OT - Who's watching The Wire?

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by Logan

The Bunk...scamming some kid with a photo copier lie detector test

That was funny. It was straight out of the first season of Homicide, which from my understanding was pretty faithful to David Simon's non-fiction book. Basically there's a pretty good chance that the copy machine lie detector trick really happened, which makes it that much funnier.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

That was funny. It was straight out of the first season of Homicide, which from my understanding was pretty faithful to David Simon's non-fiction book. Basically there's a pretty good chance that the copy machine lie detector trick really happened, which makes it that much funnier.

There are stories of this sort of trick being used in real police departments all over the place, including in the case files of any number of "evidence admissibility" cases in the courts. Definitely an old standard.

[lcjjdnh]

I'm I the only one who still doesn't have Episode 2 available through On Demand?

[thesloppy]

There's an interesting series on BET called 'American Gangster' that profiles many modern black gangsters. This week I caught one about former Baltimore drug kingpin Melvin Williams, and there was a lot of stuff in Melvin's life that provided inspiration for 'the wire' and the episode also featured a lot of commentary from both of the creators of 'the wire' as well. Melvin Williams himself also plays the deacon on 'the wire', and it's quite a trip watching that kind of hangdog face you associate with the deacon, framed in big gold sunglasses, talking about how he wanted to sell "Kilos upon kilos to people upon people." Worth your time if you're a 'wire' fan and stumble upon it in re-runs.

[BishopMVP]

If you have read Freakonomics, the Indian Sociologist that goes in as a grad student to study the Chicago crack gangs watched S5E1 with some other hoods and og's from NYC. http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.co...k-of-the-wire/ I don't know if this was a one-off or if it'll be posted every week.

[Logan]

Damn McNulty, what are you getting yourself into?

[nilodor]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

I guess his self-destruction has just reached the level from which he can't go back, and that's sad. I actually (and I feel I may be in the minority with this) LOVED Season 4 McNulty. It was nice to see him happy. I like Beadie Russell. But now, there's no going back. He's dug his own grave, I fear.

I'm in the same boat, I think Jimmy will be interesting this season but I just know this won't end well, which is too bad.

[BishopMVP]

S5 E's 3/4

Spoiler

so the mcnulty storyline is playing out as would be expected once the writers actually pulled this stunt.... only surprise was Lester joining in. the political Clay Davis and Carcetti (maybe even extending to Daniels) stuff is pretty much plying the same storylines we've seen before. Where the last two episodes have grabbed my attention even moreso than normal are on the street parts. First it was great seeing Micheal, Dukie and Bugs? go to 6 Flags - I'd say 70% chance Micheal is being lined up to shoot Omar, but they're still 14 y/o kids. Plus obviously the ending of E4. I knew Marlo was a usurping motherfucker, but I figured they'd draw it out and have that power struggle last most of S5. (PS - was that guy Chris/Snoop gave up to Cheese someone who was previously involved or just some random banger? I couldn't place him, but if he was worth Cheese giving up Joe he must have been something.) I'm also surprised whats-his-name (bald white guy/Dom from Entourage) didn't mention Marlo's visit to Levy when he was talking with Carver. Not that I think he's smart enough to use it to his advantage, but I think he's dumb enough he wouldn't realize the value of that info and drop it conversationally like 'guess who i saw today'.

Oh well, if I were to guess, the rest of the season is going to feature too much of the fake serial killer plotline with both McNutty trying to sell it and the Sun covering it, and not enough of the interactions between the drug dealers. Prop Joe's relationship with Marlo and his getting clapped had been building up steadily over several seasons, but now the other guys in the Co-op are going to have to react to Marlo's power-play, and there has been no background there. Plus now that Daniels is (almost) commisioner, I think they'll show him being beaten down to where he act's the same as Burrell/Rawls. That whole Dickensian tragedy, the hopes and dreams you place in one individual will be overrun by the system theme they love. And that won't be fun.

The one wild card I have absolutely no idea where he could possibly go now is Slim Charles. He don't like Marlo, but he's not gonna work with Omar. He might respect Omar and realize what Marlo is, but he's not the type to go off on a vendetta mission against the guy who killled his boss.

[Fighter of Foo]

One of the things I'm really enjoying this season is the recurring minor characters. For example, the girl from Bub's AA meeting was shown very briefly buying drugs in season 3 and now however many years later is trying to go straight.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Fighter of Foo

One of the things I'm really enjoying this season is the recurring minor characters. For example, the girl from Bub's AA meeting was shown very briefly buying drugs in season 3 and now however many years later is trying to go straight.

She was also seen in season 4 as a hooker. I think she's actually the daughter or niece of someone behind the scenes.

[QuikSand]

I remain a pretty unabashed fan of this show. Period.

I am at the same time getting a little disappointed with the press angle so far. I don't really ever recall feeling like I could see the puppet strings all that clearly in this show (with the possible exception of the way they orchestrated ways to keep our favorite characters in the show, despite changing focus of the storyline). But I do here. It just feels like they have said "well, we have ten eps to talk about the press, so we want to get every major issue facing newspapers front and center pronto." So, I feel like they are simultaneously spinning us toward the multiple and predictable plotlines of bottom line pressures ruining journalism, incompetent/corrupt bosses stifling quality journalists, and ambitious reports run amok while coddled by system. Not that there's really anything wrong with having elements of these things in the story, but it feels sort of like a little league game already, where the manager is under orders to get every single kid an at bat, first and foremost.

Oh, and thus far, I don't like the notion that "Gus" gets to wear a completely white hat. So far, one of the best things about this show has been the depth they lend pretty much everybody that make them more than cardboard cutouts... I'd really hate it if we've just basically decided to show the David Simons and Bill Zorzis of the world as the noble white knights who can do no wrong but get screwed by the system in the end. Gus needs a flaw, and he needs it pretty soon.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

S5 E's 3/4

Spoiler

(PS - was that guy Chris/Snoop gave up to Cheese someone who was previously involved or just some random banger? I couldn't place him, but if he was worth Cheese giving up Joe he must have been something.)

Episode 4...

Spoiler

I was having trouble trying to place that guy too. I think it may have been the older skinny guy from the co-op that he was yelling at earlier in the episode. Seemed pretty pissed when he got up from that meeting. Hard to tell with him wearing sunglasses in that first scene and then the duct tape in the next.

[Landshark44]

that was cold blooded, last night.....

[Pyser]

cheese was having a territory dispute with the guy from the co-op. marlo basically ended it for him.

marlos scene at the end of last nights episode was absolutely amazing.

[stevew]

Awesome show....too bad I'm just discovering it, and it's almost over.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Pyser

cheese was having a territory dispute with the guy from the co-op. marlo basically ended it for him.

marlos scene at the end of last nights episode was absolutely amazing.

Talk about ruthless killers, Marlo's crew. What amazes me most is how they seem completely fucking fascinated with how they kill. Snoop would casually tilt her head as she kept shooting Butchie and watched his pain. Chris would cock a slight smile as he observed his handywork. Marlo doesn't even flinch when Chris shoots Prop Joe, only stands there with a slightly open mouth, as if he's holding back a grin. Really chilling.

[Bad-example]

Great death scene for Prop Joe. "Close your eyes, Joe". I thought Joe would end up as the smart kingpin that retires and leaves the game to the younger and hungrier. He was clearly on his way out, but I sure didn't expect it to go down like it did.

In (admittedly redundant) praise of the writing on this show, I would like to mention the scene where Templeton goes to the job interview at the Washington Post. His excited arrival, asking to sit in on a meeting. The interview, when the guy looks at his work and then shifts to talking about how the Sun is a quality paper. The exit, where the lady points to the sticker on his chest and tells him, "You can just throw that away".

What a great line! I just thought that sequence was really well done.

[Landshark44]

i can't wait to see omar kill all those clowns.....

[Pyser]

id just likel to point out the writing mirroring the fall of prop joe and burrell was absolutely amazing.

[thesloppy]

For whatever it's worth, muck like last year there are episodes on the net that have been leaked early. I haven't checked recently, but last I looked 5,6 & 7 were available. Note that the sound and video quality is pretty poor, and it didn't dawn on me until I was finished (I'm a little slow) that now I have to wait like 3 weeks to catch a new episode.

[QuikSand]

That was a really tough episode. I'm a little ashamed that I didn't see it coming for Joe, but in retrospect should have felt it. I guess it's another tip of the cap that this show didn't feel the need to drop in a bunch of foreshadowing crap that would have second nature for standard TV writers. It's such a mature show in that respect.

I agree with many of the people's observations about this episode, clearly the best of the season thus far. The Post interview and the Joe/Burrell parallel were both really well conceived, I agree. I'd also point out that for those of us who are Omar Little fans, our faith in that character was deeply reaffirmed at that *huge* scene between him and Slim, when he showed us exactly what it is that makes us actually admire him so much. "A man's got to have a code," indeed.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

Ive watched episodes 1-7 and this season is shaping up quite nicely. I cant wait to discuss it once everyone catches up.

[nilodor]

Wow, Freamon and McNulty are insane, brillant, but insane. It seems like quite the race to get Marlo, Bunk vs McNulty and the Co-op vs Omar. Somehow I think Michaels kindness will come back to haunt him and will make the case for Bunk. Maybe Michael flips after someone from Marlo's crew kills Dookie? Thoughts?

I'm really excited to see where it goes. The next 4 episodes should be great; although I'm getting bored with the newspaper angle, it hasn't captured me like the rest of the players.

[stevew]

I was somewhat hoping they would have shown how Omar survived that fall. But I guess it's really not that kind of show.

[thesloppy]

I loved Marlo's handling of the co-op this week.

"One more thing, the price of brick's going up."

Also happy/sad to see Randy, one of my favorite kids from last season. As everything heads towards a climax I can't help but think that everybody is going to end up completely screwed, which is pretty much par for the course...except for that lying-ass, lazy reporter from the Sun, I bet that shyster somehow sneaks out of the inevitable carnage and gets his job at the Post.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I loved Marlo's handling of the co-op this week.

"One more thing, the price of brick's going up."

Similarly, loved Fat Face Rick's "Didn't think so..." when he asked Omar if he killed Prop Joe and Hungry Man.

[thesloppy]

Man....episode 7 is off-the-charts awesome. I heart Clay Davis.

[DeToxRox]

Episode 58 spoiler

Spoiler

RIP Omar. Fuck you Kenard.

[Pyser]

fuck you, detox.

fuck you.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Episode 58 spoiler

Spoiler

RIP Omar. Fuck you Kenard.

Pyser, he spoil tagged it

Spoiler

Unbelievable. Compared to my expectations, S5 is terribly straightforward and way too white hat/black hat regarding Simon's personal vendetta against the Sun, but that one scene alone is enough to keep anyone from saying it's predictable. Me and my friends have been convinced Omar would die by the end, but like that with no buildup whatsoever by Kenard? Wow, I guarantee no one anywhere predicted that.

Detox/anyone else who's watched that ep, who was that morgue guy at the end switching tags?

Nice to see the shout-out to DeAngelo/Bode's Lt.

If you consider next week previews to be spoliers, read no further, but that Michael scene is just set up perfectly. He's going to be the King at the end.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Episode 58 spoiler

Spoiler

RIP Omar. Fuck you Kenard.

I saw that on Youtube a week or so ago....yeah, pretty much exactly my sentiments.

Spoiler

I guess that "That's Omar?" from last night was more than enough setup.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Man....episode 7 is off-the-charts awesome. I heart Clay Davis.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[QuikSand]

Speaking of Clay Davis... some inside baseball for those not plugged into the Maryland politics scene. The recent scene when Clay Davis went onto a radio talk show to "air his side of things" was priceless. The guy running the radio talk show is Larry Young (who really does have a radio show) and who in real life was.... hmmm... a state senator who got busted for racketeering and influence peddling and apparently had all manner of dirtiness going on when he went down. In other words, they basically took the real life guy who inspired the Clay Davis character, and got him to do a cameo on the show interviewing Clay Davis.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

[Logan]

More Ep 58:

Spoiler

Don't know exactly where it should rank, but probably among the Top 3 episodes of all time. Wow. Despite the lack of subtlety, I loved the FBI profile matching McNulty, and his quick, casual smiles as he heard it. Thought Sydnor picking up on the code was nice too -- I remember noticing in past episodes that the clock seemed to keep pointing at 35 (didn't notice that it was 34 in some of them).

[Simms]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Speaking of Clay Davis... some inside baseball for those not plugged into the Maryland politics scene. The recent scene when Clay Davis went onto a radio talk show to "air his side of things" was priceless. The guy running the radio talk show is Larry Young (who really does have a radio show) and who in real life was.... hmmm... a state senator who got busted for racketeering and influence peddling and apparently had all manner of dirtiness going on when he went down. In other words, they basically took the real life guy who inspired the Clay Davis character, and got him to do a cameo on the show interviewing Clay Davis.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Not quite along the same lines, but I thought the Richard Belzer cameo ("I used to own a bar") was a nice touch.

[IMetTrentGreen]

Spoiler

Despite the lack of subtlety, I loved the FBI profile matching McNulty, and his quick, casual smiles as he heard it.

Even though I saw that coming I still LOL'd, and I'm not an LOLer. I love this show.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Simms

Not quite along the same lines, but I thought the Richard Belzer cameo ("I used to own a bar") was a nice touch.

Yes yes... I presume we will now see The Wire listed as yet another TV show in which Belzer portrayed John Munch. He clearly takes pride in this weird little record of his.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Speaking of Clay Davis...

Spoiler

I LOVE the face/noise Clay makes in epsiode 58 after Carcetti tells him how scared he is at the though of Davis having two votes on the liquor board.

[Logan]

More Ep 58 related stuff:

Spoiler

This season I started reading Alan Sepinwall's blog where he's been breaking down the episodes, and also posted "on demand" threads where people could comment on the latest episode. In this episode's thread someone posted a screenshot from Season 3 of a bunch of little hoppers who were imitating/emulating Omar after his big shootout with the Barksdale crew. The one who grabbed the "gun" (tree branch) and yelled "My turn to be Omar!"? Kenard. Well played David Simon.

[BishopMVP]

Along the lines of Logan's spoiler, I'm pretty sure back in season 1 when Lester Freamon goes to the boxing gym to find a picture of Avon, Michael is standing outside by the door, but I've never been able to confirm that.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Along the lines of Logan's spoiler, I'm pretty sure back in season 1 when Lester Freamon goes to the boxing gym to find a picture of Avon, Michael is standing outside by the door, but I've never been able to confirm that.

I'm almost 100% positive you're correct.

[Logan]

I'll pop in my DVDs tomorrow and take a look.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

.

Spoiler

Unbelievable. Compared to my expectations, S5 is terribly straightforward and way too white hat/black hat regarding Simon's personal vendetta against the Sun, but that one scene alone is enough to keep anyone from saying it's predictable. Me and my friends have been convinced Omar would die by the end, but like that with no buildup whatsoever by Kenard? Wow, I guarantee no one anywhere predicted that.

Detox/anyone else who's watched that ep, who was that morgue guy at the end switching tags?

Nice to see the shout-out to Poot.

If you consider next week previews to be spoliers, read no further, but that Michael scene is just set up perfectly. He's going to be the King at the end.

More ep58

Spoiler

Watching a 2nd time, the morgue guy was just switching the right tag onto Omar's bag. I thought he was taking it off for some reason.

Any thoughts on what Freamon wants from Clay Davis? Help when the homeless things breaks? An attempted bribe Lester can get him on?

[Logan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

More ep58

Spoiler

Watching a 2nd time, the morgue guy was just switching the right tag onto Omar's bag. I thought he was taking it off for some reason.

Any thoughts on what Freamon wants from Clay Davis? Help when the homeless things breaks? An attempted bribe Lester can get him on?

Spoiler

Some interesting stuff came up as a result of that tag in those threads I brought up before. For one, that tag said his DOB was in 1960. Could Omar really be 47? No chance. Alma and Gus discussed his death (which didn't make the paper) and they said he was 34 (which would correspond to being "29, thereabout" in his testimony against Bird in S1). But we also know that Bunk was a few years ahead of him in high school. Could Bunk be under 40 (given the possibility Omar stayed behind in school a couple times)? Also doubtful. Either way, at a minimum something was messed up, which is unusual in Wire World.

As for Freamon/Clay...I have no clue, although either of those are possibilities. But I can't fuckin wait to find out.

[BishopMVP]

One other thing I saw in a comment thread - was the older guy working with Omar who got killed before Omar jumped out the window the real life inspiration for Omar?

[Logan]

Yep.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Logan

Spoiler

Some interesting stuff came up as a result of that tag in those threads I brought up before. For one, that tag said his DOB was in 1960. Could Omar really be 47? No chance. Alma and Gus discussed his death (which didn't make the paper) and they said he was 34 (which would correspond to being "29, thereabout" in his testimony against Bird in S1). But we also know that Bunk was a few years ahead of him in high school. Could Bunk be under 40 (given the possibility Omar stayed behind in school a couple times)? Also doubtful. Either way, at a minimum something was messed up, which is unusual in Wire World.

As for Freamon/Clay...I have no clue, although either of those are possibilities. But I can't fuckin wait to find out.

The actor that plays Bunk is 45, the actor that plays Omar is approx 42, I guess Bunk could be 37 or 38 maybe, i dunno.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by stevew

The actor that plays Bunk is 45, the actor that plays Omar is approx 42, I guess Bunk could be 37 or 38 maybe, i dunno.

e58 d.o.b. q's

Spoiler

someone in that thread was talking about the coroner messing up and putting the wrong names on the two tags with the correct information - so the other body could have been 47/48. from that line of thinking the guy who switched them back did so because he saw omar's said he was white and the other guy's said he was black.

[Logan]

David Simon interview with Newsweek, where he addresses a lot of the newsroom criticism when talking about Season 5. No mention of anything that hasn't aired on regular TV yet.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/114438/page/1

[stevew]

Episode 8 was great, that part with McNulty and the profiler had me rolling.

Anyways I found episode 9 somewhere on the net.

Spoiler

damn, that whole bit with mike, bug and dookie was sad. I almost teared up there. I was glad he got the jump on that bitch Snoop, even if they gave her way too better of a death than she deserved. Another priceless scene with Clay Davis as well. And Bubbles. Man, that Templeton is a real Fuck Stick. I can't wait for the finale.