I think I might die of happiness if an actual fandom grew out of that show, I love it so.
I can't keep about 2/3 of the characters straight, and especially the different gang street wars confuse me, as do the relationships of the hateful, venal cops that McNulty battles with
This is on purpose, and it's part of the style of the show that I find so fascinating. Each season begins with a scattershot of events and characters that aren't always connected in immediately identifiable ways, and often seem random. Lots of them. As the season progresses the tension ratchets up as the lines between them become clearer and start drawing together until everything, and I do mean *everything*, collects in on itself into one climactic point that finishes off the season in mindblowing fashion.
Until you start the next season where the loose threads left over, and the core cast, are joined by a whole *new* set of scattershot events and characters that leave you going, "Hey! I just figured out what was going on, stop that! And what the hell does *this* have to do with x?" Season 2 is particularly good at starting you out with a big old "What the fuck?" and then nailing you right between the eyes as it all starts to come clear and ties back into season 1.
So, yeah. You're supposed to be confused and overwhelmed by the massive amounts of information and characters getting thrown at you to start with. I still have a bunch of season 3 episodes to catch up with, but it seems to be following the same pattern, even as it returns to familiar ground (vague enough for you? don't want to spoil).
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I think I might die of happiness if an actual fandom grew out of that show, I love it so.
I can't keep about 2/3 of the characters straight, and especially the different gang street wars confuse me, as do the relationships of the hateful, venal cops that McNulty battles with
This is on purpose, and it's part of the style of the show that I find so fascinating. Each season begins with a scattershot of events and characters that aren't always connected in immediately identifiable ways, and often seem random. Lots of them. As the season progresses the tension ratchets up as the lines between them become clearer and start drawing together until everything, and I do mean *everything*, collects in on itself into one climactic point that finishes off the season in mindblowing fashion.
Until you start the next season where the loose threads left over, and the core cast, are joined by a whole *new* set of scattershot events and characters that leave you going, "Hey! I just figured out what was going on, stop that! And what the hell does *this* have to do with x?" Season 2 is particularly good at starting you out with a big old "What the fuck?" and then nailing you right between the eyes as it all starts to come clear and ties back into season 1.
So, yeah. You're supposed to be confused and overwhelmed by the massive amounts of information and characters getting thrown at you to start with. I still have a bunch of season 3 episodes to catch up with, but it seems to be following the same pattern, even as it returns to familiar ground (vague enough for you? don't want to spoil).
Also, OMAR!