(S04E02) "I still wake up white in a city that ain't." -- CarcettiLike a lot of people, I watched the first three seasons on DVD. I'm used to overdosing on the shows. Watching them one by one is going to be a painful adjustment, like being forced to put down a good novel every fifty pages for a week. Torture!
A season of The Wire builds slowly, methodically revealing it's characters and theme at a carefully crafted pace. And, watching these, one by one, as they were intended to be shown, only reinforces how powerful the series is. So we've had to wait until the second episode for our first glimpse of some of the show's staple characters.
Glad to see Bubbles, one of the show's quintessential survivors is still pushing his cart of t-shirts and sock for sale and still has the protégé he picked up sometime after young Johnny OD'd. There's a great moment when Prez, now a teacher, and Bubbles in a tie, pass each other and do double-takes when Bubbles takes his young assistant to the school to try and get him enrolled. Dennis (Cutty) is back thankfully too, still working as a landscaper, but keeping his focus on his true passion, teaching boxing to kids without a lot else to look toward in life. The gym has thrived in the past year.
I meant to say which of the new main characters, the middle-schoolers, is my favorite last time, but I like them all: Randy (Maestro Harrell) the young entrepreneur who sell candy and chips out of his knapsack and who's foster mom makes sure he calls her ma'am. Or, Dukie (Jermaine Crawford) the outsider so impoverished even the other kids ridicule him for it. Or Namond (Julito McCullum) who we discover is Wee-bay's son. The fourth is Michael (Tristan Wilds) with whom Namond works out a job-share this week with Bodie, who's budget is stretched and his traffic dwindling.
Marlo again demonstrates his prowess, doling out hundred dollar bills to neighboorhood kids.. "You're name gonna ring out," Marlo's lieutenant tells him. Marlo just nods. He already knows. Marlo so far, seems a vast improvement on the Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell. Last week, when his crew urged him to take out Bodie's entire corner in revenge for a killing, Marlo ordered it held to one assassination, of Bodie's number two man Lex (who started it all by killing Marlo's soldier Fruit or a woman). There's a tense scene in which Marlo confronts Michael -- who refuses to accept his money, and Michael meets his stare. Marlo sees that Michael is not afraid, and is impressed. That's chilling, as Marlo clearly sees him as a potential soldier.
Another great episode. Lester Freamon has taken over from McNulty as the Baltimore Police's number one shit-stirrer and issues subpoenas up and down the corridors of political power. In one of the great parallel plot lines that the series is so adept at, a city counselman uses the same words to describe his acceptance of shady campaign contributes, that Namond uses after taking Marlo's cash dole out: "I'll take any man's many if he giving it away."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2006 @ 12:28AM
Andrew said...
It wasn't a city counselman it was Senator Clay Davis
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9-18-2006 @ 11:44AM
Jeff said...
Great episode. I also liked the parallel between Cutty and his landscaping crew chief, and Bubbles and his sidekick.
Also when Cutty changed the channel to the football game while Carcetti was halfway through his powerful diatribe at the debate reiterates how rough the remainder of the campaign trail is going to be.
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2-28-2007 @ 11:29PM
paul said...
i discovered this show while re-habbing a bad back. My cable system has a thing called on demand and i was able to watch it from the begginning till the current episodes over the course of 2 days,and i have to tell you this is my # 1 show now. Thank you HBO!
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9-18-2006 @ 12:13PM
jamtvman said...
Concur on another great episode. FYI Clay Davis pops up in Season 1 when the Major Crimes Unit picks him up getting a bag of money. So now things are coming full circle with the drug money making it up to City Hall.
Like the "good" kids. I expect this will tie into the school thing soon.
Also think Marlo is a worthy adversary for the PD. Like the whole seal the bodies up in abandoned houses bit.
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9-18-2006 @ 12:26PM
Harry Xing said...
Wow. This episode was wonderful. Guess as usual. Couple of other things which got left from review...maybe people will cry spoilers if you had listed them.
- Mayor's secret. The police chief who Herc confided in will probably pass the 2nd secret to Carcetti at the right time.
- Burrell's "no more surprises, eh".
- Previews show Omar is back next week. About time. Wonder if they will show the bowtie this season (how could i forget his name?, The NY guy - Brother Malcolm X)
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9-18-2006 @ 2:52PM
Alex said...
Harry, bowtie is Brother Mouzone, and I get the feeling we're not going to see him again as he's a New York soldier. I can't wait for more Omar, though. Another great episode; in addition to one the two parallels (Clay Davis/Namen and Bubbles/Cutty), I enjoyed seeing Valcheck doing something other than being a jackass. And to Michael Canfield - maybe I can shorten your wait a little bit. HBO has been adding the next episode of The Wire to its On Demand lineup the day after a new one airs; so on this fine Monday afternoon, I'll be catching next weeks episode. You'll still have to wait a week, but at least you'll get this one 6 days early!
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9-19-2006 @ 2:22AM
SJ said...
This episode had so many funny and great moments. The scene with Bubbles and Prez was played to perfection. I think Bunk is hilarious too, and a seriously underrated character. I wish we could see McNulty every now and then, but I guess he won't be showing up anymore.
How amazing are the kids? They just seem like natural actors. Great to see Cutty back too.
Line of the episode:
Senator Davis: Sheeeeeeeeeeeeet!
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11-22-2006 @ 5:56PM
Brittaney Wha said...
I just love the wire and julito mccullum he is absolutely sexy, fine,cute,work very,talented,and very smart.What can i say? The wire remind some people in there lives an how they have to do things to earn there living. People in class talk disrespectful and teachers try to tell them to do they work and all that good stuff.Everybody should watch. Its a very good show.
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12-10-2006 @ 11:58AM
Katrina said...
I love this show I don't think I can wait another year for the new season. This is a perfect example of a well rounded depiction of urban life. I hope it last until the four boys grown up to see who the game suck in.
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12-11-2006 @ 6:22PM
Shonte said...
I am in love with Julito McCullum aka Nomand. I watch the show just to see him. I saw him in Ludacris song "Runaway Love" and I almost screamed. He just a month older than me and I want to say happy b-day early cuz i probably wont be on the computer for awhile. But I just love him. He got some good hair.
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