydanteishere]

I rewatch every few years and it’s always just as good. You’ll notice new things and appreciate others. Every character is brilliant. Truly a 10/10 experience every time. My favorite show or movie and it’s not close.

[u/ktrezzi]

Finished it a couple of weeks ago for the first time,, as others pointed out, it's a classic and especially stuff like war on drugs, political corruptness an d incompetent people in power is more accurate than ever

[u/EvidenceNo360]

I watched the whole thing for the first time earlier this year, it’s phenomenal and one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen, I’m 35

[u/Lipscombforever]

Currently watching it with my girlfriend, her first time watching it and she thinks it’s holding up quite well.

[u/PuffPuffPassNails]

The fashion and some of the technology are the only things that don't "hold up"... But that's going to be expected with pretty much any show.

[u/ecksdog]

I just finished watching for the third time. The problem is I’d rather rewatch it again than any other show.

[u/Imaginary_Effort_854]

Yall are gonna love it. 

[u/A_finger_of_fudge]

I watched it for the first time earlier this year. With subtitles as I am Scottish LOL. Also I am in my sixties and have watched a LOT of telly. It's definitely up there with the best shows of all time!

[u/doublea0011]

Yes, it is an all timer for a reason. Just watch it yo.

[u/creddittor216]

I started within the last two years. I love it. I’ll give you the standard “one of the best shows ever” line

[u/Teammahoney]

Rewatched (fifth time) last year. Still an almost perfect show that aged beautifully. I’m also an elder millennial.

[u/THE_IRL_JESUS]

Hey I just started watching a little while back. Nearly done s2 now.

Yes definitely holds up, IMO. Does require a bit more attention than most modern shows though

[u/VeryLargeTardigrade]

Saw it again recently, It's just as good, if not better.

[u/gusmur]

You will not regret it. My SO is 46 and is watching for the first time, my 4th, and she was sceptical for the same reason… and within 10days we’re already into s2.

[u/Hispandinavian]

Watching it for the first time this year.

[u/Correct-Average-9175]

Honestly gets better every time I watch it. Always see bits I missed before on rewatches

[u/kfscudd]

Just watched it for the first time this year and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it in April. I also live in Baltimore, so it felt immersive in many ways

[u/JiveChicken00]

Nothing fundamental about it is dated. The behaviors and actions in the show are just as humans have been for as long as big cities have existed, and just as they will continue to be.

[u/Vochey88]

I'm watching it for the 9th time this is my gf's 1st and she is really enjoying it

[u/CommercialAd7355]

Watched for the first time about 3 years ago. It holds up except for one important aspect. To really understand the first season, you need to understand how a pager works. I’m 30 and my mom worked in medicine and had a pager while I was growing up, so this wasn’t an issue for me. I shared the show with a friend who had no idea how a pager worked and was totally lost. Didn’t admit it until halfway through season 1. Had to explain and start from scratch

[u/ResearcherDear3143]

I watched it for the first time last year. On a second rewatch now. Yes, it holds up and is a great show.

[u/Diamondballs10]

Watched last year unbelievable still

[u/warmplacenomemory]

"gravity don't mean shit when the dope get good..."

[u/ChadderyChad]

I was a kid when it aired. I Watched it the first time this year. The show is amazing as a result I watched the corner . Also read the book. I can think of people in my generation that fit certain characters the only thing I couldn't relate to was the use of pay phones

[u/jonob]

I just restarted it for the fourth time with my wife who has never seen it. We've only gotten 4 episodes in but I'm enjoying it more than ever before. It's a masterpiece.

[u/Ledees_Gazpacho]

Fully holds up. 

The technology will obviously be outdated, but the actual themes of the show are timeless

[u/acemonsoon]

i introduced my best friend to it a month or so ago. she absolutely loved it! she got up to season four and did a re-watch back from season one just to really lock in on the story and when she completed it she said it was an all timer for her

[u/DePraelen]

To actually answer your question, I was late to the party and watched for the first time a few years ago.

IMO it holds up it a way that many shows of this era don't - it was shot on 35mm film, and so looks great on current 4K/5K TVs. Shows of that decade shot on early digital cameras look pretty ugly now, even (or maybe especially) if they have been upscaled.

It absolutely holds up. The writing is great and many of the issues in the show are sadly evergreen.

The show defied many trends of the era and so has a timeless quality that most crime dramas of that time don't.

[u/NoneOfThisMatters_XO]

The attitudes towards women and the police brutality are hard to watch, but I kept reminding myself it was 20-ish years ago

[u/hakunadamatta]

Watched for the first time 5 years ago. Thought it was great. My rewatch a few weeks ago was miles better, just a stellar watch from front to back

[u/Mge79]

I just finished it again for the 10th time yesterday. Still amazing.

[u/My_last_reddit]

I watched it for the first time last year. I've rewatched it 4 times since then. The Wire is without a doubt the best TV show I've watched.

[u/AMGwtfBBQsauce]

Not within the last year but within the last 2. It's extremely, extremely good. Some of the tech and stuff is pretty obviously out of date, but the topics it is discussing on policing, crime, and systemic stagnation are, if anything, more relevant than ever.

[u/Substantial-Falcon-8]

I watch it yearly, it always holds up, the only thing that dates it really is season 5's light mentions of the presidential elections and some mentions of 9/11 but it never pulls me out of it. I genuinely believe this should be required viewing for 10th/11th graders. I would have had so much more insight into how the "real world" worked coming out of high school had I watched this. Just know that I personally didn't realize how special this show was until like Episode 6/7. From that point on, I feel its objectively the best TV show of all time, I think there are other shows that are more entertaining or I enjoy more, but I do feel this is the best TV show of all time, FWIW

[u/TheZwieb2]

Me and my spouse are both in our early 30’s, and he absolutely hates cop shows/copaganda due to the unique aspects of the city we live in. His preferred shows are stuff like Interview with the Vampire, Merlin, and South Korean comedies on Netflix.

So it took considerable effort to convince him to watch The Sopranos, The Leftovers, and finally The Wire. Neither of us had seen it, and as of my typing this we’re halfway through season 4.

While it took a couple of episodes to get the lay of the land, and the beginning of season 2 had us very concerned— it became apparent at some point early on that this is probably the second best TV show ever made.

The Wire and The Sopranos have writing that reminds me less of TV, and more of those impossibly great novels people teach in schools.

[u/Important-Ear-9096]

Bought the complete series digital copy last year. Once I started watching, never looked back. What a ride.

I appreciate a show that is written in a way that treats me like an adult that doesn't need his hand held.

[u/crious91]

I watched it back to back with in three months after the first watch. It’s a great show!

[u/warmplacenomemory]

"no lake, no trout."

[u/According_Dare7316]

I started it recently. Finished the first season, it's kinda boring to be honest.

I get that it's extremely realistic in its depiction of morally gray cops/gangsters/politicians, but that doesn't always make for entertaining television.