I’d already seen most of the first two series. I’ve been watching one an evening since October, and it’s been great viewing. I’m just getting to the end of series 4.

The Wire is a powerful stuff. It’s overpowering when you watch all 60 episodes end-to-end. And depressing, the US looks completely dysfunctional. Perhaps the fact that TV shows like The Wire are being produced is reason for optimism.

I love the theme tune. I hadn’t realised that there’s a different version for each series until I watched them back-to-back.

Here’s Tom Waits with a live version. I think it was him on series two.

Which reminds me, It’s about time I went down The Blues at the Red.