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The Wire is one of the greatest T.V. shows on television according to Entertainment.The show was created by David Simon back in 2002. During this time the show was recognized by few and was not appreciated for the realistic content that was portrayed. David Simon planned on modeling the t.v. show after realistic cop work seen on the streets, gang affiliation, violence, and the war on drugs. The way in which the show went about this drama was in a very clever fashion. The Wire took place in Baltimore’s inner cities and viewers were able to observe what cop life and drug dealers apart of a gang experience within their everyday lives. A quality that The Wire contains is the fact that some of the actors within the show are right off the streets of Baltimore in order to give off a more realistic feel. Another unique trait within The Wire  is that the audience’s emotions become consumed within particular characters. Most of the time in television shows, most people tend to root for the moral correct characters and the protagonists within shows. This television show introduces some characters that are highly questionable when it comes to morality, yet the audience still is attracted to them. Personally, I was caught off guard when I noticed that I was rooting for the morally questionable characters within The Wire. These characters include Stringer Bell, Jimmy McNulty, and Omar Little. These characters would make wrong decisions one after the other, but there was something about these characters that the audience tended to love. Even though these characters take part in immoral actions, as an audience we still find ourselves rooting for them. To further understand these characters I have gone observed a series of interviews with the creator, David Simon, and the three characters that I have chosen to analyze and depict why it is that the audience is so drawn towards them. 

David Simon, Creator of The Wire

David Simon is notorious for involving himself within crime and police work. Through his research and observations, he is qualified to educate society on the truth and facts on how the two systems operate and intertwine with one another. It is fair to say that his creation of The Wire portrays a realistic point of view on what really happens within crime and police work. Through the television show he demonstrates the harsh realities of it all. David Simon's message through his television show, The Wire, has been successful on many levels. People recognize the fact that the show imitates the reality of a lot of impoverished inner cities located all around the Unite States. An interview conducted by Bill Moyers reveals David Simon's thoughts on The Wire.

Specifically, David Simon stresses the hardships within these inner cities and explains how and why these kids at such a young age become involved within crime and violence. Bill Moyers asks David Simon why things have not changed for these kids growing up in these cities. David Simon answers, "Because there is no political capital, there really isn't." By infusing this criteria within his television show, he is creating a sympathetic emotion towards a lot of the criminals within the show. The audience is able to discover the gang's point of view. This is a main reason why the audience has the tendency to side with the immortality of some of the characters. The want of seeing these types of characters succeed is what makes this television show differ from your average everyday show that is televised.

More on David Simon

Bill Moyers continues his interview with David Simon. David Simon continues to stress what The Wire is all about and why it was created. David Simon hits on the main problems within The Wire and life in general. These problems consist of, "Money and advancement." Every character that is seen as immoral within The Wire strive to receive money and advancement in some way or other. The reason behind criminal acts is advancement. In order to advance in life some characters would have to commit crimes to do so because they were not born into the right environment to do so. Characters that are well known throughout the media are Stringer, McNulty, and Little. All of these characters were created with motives. Some of these motives are seen to be immoral, but that was the beauty behind David Simon's thinking of characters and how they develop throughout the show. David Simon strives to communicate the criminals point of view because society tends to overlook this kind of situation.

Idris Elba/Stringer Bell

Stringer Bell was a main character within the show. The audience would think of him as the antagonist, however he was wanted to see succeed by the audience. I found this very interesting that even I wanted to see the antagonist succeed. Rarely do I find myself rooting for the bad guy. The immoral actions that Stringer Bell was involved in such as murder, drug dealing, and going behind his families back would make anyone not want to see him succeed. But the fact that he was so stuck on making money and learning how the business world worked made most people believe that he wanted an outlet of the poverty inner city gang affiliated life. Stringer Bell would do whatever it took to see himself succeed whether or not it meant killing family, people on his side that betrayed him, and other people from different gangs. The message that this portrayed within The Wire is that not everyone is born into middle class or higher class. Some people struggle with making it in this world if they are not granted money to begin with. A hidden message within The Wire reveals that some people have to resort to the drug dealing business. Near season three of The Wire, the audience sees Stringer Bell change his motives. When people within the Barksdale Crew wanted to shoot up and go to war with Marlow’s crew, Stringer Bell was opposed. He felt that it was unnecessary to kill people when it was not necessary. Avon discovered that there was a change of heart within Stringer Bell and that he was more focused on selling apartments than it was to sell drugs. Stringer Bell was moving past that lifestyle. Idris Elba was interviewed by Strombo.

Within One minute and twenty seconds Idris Elba and Strombo started to discuss The Wire and one of the main characters that Idris Elba played which was Stringer Bell. They discussed that Idris Elba had just moved to the states when he played the role of Stringer Bell within his career. Stringer Bell was a life line for him in a way because that was what he had in his life at the time. Idris Elba revealed that the character of Stringer Bell saved his career and life. Idris Elba realizes that there are many Stringer Bell fans still to this day because Stringer Bell gave a meaningful message in life. Though his moral actions were incorrect, many people were drawn to him. The interview also discussed how Stringer Bell was going to die within The Wire. David Simon and Idris Elba both knew that it was time for Stringer Bell to leave the show but had to make sure that Stringer went out respectfully. By having Omar kill Stringer in the end, whom was another respected character by the audience was a good fit. This is true because Stringer Bell got what he deserved in a way. Beings that Stringer killed Omar’s boyfriend, it was only fair that Omar was the one who took revenge upon String Bell. Stringer Bell will forever be a character that the television industry will remember. 

Dominic West/Jimmy McNulty

Jimmy McNulty was another character that was questionable amongst the audience. The constant immoral actions that he would undergo was a trait that not many would appeal to. These qualities included cheating on his wife, drinking while wearing a badge, and doing whatever it took to accomplish what he was trying to accomplish within his job. This is where Stringer Bell and Jimmy McNulty related. They also related by knowing that both Dominic West who plays Jimmy McNulty and Idris Elba are both English accents playing characters with heavy Baltimore accents. An interview with both David Simon and Dominic West was conducted by getcloser.com. 

The interview revealed that one of David Simon’s favorite character was Jimmy McNulty, whom Dominic west played. At two minutes and forty two seconds, David Simon reveals that Dominic West’s creation of Jimmy McNulty is very similar to David Simon. Jimmy McNulty felt that the soul purpose of The Wire was to be realistic. Modeling a character that is not perfect is refreshing in a sense that no one on this earth is perfect. The audience is consumed in McNulty’s life because they sense a fact of realism. By filming in Baltimore the people were able to observe that not everyone is perfect but if one follows their heart they will find what they are looking for. In this case, it is McNulty’s career that he follows his heart with. 

Michael K. Williams/Omar Little

The third interview that I found to be very interesting was the interview with Omar Little.  Michael K. Williams is the real actors name that plays the role of Omar Little within The Wire. In this interview we learned how Michael K. Williams got into character, how his character developed throughout the show, and how he personally relates to his character. the interview is conducted by Page31TV. 

Within 2:32 of the interview, Michael K. Williams is asked what his favorite scene within the television show. He replies revealing that it is a very hard question to answer but answers if he had to choose one scene he would choose the court room scene. In this scene he discusses how he put the lawyer in place. He did this by conveying the fact that the lawyer would not have a job if it wasn’t for people such as himself. Omar Little played a gang banger that would rob other drug dealers for money. He expressed that he would never hurt a civilian but whoever was involved in “the game” was fair game because those people knew what they were getting themselves involved in. At three minutes and three seconds the interview shows the court scene revealing how Omar Little made his point in a smooth and efficient way. Everyone in the court room was stunned and realized that there was truth to what Omar was saying. Four minutes and twenty two seconds into the interview, Michael K. Williams talks about how Omar was a man with a moral code. He would never go after anyone who was not involved in “the game”. “The game” was a code for the street that everyone knew that if they were involved in the game they were fair targets to everyone else who was involved in the game. At four minutes and thirty three seconds Michael K. Williams was asked what his character Omar Little and himself had in common. His answer revealed that his sensitivity to certain issues is what they both had in common. Throughout the show Omar made mistakes, but the amount of compassion and sensitivity that he portrayed made the audience grow to like him and a want of success upon Omar Little was yearned for within the show. At four minutes and fifty five seconds, Michael K. Williams revealed that he used music to get into character. Michael K. Williams listened to what he thought Omar Little would have listened to. This music included Biggie, “Ready to Die”, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, “My Life”, Naz, “Still Maddock album”, “As I walked… Michael sings the rest”. The last song is what Michael K. Williams listens to before he is shot by a little kid. At six fifty two the song, “Good in me until you see the fool in me” is the song that really got him into character before he died on the show. Michael K. Williams reveals that the audience learned to love his character through the compassion that he showed even though he had made wrong choices. The sensitively he acquired ruled out the immoral qualities that he contained. 

Character Development

The Wire’s characters gradually develop throughout the seasons. The audience truly starts to understand who their favorite character is by the second season. The article, “Lessons from the Wire: character development and contrast”, describes how each character evolves throughout the television show. Some characters start out as immoral characters but tend to capture the love from the audience. The hidden motives are sometimes for their best interest which makes the audience want to see them succeed. The more the audience learns about each character the more understanding and compassionate they become. David Simon was phenomenal in creating the characters he did for the portrayal of truth and reality of what life is like for some people living in the United States within The Wire. 

References

Bill Moyers Journal (2009, April 24). Bill Moyers Journal/David Simon Part 1 of 1 Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulcqNMHVic

Bill Moyer Journal (2009, April 24). Bill Moyers Journal/David Simon Part 2 of 2 Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeNc5y7lpYA

Drago, A. (2013, December 01). Lessons from the wire:character development and contrast. Mythic Scribes: The art of Fantasy and Storytelling, Retrieved from http://mythicscribes.com/character-development/the-wire-character-development/

HMVgetcloser (2009, July 16). The Wire: David Simon and Dominic West Interview Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYUnQ1HA5s

Page31TV (2012, June 3). Michael K. Williams Talks About Playing Omar Little fro The Wire. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvXZENHmrvw

Ross, D. (2013, July 01). Former cast members react to 'the wire being named the greatest tv show ever by ew'. Entertainment, Retrieved from http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/07/01/the- wire-lawrence-gilliard-chad-coleman/

Strombo (2012, March 28). Idris Elba on Nelson Mandela and Stringer Bell. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO-xfPwm-2c