OZ the tv show not the other thing

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UK.

I meant the cast and crew shared by Wire and OZ. I think some Wire fans watched OZ after but it still seems neglected to me.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 21:34 (nine years ago) link

It was HBO's first drama and was watched by a bunch of people; it's more accurate to say that The Sopranos and The Wire wouldn't have had the audiences they had without OZ preceding them.

kissaroo and Tyler, too (DJP), Thursday, 30 October 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link

there wasn't anything sinister about it -- the dog training bit was one of his acts of redemption that ended up amounting to little, because everyone in the show is pretty much damned. I recently rewatched this show -- it really is one of the most impressively feel-bad US tv dramas. The Wire is much "nicer" by comparison. Probably the only thing that comes close is The Walking Dead. I feel like OZ definitely paved the way for a lot of shows in terms of subject matter and tone.

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 21:46 (nine years ago) link

Oz's role etc is acknowledged.

The Sopranos had more of a central performance of stature to focus on, not so macaronic and medieval violent as Oz. I do prefer it (not by much) but I can understand why people who buy into 'new golden age of TV' wouldn't like it as much.

xyzzzz__, Thursday, 30 October 2014 21:52 (nine years ago) link

OZ is about the prison industry. The Sopranos is essentially a family/character study.

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 21:57 (nine years ago) link

I'm certain there is a weird moment when Alvarez hands the dog over and whispers something, then the blind guy looks confused. It's very brief but I kept rewinding it trying to figure out what he whispered.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:02 (nine years ago) link

I feel like The Sopranos was more in keeping with television of the past, whereas OZ and the "social issues dramas" that followed were more of a departure. I also finally got around to watching The Sopranos, and I liked it a lot, so it isn't an issue of "which is better"

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:04 (nine years ago) link

Oh the moment is weird -- he does whisper something -- but I don't think it's actually malevolent, but it is ambiguous

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:05 (nine years ago) link

For me there wasn't a 'prison industry' angle so much although I'm sure I'd be more attentive to that on a re-watch. It was crazy plots, fucking and murder. It had some strong storylines and people you cared for and looked forward to watching.

xyzzzz__, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:06 (nine years ago) link

that is really odd to me, it's like watching the Sopranos and saying "Tony was in the mob?"

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:08 (nine years ago) link

haha well I don't quite see that. I was young when I watched it so what I'm saying is its any political angle wasn't so much a thing.

xyzzzz__, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:12 (nine years ago) link

The opening monologues were all about that! It is what framed the show, like, the stories were often predominantly illustrations of these issues.

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:15 (nine years ago) link

Has there been many re-runs in the last decade? Because I think maybe it would do better now. Maybe audiences are more accustomed to brutality now too.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:23 (nine years ago) link

Its been 10+ years since I watched so those opening monologues are...not the first thing that comes to mind.

xyzzzz__, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link

Loved that monologue about prison creating worse criminals and multiplying them, and you see him surrounded by inmates.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 22:47 (nine years ago) link

It would be interesting to see Oz get a nightly showing on a British channel, like The Wire a few years back. It generally seemed to get more exposure in Ireland than the UK at the time, giving it was broadcast around 11 o'clock instead of 4 in the morning.

Duane Barry, Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:03 (nine years ago) link

I stayed up very late to see OZ sometimes. Yeah I think the final season was on that late and I couldn't stay awake to finish it at the time.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:05 (nine years ago) link

Oz doesn't reward binge-watching like 'good' tv does starting with the Sopranos - it's too brutal and too episodic. I watched the last two seasons week to week when it was airing, that was just the right pace.

Kiarostami bag (milo z), Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:11 (nine years ago) link

I binge watched OZ and I didn't feel it fared any worse than Sopranos. I think both shows didn't have the season arc thing down yet but it's hard to blame them because they were pioneering the modern form.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:16 (nine years ago) link

Speaking of Oz mysteries, what happened to that creepy Russian dude with the glasses in the third season? He was played by that guy who often plays Russian dudes. He gets thrown into solitary confinement, and then disappears forever. Obviously they weren't under obligation to explain or anything, but.

My favourite bizarro moment is the scene where a baffled Adebisi watches Hill (in narrator mode) on the computer!

Duane Barry, Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:20 (nine years ago) link

Speaking of Oz mysteries, what happened to that creepy Russian dude with the glasses in the third season?

I think he got killed.

sarahell, Thursday, 30 October 2014 23:49 (nine years ago) link

one year passes...

just started rewatching this with my bf, SO FUCKING STOKED, also never realized how damn 90s this was

laraaji p. henson (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 1 August 2016 23:34 (seven years ago) link

HOUUHHHH

laraaji p. henson (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 1 August 2016 23:35 (seven years ago) link

i love the theme music. it is so grim.

sarahell, Tuesday, 2 August 2016 16:28 (seven years ago) link

rn every time my bf and I see each other we go HOUUUUUUHRHHHH

laraaji p. henson (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 2 August 2016 17:42 (seven years ago) link


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