That F@%*ing Scene : The F*ck Scene (from The Wire)
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The Wire is a five seasons-long television show about the city of Baltimore. Each season focuses on one of its institutions (police, maritime commerce, politics, education and media) and how the said institution is failing the city. It sounds pretty fucking boring in theory, but it’s one of these shows that is so iconic that even the people who haven’t watched it claim that it is good and chastise themselves on social media for not taking the time to watch it.
One of the show’s most iconic scene is the famous “fuck” scene from season one, where Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) say nothing but “fuck” and “motherfucker” for three and a half minutes. Everyone who’s seen it loves it, but can’t really explain why. I mean, there’s not much going on aside from the curse words… or is there? Today, we’re examining what makes the “fuck” scene from The Wire great.
Apologies for the roughly edited link, the other one was age restricted and would’ve required you to watch directly on YouTube. Fuck that, amiright?
What is so cool about two guys saying “fuck” for three minutes?
Here are three reasons:
1) It tells a story without using words. To be fair, it uses two words. They are not important, though. Because the “fuck” scene communicates important information through images and action. What is really going on here is that two detective reevaluate a botched crime scene and pick up new evidence. There is a premise, important development and a twist that is articulated without the use of coherent vocabulary. It doesn’t work the way television does.
This is one thing about the “fuck’' scene that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough. It engages the brain in a different way. If everyone remembers this scene so fondly, it’s because their brain was fully engaged in what was going on then. You HAD to pay attention. If you weren’t, the odd nature and the importance of what was going on would completely pass you by. It’s not a spectacular moment, but it offers a spectacular revelation.
2) It reveals McNulty and Bunk’s character. The idea of doing this scene originally came after consulting cop Terry McLarney’s rant on the overuse of profanity in the force: “One day we’re going to get to the point where we’re all going to be able to just use the word fuck to communicate.” That rant is interesting because: 1) it hints at the idea that cops are witnessing horrible shit all the time and 2) it also hints at the idea that cops work egregious hours.
Remember, this scene aired on the fourth episode of the first season of The Wire. McNulty and Bunk are almost strangers to the audience. By having them saying nothing but “fuck” and “motherfucker” for three minutes, you could understand that: 1) these guys are obviously buddies 2) they know each other well enough that language is optional for them and 3) they don’t give a fuck whatsoever what people think of them. It made them immediately the most likable characters.
3) Swearing makes characters relatable in certain circumstances. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it only makes them sound crude and uneducated. The circumstances certainly excuse McNulty and Bunk’s use of profanity, though. They are investigating the disgusting murder of a young woman that almost was discarded because of police incompetence. There are photos, evidence and abstract, but gruesome realizations that warrant expletives.
In other words, you would’ve sworn your ass off too. The swear words translate a profound chemistry between the two characters, but also a world weariness that is proper to moral people doing disgusting, but necessary jobs. McNulty and Bunk are picking up the pieces of a difficult case and don’t have the energy to get eloquently angry at the world anymore. Their “fucks” and “motherfuckers” are pregnant with meaning we’re about to discover.
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If you haven’t watched David Simon’s The Wire yet, I suggest you do it. It will bring you back to a time when you felt like you were doing something special merely by watching television. The episodes are a full 60 minutes long, though. It will demand your full attention.
