The Wire | Icebreaker Spot

### Intro

As a fan of The Wire, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate its gritty realism, complex characters, and intricate storylines into my events. One fun way to do this is by using The Wire-themed “This or That” icebreaker questions. By asking questions related to the show’s themes, settings, and social issues, you can create a thoughtful and engaging atmosphere among your guests and encourage them to share their opinions and experiences.

How to incorporate The Wire themed This or That questions

To incorporate The Wire-themed “This or That” questions into your event, follow these steps:

Prepare a list of questions beforehand that are related to the show’s themes, settings, and social issues. You can find inspiration from watching episodes, reading recaps, or browsing online forums and fan sites.
Print out the questions on cards or display them on a screen or a poster board. Encourage your guests to form small groups of 3-5 people and take turns asking each other the questions. You can also create a rotation system where each group moves on to the next question after a set amount of time (e.g., 2-3 minutes).
Make sure everyone has a chance to answer each question and listen actively to their responses. Encourage follow-up questions, comments, and discussions that build on the initial answers. You can also share your own insights and opinions about the show to keep the conversation flowing.
After everyone has had a chance to answer all the questions, gather your guests in a larger group and ask them to share their favorite or most surprising answers. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any commonalities or connections that emerged during the activity.
Consider using some of the insights or stories that came up during the “This or That” icebreaker as a springboard for further conversations and activities throughout the day. For example, you could organize a panel discussion on The Wire’s portrayal of Baltimore’s urban problems or create a photo booth with props inspired by the show’s characters and settings.

Ideas on different themes of questions

To keep your The Wire-themed icebreaker questions fresh and engaging, you can explore different themes and categories that are relevant to the show. Here are some ideas:

Characters: Ask questions related to the personalities, relationships, and motivations of the show’s main characters (e.g., “Who is your favorite character in The Wire?” or “Which character do you think has the most complex backstory?”).
Themes: Ask questions about the show’s overarching themes, such as corruption, addiction, and inequality (e.g., “What do you think is The Wire’s most powerful message?” or “How does The Wire depict the impact of drugs on communities?”).
Settings: Ask questions that explore the different settings of the show, from the streets of Baltimore to the police department (e.g., “Which setting in The Wire do you find the most compelling?” or “How does The Wire use its settings to enhance its storytelling?”).
Social issues: Ask questions that relate to the social issues explored in the show, such as race, poverty, and education (e.g., “What social issue do you think The Wire handles most effectively?” or “How does The Wire depict the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color?”).
Humor: Ask questions that tap into the show’s dark humor and irony (e.g., “Which moment in The Wire made you laugh the most?” or “What is your favorite funny line from the show?”).

By incorporating these different themes of questions into your The Wire-themed icebreaker activity, you can keep your guests engaged and entertained while also fostering a thoughtful and reflective atmosphere. So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your next event!

My favorite The Wire themed This or That questions

Stringer Bell or Avon Barksdale?
Bunk or McNulty?
Omar or Marlo?
Lester Freamon or Cedric Daniels?
Proposition Joe or Slim Charles?
Bodie or Poot?
Kima Greggs or Sydnor?
Prez or Herc?
Carver or Colicchio?
Junior Bunk or Junior Herc?
Rawls or Daniels?
Michael Lee or Dukie?
Rhonda Pearlman or Bond?
Snoop or Chris?
Jimmy McNulty or Cedric Daniels?
Carcetti or Royce?
De’Londa Brice or Brianna Barksdale?
Cutty or Bubbles?
Who was more ruthless: Stringer or Avon?
Did Marlo or Avon have a better crew?
Bunny Colvin or Howard ‘Bunny’ Colvin?
Who had the more tragic character arc: D’Angelo Barksdale or Wallace?
What was the more significant betrayal: Stringer turning on Avon or Brother Mouzone shooting Omar?
Who was shot more times: Stringer or Omar?
Which character had the better name: Cheese Wagstaff or Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit?
Who had the hardest job in the police department: Daniels or Rawls?
Who had the better love story: McNulty and Rhonda or Stringer and Donette?
Which crime boss had the more impressive vocabulary: Stringer or Avon?
Who was the bigger wildcard: Omar or Brother Mouzone?
Who was the more tragic character: Bodie or Wallace?
Who was the better police informant: Johnny Weeks or Bubbles?
Who had the better fashion sense: Prop Joe or Avon?
Who was more screwed over by the system: Cutty or D’Angelo?

About the author

Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started Icebreaker Spot because I truly believe that strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. I wanted to create a platform that would make it easy for people to find and share icebreakers and team building activities, empowering them to build trust, foster collaboration, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.