The Wire (TV Series) Middle Ground (2004) User Reviews

They saw your ghetto a** coming from miles away

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 6 August 2022]

The B and B partnership shows signs of weakness with numerous predators circling.

This is a classic episode with some unforgettable character moments and great irony.

There is little about the plot I can say without spoiling, except that it contains some iconic moments of The Wire.

Various scenes that certain characters share together are brilliantly made. Some involve characters that are rarely on screen together, but when they are it is always electrifying. Another shows characters that are frequently together but this time it feels more poignant and reflective. One scene wonderfully presents two characters heavily linked to the main themes of season 3 that have never shared centre stage together. All of this builds towards a very powerful final scene that lingers in the memory.

The politics and fallout from the Hamsterdam situation are plausibly in sharp focus. This depicts some recognisable strategic manoeuvring from senior members of the command structure, plus a very effective scene involving one character taking in the sights and sounds of a free zone.

Once again the scenes involving Dennis are some of the most enjoyable and rewarding to watch. It is important that they receive this amount of screen time in a show so heavy with realism it might otherwise crush your spirit.

Visually it is incredibly good, with lots of cinematic shots of characters beautifully framed within atmospheric locations. My favourite involves a Western type stand-off between two almost mythical characters.

Performances as ever are top drawer, with Idris Elba, Michael K. Williams, Michael Potts, Wood Harris, Robert Wisdom, Chad Coleman, Frankie Faison and Dominic West all having standout moments.

The best episode so far!

[lksakib · 10/10 · 13 December 2019]

Man, what can i say about this series? The buildup, the execution, everything is just spot on. And yes, last two minutes of this episode, you're in for a big surprise.

This is what great TV is all about

[lachlanbaxter-64542 · 10/10 · 1 April 2020]

This is it right here. TV like this is what makes The Wire one of the greatest TV shows ever made.

I knew after season 2 that this show was some of the best TV I'd ever seen but it just gets better and better and better and never lets up til the series finale.

10/10

The end of a great character...

[Red_Identity · 27 June 2011]

The last 4 or so episodes of The Wire have had me on the edge of my seat, and we finally come to the end of one of the show's best characters and actors in this episode.

I do not want to casually reveal who that character is, but I will say this... It doesn't surprise me that this was one of two episodes that was ever nominated for a writing Emmy. I am not surprised, and here is why- this episode features more 'regular' excitement. It has more casual excitement of what makes a TV episode. I am not trying to say that is bad, but that is most likely the reason that the Emmys finally caught attention. It probably is one of the show's finest, but it's as if the Emmys were waiting for something 'explosive' to happen, and it finally did. That doesn't talk bad about The Wire at all, it just reflects the shallowness of how the Emmy members perceive The Wire.

The Writers did it

[cuddlesatusc · 10/10 · 1 May 2021]

I can't believe they actually did it. The complexity of Stringer and his want of changing the game is all tackled in this episode. There's a scene when the two men Avon and Stringer are having a good time and it's one of the most heartbreaking. Again, the payoff in this episode is extremely high and the writers have really outdone themselves. 10/10, I wish I could unwatch this episode to experience it new again.

We aint gotta dream no more man

[wkhan-35155 · 10/10 · 1 October 2021]

It starts with a face off between the 2 coolest characters. Then there's the balcony scene, which is probably the greatest scene of all time. It's structured perfectly and there's so much symbolism.

And it all leads to the ending.

The ending of this episode had been built up for 3 seasons and is the greatest climax in the history of television.

This is the best hour in all of television, the finale of Six Feet Under gives it a run for it's money though.

Game done changed man, for real this time

[ansharora-12638 · 10/10 · 23 November 2020]

Great great episode with a satisfactory end. Omar Little is people favorite character for a reason. Stringer Bell's character was brilliant and suave to perfection. Man, I love this show.

Peak TV Drama

[oli_clark_85 · 10/10 · 20 September 2021]

3 seasons of set up and carefully plotted character evolution on both sides led to the spectacular final few moments of this episode. The brilliance of The Wire is in how it portrays the organisational politics on both sides of the law. We see Burrell borrowing Colvin's rationale to save his own skin after having reamed him out himself, and then the Mayor doing the exact same thing. We see Dennis make progress with the hoppers while Carcetti schemes. We see the feds bend the rules to clear the path and the special crimes unit unite to put all the infighting and tension they've suffered under the bridge, only to be beaten to the punch as String and Avon cross each other and Omar finally gets his catharsis. So. Much. Drama. How everything comes together at climax of season 3 of The Wire makes it the greatest little run of episodes of TV I've ever seen.

Seems like I can't say nothing to change y'all minds.

[themcbear-76878 · 10/10 · 26 January 2022]

We'll get on with it motherf-

The death of my 2nd favourite character in the show so far (killed by my favourite character so far Omar) this episodes dialogue was perfect and the whole episode was also perfect and this show is becoming one of my favourites ever.

Wow!!

[PastaDental · 10/10 · 31 October 2019]

My best episodes ever! Yet! What a great serie and incredible cast!!

The killing of Bell.....damn! Riveting!!

great tv

[timnelson-60717 · 10/10 · 5 November 2020]

Stellar tv. like unbelievably good



omar is a delight, rip idris elba

Middle Ground

[851222 · 10/10 · 14 November 2023]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Middle Ground", 11th episode of "The Wire" season 3 had a huge payoff, and i will leave it at that. I'm not sure if i can spoil a show that is almost 20 years old, but still it is best to be discovered by those who have not seen it.

This is amazing episode because of same things that carriers this amazing series - perfect writing, superb acting and incredible directing. But the writing is a star of "The Wire". And this episode has it all and beyond. Many plot lines starting to get into finish, and i can't wait to see the outcome in next episode which is going to close this incredible and unforgettable season.

3x11

[formotog · 8/10 · 22 August 2020]

It was a very good episode, don't get me wrong, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a bit disappointed. Seeing the episode's rating, I knew something was going down in this one, and there was some excellent tension throughout the episode. Exchanges between Omar and Brother Mouzone were suspenseful and they have a unique chemistry. When they finally got Stringer, though, I can't help but feel like it was kinda anticlimactic. It wasn't a ceremonious death in the slightest, and I think the show would've betrayed itself if it had made it so, so I don't blame them. However, one of the top dogs went down, and it's not like we couldn't see the death coming (I thought String would get Avon first actually, but as soon as they got the wire on String I should've known it'd be him instantly). Again, this was a very good episode with, as usual, great writing, but man I just wish his death had felt more fulfilling

Low 8

no way this happened !

[itsmadmadmadabtin · 9/10 · 20 March 2024]

This show always finds a way to mess with your head, make you question whats right and whats wrong, question the good guys and bad guys, and at the end, you just dont know what to hope for. Hope for justice to happen? What justice? The thing that happened in this episode, was that justice ? Everything is so complicatedly connected that for judging, you should consider every damn part, which makes the justice just, hard to happen, if not impossible.

I have to give it to the writer for being brave enough to do this, i was not expecting this for a player like that, but it's all in the game man, and the game is unpredictable. Heartbreaking stuff.