Unwired - and sad to be so.

I reckon most life happenings – birthdays, bushwalks, work tasks, farm chores, blog writing, or whatever – have three sequential phases, i.e. the before, the thing and the after. For example Sweetheart Vivienne’s oft said the planning and anticipation of a vacation can be more delicious than the vacation itself. Today I write of the epic and ground-breaking TV series The Wire [1, 2]. I can’t recall when we watched its first episode. Early 2009 perhaps. As it first aired on US TV in mid 2002, we had seven years plus of eager anticipation. Its giant reputation preceded it, so we could hardly wait until we were loaned the DVDs of Seasons One to Four. We were so excited when they were handed to us (in exchange loan for our set of The West Wing DVDs). We devoured those 50 episodes in a few months, becoming ever more involved with the characters, plots and themes. Then there was an excruciating wait until the Fifth Season [3] became available to us. We began it 11 days ago, and two nights ago we watched its 10th episode, the 60th overall, and the last ever. Compared with previous series we’ve watched [4, 5], The Wire’s almost if not the best. I’m sad we’ve come to its end. But I think it did all it could, and more would’ve been an anticlimax. My favourite Season? The Fourth [6]. My favourite character? Lester Freamon (pictured) [7]. Farewell, Wire. And thanks. For I’m much the better for having spent all those hours in your company.