“Not for Attribution”
First of all: Omar BACK, yo. It’s about time. Too bad it came under such circumstances, though. RIP Butchie.
We open with McNulty going ahead with his plan to create a serial killer in Baltimore. I have to say, I’m still not sure how I feel about this – I mean, clearly we know that McNulty is willing to push things when he sees a wrong that needs to be righted, but I think I’m with Bunk on this one.(“Motherfucker, we have kids.”) Although his line about Marlo, “He does not get to win, we get to win” struck a chord, I don’t know if I can follow McNulty down this ethically challenged path.
This scene also leads to possibly the funniest line of the episode -- McNulty referring to his fellow detectives, “Most of the guys up in here couldn’t catch the clap in a Mexican whorehouse.” Almost as funny was Carcetti’s reaction to Valcheck nominating himself to be Burrell’s temporary replacement. Tommy’s ‘Is he shitting me?” glance/eye-roll over to Norman made me laugh out loud. Anyway, Valcheck is bringing Carcetti the latest crime stats before Burrell presents them, and they include a four percent bump. But during his presentation, Burrell tells Carcetti that there’s been a one percent drop, even after Carcetti warns him about cooking the books. And so now we know how Burrell exits. Enter Daniels as commissioner.
But wait. He certainly wasn’t as excited as Rhonda about the prospect of being promoted. And that scene with his wife (Nice to see you again, Marla!) touched again on those “troubles,” back when he was in the Eastern District. I swear, Daniels’ early career mistakes are like ‘The Wire’s’ “what’s Big’s first name?” mystery: they keep stringing us along on these rumors. JUST TELL US ALREADY! I’ll probably still love you, Daniels.
Things at the Sun aren’t any better. Alma’s story about a triple homicide gets pushed off the front page in favor of a skydiving story. The Tribune Company is making more cutbacks, and offering buyouts to the older, more expensive members of the Sun staff. It’s still taking me awhile to get into the newspaper scenes. I feel like ‘The Wire,’ usually so great at giving its villains some redeeming qualities, is making the newspaper brass really…villainous. I mean, every time I hear one of them say “more with less,” I just want to punch my television screen. With the clear divide between Whiting (the executive editor) and Klebanow (the managing editor) representing corporate greed and bureaucratic evil, and Gus and the other old hands representing good reporting, it just seems too easy. And, as a journalism major, nothing makes my blood boil more than to see someone make up a quote, as Scott did in the story about Daniels. Again, he just seems too villainous to be remotely sympathetic. Perhaps I’m being too nitpicky – there are still seven episodes to go, maybe somebody can be redeemed.
The sweetest and saddest plot was Michael and Dukie’s plan to take Bug to Six Flags for the day. God, it was nice to see them having fun with girls, winning stuffed animals, and getting away from the streets for the day. Getting back to the corner at night, though, you couldn’t help but feel for Michael, who’s being reported to Chris about his unexcused absence. This could go one of two ways: I think Chris sees a lot of himself in Michael, understands what he’s going through, and is willing to be patient with him. Or, I could be overestimating the possible sympathy of a serial killer, and Michael will be dead by the end of February. Guess which one I’m hoping for?
Marlo goes to Prop Joe for help, all while attempting to undermine Joe’s standing with the Greeks. We got our first look at Vondas since season two, though it looks like Marlo still has some convincing to do, even with those seemingly endless briefcases of money. In the meantime, Marlo ups the bounty on any of Omar’s people, leading to a very funny discussion between Cheese and Prop Joe. As Joe said, “Why in the hell would I want that motherfucker back?” Because he’s the best character on the show, Joe. That’s why. But Cheese goes ahead and sells out poor Butchie anyway, and of course Omar won’t let that stand.
So, after having sex on the front of his police car (…holy crap, I mean, can he go any lower?), hitting on Alma, finally prodding Det. Barlow into remembering his own red ribbon, and discovering the same problems with the newspaper that Alma did, McNulty turns to Lester for help with his serial killer problem. And Lester goes along with it. And if Lester is going along with it…how can McNulty resist? Bunk still doesn’t like it. I still don’t like it. This is not going to end well.
Quick Hits:
Clay Davis, finally going down. Awesome. And I loved the line from Rhonda: “Could you slowly explain every word, starting with non-profit?” Oh, Baltimore juries.
I know we’re three episodes in now, but I love this year’s theme. This might be my favorite one. Props to Steve Earle, a.k.a “Waylon.”
Loved McNulty’s mention of the late Detective Cole, it seems like all of the old names and faces will be getting a callback in these final ten episodes. First Avon, now Cole, Marla, and Davis’s driver. Who’s next? Is it too much too hope that Stringer actually survived? Maybe he has a twin brother somewhere?
Dominic West’s accent was not good this episode. You’d think after five years of speaking American, he wouldn’t sound so…British.
Even in whatever tropical hideaway Omar’s in, he’s still looking for his Honey Nut.
First of all: Omar BACK, yo. It’s about time. Too bad it came under such circumstances, though. RIP Butchie.
We open with McNulty going ahead with his plan to create a serial killer in Baltimore. I have to say, I’m still not sure how I feel about this – I mean, clearly we know that McNulty is willing to push things when he sees a wrong that needs to be righted, but I think I’m with Bunk on this one.(“Motherfucker, we have kids.”) Although his line about Marlo, “He does not get to win, we get to win” struck a chord, I don’t know if I can follow McNulty down this ethically challenged path.
This scene also leads to possibly the funniest line of the episode -- McNulty referring to his fellow detectives, “Most of the guys up in here couldn’t catch the clap in a Mexican whorehouse.” Almost as funny was Carcetti’s reaction to Valcheck nominating himself to be Burrell’s temporary replacement. Tommy’s ‘Is he shitting me?” glance/eye-roll over to Norman made me laugh out loud. Anyway, Valcheck is bringing Carcetti the latest crime stats before Burrell presents them, and they include a four percent bump. But during his presentation, Burrell tells Carcetti that there’s been a one percent drop, even after Carcetti warns him about cooking the books. And so now we know how Burrell exits. Enter Daniels as commissioner.
But wait. He certainly wasn’t as excited as Rhonda about the prospect of being promoted. And that scene with his wife (Nice to see you again, Marla!) touched again on those “troubles,” back when he was in the Eastern District. I swear, Daniels’ early career mistakes are like ‘The Wire’s’ “what’s Big’s first name?” mystery: they keep stringing us along on these rumors. JUST TELL US ALREADY! I’ll probably still love you, Daniels.
Things at the Sun aren’t any better. Alma’s story about a triple homicide gets pushed off the front page in favor of a skydiving story. The Tribune Company is making more cutbacks, and offering buyouts to the older, more expensive members of the Sun staff. It’s still taking me awhile to get into the newspaper scenes. I feel like ‘The Wire,’ usually so great at giving its villains some redeeming qualities, is making the newspaper brass really…villainous. I mean, every time I hear one of them say “more with less,” I just want to punch my television screen. With the clear divide between Whiting (the executive editor) and Klebanow (the managing editor) representing corporate greed and bureaucratic evil, and Gus and the other old hands representing good reporting, it just seems too easy. And, as a journalism major, nothing makes my blood boil more than to see someone make up a quote, as Scott did in the story about Daniels. Again, he just seems too villainous to be remotely sympathetic. Perhaps I’m being too nitpicky – there are still seven episodes to go, maybe somebody can be redeemed.
The sweetest and saddest plot was Michael and Dukie’s plan to take Bug to Six Flags for the day. God, it was nice to see them having fun with girls, winning stuffed animals, and getting away from the streets for the day. Getting back to the corner at night, though, you couldn’t help but feel for Michael, who’s being reported to Chris about his unexcused absence. This could go one of two ways: I think Chris sees a lot of himself in Michael, understands what he’s going through, and is willing to be patient with him. Or, I could be overestimating the possible sympathy of a serial killer, and Michael will be dead by the end of February. Guess which one I’m hoping for?
Marlo goes to Prop Joe for help, all while attempting to undermine Joe’s standing with the Greeks. We got our first look at Vondas since season two, though it looks like Marlo still has some convincing to do, even with those seemingly endless briefcases of money. In the meantime, Marlo ups the bounty on any of Omar’s people, leading to a very funny discussion between Cheese and Prop Joe. As Joe said, “Why in the hell would I want that motherfucker back?” Because he’s the best character on the show, Joe. That’s why. But Cheese goes ahead and sells out poor Butchie anyway, and of course Omar won’t let that stand.
So, after having sex on the front of his police car (…holy crap, I mean, can he go any lower?), hitting on Alma, finally prodding Det. Barlow into remembering his own red ribbon, and discovering the same problems with the newspaper that Alma did, McNulty turns to Lester for help with his serial killer problem. And Lester goes along with it. And if Lester is going along with it…how can McNulty resist? Bunk still doesn’t like it. I still don’t like it. This is not going to end well.
Quick Hits:
Clay Davis, finally going down. Awesome. And I loved the line from Rhonda: “Could you slowly explain every word, starting with non-profit?” Oh, Baltimore juries.
I know we’re three episodes in now, but I love this year’s theme. This might be my favorite one. Props to Steve Earle, a.k.a “Waylon.”
Loved McNulty’s mention of the late Detective Cole, it seems like all of the old names and faces will be getting a callback in these final ten episodes. First Avon, now Cole, Marla, and Davis’s driver. Who’s next? Is it too much too hope that Stringer actually survived? Maybe he has a twin brother somewhere?
Dominic West’s accent was not good this episode. You’d think after five years of speaking American, he wouldn’t sound so…British.
Even in whatever tropical hideaway Omar’s in, he’s still looking for his Honey Nut.
No comments:
Post a Comment