To You, The Discerning Blog Fan,
First Read These Two Other Posts: Here and Here
Jay brings up a good point about the nature of watching anything in the internet age. Can he stay in the dark about the upcoming plot twists? I'm think of two right off the top of my head and after thinking for a second have thought of four more shocking moments.
See the problem, and I know this from experience, is that the knee-jerk response to anything good is to look it up on the internet to get more information. This always results in enjoying the show for me. But I have ruined the some plot points for myself during the watching on one Project Runway season, and I think I screwed up and ruined a major plot twist during The Wire. So beware Jay.
It precarious out there. Even as I write this blog I am constantly checking what I write to make sure that I don't give anything away. It is so strange watching TV in the information age.
Especially when information becomes a burden.
Whether Vintage Or Cutting Edge, Just Stay Cool,
James
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Wire: Season 1, Disc 3
Episode 6
"...and all the pieces matter." --Freamon
Episode starts with Omar's lover's body on display.
We see the juxtaposition of DAngelo's life of plenty (unopened shoes and clothes) with Wallace (raising kids, stealing electricity) just trying to get by day to day.
Daniels gets the case extended a month, Angering RAuls (Rawls?) who is McNulty's original boss and a major, out ranking Daniels.
Omar agrees to eyewitness a murder to get back at Avon.
Quote is about how each piece of evidence is pertinent.
Wire is also about wire taps on the phone.
Episode 7
"A man must have a code." --Bunk
They arrest the guy that shot the witness in D'angelo's case.
Avon closes down the pit, thinking there is a snitch on the inside.
Rauls wants McNulty's badge.
Episode 8
"Come at the king, you best not miss." --Omar
The guy that was put in charge of expansion throws a party. Girl dies.
Dumb cops refuse to study for the exam juxtaposed with String Bell going to community college.
Omar dispenses some vigilante justice to the guys who tortured and killed his friend, again whistling the farmer and the dell before he strikes.
"The game is out there. It's play or get played." -Omar
I'm going to have to once again ask for leniency as I watched this batch of episodes on little or no sleep. This is what happens when you have a two month old. I'm assuming that happens to even the best of us. MY only notes are that I am getting more and more addicted as the show continues and I am trying to decide at this point what would would constitute a a good ending to the season and just what the scope is going to be going forward into the next season. I promise to do better on disc 4. So, Watcha Thinking?
"...and all the pieces matter." --Freamon
Episode starts with Omar's lover's body on display.
We see the juxtaposition of DAngelo's life of plenty (unopened shoes and clothes) with Wallace (raising kids, stealing electricity) just trying to get by day to day.
Daniels gets the case extended a month, Angering RAuls (Rawls?) who is McNulty's original boss and a major, out ranking Daniels.
Omar agrees to eyewitness a murder to get back at Avon.
Quote is about how each piece of evidence is pertinent.
Wire is also about wire taps on the phone.
Episode 7
"A man must have a code." --Bunk
They arrest the guy that shot the witness in D'angelo's case.
Avon closes down the pit, thinking there is a snitch on the inside.
Rauls wants McNulty's badge.
Episode 8
"Come at the king, you best not miss." --Omar
The guy that was put in charge of expansion throws a party. Girl dies.
Dumb cops refuse to study for the exam juxtaposed with String Bell going to community college.
Omar dispenses some vigilante justice to the guys who tortured and killed his friend, again whistling the farmer and the dell before he strikes.
"The game is out there. It's play or get played." -Omar
I'm going to have to once again ask for leniency as I watched this batch of episodes on little or no sleep. This is what happens when you have a two month old. I'm assuming that happens to even the best of us. MY only notes are that I am getting more and more addicted as the show continues and I am trying to decide at this point what would would constitute a a good ending to the season and just what the scope is going to be going forward into the next season. I promise to do better on disc 4. So, Watcha Thinking?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Wire: Season 1, Disc 2
When I got the first dvd of the wire in the mail I was surprised that it only had three episodes on it total, but I thought that was probably just so that the other discs could have four or more and it would work out. I knew my second disc was scheduled to arrive on Friday and I was very excited about getting to savor each episode this weekend, with a small hope that there might even be more than four episodes on the disc. Imagine my shock and dismay when I opened the package and discovered not three, not four episodes, but two. TWO little episodes. Needless to say I was slightly disappointed, but I will just accept this as part of the process. (Footnote: I've decided I will not google anything about this show because I'm afraid I might catch too much information, even in the search returns. HOWEVER, Mary Beth couldn't place the title song so I looked it up. I found an answer from 2002 about the theme song for this new show, "The Wire" and turned out to be safe. The song is "Way down in the Hole," written by Tom Waits and performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama, just to let you know.)
Episode 4
The beginning scene start with the over the top cops who were part of blinding the boy trying to move a desk. They try and try and try while the silent cop who found the poster and makes doll furniture watches silently smiling. Eventually we discover that One cop was pushing while the others were pulling making it impossible to make any progress.
"Thin line 'tween heaven and here." --Bubbles
This is bubbles description after going to a soccer game with McNulty and seeing what his family life is like.
One of the old useless cops was injured in the bust and is happy to be able to retire on disability. His plan is to supplement his income with the booming video rental business his brother runs. He tries to convince his lazy partner to fall down the steps to the dark basement and sue the city and get retirement. It is interesting to note that the retirement for disability is mentioned as being 66 1/3 % but that seems to be good enough for the old cop. I'm feeling like that could be a metaphor for his life... 66 1/3% is good enough. The Captain urges him to think it over. (Note: the special task force office was set up in a basement of another building with minimal to no supplies.
One of the small time guys from the courtyard gets beaten up in juvy, escapes as two dumb cops drive by.
"Word in town says it was Omar and his crew.... No last name. Just Omar. HE don't need no last name." -Bubbles
"4000 on sweet lips, 6000 if I get to holla at him before he gets did."-Avon Barksdale
Mcnulty and his wife are so busy fighting they don't see their son score a goal.
"I got some creep to me.. My uncle knows that." -D'Angelo, tells the story of killing a girl for his uncle.
Lesbian cop studying for class, gives a look to girlfriend's cell phone records. Theme of trust in relationships.
"Yo, who dis." -D'Angelo, Furniture guy finds which pager is D'Angelo's.
"I'm exhausted just listening to this."
Eff word investigation scene.
"Why did you ask out of homicide?" "Didn't ask out." "What did you do to piss them off?" "Police Work." "I think I need to buy you a drink." "Just one?"
Episode 5
"A little slow, A little late." -Avon Barksdale
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife." -Judge, They get the power to clone the pager and clone D'Angelo's pager.
"The cheese stands alone." -Omar, singing the farmer and the dell while stalking a gang member
"Don't nobody care about your story.. You got money, you are who you say you are." -D'Angelo's Baby Mama
Preston is the courtyard kid who got beat up by the cops.
Bubbles goes to see the guy he was hanging with who got beat up in the first episode. His friend is now wearing a colostomy bag and has "the bug." I am assuming that the bug is slang for Aids as they were discussing it in the courtyard earlier and saying you can't get the bug orally or touching.
McNulty and his partner talk to a witness that tells them D is Avon's Nephew and that he owns Orlando's strip club.
The guy who blinded the kid, Perez, breaks the code for the pagers.
Omar and Mcnulty meet. Omar's older brother may have been McNulty's CI at one point. Omar knows that bubbles is the ci for Griggs.
Wallace is the name of the smart kid from the courtyard that knew Hamilton wasn't a president in the first episode. he Id's Omar's "friend." and now of the three guys that hit the barksdales, only Omar is left alive.
I should have finished up this blog before I watched the third disc but I didn't so I felt bad about going back and adding after the fact. I will say that following the plot is becoming easier and that the planning and genius become more evident with each episode. I will also say that I considered going online to stream this show to make it even faster. I cannot imagine having to wait week to week and year to year to watch this show. As a matter of fact, I don't think i will ever start a show again until it is over. (Except Dexter, which I'm addicted to already.) There are so many shows out there to watch I can't think of a reason to start a show until it is finished. This also reminds me of an article Chuck Klosterman wrote on Grantland this week: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6581741/are-spoilers-flipping-script . So, Watcha Thinkin?
Episode 4
The beginning scene start with the over the top cops who were part of blinding the boy trying to move a desk. They try and try and try while the silent cop who found the poster and makes doll furniture watches silently smiling. Eventually we discover that One cop was pushing while the others were pulling making it impossible to make any progress.
"Thin line 'tween heaven and here." --Bubbles
This is bubbles description after going to a soccer game with McNulty and seeing what his family life is like.
One of the old useless cops was injured in the bust and is happy to be able to retire on disability. His plan is to supplement his income with the booming video rental business his brother runs. He tries to convince his lazy partner to fall down the steps to the dark basement and sue the city and get retirement. It is interesting to note that the retirement for disability is mentioned as being 66 1/3 % but that seems to be good enough for the old cop. I'm feeling like that could be a metaphor for his life... 66 1/3% is good enough. The Captain urges him to think it over. (Note: the special task force office was set up in a basement of another building with minimal to no supplies.
One of the small time guys from the courtyard gets beaten up in juvy, escapes as two dumb cops drive by.
"Word in town says it was Omar and his crew.... No last name. Just Omar. HE don't need no last name." -Bubbles
"4000 on sweet lips, 6000 if I get to holla at him before he gets did."-Avon Barksdale
Mcnulty and his wife are so busy fighting they don't see their son score a goal.
"I got some creep to me.. My uncle knows that." -D'Angelo, tells the story of killing a girl for his uncle.
Lesbian cop studying for class, gives a look to girlfriend's cell phone records. Theme of trust in relationships.
"Yo, who dis." -D'Angelo, Furniture guy finds which pager is D'Angelo's.
"I'm exhausted just listening to this."
Eff word investigation scene.
"Why did you ask out of homicide?" "Didn't ask out." "What did you do to piss them off?" "Police Work." "I think I need to buy you a drink." "Just one?"
Episode 5
"A little slow, A little late." -Avon Barksdale
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife." -Judge, They get the power to clone the pager and clone D'Angelo's pager.
"The cheese stands alone." -Omar, singing the farmer and the dell while stalking a gang member
"Don't nobody care about your story.. You got money, you are who you say you are." -D'Angelo's Baby Mama
Preston is the courtyard kid who got beat up by the cops.
Bubbles goes to see the guy he was hanging with who got beat up in the first episode. His friend is now wearing a colostomy bag and has "the bug." I am assuming that the bug is slang for Aids as they were discussing it in the courtyard earlier and saying you can't get the bug orally or touching.
McNulty and his partner talk to a witness that tells them D is Avon's Nephew and that he owns Orlando's strip club.
The guy who blinded the kid, Perez, breaks the code for the pagers.
Omar and Mcnulty meet. Omar's older brother may have been McNulty's CI at one point. Omar knows that bubbles is the ci for Griggs.
Wallace is the name of the smart kid from the courtyard that knew Hamilton wasn't a president in the first episode. he Id's Omar's "friend." and now of the three guys that hit the barksdales, only Omar is left alive.
I should have finished up this blog before I watched the third disc but I didn't so I felt bad about going back and adding after the fact. I will say that following the plot is becoming easier and that the planning and genius become more evident with each episode. I will also say that I considered going online to stream this show to make it even faster. I cannot imagine having to wait week to week and year to year to watch this show. As a matter of fact, I don't think i will ever start a show again until it is over. (Except Dexter, which I'm addicted to already.) There are so many shows out there to watch I can't think of a reason to start a show until it is finished. This also reminds me of an article Chuck Klosterman wrote on Grantland this week: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6581741/are-spoilers-flipping-script . So, Watcha Thinkin?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Watching the Watcher: Wire Season 1, Disc 1
To You, The Discerning Blog Fan,
You're gonna need to read this first: Jay's Post
It took a while, but Jay is finally watching The Wire. When I first watched the show, my wife and I caught up just in time to watch the last season unfold. So it's fascinating to see someone experience the show now that it is fully ended and has made the rounds as a pop culture reference point.
That Jay is blogging about it is fantastic. Not only do the same parts stick out to him that did me, he is offering insights that I did see or forgot about.
The things that struck me most about the blog post are thus:
1) Obvious Noob is Obvious
I was reminded of the newness of the show for the author, throughout things like referring to Daniels as "Lt" and Kima as "the lesbian cop". I wish I could experience the show like that again. I probably referred to those characters the same way during my first run. It excited me to kind of feel the newness again. And to be fair, I had to look up the character's name for Pearlman because I always remember her as the red-headed lawyer that McNulty is nailing.
But nothing stuck out more than the line, "Once we all agree on what the problem is perhaps we will be able to figure out real solutions to those problems." The overarching theme, for me, I will keep hidden at this time so as not to ruin the journey for others. But fellow veterans of the show will understand where I'm coming from.
2) I'm Not As Smart As My Friends
The fact that Jay thought to bring up the scene where McNulty proclaims that the special detail is gonna be "done right" while a train bears down on him is great. I never saw the huge symbol that scene is until now. I knew it indicated McNulty's recklessness and self-destruction, but I can now see it as a metaphor for the whole show.
And that he took note of Lester as soon as he did makes me feel like an idiot.
3) I Know Right
My favorite parts of the first three episodes are some of Jay's favorite parts. The swift submersion into the bureaucracy of the police force. How gripping the characters are and how real their despair feels. How awesome D'Angelo and McNulty are, especially right off the bat.
And of course, the chess conversation. Heck, everything that happens in The Pit.
4) Dude I Totally Forgot That
I liked being reminded of how large D'Angelo looms in the early seasons. And I totally forgot how screwball Prezbo, Carter, and Herc start out. I mean they blind that kid at The Towers.
So there you are, my review of Jay's review. I like this idea.
Whether Vintage or Cutting Edge, Just Stay Cool,
James
You're gonna need to read this first: Jay's Post
It took a while, but Jay is finally watching The Wire. When I first watched the show, my wife and I caught up just in time to watch the last season unfold. So it's fascinating to see someone experience the show now that it is fully ended and has made the rounds as a pop culture reference point.
That Jay is blogging about it is fantastic. Not only do the same parts stick out to him that did me, he is offering insights that I did see or forgot about.
The things that struck me most about the blog post are thus:
1) Obvious Noob is Obvious
I was reminded of the newness of the show for the author, throughout things like referring to Daniels as "Lt" and Kima as "the lesbian cop". I wish I could experience the show like that again. I probably referred to those characters the same way during my first run. It excited me to kind of feel the newness again. And to be fair, I had to look up the character's name for Pearlman because I always remember her as the red-headed lawyer that McNulty is nailing.
But nothing stuck out more than the line, "Once we all agree on what the problem is perhaps we will be able to figure out real solutions to those problems." The overarching theme, for me, I will keep hidden at this time so as not to ruin the journey for others. But fellow veterans of the show will understand where I'm coming from.
2) I'm Not As Smart As My Friends
The fact that Jay thought to bring up the scene where McNulty proclaims that the special detail is gonna be "done right" while a train bears down on him is great. I never saw the huge symbol that scene is until now. I knew it indicated McNulty's recklessness and self-destruction, but I can now see it as a metaphor for the whole show.
And that he took note of Lester as soon as he did makes me feel like an idiot.
3) I Know Right
My favorite parts of the first three episodes are some of Jay's favorite parts. The swift submersion into the bureaucracy of the police force. How gripping the characters are and how real their despair feels. How awesome D'Angelo and McNulty are, especially right off the bat.
And of course, the chess conversation. Heck, everything that happens in The Pit.
4) Dude I Totally Forgot That
I liked being reminded of how large D'Angelo looms in the early seasons. And I totally forgot how screwball Prezbo, Carter, and Herc start out. I mean they blind that kid at The Towers.
So there you are, my review of Jay's review. I like this idea.
Whether Vintage or Cutting Edge, Just Stay Cool,
James
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Wire: Season 1, Disc 1
So let's cut straight to it. I'm blogging about a show that I believe could be the best show ever made. I intend to blog while watching it and be completely truthful about any thoughts I have as the show continues. I do not intend to cultivate or edit this content and I do not view this as a polished or finished product. Just an interesting exercise in media connectivity. (Also as a personal note, I am using this as an exercise in order to help me get used to blogging everyday so that I might use the blog as a tool for my Theatre Arts Class) SO now that that's out of the way, let's begin!
"You can't call it a War."
"Why not?"
"Wars End."
It's obvious this show has an intricate plot already constructed before the beginning of the first episode. The characters are real and human and the problems are glaring from the beginning. I'm sure I will circle back to discuss the "War on Drugs" throughout this show, but I'm immediately struck by an overwhelming sense of hopelessness unrelated to this war specifically. Courts unable to get convictions, police unable to fight crime due to red tape, and and an entire justice system still trapped in past. The symbol of the typewriter as futility is powerful and almost overwhelming. (All forms and papers are typed and there is no central computing system to streamline information.)
"We don't have enough love in our hearts for two wars?"
So the Feds will be out of the War on Drugs by the end of the month due to the fact that terrorism is the new en vouge enemy and the public can only care about one war at a time. Meanwhile the Gangs are obviously better organized than the police. McNulty seems to be the only person who realizes the depth of the problem.
McNulty is on the the tracks as the train is roaring towards him, and as he begins this case swearing to approach it in the proper manner it feels as if he might not be able to get out of the way. A random tip comes in about the drug scene and we are on the ground floor with a gang member who has been demoted due to losing his cool and killing a man.
THE WIRE
In the first episode the wire was a tap the feds had placed in one of the drug towers that was providing crystal clear live information about the construction of drugs. This particular wire was placed because of one of McNulty's CI's that the Feds were also using. It also seems to underscore the main theme of the first episode that crime is prevalent and easy to find and no one is really trying to stop it. The wire is providing all kinds of evidence but evidence on it's own is meaningless.
Episode Two
So I realized after the first episode that this show is way too dense for me to take real time notes and catch everything I need to catch. I watched episode two and now offer my thoughts.
"You can't lose if you don't play"
McNulty is placed on the special detail to investigate Avon Barksdale along with a bunch of other misfits or worthless policemen. It is becoming clear in episode two that D'Angelo is our window into the gang and he is a fascinatingly layered character. (He also happens to be Avon's nephew) Also evident in episode two is that there are going to be good guys and bad guys in both the police squads and gangs. We don't get to rely on stereotypes and it isn't going to be easy.
The quote comes via the wife of the Lt. assigned to head up the special investigation of Avon Barksdale. It seems that if he works too hard he will inevitably anger his superiors but if he doesn't work hard enough he will not be doing his job and will still anger his superiors. The game has been rigged but he can't lose if he doesn't play. This seems like the safest advice to this point in the show and reinforces the feelings of futility and hopelessness facing all those involved on law enforcement's side.
EPISODE THREE
Three episodes in I have finally decided on a format for my posts. I will copy what I think to be interesting quotes from the episodes while they run and then go back and flesh out the post when the episodes are over. I did not do this for episode three so I will just give a basic summary to this point.
Things are beginning to heat up around the courtyard in which D'Angelo has been assigned to oversee the everyday selling of the drugs. The police are surveilling the area along with another group of Men in a van that appear to be a rival gang. If the lower levels of the Barksdale gang look apathetic then the men in the van are their very antithesis.
There are also many other small scenes that add depth to the characters and involve the audience emotionally mush more than an average show: D'Angelo teaches low level gang members how to play chess,Stringer tells D'Angelo that diluting the product increases the profit,
and we learn that our lesbian detective is also going to school. McNulty has two kids that he doesn't get to see very much because he cheated on his wife. One of the women he slept with is a Prosecuting Attorney that would be handling the cases if his special detail turns up anything.
"One dude's name is Omar."
"Omar?"
"Yeah, that's the name I heard."
The first Disc ends with the three men in the van robbing the Barksdale Courtyard while D'Angelo is off buying food. The Barksdales lose over 20,000 and all they know is the guy in charge is named Omar. (Even knowing almost nothing about The Wire I must still admit that I knew the name Omar when I heard it and I know he will be a main character.) Under pressure from the higher ups in the department, the Lt. orders a raid on the courtyard the next day not knowing that everything had been stolen and the stash house had been moved. The raid turned up nothing and now alerts the Barksdales to the fact that they are under investigation.
Odds and ends: One detective on the special force has been very quit, but working meticulously. He found the only known picture of Avon Barksdale on an old Golden Gloves poster. He also took very thorough notes in the stash house when no one else could find anything. This may provide more information later. McNulty sat out the raid as he refused to jeopardize the investigation. Some of the Cops on the special detail beat up some people in episode two and that caused one 14 y/o boy to go blind in one eye. A witness that testified against D'Angelo was killed as a message. McNulty knows the Judge who presided over the D'Angelo trial. The lesbian detective has a CI that is providing great information by putting Red hats on connected suspects and allowing police to photograph those men from afar.
THE WIRE
My final plot summary point would be that the detail has determined that they will need to send someone undercover to get information and that the someone will have to wear a wire. All of Baltimore's resources are vastly outdated and so McNulty tries to call in a favor from some feds to get some high tech surveillance equipment. When McNulty mentions to the Fed the name of his LT things go cold. Later the fed tells McNulty secretly that the Department thinks the Lt. is dirty. Santangelo goes undercover without a wire and we are left to wonder what the next step will be after the botched courtyard invasion.
Thoughts and predictions:
I'm so excited about the fact that I have tons more of this wonderfully constructed show to watch. The specific plot points may or may not play out like I think: I think the Barksdales will collapse sue to apathy, I think we will watch the rise of Omar. There are a lot of personal issues with the police officers that may work out in a positive or negative light, and I think we are going to see a lot of people die because this show is too real to magically allow everyone to survive. I'm also fascinated by the bureaucracy that is so bloated it is destined to collapse and the reality of the futility of the "War on Drugs." I'm not sure that this show even aspires to offer solutions as much as it strives to clearly illuminate and define the problems that we are facing as a nation. Once we all agree on what the problem is perhaps we will be able to figure out real solutions to those problems.
I would like to end this blog post by linking to a letter written by David Simon in response to Baltimore's police commissioner's criticism of The Wire. This is the main reason I wanted to blog about this show: http://www.avclub.com/articles/baltimore-police-commissioner-slams-the-wire-david,50274/
"You can't call it a War."
"Why not?"
"Wars End."
It's obvious this show has an intricate plot already constructed before the beginning of the first episode. The characters are real and human and the problems are glaring from the beginning. I'm sure I will circle back to discuss the "War on Drugs" throughout this show, but I'm immediately struck by an overwhelming sense of hopelessness unrelated to this war specifically. Courts unable to get convictions, police unable to fight crime due to red tape, and and an entire justice system still trapped in past. The symbol of the typewriter as futility is powerful and almost overwhelming. (All forms and papers are typed and there is no central computing system to streamline information.)
"We don't have enough love in our hearts for two wars?"
So the Feds will be out of the War on Drugs by the end of the month due to the fact that terrorism is the new en vouge enemy and the public can only care about one war at a time. Meanwhile the Gangs are obviously better organized than the police. McNulty seems to be the only person who realizes the depth of the problem.
McNulty is on the the tracks as the train is roaring towards him, and as he begins this case swearing to approach it in the proper manner it feels as if he might not be able to get out of the way. A random tip comes in about the drug scene and we are on the ground floor with a gang member who has been demoted due to losing his cool and killing a man.
THE WIRE
In the first episode the wire was a tap the feds had placed in one of the drug towers that was providing crystal clear live information about the construction of drugs. This particular wire was placed because of one of McNulty's CI's that the Feds were also using. It also seems to underscore the main theme of the first episode that crime is prevalent and easy to find and no one is really trying to stop it. The wire is providing all kinds of evidence but evidence on it's own is meaningless.
Episode Two
So I realized after the first episode that this show is way too dense for me to take real time notes and catch everything I need to catch. I watched episode two and now offer my thoughts.
"You can't lose if you don't play"
McNulty is placed on the special detail to investigate Avon Barksdale along with a bunch of other misfits or worthless policemen. It is becoming clear in episode two that D'Angelo is our window into the gang and he is a fascinatingly layered character. (He also happens to be Avon's nephew) Also evident in episode two is that there are going to be good guys and bad guys in both the police squads and gangs. We don't get to rely on stereotypes and it isn't going to be easy.
The quote comes via the wife of the Lt. assigned to head up the special investigation of Avon Barksdale. It seems that if he works too hard he will inevitably anger his superiors but if he doesn't work hard enough he will not be doing his job and will still anger his superiors. The game has been rigged but he can't lose if he doesn't play. This seems like the safest advice to this point in the show and reinforces the feelings of futility and hopelessness facing all those involved on law enforcement's side.
EPISODE THREE
Three episodes in I have finally decided on a format for my posts. I will copy what I think to be interesting quotes from the episodes while they run and then go back and flesh out the post when the episodes are over. I did not do this for episode three so I will just give a basic summary to this point.
Things are beginning to heat up around the courtyard in which D'Angelo has been assigned to oversee the everyday selling of the drugs. The police are surveilling the area along with another group of Men in a van that appear to be a rival gang. If the lower levels of the Barksdale gang look apathetic then the men in the van are their very antithesis.
There are also many other small scenes that add depth to the characters and involve the audience emotionally mush more than an average show: D'Angelo teaches low level gang members how to play chess,Stringer tells D'Angelo that diluting the product increases the profit,
and we learn that our lesbian detective is also going to school. McNulty has two kids that he doesn't get to see very much because he cheated on his wife. One of the women he slept with is a Prosecuting Attorney that would be handling the cases if his special detail turns up anything.
"One dude's name is Omar."
"Omar?"
"Yeah, that's the name I heard."
The first Disc ends with the three men in the van robbing the Barksdale Courtyard while D'Angelo is off buying food. The Barksdales lose over 20,000 and all they know is the guy in charge is named Omar. (Even knowing almost nothing about The Wire I must still admit that I knew the name Omar when I heard it and I know he will be a main character.) Under pressure from the higher ups in the department, the Lt. orders a raid on the courtyard the next day not knowing that everything had been stolen and the stash house had been moved. The raid turned up nothing and now alerts the Barksdales to the fact that they are under investigation.
Odds and ends: One detective on the special force has been very quit, but working meticulously. He found the only known picture of Avon Barksdale on an old Golden Gloves poster. He also took very thorough notes in the stash house when no one else could find anything. This may provide more information later. McNulty sat out the raid as he refused to jeopardize the investigation. Some of the Cops on the special detail beat up some people in episode two and that caused one 14 y/o boy to go blind in one eye. A witness that testified against D'Angelo was killed as a message. McNulty knows the Judge who presided over the D'Angelo trial. The lesbian detective has a CI that is providing great information by putting Red hats on connected suspects and allowing police to photograph those men from afar.
THE WIRE
My final plot summary point would be that the detail has determined that they will need to send someone undercover to get information and that the someone will have to wear a wire. All of Baltimore's resources are vastly outdated and so McNulty tries to call in a favor from some feds to get some high tech surveillance equipment. When McNulty mentions to the Fed the name of his LT things go cold. Later the fed tells McNulty secretly that the Department thinks the Lt. is dirty. Santangelo goes undercover without a wire and we are left to wonder what the next step will be after the botched courtyard invasion.
Thoughts and predictions:
I'm so excited about the fact that I have tons more of this wonderfully constructed show to watch. The specific plot points may or may not play out like I think: I think the Barksdales will collapse sue to apathy, I think we will watch the rise of Omar. There are a lot of personal issues with the police officers that may work out in a positive or negative light, and I think we are going to see a lot of people die because this show is too real to magically allow everyone to survive. I'm also fascinated by the bureaucracy that is so bloated it is destined to collapse and the reality of the futility of the "War on Drugs." I'm not sure that this show even aspires to offer solutions as much as it strives to clearly illuminate and define the problems that we are facing as a nation. Once we all agree on what the problem is perhaps we will be able to figure out real solutions to those problems.
I would like to end this blog post by linking to a letter written by David Simon in response to Baltimore's police commissioner's criticism of The Wire. This is the main reason I wanted to blog about this show: http://www.avclub.com/articles/baltimore-police-commissioner-slams-the-wire-david,50274/
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