Little or no decom
Now we're into our stride as we walk through the garden. I can't go into too much detail but I wasn't expecting that in Episode 4 of The Wire. (Those who watched it, or have seen the whole of Season Five will know what I'm talkin' about: "Close your eyes, it won't hurt none.") I've been away, which is why I'm so late with this, but this show never ceases to lower my jaw. How about a simple scene like the one in which Michael is bailed out by his crack mom after being rounded up after the Colicchio/dogshit-in-a-bag incident and she asks him for money and he declines. It's short, it's to the point, it's subtly rooted in other storylines, but it's mostly just a quick dip into that particular subplot, and then out again. These are the touches that make this programme what 38,000 people think it is. More serial killer shenanigans with McNulty and now Freamon and what seems like last orders for McNulty's relationship with Beadie - another short, one-off scene just to keep the plate spinning. (If these actors are on a retainer for the whole season, this must be a pretty expensive show to run, with so many regular castmembers and such brief appearances in many cases.) A nice nod back to previous seasons when Greggs went back to visit her son - I can't imagine what this show must feel like if you haven't seen the previous four seasons. In fact, it wouldn't play. It was great to see Herc in two scenes, unconnected, one at Levy's office with Prop Joe and Marlo ("did you ever find your camera?"), and one at the station with Carver. That's really using a character. And the multiple links are what makes this show so rich. We see Herc and Carver in their new roles, but reunited on the bonnet of a police car, clinking cans, and digging into their previous on-patrol partnership ("Everything matters" - which could be a tagline for The Wire). I love the musical chairs between Burrell and Rawls and Daniels, and the way it hooks back in to the Sun. It was cool to get out of Baltimore, briefly, when Templeton ventured up to the Washington Post (so familiar since All The President's Men!), hoping for an escape ladder - but it was equally good to be back among Marlo and Omar and Chris and Prop Joe and Cheese. I'll be surprised if Cheese (Method Man!) sees this season out. And who knew that Prop Joe went to the same school as Burrell (he was "stone stupid", apparently). This is not a TV programme, it's a way of life.All this and Train In Vain by The Clash in McNulty's bar, too.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 2:10 PM
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8 Comments:
Completely agree about everything but particularly the last scene.
Been meaning to mention this for a while but isn’t TW’s end credit music the most melancholic thing you’ve ever heard? This is going to sound pretentious but it almost feels like a character itself; certainly it feels like a comment anyway. I was a bit young at the time but the only music to come close was that at the end of The Sweeney.
I don't think any of us were expecting it. I can't believe I'm now rooting for Omar. My whole moral compass has been sabotaged by a tv show
Simon in sunny Sevenoaks
Great wasn't it. And nope i wasn't expecting it either. BTW "All the pieces matter" (A lester quote) is the title of the soundtrack album, but you know that already.
love these reviews. was worried that you weren't gonna do ep4.
I must get that soundtrack album, right now. And then, oh yes, watch The Wire!
hate to pre-empt you, but surely the tagline for this weeks episode review must be:
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittt!"
machine levine
Great Episode,
I think Cheese will be useful to have close by. But like you say, eventually he will end up with a bullet in the head.
The episode made me chuckle. The line by Carcetti about putting Ray Lewis out to pasture. For those not into the NFL,,Ray Lewis is an ageing (33 years) Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He is the teams captain,leader and won a Super Bowl with them in 2000.
I love you for that, Machine. It was exactly what I was thinking while watching Ep 5. [See: above]
loving your work AC. Not to be obsequious, but, since music mags of yore up to you current hilarious podcast output... excellent.
And now, I belatedly discover your love of 'The Wire' (or perhaps I read your praise of it in 'The Word' & forgot). I have accepted it as a late night FX pleasure to view & have no-one to discuss it with. I am baffled that no-one in the US or podcast to artificially engineer a watercooler vibe. Surely the dense chracterisation & multifarious plots make it an ideal candidate.
But then there is a bumptious pleasure in being part of the crowd 'in the know' about 'The Wire'- and maybe the solitude is part of that.
Keep up the good work. you bummer.
Dan in Chichester
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