TheWireTheWire etc. Season 5

[B_Buster]

I agree with KTB. Omar's always been an absurd character to me, but I didn't expect him to turn into Spiderman* in Ep. 5.

Also, Cutty's back and he's brought his Sly & the Family Stone box set with him!

*I missed Chris L's Batman allusion earlier in this thread. One love, my brother!

[wwwes]

I cheated and watched some later episodes, and I will say that Omar is not Batman or Spiderman. But there are ways one can jump from that height and not die, particularly if full of adrenaline. And might be some chance Omar would be aware of those methods given his line of work.

But yes, this season is way sensationalistic, and I'm almost wondering if it is intentional, given the stated target of the media and how Simon has been saying that he feels they're only looking for a good story. Or at least to what degree it is intentional.

[jane]

Some writers at Salon.com give their thoughts about the latest The Wire episode each week. Thought you guys might be interested.  This board is a little dry these days, so I thought, why not put our straws in this milkshake.  The one writer, Miller, is a little hard to handle (read: over my head), but the other folks aren't too common.

http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2008/02/04/wire_wrap_4/index.html?source=sphere

 

[Chris L]

Everyone's talking about how "rushed" the season is, but even if they had more time to develop, would the askew, more-satirical tone be any different?  David Simon would just be rubbing our faces in Nancy Grace-flavored shit over 13 episodes instead of 10.  There are things to like about the serial killer plot, but Hamsterdam worked better because it was more sociologically fascinating, and season four worked partly because there was almost no McNulty. 

One of my favorite things about this season is Lester's sizable role, but it's going to be tough watching whatever shit inevtiably befalls him.  When he said he was going to quit "but not yet" in episode 6, that sealed it.  Bunny Colvin won't be able to envy him. 
 
Will Omar be anything other than a revenge machine this season?  Yes, he's gotten more unbelievable over time, but most of my favorite scenes of him (that confrontation w/ Bunk, buying cereal, shopping for court clothes, etc.) don't involve violence.  He looks more desperate trying in vain to draw Marlo out, but otherwise his character is regressing almost to the point of "Guy sitting in van" in season one, episode 3.

Does Templeton walk around and do stuff when he's not making up the news or scheming for a new job?
Or does he just sit dormant until Gus' voice triggers his activation system?  Weird how we now know more about Chris's personal life than his.   

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" has been running through my head on and off ever since that one bar scene.

I'm registering "bubbles&bobbles.com" before the inevitable Andre Royo/Steve Earle spinoff debuts.

[masterofsparks]

I've also heard some complaints that they seem to shoehorning in all of these characters from previous season to the detriment of the story, specifically Randy Wagstaff and Nick Sobotka in episode 6. I personally thought both of their appearances worked fine with the story - neither really seemed forced to me. The Randy thing was inevitable but made me sad.

Less sad, though, than the thing with the mentally ill homeless guy at the end of the episode. McNulty and Freamon, even if they don't get fired or convicted for what they're doing, are going to be struggling with that. It'll be interesting to see how that's handled.

[Chris L]

Also, someone else pointed out how ridiculous it was for Carcetti to mention O'Malley as a former mayor during his speech at the docks, since he's supposed to be O'Malley's fictional stand-in.  Acknowledging him on the show completely undermines the whole point of the storyline about how hard it is to elect a white mayor.  I'm amazed they were that careless. 

[octopus volcano]

Regarding Omar becoming Batman/Spiderman, keep in mind that Mr. Simon has said in interviews that he's the only character not written realistically in the show.  Omar's swear jar's empty; maybe he landed in that.   

[Jouster]

Omar's swear jar's empty; maybe he landed in that.   

Not anymore!

[B_Buster]

Am I the only idiot who still doesn't understand all the mumbo jumbo that Lester and McNulty used to explain how they got the wire up on Marlo? Or is it just mumbo jumbo that doesn't really have an explanation (like Omar's aerial stunt)? I'm afraid if I don't figure this out by the time of The Wire final exam, I'm gonna flunk out.

[Jouster]

Did you watch episode 7 yet?  Because if you did and you still don't understand, then you might be.  That little speech of Lester's was as exposition-y as the show gets.

[B_Buster]

I did, but my brain automatically shuts off when they start slinging the cop jargon. I'll watch it again while splashing cold water in my face.

[bruce]

I did, but my brain automatically shuts off when they start slinging the cop jargon. I'll watch it again while splashing cold water in my face.

I love all the mumbo jumbo speak, but I love reading Ed McBain 87th precinct novels.

Also the Omar Spiderman stuff got a little out of control with episode 6. But as its been stated before Simon has stated that Omar originally was not supposed to last this long on the show.

[Omar]

McNulty's V-Day crafts project!

[JonFromMaplewood]

I just finished watching Season 4 last night on DVD. I am in a state of television euphoria. I get the feeling from this thread that there is nowhere to go but down in Season 5. 

Sigh. 

[wwwes]

You're correct so far, this season hasn't touched season four. In fairness, though, we haven't seen the ending yet. Once we see the ending, we can judge. I'm recalling a remark from the commentaries by one of the directors that the end of Season Four was both the climax of the season and the climax of the series. So perhaps it's intentional that it seems to be winding down and losing its suspense. The characters are all reaching the natural conclusions to their individual arcs, and the ones that haven't yet are the only ones that are getting any action.

The primary problem is that the newspaper storyline isn't done in a way that is satisfying to just about anyone. It's the real loser of the cutback from 13 to 10 episodes. With those extra 3, maybe we'd have gotten to know the older newsmen and adjusted to the status quo. Maybe we'd not see the giant leap in McNulty's storyline from nowhere to everywhere. Maybe we would see exactly how much Omar lost from that fall. Having an episode where he just had to sit and recuperate might make it more believable.

As it is, we're seeing a fully plotted, intricate story (much of which was being setup for at least two years) having to be told in record time and a key institution whose story was absolutely necessary to the message of the series that we can't fully understand. Oh well. I'm going to enjoy the ride and wait for Simon's next projects: Generation Kill and his New Orleans thing.