The Wire - Season Five

[hannah]

Because it's too much of a hassle to decipher the white-on-gray, and because some folks are reading spoilers accidentally, I move that the fifth season have its own thread. Oh, and because also the show merits it.

Unrelated to the fifth season: I was reading the Television Without Pity boards yesterday, where people were having a hell of a time figuring out why David Simon always has Bunk and McNulty drinking by train tracks -- what that could "symbolize." Their interpretations were impressively ornate, but it seems a pretty obvious play on "the wrong side of the tracks," etc. Or not? Eh? Fuck it.

Which is to say I don't want to read the TWoP boards. Post here.

[alexandra]

omg the first episode was so nice to see the people.

(no spoilerz)

[dieblucasdie]

Unrelated to the fifth season: I was reading the Television Without Pity boards yesterday, where people were having a hell of a time figuring out why David Simon always has Bunk and McNulty drinking by train tracks -- what that could "symbolize." Their interpretations were impressively ornate, but it seems a pretty obvious play on "the wrong side of the tracks," etc. Or not? Eh? Fuck it.

I dunno; seems like a silly point to me.  I always assumed it was just either A) another opportunity to showcase Baltimore's urban decay/grittiness (you see them in dive bars just as often as you see them at the tracks) or B) It was what Ed Burns or some cops he knew used to do.

[ellaguru]

Those of us who have not yet started season four & don't want to be spoiled praise Jesus for the existence of this thread.

[jebreject]

It was what Ed Burns or some cops he knew used to do.

I'm sure this is all it is.

[elpollodiablo]

It seems like they'd be out at the train tracks this season, what with money being tight and all. I always figured cash had something to do with it.

I really don't know how this Avon/Marlo/Greeks thing is going to work out. I was fairly certain yesterday, but after another viewing not so much.

[dieblucasdie]

You know, I'm starting to think that ending I would like the most would be to have both Marlo *and* Prop Joe go down, and end the series with Slim Charles running* the Baltimore drug trade.  Before Season 4 I always liked the idea of Bodie being the last man standing; the guy who just kept his head down and worked hard.  Obviously that wasn't going to happen, though.

Pollo, I don't think it has to do with cash; I always assumed the tracks was where they went *after* the bars had already closed.  I know they explicitly show this at least a couple times.

*first draft of this post read "Slim Charles in Charge"

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah, you're right I guess.

[hannah]

It was what Ed Burns or some cops he knew used to do.

I'm sure this is all it is.

I only bring it up because (I guess) David Simon called attention to its symbolism (or lack thereof etc.) in one of the commentaries, and the discussion on TWoP reminded me of too many lousy English classes. I wouldn't put it past him to be messing with the gullible, of course.

More importantly, I'm curious about what you said in the other thread, Miles, about Michael being set up to take out Omar. Wonder if they'll end up pulling the pedophilia/homophobia heartstrings on him, should he not have the heart... unless they did in the stakeout scene in episode two, in which case I perhaps missed it.

Any speculation re: Bubs? Fuck. I'm going to guess that the show ends on exactly one hopeful note, with everything else the same damn thing, or worse.

[lastclearchance]

I may have mentioned this already because I've been turning it over in my head. The writers like to have corresponding character developments, and usually I'm with them on it, but I have no idea what they're getting at by connecting McNulty, who hates all things career-minded, and Tom McCarthy's character, who is nothing but career-minded. I mean I saw the connection immediately, with McCarthy's character drinking apart from the rest of the news staff, going outside of the chain of command, etc., but a McNulty type would use all that to get a good story, not to get acclaimed.

And then McNulty fakes a fucking murder, which makes the connection stronger, but, for me, confuses it even more.

Any speculation re: Bubs? Fuck. I'm going to guess that the show ends on exactly one hopeful note, with everything else the same damn thing, or worse.

He's what? Fifteen months clean? His might be the hopeful note of the season. If not maybe he tries to CI again and it goes bad?

[hannah]

They're the same but different, yeah? Because the news reporter does softball shit that accomplishes nothing except puts him in good with the highest-up, while McNulty, although crazy, is at least trying to accomplish something positive...

[lastclearchance]

They're the same but different, yeah? Because the news reporter does softball shit that accomplishes nothing except puts him in good with the highest-up, while McNulty, although crazy, is at least trying to accomplish something positive...

Yeah, I guess...I just don't know where they're going with the comparison. Usually they have a sort of between-worlds analogue to show how the systems are all the same, but I don't know why they're developing this one because it doesn't quite work that way. It just seems unnecessarily connected (like Chris Partlow asking Daniels for directions).

[elpollodiablo]

Honestly I think the newsroom stuff has been falling flat thus far. Perhaps it's just because I know there are only eight episodes left and there won't be much chance for real, full development, but it seems like they're just sort of strafing this subject to little purpose. We'll see.

My lady and I had a long discussion about Avon's reaction to Marlo last night. She's of the opinion that Avon is setting Marlo up, and gives the following reasons:
1) Avon is laying it on really, really thick. There's no animosity in the performance, only smugness. Avon has not historically been so happy-go-lucky.
2) If the East side/West side rift is really as deep as I was proposing, how could Slim Charles walk out of a defunct West side crew and right up into Prop Joe's shop with no consequences or repercussions? Avon and Slim seemed pretty tight; it's hard to imagine that they would have such different views on the subject. Then again, Avon's in prison, while Slim still has to make a living.
3) Avon doesn't have much to gain by helping Marlo. His character is supposed to be all about heart/pride/being a soldier, so it seems like $100K wouldn't be enough to make him turn on his old associates like Slim, especially after such a bitter war with Marlo.

I've given my reasons for thinking that Avon is being earnest, but as I said I'm reevaluating them. Either way, this, along with McNulty's growing insanity, is the most compelling plot thread so far this season.

[elpollodiablo]

Also I don't see McCarthy as a McNulty analogue at all; if anything, he's more like Herc or Carver from days of yore. Gus is more of a McNulty figure.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Unrelated to the fifth season: I was reading the Television Without Pity boards yesterday, where people were having a hell of a time figuring out why David Simon always has Bunk and McNulty drinking by train tracks -- what that could "symbolize." Their interpretations were impressively ornate, but it seems a pretty obvious play on "the wrong side of the tracks," etc. Or not? Eh? Fuck it.

not reading the rest of the thread because i've only seen ep 1 and don't want to spoil myself, but it's because the baltimore cops he knew when he was writing "homicide" drank by the train tracks. it doesn't symbolize anything, it's just a convenient place for cops to get away from everything and hang out drinking booze.

[dieblucasdie]

Is it just me or did the leaks come down most places?  No me gusta.  That, and the fact that I read that there's a huge twist in episode 7, is sorely tempting me to watch them out-of-order.

[YojimboMonkey]

Frankly I'd rather wait for a DVD release (if that were my only option, which of course it won't be) than watch them out of order

Honestly I think the newsroom stuff has been falling flat thus far.

I thought the first conversation smoking out by the loading docks was some of the worst dialog I've seen in the series.  Maybe because they're rushing to introduce this entirely new setting and the people in it.  Also I think they were trying to hard in the first episode to connect all the pieces together, with Bubbles selling a paper to Naresse and Chris asking Rhonda and Daniels for directions in the courthouse.  Anyway, the subsequent newsroom scenes have been less painful, though I am not thrilled with the subplot where the guy invented the human interest story.  I'm willing to see where they're going anyway.

Either way, this, along with McNulty's growing insanity, is the most compelling plot thread so far this season.

McNulty, man, I mean, you knew once he got back into "real" police work he was gonna start drinking and fucking around again.  No surprises there.  With the crime scene tampering, I don't know what the fuck he's doing there.  But I guess that that's what the media will focus on, the fake serial killer he's invented, and the media pressure will force the creation of another detail to deal with that. 

[elpollodiablo]

Is it just me or did the leaks come down most places?  No me gusta.  That, and the fact that I read that there's a huge twist in episode 7, is sorely tempting me to watch them out-of-order.

Don't do it, man. You know you're gonna regret it.

[dieblucasdie]

Frankly I'd rather wait for a DVD release (if that were my only option, which of course it won't be) than watch them out of order

haha me too, normally, but this writers' strike has got me in a bad place.  

I think you guys are being too tough on the newsroom plot.  I was initially worried by both the docks and the schools, too.    Clark Johnson is already awesome, and things are obviously going to pick up once the new characters start interacting with the characters we already know and love.

[elpollodiablo]

Frankly I'd rather wait for a DVD release (if that were my only option, which of course it won't be) than watch them out of order

Honestly I think the newsroom stuff has been falling flat thus far.

I thought the first conversation smoking out by the loading docks was some of the worst dialog I've seen in the series.  Maybe because they're rushing to introduce this entirely new setting and the people in it.  Also I think they were trying to hard in the first episode to connect all the pieces together, with Bubbles selling a paper to Naresse and Chris asking Rhonda and Daniels for directions in the courthouse.  Anyway, the subsequent newsroom scenes have been less painful, though I am not thrilled with the subplot where the guy invented the human interest story.  I'm willing to see where they're going anyway.

Either way, this, along with McNulty's growing insanity, is the most compelling plot thread so far this season.

McNulty, man, I mean, you knew once he got back into "real" police work he was gonna start drinking and fucking around again.  No surprises there.  With the crime scene tampering, I don't know what the fuck he's doing there.  But I guess that that's what the media will focus on, the fake serial killer he's invented, and the media pressure will force the creation of another detail to deal with that. 

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Sounds dangerously close to some shark jumping on paper. While I've been enjoying this season so far, I'm sort of glad that it's the last.

[elpollodiablo]

Frankly I'd rather wait for a DVD release (if that were my only option, which of course it won't be) than watch them out of order

haha me too, normally, but this writers' strike has got me in a bad place. 

I think you guys are being too tough on the newsroom plot.  I was initially worried by both the docks and the schools, too.    Clark Johnson is already awesome, and things are obviously going to pick up once the new characters start with the characters we already know and love.

The docks and the schools seemed immediately authentic and vital, though. Both had a sense of urgency that I think the Sun stuff is lacking.

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, I mean, obviously it could go either way; adding a dozen new characters is always a *huge* gamble.  It's tough to tell after two episodes.  It's paid off in the past for The Wire, but that doesn't mean it will this time. 

Did anyone else watch that awful "The Last Word" special?  1)  God, every time I see Joe Klein, he's even more of a douche than I remember him being and 2)  I'm terrified we're going to get a "These Damn Kids With Their Intr0nets" subplot in the newsroom.

[elpollodiablo]

I actually liked that special. I dunno what made it so awful for you; it was just a bunch of critics and people involved with the show talking about the show. There have been quite a few of those. Maybe it's because I don't have any opinion on Joe Klein.

But yeah, when Simon said (and I'm paraphrasing) 'The greatest insult you can commit against print journalism is to give the product away for free on the internet', I was amazed that a man who seems so in touch with the way the world works could be so completely backward on a key issue like that.

[dieblucasdie]

Oh man, when Joe Klein compared being a newsman in 2007 and facing competition from the internet to being gay in 1982 and facing the AIDS epidemic...  Jesus fucking Christ, man, maybe there's a reason your keen insights aren't in high demand anymore. 

[andronicus]

They're the same but different, yeah? Because the news reporter does softball shit that accomplishes nothing except puts him in good with the highest-up, while McNulty, although crazy, is at least trying to accomplish something positive...

The thing I'm generally impressed with about the wire is: everybody's got a rat, some rats may be prettier than others, but in the end everyone's still just a ratfucker.