Watching The Wire and Other Strike Survival Shows

The Wire is back for its fifth and final season so the return is bittersweet knowing that it will too soon be gone for good.  I am savoring each episode, and so, not looking to deconstruct each episode.  But I can point you to resources for discussion.  Though these links come with a very strong warning: Because episodes are available a week earlier on Comcast On Demand spoil sports enjoy putting spoilers in the comments before episodes air and some blogs, with full warning, post on the On Demand schedule.  So click at your own risk.  I'm not even really following the discussion for precisely that reason.  Last season I watched on the On Demand schedule but every Sunday night I found myself disappointed that I didn't have a new episode to watch when it aired.

NYT Freakonomics Blog "What do real thugs think of The Wire?" (My new favorite and it's all in the post - comments are skippable)

Personal blog of Tim Goodman, TV critic for the SF Chronicle - personal blog handles The Wire decons (separate from The Bastard Machine which is his blog at SFGate.com and his reviews in The Chronicle - throw in podcasts and this is one busy TV watching man).

Heaven and Here - terrific commentary but on On Demand schedule

The House Next Door (Ep. 53 - 3rd ep. S5) Commentary on The Wire among this site's extensive and top notch film and television criticism

What's Alan Watching, personal blog of Alan Sepinwall, TV critic for the NJ Star-Ledger.  Reviews lots of shows, not just The Wire.  On Demand schedule

A Thousand Corners - a blog dedicated to The Wire

During the strike I'm happy that Psych is back.  Looking forward to Lost returning next week.  And I enjoyed the debut of Breaking Bad on AMC next week.  It is a very dark comedy and Bryan Cranston is inspired as a dying Chemistry teacher turned Meth maker.  I can't find any slam dunk reviews but it is sufficiently interesting that I'll keep watching.  It airs Sundays at 10pm right after The Wire.