The Wire: Rules in America

[ASDMarauder007]

my english teacher showed us this exact clip to how us the true nature f writing a scene, the use of scenery, dialogue and story telling. After that he told us al about the show and i never stopped from there

[qwerty81286]

Bring back the wire!!!

[slimithy12]

now this is how you start off a great show. i remember having the first season on dvd and re-watching it alot. my girlfriend used to complain about how much i watched it so i made her watch one episode with me. after that she watched the whole series in a week and then went out and bought all the rest of the seasons and watched them al by herself...lol. she's thai and has never stepped foot in america, so she cant realate at all but she was still hooked. that's what great shows are all about.

[Juustokauppias]

When I saw this scene the first time, I thought: "Oh great, another cop show. Like there aren't enough of these. Car chases and shoot-outs, always the same shit". And boy, have I ever been so wrong in my life before..

[Lantho650]

I feel everyone should watch " The Wire ". You really do learn valuable lessons and gain street-smart knowledge.

[zenzombie72]

@Lantho650 Yeah man. And it opened my eyes to the political system too.

[kozysnacker]

god damn i miss the joy and the thrill of watching the show for the first time.

[MikeVProductions]

Real talk....you can be as corrupt as you want to be but if you have money you can do what you want to do in America.

[1200Media]

And then I was hooked...

Just

Like

That

[TheIndiestar03]

Since the first time I saw this episode, which was too long ago to remember, I always thought that the creators and writers of this show were trying to display how some "low-lifes" or America's forgotten ppl (poor inner city troubled youths), see and follow the rules and understand the true concept of freedom and liberty and stuff, thats jus my opinion...

[t5y665yrty56]

well said

[sexxyladychick]

deangleo laid that nigga smoove...

[Sneezlebob]

that isnt the guy dangelo killed

[sexxyladychick]

yes it is i swear to god d said it he stole from da dice game d said it was either me or him word up bra!!!!

[sexxyladychick]

snot boogie was his name and deanglo killed him wach da series and yall kno kno give me thumbs up hurry

[Sneezlebob]

no D;angelo didnt kill Snot

[sexxyladychick]

who killed snot then i just saw the hole season 1 two days ago he da nigga dat robbed da dyce game and deanglo

[Sneezlebob]

D'angelo killed some guy in a lobby Snot is outside in the streets. This scene is just set the basis for "the game"

[pjds88]

another HBO classic. great from the very first scene.

[FidelCashFlow22]

TRUE....Season 1 First Epi.....u knew this was about to be somethin special

[bigwillietime]

wow, this scene gave me goosebumps it was so good. epic beginning.

[prezance]

they was stupid to keep playing with him. but at the same time snot need to stop touching what aint his

[basod]

Can someone please explain? I watched all seasons, but this is the part i never got, as it wasn't explained on the wiki plot synopsis. thanks.

[AntoineFTW]

Has no relation to the plot, but has great relevance to the main theme of the show.

You can't turn your back on the underclass and exclude them from American society just because they tend to "grab the money and run". Sure, when they steal money or deal drugs, you catch 'em and beat their ass, but you don't ever go past that by wiping 'em out or locking 'em up forever. Even when they keep misbehaving, you still gotta let 'em in the game of Life in America, where "all men are created equal".

[basod]

thank you.

[jete121991]

Ya i agree with your interpretation completely. But its kind funny now...after banks like AIG have taken our money and run away. This stealing game is also at the top of the pyramid. Politicians let these banks play because "its America and we believe in capitalism which is synonomous with freedom". Ha in this esystem there is always people who steal.

[AntoineFTW]

Excellent point. There's more than one good way to interpret this scene, and your interpretation fits in well with David Simon's view of American politics and society.

So, who's gonna shoot AIG for their bullshit?

[betatalk357]

No, you can't turn your back on the underclass, but you can show them they DON'T have to live the way they do if they, the community as a whole, gets together and makes it better for themselves and for the country.

[betatalk357]

Main-stream America's putting that message out in the media, but America itself WILL exclude them from America if they refuse to change because it costs the country MORE to take care of people who wants the Govt as a babysitter (Welfare-dependents), rather than WE THE PEOPLE, can get together, self-govern, and help each other.

Just like this scene, the dead kid represents that there is an OPPORTUNITY to grab the money and run, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD!

[betatalk357]

They let snot grab the money for a while, which represents America's tolerance, but like all things, it comes to an end.

Somebody got sick of Snot (or corrupt, rich people in society's case), grabbing up the money and inconveniencing people to go get the money back and decided it was better off to kill him because he was fucking up the game. (Just like now, greedy CEOs are going to jail for what they've done).

[AntoineFTW]

I'm pretty sure David Simon & Ed Burns aren't arguing for higher welfare payments.

And exactly how many of these greedy CEOs have had criminal charges filed against them so far?

[betatalk357]

No, David Simons and Ed Burns aren't arguing for higher welfare payments, but the Barksdale crew, just like society, the word is now, "You stand strong, or they cut you loose." Just like how Wallace got killed for being "weak," society wants everyone to have a job and not only work, BUT WORK TOGETHER TO GET AHEAD- NO MORE FREE RIDES OR HANDOUTS!

Well, you do have a point with the CEOs, but how long do you think things are keep on going before people decide to shoot greedy, rich people?

[AntoineFTW]

I can't quite make you out, betatalk. You sound like a cross between Ayn Rand and Che Guevara.

[betatalk357]

That's a pretty good analogy- sounds somewhat accurate. Although I do have a touch of Ayn Rand, I see myself more as Howard Roark, from the Fountainhead. However, I also have a bit of Dostoyevsky in me, too.

[11134thst]

"You got to... this America, man"

One of the greatest lines ever.

[0n3m4n4rm33]

Yeah, I think this is how they started the series...

[enverpasha55]

I still remember seeing this opening scene and thinking to myself that "this show is going to be epic"; and it was better than i could have ever imagined!! Best show ever!!

[MrE985]

Yet they never got the credit the deserved from the commitee, they shoulda got ALOT of awards or at least nominations.

[popeyeluv]

And so it begins.... the best show ever.

[sean311973]

Simple but classic dialogue.

[lildwayne21]

Yeah, thats what is great about the Wire

[crazyhax]

man snot got fucked up hahaaaaa

[doclafamilia]

you can hear dominic's (mcnulty) accent when he talking in this scene. you hear it on and off every season.

[baltbail]

lets go home.

[snipet19]

yes sir! thats why i decided to watch this clip. to see how far this show has come. it started with a mcnulty scene and it ended with a mcnulty scene.

[freshnshytz]

his accent leaked out at like... 2:12

[theacedj]

i just found clip's of this show here on YouTube an hour ago - been watching as many as possible, we don't have it here in ireland - looks like a good show - keep the clips coming people, cheers!

[Lainy280]

Order the series. It's as good, if not better than, the Sopranos.

[MattJones1418]

definitely better

[kedordu]

sooo brilliant . he was wired to give that answer that shut down mcnulty .

[kevsul47]

who could have predicted what brilliance would follow?

[snoop80812]

damn straight! all it all started with this.

[bigroar615]

I remember the very first time I saw this scene, and I knew, I knew that this show was for real.

Guess I've been hooked from the beginning.

[deadfresh10]

You know snoop and the deacon from the wire were real gangsters. The Deacon(melvin williams) is going to be on BET's American Gangster this week on wdenesday. Ed Burns, one of the directors, used to be a police officer and was chasin him from the 60's to the 80's

[bmore808]

yea ur right, and the other director david simon was a reporter for the baltimore sun for over 30 years, and it was his idea to have "bunk moreland" as a character on the show cuz there is a real baltimore homicide detective called "the bunk" whom david admires a lot.

[robotding1]

Hey did anyone actually work this case? I know McNulty got pulled off to do the case on Barksdale, but even before then it didn't seem like he was working the case. Or did he close the case at the scene with that witness?

[JazyJaz112]

wats not to understand... America is "supposed" to be a "free country"... you can do wateva you want. who are they to stop him from playing ? But yea I agree wit all of yal da Wire is def underated!

[Rocqui010]

Hell yea, it is, dey nee 2 stop frontin on mi shyt

[youngprince21]

The Wire is a great show and it's a shame that it is so underated. What is more shaming is that now it's on BET and so now it won't get any recognition for its great writting.

[deadfresh10]

Why because its on a black channel??

[deadfresh10]

why is it shaming cuz it on a black channel??

[ayyyoo15]

because it gets watered down for network tv. plus, has nething from bet ever won ne awards? maybe if they didnt play shows that degrade the black man and seek to make money, they would win something.

[deadfresh10]

bet doesnt have show to begin with. and what is on bet thats not on this show

[ayyyoo15]

man im sorry i didnt understand what u just said there...but dont get me wrong, the wire should win an award. and its not bad on bet just because its on bet, its because bet waters it down. and what i was saying about denegration of the black man; bet shows these programs like hell date and college hill; they only strengthen stereotypes and make robert johnson money.

[CheezyDoDo973]

shut the fuck up ypu fuckin wannbe white nigga

fuck a sterotype life too short to be thinking about what a cracka think about you

[ayyyoo15]

ok u simple motherfucker...keep thinkin that fool hahaha

[TheVideoForum]

Also shows like College Hill and and Hell Date don't degrade blacks any more than real world or Next on networks like MTV degrade young whites, all it's doing is giving young blacks a chance to see themselves on TV. I see nothing wrong with that.

[dawestisdead]

lmao

[TheVideoForum]

Robert Johnson no longer owns BET, he sold it to Viacom a few years back. Also, nothing about the Wire degrades African Americans. If you've ever experienced life in any of those neighborhoods, you'd understand that HBO's The Wire is only depicting a sincere reality...a sad one.

[ayyyoo15]

homeboy take it easy i never said ANYTHING about the wire degrading blacks. i was talking solely about bet, so educate yourself before you lash out like that homie. robert johnson might no longer own bet, but his philosophy lives on. and good point about mtv. but there arent as many shows for blacks like there are for whites on channels like the history channel. the point is that bet is one of the only chances for black entertainment to be shown in a good light, and often it's not.

[TheVideoForum]

Shiit, you'd feel a lash if I sent one! I was just making my points. Personally, History Channel don't bring revenue like MTV do, so of course you gotta think bout what is profitable. But I feel you though, imma drop it...cause you actuall make sense, but that don't make dollars. Ya feel me?

[ayyyoo15]

word man

[MattJones1418]

how bout just be a good person... that could do a lot for blacks instead of a fucking tv channel... dumb ass

[ayyyoo15]

wat man? u r retarded. shut up. it has nothing to do with that fool.

[MattJones1418]

i was responding to the other dude... dumb dumb

[thebm]

the wire is made for HBO, so if they dont get recognized.. it ain't BET's fault.. it airs originaly on HBO, and then get replayed on BET.

so HBO takes all the credits anywayz

[SouthRaleigh]

The Wire is so damn underrated

[bammarghell]

the wire kicks the sopranos ass,the sopranos are some fake bull

[funkfixx]

Why so this show NOT have any awards??!!! This clip alone, would have won 20 ocars if it was in "main stream TV shows". I love The Wire but I get mad at the show biz industry for not recognizing the quality of this show!!!

[bubblez124]

i feel you

[pagola]

what the fuck does he mean this is america

somebody explain that shyt to me yo

[akinarikashihara]

America is a free country, you've gotta let people do what they want.

[Pdids01]

When he says "it's America man" he is talking about a concept of what America is that only he and those in his environment buy into. The reason it's so funny to McNulty is because his concept is so off.

Its all about how those who don't have access to the legitimate economy create their own realities.

[sodaspin]

You're sooo deep.... and so wrong.

[Pdids01]

Uhh ok I'm basically repeating verbatim the commentary on the DVD... but I guess I'm WAY WRONG

[kedordu]

u were wronger . excuse my english lol

[deadfresh10]

no no he was right about twhat he said

[jzajzz]

nah... it just means its a free country... you're over analyzing it..

[Pdids01]

then the creator of the show is over analyzing it. because that is verbatim what he said about this scene on the commentary for the DVD

[jzajzz]

it's definitely not verbatim.. I got the same DVD you have.

[Pdids01]

ok... and on your DVD the commentary for this scene is what? Because I'm sure it's the same. Describe it in your own words then.

On my DVD David Simon says that the "It's America man" line in the context of this scene is about how people that don't have access to the legitimate economy create their own realities.

[beatbrigand]

"Got to. This America, man" HA! :)

[SteveElMonk86]

Ah yes....the first scene of the first episode of The Wire. It all started there. And the dialogue between McNulty and that guy set the tone for what the entire series is about.

"If he kept running off with the money, why'd you keep letting him play?"

"You got to. This is America, man."

[2wenty5ive8ightTV]

I still dont get that line, please explain what he meant.

[MattJones1418]

which one?

[2wenty5ive8ightTV]

"Got to, this America man" that line

[MattJones1418]

cuz... it's america everyone has a chance... it's just america

[bmore808]

haha, 'snotboogie'. enough said. by the way, was this season 1 or 2?

[biancachinn]

season one, the first scene of the very first episode

[kshock14]

yo i definitely feel u on dat. avon was the smartest gangsta on the show, so that makes mcnulty a beast too.

[jennap1]

I like Mcnulty even if he did take down my nigga avon. I got respect 4 the dude. if u can take down the smartest of the smartest i gotta respect.