The Wire: Episode 56

[Brooklyn Bridge]

And he was upset because the area was being revitalized--right. Not to segue, but how big a role does the port play in Baltimore? I think New York as a port ceased being relevant 40 years ago. I can't imagine that B-More held on that much longer?

 

[GoochMan]

B-more held on a lot longer, but tourism has won out there.

Loved the scene with Randy-him pushing that smaller kid out of his way on the staircase illustrated brilliantly how much he'd changed.

As for Templeton's piece on the homeless vet, I think it's a story he actually did on the up-and-up. Gus complimented him on not overwriting the story, which he tends to do when he's making stuff up.

Still hard to believe Omar's fall- Spider Man **** indeed. He's gotta die soon...but I wonder if he's inspiring the remaining co-op members to rise up against Marlo. Someone in that group has to show some backbone, especially since they know what the deal is.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Yeah, the second season was about the death of the port and that way of life, how it plays a part in the drug trade, and how the forward march of progress was threatening to swallow the industrial port area. The decrepit building that was shown that was going to be "revitalized" was the backdrop of where Nicky and Ziggy lived.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Still hard to believe Omar's fall- Spider Man **** indeed. He's gotta die soon...but I wonder if he's inspiring the remaining co-op members to rise up against Marlo. Someone in that group has to show some backbone, especially since they know what the deal is.

Seems like Omar's only hope is to get backup from the ****ed-over co-op members. Marlo was declaring that the co-op era was over and that it was back to business as usual, with him as kingpin.

I really hope Slim Charles lines up with Omar. Those two, Bubs, Dookie and possibly Chris are the only ones from the street I really want to see surviving in the end. And **** Cheese -- I don't want to live in a world where Bodie dies and Cheese lives.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

I can definately see some co-op members rising up. Prop Joe held them alltogether. I think its a testament to his way with people that it held together as long as it did. Now, its everybody for himself--maybe not right away but it will happen.

 

[ThomsonONE]

Nick and Ziggy are not friends, they are cousins, their fathers are brothers.

The building being revitalized is the grain pier, which was what the union was trying to save from closing in season 2.

 

[JR]

This is the first season I have seen, so can someone please enlighten me as to why the Ziggy character was so pissed at the mayor? Did he used to work on the docks?

Watching season five without seeing the earlier ones is like reading the last chapter of a novel first.

 

[HC]

I love that Bunk is actually on his way to getting the case solved the right way, but Jimmy's bull**** serial killer has the crime lab so gummed up that Bunk can't proceed. Irony. I'm starting to think Bunk might rat out Jimmy before all is said and done. And maybe rightfully so - for one hot second, when Jimmy was first sizing up that transient, I thought he was considering killing the guy to manufacture the extra body they needed. Shows how far Jimmy's fallen.

Also, I'm glad we got one last scene out of Nick Sobotka. I wonder if Ziggy will be back, too.

Call me an idiot but what scene was Mr. Sobotka in?

He was the guy heckling at the Waterfront press conference.

Ah so that's who that was. Thanks for telling me and it would be nice to see Ziggy come back to since so many other characters have been back. Maybe they will be the one who talks to the cops about the greeks and that may be how they take down Marlo and his crew.

Also did anyone think it was strange how Marlo is giving out order's using a photo on the blackberry?

I think it was implied that most of his gang were functionally illiterate - "products of the Baltimore public school system" was the euphemism.

 

[STLIrish]

Didn't think it was such an awful episode. Just that most seasons The Wire seems to slow down in mid-season, and I think we're in that phase right now.
I liked how Bunk started working the 22 bodies for real, and was making more headway than McNulty is by faking the homeless murders, but, at the same time, is jammed up by them.
I liked how when Scotty Mc****nut, boy reporter, actually works a story (which is what it seems he did with the homeless vet) it turns out good.
I liked how we got a flash of Carcetti's old passion, and the old-hand aide was inspired once again and the new-bent-on-getting-Carcetti-elected-governor aide saw it as a political opening.
And, of course, I liked seeing Nicky Sobotka again, though I was wondering if he's still in witness protection, or what?

 

[Michael Echan]

That's what I was thinking: I thought Nick was in the Witness Protection program. Why would he pop out just for this?

 

[StormSurge]

That's what I was thinking: I thought Nick was in the Witness Protection program. Why would he pop out just for this?

From Mr. Sepinwall:

-For those wondering why Nick -- last seen entering Witness Protection after taking his uncle's deal to testify against Vondas and The Greek -- is back hanging with his port buddies, I asked David Simon, who said that Nick, like lots of people who go into Witness Protection, eventually left the program because he missed his old life and family. (And since Vondas and The Greek were never caught or brought to trial, I doubt the feds kicked up much fuss at saving that expense.)

Full story:
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/02/wire-dickensian-aspect-those-left.html

 

[qtlaw]

I think dissatisfaction comes from it being the midpoint, just like any midpoint, the thrill of the start is gone and the end seems a ways off. I'm sure its going to pick up steam, just like the other seasons.

Omar simply breaking an ankle is highly unlikely. Funny though how he's got nobody left, what about those who helped him pull that heist on the Greeks? The old-timer is gone but I thought there were others available (how about that woman who hiked her skirt up?).

That Bunk/McNulty contrast is nice. The homeless guy angle reeked of such desperation that wifey and I were at the point of being sickened by McNulty.

 

[HC]

Omar simply breaking an ankle is highly unlikely. Funny though how he's got nobody left, what about those who helped him pull that heist on the Greeks? The old-timer is gone but I thought there were others available (how about that woman who hiked her skirt up?).

I think Omar specifically said that his people weren't to get involved .. that it was "on him".