I recently found this podcast and I am truly happy I have. The analysis of each episode and character breakdown is top notch. The perspective I have for people living in these situations in real life has changed based on their insight. I am thankful for the education you are giving me on both the show and real life.

Must of been Scraping the bottom of the barrel when they asked Hill to co-host this show about one of the greatest TV show of all time. She damages everything she touches, this pod could of been so much better!

Like a better version of the talking sopranos. Great insight and love the format

Amazing podcast! In depth analysis. Can’t wait to listen to all the episodes! 5 stars!

Most interesting podcast ever. This senior citizen has had the best time rewatching The Wire and then listening to Jemele and Van.

Two of my absolute Favorites in the World The Great Van Lathan and The Incomparable Jemele Hill break The Greatest TV Show in history down like an M16-A2. This is structured and formatted innovative and fittingly. And a they both give depth and breath not only into The Wire, but their lives and experiences as well. Love it! Well Done!

Best compliment I can give is I’m rewatching for 4th time through but enjoying it even more while listening to each pod to go along with every episode. These 2 hosts are cool, they seem to know the game too. Clever breakdowns and also relevant social commentary.

I can’t imagine two better hosts for a Wire podcast. Jamele and Van’s commentaries are incredibly insightful and informed, really funny too. They’ll have you examining the show (and life) in new ways all over again. A perfect pairing

Smart analysis and connection by two who care about the show. Worth your time if you’re rewatching

I want to watch all TV shows with these two!!

The only sad thing that there wasn’t more episodes of The Wire is that means that there isn’t more episodes of this excellent podcast. Man’s gotta have a code.

I was listening to a recap of Season 2, episode 10. To me, it’s a deal breaker if you give away information on upcoming episodes. Not cool.

A must listen for Wire fans

Just got alerted to this podcast as I am going back and rewatching the wire ( I watched it when it was first on ) and I just realized my wife never watched it (somehow we have managed to stay married despite this fact -haha).. a good friend told me about this podcast and so glad .. now, to season 2 -at the time ( not looking back), it took me a moment to shift from Season 1 to season 2 and, at the end, it all came together in a mind-blowing way.. ps. Did the previous reviewer refer to black people as “ colored?” ( I don’t think the had podcasts in 1953, did they?).

They should really add that to the description of the show.

Just started watching The Wire and wanted an accompanying podcast. These guys are great. Love listening to their takes an opinions.

Really enjoyed my latest rewatch of my favorite show with these two insightful and witty commentators. Would like to hear more from these two together. I’m not a sports fan so some of the metaphors were lost on me, but that didn’t really detract from my listening experience. To quote McNulty, “nicely done.”

Van sidebars hurt this podcast. The way he tells his stories make them feel exaggerated and/or made up. Most of all they are unnecessary but Jemele Hill is great and saves the podcast. They do spoil major things so it’s not a great podcast for first time watchers

It’s definitely a good show but colored people definitely overrate this show.

For the most part this is a very good companion podcast but only if you’ve already seen the show. They definitely spoil some important ish. Other than that, Van man, get to the point. This dude always sounds like he is just about to offer some really important point and he pretty much never does. He’s all sizzle and no steak. Hill is really good though. Really smart analysis. Overall this is great for those who have seen The Wire and are going back for a deep dive, which I have done.

Fantastic show. Fantastic analysis. Fantastic anecdotes. Fantastic podcast that I wish could have gone on and on but like The Wire was finite.

After many, many years I finally started watching the Wire during the pandemic. My best friend is a huge Wire fan and we started watching together over zoom. He recommended this podcast which I loved overall. I would watch an episode of the show, then listen to a podcast episode. I appreciated Jemele and Van’s analysis, and their ability to see the characters in their complexity. I also appreciated their ability to make connections to what is currently happening with cops, race, etc. As a black, queer woman, I see so much of what happens in the wire as relevant to today. What I didn’t love were the Van Lathan sidebars. At first they were okay, but starting in season 3, I was DONE with the sidebars. It got to the point where they were not relevant. I also didn’t love that Jemele and Van were not always cognizant of spoilers. So just be warned if you haven’t watched the show, the podcast is not completely spoiler free. Overall, great show and I will pretty much listen to anything Jemele Hill works on.

I’m starting to watch the Wire and wanted to have a companion podcast so I can reflect on episodes after I watch them. In episode two, these guys spoil at least three major plot lines that happen to Deangelo seasons from where I’m at. I really can’t believe it, and I’m hoping that I can somehow forget what they said because, honestly, those turns would have been riveting to experience on real time.

Loved every minute of it.

Loved their perspective on the best show in American television

First time watching The Wire all the way through and this is hands down my favorite show of all time! This podcast was a GREAT companion to my watching the show. I couldn’t wait to listen to their podcast corresponding to the show I was on. I was pretty sad when I was finished the both the show, and the podcast, as it became something that I really looked forward to!

I’m finally watching The Wire & only plan to do it once. I was intrigued by this podcast to follow up/delve into key episodes after watching, but they repeatedly hint at what’s to come on the rest of the season (or much later seasons) without any warning. And flat out confirm cast that stays around when you wonder if their characters are about to die. I don’t blame them for discussing in context of the overall series, but just wish they saved it for an end portion or time-stamped what to skip in the synopsis. This is just one of those shows you don’t want to be spoiled for, so unfortunately I don’t recommend listening before you’re done watching the show. Aside from that, it actually was interesting to hear their perspective as passionate fans (& experts) of this series.

Two pieces of advice about watching The Wire: 1) put down the phone while watching, and 2) listen to the podcast before or after each episode. Jemele and Van go all-in on The Wire, supplementing a review of each episode with insight from people involved with the show, observations about things to “file away for later,” and mix the humorous with the seriousness with ease.

When they talk about the show it’s fantastic! Wonderful deep dives into the characters, themes, and scenes. It’s one of the best Wire pods for that, BUT the side bars derail this show so hard. We came to listen to people talk about THE WIRE, not stuff that happened in your personal life. It amazes me how many podcasters can’t stay on freaking topic. The sidebars kill this show from being a great one

I like Jamele and Van, but the tangents can be quite lengthy and they don’t give much of any warning about future episode/season spoilers.

The Wire is amazing, this show is two people talking about the Wire and the two hosts are just shallow people who shouldn’t be given the job of analyzing character and/ or narrative.Fans of the show or fans of not being bored to tears should skip this seriously tedious and needless coverage of greatest television show of all time.

Great podcast. Please organize the episode list better. It’s really confusing to navigate and might turn off folks who aren’t as familiar with the show.

No matter what part Idris Elba plays, to me, he’ll always be creepy Stringer Bell. Also, having worked at a company that brings in containers, I found season 2 great! Update: Kwame Kilpatrick pardoned. Would not even know who he was without listening to this pod!

I first discovered the Wire after reading an online article about which was better, the Wire or the Sopranos, so I gave it a try. Loved it! I also really loved this podcast. I thought both of the hosts were equally funny and insightful and enjoyed the banter between them. I’ve liked Jemele since His and Hers and while this was my introduction to Van, liked him and his sidebars. Great show, y’all! Now to address the negative things people have put in their reviews, if you don’t like something, turn it off! Nobody’s making you listen to it, there are other shows about the Wire available, check them out. Oh yeah, Wire vs Sopranos. Both great shows but the Sopranos didn’t have Omar Little.

I love The Wire, and this podcast is such an awesome analysis of it. The hosts are thoughtful and funny, and provide really insightful commentary about the show. I’m definitely going to fly through these episodes.

As much as I have enjoyed the chemistry with Van, I can no longer support anything involving Jemele Hill. The brazen bigotry that she continues to display on her Vice show with Cari Champion is insulting. Stay woke.

Jamelle Hill is trash. Van’s just aight. I’m good.

Van side bars will live in infamy.

Fantastic pod for The Wire fans. Evergreen and can be enjoyed by anyone who’s a fan of the show and appreciates the details of the storytelling. It should be warned the hosts often spoil future events; in fact they have a category hinting at future plot points in most episodes. However again, this is a pod for fans, not first time viewers. The storytelling of David Chase’s writing is so deeply nuanced and threaded, it deserves an analysis based on multiple viewings. The bar is set really high here for listeners to enjoy the minutiae Jemele and Van go into. For those who indulge, this is the trip down the rabbit hole to west Baltimore, the Irish police tavern, and interrogating room #2; you’ll sparkle like the ambition of a junkie needing a fix and reminisce on the innocent sound of a school bell. Jemele’s trivia will surely surprise even the most veteran Wire fans and Van’s sidebar provide and grounded points of view that connect The Wire to the fabric of our society. Again, love this pod, love the hosts and wish they pick another show to dive into. They should play this pod in community colleges.

Ok you don’t respect community college folk. But maybe keep it to yourself next time.

I thank Jemele and Van for their thoughtful analysis of this tv masterpiece. These podcasts are helping me survive our boring Covid winter. I don’t follow sports so I didn’t know Jemele before. I really like her voice, and am glad I know who she is now. Although she is wrong to hate on my problematic favorite, Stringer Bell! Ha. (Actually Bubbles is my favorite character. I’m an optimist.) I also find Van’s perspectives informative and interesting. These two are really good at drawing parallels between what is happening on the show, and current social/political/cultural issues. I have been a teacher in an impoverished school district, and yesterday I restarted season four with a lump in my throat. Dang, this show is good.

Van is not interesting enough to have a random 20 minute sidebar every episode. The stories aren’t funny enough and often times he comes off as begging for extra attention. Dude you host the podcast. Let that be enough.

As The Wire comes to an end, I hope you guys choose another tv series to break down and analyze. You have great chemistry and insights! Thanks for all your work with breaking down my favorite show of all time, The Wire!

I need a Latham sidebar podcast next! Apparently, none of us have lived!!!

I’ve been listening to this POD all along mainly out of my reverence for The Wire. I still can’t get through the scene of Kima’s shooting without crying like a baby. Similar feelings surface in Season 4 when we learn the fates of 2 of the 4 young men; both with exceptional gifts. Still, I will never get used to Ms. Hill’s potty mouth; out of which, just about every other word is an obscenity. In noun, verb, adjective and adverb form. It’s distracting as f____. I’m not against obscenities. They should be used sparingly, for emphasis. Moreover, her stature in the journalistic community - writing for the venerable Atlantic magazine - makes it even worse in my mind. For someone who claims to have been the superlative college journalist in her day - forget Humblebrag, this is a Bragbrag - her grammar and sentence construction must keep the editors at The Atlantic up until dawn. Ms. Hill’s rants against Stringer Bell also grow tiresome. If I saw racism under every rock, I’d attribute it to her disdain for white people. I find Van Lathan’s analysis to be a cut above Ms. Hill’s. He has an extremely creative mind. An out of the box thinker. Big time. His analyses of episodes, subplots, and story arcs are things to behold - whether one agrees with him or not. Van’s side bars are also entertaining. It’s interesting to hear about his upbringing in Baton Rouge. When I look back on the pandemic, I’ll recall with fondness this Podcast. It’s one of the bright spots - along with Mookie Betts’ post season, The Masters tournament, The Glenn Show and some Shakespeare plays I’ve been meaning to get to. My favorite Wire things - Kima, Wallace, D’Angelo, Bubs, Omar, The Chess scene, Bunny’s paper bag presentation, D’Angelo’s analysis of The Great Gatsby. Last but not least - Blake Leyh’s The Fall - the ending credit theme.

I am a fan, and the pod has me rewatching The Wire. As the episodes progress, it’s becoming abrasive to hear the increased gratuitous use of the n-word (primarily Van) outside of the context of the show. Be respectful and responsible.

This has been an amazing journey reliving the Wire with the two of you.

I really hate the last episode of this season but I’d forgotten how good it was to see Bubbles on the mend. Amazing how much you care about the characters Game of Thrones & The Wire, all time favorites

I’m bittersweet about the start of Season 5, but sad it means we’re coming to the end. I love Van and Jemele..thank you !

When you walk through the garden You gotta watch your back Well I beg your pardon Walk the straight and narrow track When you walk with Jesus He's gonna save your soul You got to keep the devil You gotta keep him Down in the hole