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shadowkatLivejournal is sort of dead tonight - is everyone on vacation?
Finished watching Disc 3 of The Wire, don't get the next one until Tuesday, unfortunately. I want more.
Episodes 6 (All Prologue) and 7 (Backwash) were quite good.
There's a great bit of husband and wife dialogue at the end of Backwash that depicts why certain relationships can't last.
Daniels: I love the job. I can't help it. What I fell in love with first is the mind that is always just one step of mine, the challenge, of meeting that mind of engaging.
Marla: Know what I fell in love with? Your ambition. Where is that man?
That relationship is dead in the water. Ambition rarely lasts. But it is so true. Most of the relationships I've seen end in divorce - often do for that reason.
They killed another favorite character. Say what you will about George RR Martin but at least he only kills off characters that I don't like or find annoying. But I'll admit it was realistic. The Wire is hyper-realism, provides an indepth and unwavering view of society, and tells an entertaining story.
The only thing more real would most likely be...a documentary, and I can't watch documentaries - interviews with talking heads bore me. It's why I can't watch reality shows or commercials - they have the same things.
In All Prologue - Stringer Bell finally finesses the murder of D'Angelo - setting it up beautifully as a suicide. For a while I thought Avon had commissioned it. But no, it was Stringer without Avon's knowledge. Avon's upset and keeps justifying it as D'Angelo's weakness. The murder is perfectly forshadowed by D's analysis of The Great Gatsby and identification of Gatsby himself, a never-do-well, who makes it into a lot of money and tries to be the ideal, the man he dreamed himself to be, only to die (suicide or murder) an empty shell. He can't change who he is. Because what he has done in his life, his past actions and experiences define who he is - what he chooses to do - is what he becomes. To D - there is no redemption. A man stays what he is. And D like Gatsby is tragically killed, never allowed a second chance - Stringer Bell won't let him out. Wonder what Avon would do to Stringer if he ever found out? Not that he will - Stringer did too good a job or rather the man that Stringer paid to off D did.
Brodie in the next episode Backwash buys D a flower arrangement in the form of the projects, the tower in which they met and ran together. He was my nigger states Brodie. Nigger much like Pollack and other words of that type means something different depending on who says it. Blacks on the streets mean it one way, while white men mean it another. I've heard that word in so many different contexts in my life - as a racial slur and as a term of endearment. Just depends on who is using it. Words are always defined by context. The use of language and how it is used in The Wire fascinates me. We see nigger used in more than one way. There's a scene between Niko and a white drug dealer who calls Niko nigger and his boys niggers and Niko states - I hate to tell you this, because it may come as a shock to you and hurt your feelings, but you are not black, you are white. And I'm white. More to the point, I come from Locust Point, I'm not a corner standing project's kid.
In another scene between Niko's uncle Frank Sobotke, and a black dock worker (whose name I forget) and is co-running the docks with Frank - Niko says excuse my French, but this isn't about whether a Nigger can run the union or not, And the other guy comes back and says, excuse mine, but it's not about a Pollak ...Use of slurs to make a point.
With the tragedy of D's death overshadowing things...there are some amusing bits here and there.
Lou Rawls is still trying to get rid of those 14 homicides cluttering his deck. Landsman tells Bunk and Beadie - we are operating a MASH unit of 25 homicides a month here, if Rawls catches you two playing video games on a computer with 14 unsolved Jane Does - he'll blow. They mention that this is why they are operating out of Daniels division and doing it down there. Landsman gets an idea - can we give them to Daniels?
Rawls tries to offer the murders to Daniels. Daniels says no. Rawls states - if you take them and solve them - they make you look great in my book and to everyone. If you don't? I get to split the difference, win-win for me. Daniels - says no. Rawls looks at Landsman - he's smarter than he looks.
He's also a good boss who loves his job and cares about his people - so his people can get away with stuff. Freemon, who is a lot like McNulty, wants to solve those damn murders. So he tells the gang that they'll do what they can to do so, without telling Daniels - what Daniels doesn't know...he'll feel better about.
They actually come up with a great approach and do it gradually - anyone who loves procedurals - real procedurals not that crap on network tv that is masquerading as procedural, but real police work,
will find this interesting. Freemon's plan is for them to track a cargo shipment being brought in by a Russian Ship to the Docks, supervised by this guy named Horse - who they've managed to establish a pattern via the cloned computer of not checking shipments. So - Freemon watches the computer, Greggs is set up at the docks watching the cargo, Prez is set up outside the docks watching what leaves the checkpoints, and Bunk follows from there. They catch one that Horse drops or does not check and is not checked at the check point and is taken to an outside warehouse. Later, Greggs catches Prop Joe going into that Warehouse. Score! Watching the set-up and follow through was a thing of beauty.
Meanwhile, they attempt to get the States Attorney - Rhonda, to give them a Wire. But they can't get it, because according to the law you can only get one for drug contraband not female contraband.
Beadie:"In other words you can get one if you sell drugs, but not if you sell women?"
Rhonda: "That's the law." (The law doesn't protect women or rather illegal immigrant women. Slavery it still exists.) So they need to find something else - Prop Joe may be it.
After they get this info - Bunk talks Lester into going to Daniels and convincing Daniels to take those murders. "Why me?" asks Lester. Bunk: "Because he'll listen to you. You have the smell of a wise men on you. We each have our roles to play." Lester:"And what is your role?" Bunk:"Me? I'm a humble sole with a big dick." Lester: "You give yourself too much credit, homey." Bunk:"Yeah, I'm not that humble."
Herc and Carver - are having their own comedy routine. Herc wants a bug. But they can't get Daniels to give them one. So he convinces Carver to put his credit card down to borrow one. They make pay dirt when Niko shows up to discuss his heroine deal with the corner dealer. (Yes, Niko has ignored uncle Frank and is doing things Frank would not do, to get money. Including taking a deal with his cousin, Frank's kid, Ziggy, from the Greek that pays in half heroine/half money. Zig wants all heroine - they can make more. But Niko wisely does half and half and handles the transaction cutting the Zigster out, because...he is right the Zigster can't handle it. Ziggy is upset about this, understandably.) Unfortunately for Carver and Herc - Niko's homeboy dealer decides at that point to pick up the old tennis ball that Herc hid the bug in and play with it. So they can't hear anything more than Nik's first name. He also throws it over the roof, where it winds up in the street and run over by a truck before Carver can save it. Carver is bummed out. I'm laughing my head off. The look on Carver's face is priceless. Also, I knew that was going to happen the moment Herc put it in the used up tennis ball and hid it in a cup next to the sidewalk. After they track Nik to his place, and run the listing, discovering the apartment is in the name of Nik Sobotke. Carver puts two and two together and realizes - hello this is relation to Frank, because what are the odds of more than one Sobotke family living down here in Polish town? Herc convinces Carver to talk Daniels into giving them better surveillance equipment. They are tracking heroine now, not just girls.
Meanwhile McNulty has retired from cop-work. He's going to live out his days on the boat. The most he's going to do, he tells his estranged wife (played by Callie Thorn) is catch crab and count seagulls on a good day. All the things you hate about me? I'm changing. I'm giving up the homicide case work, I'm giving up the drinking. I'm giving up the women. Give me a second chance. She's reluctant. But she does fuck him - in a rather good scene. And she does sit out on the stoop with him and watch their kids in a tent. But she can't quite trust him. I can be friends with you, Jimmy.
I can maybe, one day, want you to be happy. But I can't trust you again. (Can't say I blame her for that - we got a glimspe in the first season of what she was dealing with. Homicide can eat at a man who cares. Unless he stops caring and makes it merely a numbers game.) McNulty has also given up on locating the name/identity of the dead Jane Doe. As the coronor states, he tried. And he did. But it was impossible.
Freemon meanwhile tells Daniels that he needs to take these murders back - he tells Daniels - if you don't can you really live with yourself day to day? Those girls died in that can. They suffocated.
They deserve to have this crime solved with real police and real police work on it. Freemon manages to hit Daniels where he lives - so he goes off to Rawls and says, you win - I take the murders. But on one condition - I get whatever resources I want from you - no crap, no bullshit, no arguments. Rawls responds with a smile and a slight laugh, "I've no problem with that." Then whistles happily. (Something tells me that Daniels being Daniels is going to pull McNulty back into this thing before we are done, and Rawls is going to regret this. Because that's the perfect way to do it...)
While the Wire certainly is far from predictable - I did see certain things coming a mile a way, but that's mainly because they are set up so well. Like for instance - I knew Daniels was going to end up with those murders - Freemon wanted to solve them too badly to let them go. And Bunk wanted to get rid of them. It's Daniels own fault for asking for Freemon - if he'd left Freemon in Homicide, the murders would most likely have stayed there. Freemon like McNulty is first a homicide detective.
I also knew D'Angelo was going to get killed, just as I knew Wallace was in S1, and Greggs was going to get her ass shot in S1 - again it was set up. You could tell Stringer was going to kill D sooner or later. D was a problem from Stringer's pov.
The Omar bit in All Prologue - was quite good. I think it was that episode. He's hilarious. Omar finally testifies at the Bird trail. But Stringer hasn't told the Defense Attorney why Omar is testifying - possibly because it's not really relevant to the case and there's no way in hell the defense attorney can discuss it. The Defense Attorney asks why Omar is testifying - what did the police offer him? Omar wisely responds - such as what? Defense attorney asks - such as a deal, something like that. Omar states - nah, it was nothing. That's not the reason he's doing this. (Bird killed Omar's boyfriend in S1, but Omar is testifying against him for the killing of the Witness (Gant) early in the season, which Stringer tells McNulty that word on the street is that there is no way Omar could have witnessed it - since he was clearly elsewhere at the time. McNulty notes to Stringer - yeah, but this isn't the street Stringer, this is a court of law. Word on the street don't matter here. Their back and forth game continues.)
Omar plays the defense attorney and the jury like a fiddle. Yeah, I rob from drug dealers for a living. The defense attorney tries to paint Omar as living off the scum of the streets, etc - stating, you are amoral, little more than a leech living off of other's labors...and aiding them in it, which I knew was a huge mistake. Because Omar, no dummy (remember Omar went to the same school as Bunk - they have a discussion about their educational backgrounds), states - "yeah, well same as you. You do the same thing I do. I just have a shot-gun and you have a brief-case." And I'm roaring with laughter - you walked right into that one, Dude. Which is basically the expression on the Judge's face - when the Defense attorney looks at him for help. The Prosecutor meanwhile is grinning her head off. McNulty who missed this particular exchange - asks how it went. And she says - it was a pleasure. The cross, was...and she just grins. McNulty looks at the defense attorney - that good, huh? The defense attorney is slamming his brief-case shut in a sulk. Later, when Omar, Bunk, and the Prosecuting attorney (Ilene) all convene in the hall - she asks Omar if it was good for him as it was for her? And hands him her card - stating that is is good for a get-out-jail free card - for anything under aggravated assault. McNulty looks at Omar and asks if Bird is right, did he really witness it?
Omar asks McNulty if he really wants to know the answer to that question.
Okay, I'm in love with Omar at the moment. Particularly these scenes -
Court Guard - "What's the Greek God of War? Is it Mars?
Omar: Mars is also a planet.
Court Guard - I know but the question is Greek god of War (he's doing a cross-word)
Omar: Ares - try Ares. Different name. The Greeks had different names.
Court Guard - that works. Thanks.
Later...in the court
Defense attorney: Isn't it true that you are amoral?
Omar just stares at him...I mean how is he supposed to answer that question?
Omar is a wonderful character.
There's also a couple of cool Greggs and Beadie Russell moments. Greggs takes Prez and her girlfriend (Cheryl) to a club, after talking to Lester's girl about them. Lester - has gotten into a relationship with the gal that D used to be dating and they turned from S1 - who is now pursuing nursing school with Lester's encouragement. Later, Greggs takes Cheryl to the docks and tells her about the dead girls - and how they died, explaining why solving this case is important to her.
Lots going on in these episodes. Little things - such as conversation between Frank and the other dockworker (the black guy) - after they visit the home of comrade who got his leg crushed by a cargo can. Frank has given the family some cash, lots of it. The other guy (whose name I can't remember)
tells Frank a story - about the guy that got crushed. You know why we called him New Charles? His first day - was when old Charles got crushed by that cargo can which fell on him and we needed a shovel to mop him up? Well New Charles helped and that's why. Then he asks, privately, where'd you get the money? Frank doesn't say anything.
In an earlier scene - Frank has a conversation with a politican - who he is paying to promote the canal, clean it up and bring in more ships and more work. He's furious because they politican has allowed a new group to come in and bring in new technology, which will take away more jobs. The technology makes the docs safer, but also gives the jobs to robots or machinery, while the stevedores are laid-off. It's a great scene because it underlines what is happening around the world at the moment, the shrinking middle class - the high unemployment. Marketing jobs are taking the place of physical manual labor. Entrepreneurs are popping up everywhere because they can't count on company's to keep them employed and working.
Anyhow, it's late and this a bit too long again. So I'm off to bed. Had a great and long walk today, exploring a new park along the Brooklyn waterfront - gentrification in action - yes, it is wonderful, but I couldn't help thinking as I strolled past the young couples stretched out on blankets in the grass - the number of jobs lost...these used to be working docks, warfs, but no longer. Of course they've been out of commission for a very long time. But there used to be industry down there and it's been pushed out. Nice walk though. Bottoms of feet burn a little - it was incredibly long - walked the equivalent of 100 blocks maybe more, or 200 round trip. About 5 miles. Maybe 6. Easy to do in NYC without even thinking about it. Which is one of the many reasons I love NYC.
Finished watching Disc 3 of The Wire, don't get the next one until Tuesday, unfortunately. I want more.
Episodes 6 (All Prologue) and 7 (Backwash) were quite good.
There's a great bit of husband and wife dialogue at the end of Backwash that depicts why certain relationships can't last.
Daniels: I love the job. I can't help it. What I fell in love with first is the mind that is always just one step of mine, the challenge, of meeting that mind of engaging.
Marla: Know what I fell in love with? Your ambition. Where is that man?
That relationship is dead in the water. Ambition rarely lasts. But it is so true. Most of the relationships I've seen end in divorce - often do for that reason.
They killed another favorite character. Say what you will about George RR Martin but at least he only kills off characters that I don't like or find annoying. But I'll admit it was realistic. The Wire is hyper-realism, provides an indepth and unwavering view of society, and tells an entertaining story.
The only thing more real would most likely be...a documentary, and I can't watch documentaries - interviews with talking heads bore me. It's why I can't watch reality shows or commercials - they have the same things.
In All Prologue - Stringer Bell finally finesses the murder of D'Angelo - setting it up beautifully as a suicide. For a while I thought Avon had commissioned it. But no, it was Stringer without Avon's knowledge. Avon's upset and keeps justifying it as D'Angelo's weakness. The murder is perfectly forshadowed by D's analysis of The Great Gatsby and identification of Gatsby himself, a never-do-well, who makes it into a lot of money and tries to be the ideal, the man he dreamed himself to be, only to die (suicide or murder) an empty shell. He can't change who he is. Because what he has done in his life, his past actions and experiences define who he is - what he chooses to do - is what he becomes. To D - there is no redemption. A man stays what he is. And D like Gatsby is tragically killed, never allowed a second chance - Stringer Bell won't let him out. Wonder what Avon would do to Stringer if he ever found out? Not that he will - Stringer did too good a job or rather the man that Stringer paid to off D did.
Brodie in the next episode Backwash buys D a flower arrangement in the form of the projects, the tower in which they met and ran together. He was my nigger states Brodie. Nigger much like Pollack and other words of that type means something different depending on who says it. Blacks on the streets mean it one way, while white men mean it another. I've heard that word in so many different contexts in my life - as a racial slur and as a term of endearment. Just depends on who is using it. Words are always defined by context. The use of language and how it is used in The Wire fascinates me. We see nigger used in more than one way. There's a scene between Niko and a white drug dealer who calls Niko nigger and his boys niggers and Niko states - I hate to tell you this, because it may come as a shock to you and hurt your feelings, but you are not black, you are white. And I'm white. More to the point, I come from Locust Point, I'm not a corner standing project's kid.
In another scene between Niko's uncle Frank Sobotke, and a black dock worker (whose name I forget) and is co-running the docks with Frank - Niko says excuse my French, but this isn't about whether a Nigger can run the union or not, And the other guy comes back and says, excuse mine, but it's not about a Pollak ...Use of slurs to make a point.
With the tragedy of D's death overshadowing things...there are some amusing bits here and there.
Lou Rawls is still trying to get rid of those 14 homicides cluttering his deck. Landsman tells Bunk and Beadie - we are operating a MASH unit of 25 homicides a month here, if Rawls catches you two playing video games on a computer with 14 unsolved Jane Does - he'll blow. They mention that this is why they are operating out of Daniels division and doing it down there. Landsman gets an idea - can we give them to Daniels?
Rawls tries to offer the murders to Daniels. Daniels says no. Rawls states - if you take them and solve them - they make you look great in my book and to everyone. If you don't? I get to split the difference, win-win for me. Daniels - says no. Rawls looks at Landsman - he's smarter than he looks.
He's also a good boss who loves his job and cares about his people - so his people can get away with stuff. Freemon, who is a lot like McNulty, wants to solve those damn murders. So he tells the gang that they'll do what they can to do so, without telling Daniels - what Daniels doesn't know...he'll feel better about.
They actually come up with a great approach and do it gradually - anyone who loves procedurals - real procedurals not that crap on network tv that is masquerading as procedural, but real police work,
will find this interesting. Freemon's plan is for them to track a cargo shipment being brought in by a Russian Ship to the Docks, supervised by this guy named Horse - who they've managed to establish a pattern via the cloned computer of not checking shipments. So - Freemon watches the computer, Greggs is set up at the docks watching the cargo, Prez is set up outside the docks watching what leaves the checkpoints, and Bunk follows from there. They catch one that Horse drops or does not check and is not checked at the check point and is taken to an outside warehouse. Later, Greggs catches Prop Joe going into that Warehouse. Score! Watching the set-up and follow through was a thing of beauty.
Meanwhile, they attempt to get the States Attorney - Rhonda, to give them a Wire. But they can't get it, because according to the law you can only get one for drug contraband not female contraband.
Beadie:"In other words you can get one if you sell drugs, but not if you sell women?"
Rhonda: "That's the law." (The law doesn't protect women or rather illegal immigrant women. Slavery it still exists.) So they need to find something else - Prop Joe may be it.
After they get this info - Bunk talks Lester into going to Daniels and convincing Daniels to take those murders. "Why me?" asks Lester. Bunk: "Because he'll listen to you. You have the smell of a wise men on you. We each have our roles to play." Lester:"And what is your role?" Bunk:"Me? I'm a humble sole with a big dick." Lester: "You give yourself too much credit, homey." Bunk:"Yeah, I'm not that humble."
Herc and Carver - are having their own comedy routine. Herc wants a bug. But they can't get Daniels to give them one. So he convinces Carver to put his credit card down to borrow one. They make pay dirt when Niko shows up to discuss his heroine deal with the corner dealer. (Yes, Niko has ignored uncle Frank and is doing things Frank would not do, to get money. Including taking a deal with his cousin, Frank's kid, Ziggy, from the Greek that pays in half heroine/half money. Zig wants all heroine - they can make more. But Niko wisely does half and half and handles the transaction cutting the Zigster out, because...he is right the Zigster can't handle it. Ziggy is upset about this, understandably.) Unfortunately for Carver and Herc - Niko's homeboy dealer decides at that point to pick up the old tennis ball that Herc hid the bug in and play with it. So they can't hear anything more than Nik's first name. He also throws it over the roof, where it winds up in the street and run over by a truck before Carver can save it. Carver is bummed out. I'm laughing my head off. The look on Carver's face is priceless. Also, I knew that was going to happen the moment Herc put it in the used up tennis ball and hid it in a cup next to the sidewalk. After they track Nik to his place, and run the listing, discovering the apartment is in the name of Nik Sobotke. Carver puts two and two together and realizes - hello this is relation to Frank, because what are the odds of more than one Sobotke family living down here in Polish town? Herc convinces Carver to talk Daniels into giving them better surveillance equipment. They are tracking heroine now, not just girls.
Meanwhile McNulty has retired from cop-work. He's going to live out his days on the boat. The most he's going to do, he tells his estranged wife (played by Callie Thorn) is catch crab and count seagulls on a good day. All the things you hate about me? I'm changing. I'm giving up the homicide case work, I'm giving up the drinking. I'm giving up the women. Give me a second chance. She's reluctant. But she does fuck him - in a rather good scene. And she does sit out on the stoop with him and watch their kids in a tent. But she can't quite trust him. I can be friends with you, Jimmy.
I can maybe, one day, want you to be happy. But I can't trust you again. (Can't say I blame her for that - we got a glimspe in the first season of what she was dealing with. Homicide can eat at a man who cares. Unless he stops caring and makes it merely a numbers game.) McNulty has also given up on locating the name/identity of the dead Jane Doe. As the coronor states, he tried. And he did. But it was impossible.
Freemon meanwhile tells Daniels that he needs to take these murders back - he tells Daniels - if you don't can you really live with yourself day to day? Those girls died in that can. They suffocated.
They deserve to have this crime solved with real police and real police work on it. Freemon manages to hit Daniels where he lives - so he goes off to Rawls and says, you win - I take the murders. But on one condition - I get whatever resources I want from you - no crap, no bullshit, no arguments. Rawls responds with a smile and a slight laugh, "I've no problem with that." Then whistles happily. (Something tells me that Daniels being Daniels is going to pull McNulty back into this thing before we are done, and Rawls is going to regret this. Because that's the perfect way to do it...)
While the Wire certainly is far from predictable - I did see certain things coming a mile a way, but that's mainly because they are set up so well. Like for instance - I knew Daniels was going to end up with those murders - Freemon wanted to solve them too badly to let them go. And Bunk wanted to get rid of them. It's Daniels own fault for asking for Freemon - if he'd left Freemon in Homicide, the murders would most likely have stayed there. Freemon like McNulty is first a homicide detective.
I also knew D'Angelo was going to get killed, just as I knew Wallace was in S1, and Greggs was going to get her ass shot in S1 - again it was set up. You could tell Stringer was going to kill D sooner or later. D was a problem from Stringer's pov.
The Omar bit in All Prologue - was quite good. I think it was that episode. He's hilarious. Omar finally testifies at the Bird trail. But Stringer hasn't told the Defense Attorney why Omar is testifying - possibly because it's not really relevant to the case and there's no way in hell the defense attorney can discuss it. The Defense Attorney asks why Omar is testifying - what did the police offer him? Omar wisely responds - such as what? Defense attorney asks - such as a deal, something like that. Omar states - nah, it was nothing. That's not the reason he's doing this. (Bird killed Omar's boyfriend in S1, but Omar is testifying against him for the killing of the Witness (Gant) early in the season, which Stringer tells McNulty that word on the street is that there is no way Omar could have witnessed it - since he was clearly elsewhere at the time. McNulty notes to Stringer - yeah, but this isn't the street Stringer, this is a court of law. Word on the street don't matter here. Their back and forth game continues.)
Omar plays the defense attorney and the jury like a fiddle. Yeah, I rob from drug dealers for a living. The defense attorney tries to paint Omar as living off the scum of the streets, etc - stating, you are amoral, little more than a leech living off of other's labors...and aiding them in it, which I knew was a huge mistake. Because Omar, no dummy (remember Omar went to the same school as Bunk - they have a discussion about their educational backgrounds), states - "yeah, well same as you. You do the same thing I do. I just have a shot-gun and you have a brief-case." And I'm roaring with laughter - you walked right into that one, Dude. Which is basically the expression on the Judge's face - when the Defense attorney looks at him for help. The Prosecutor meanwhile is grinning her head off. McNulty who missed this particular exchange - asks how it went. And she says - it was a pleasure. The cross, was...and she just grins. McNulty looks at the defense attorney - that good, huh? The defense attorney is slamming his brief-case shut in a sulk. Later, when Omar, Bunk, and the Prosecuting attorney (Ilene) all convene in the hall - she asks Omar if it was good for him as it was for her? And hands him her card - stating that is is good for a get-out-jail free card - for anything under aggravated assault. McNulty looks at Omar and asks if Bird is right, did he really witness it?
Omar asks McNulty if he really wants to know the answer to that question.
Okay, I'm in love with Omar at the moment. Particularly these scenes -
Court Guard - "What's the Greek God of War? Is it Mars?
Omar: Mars is also a planet.
Court Guard - I know but the question is Greek god of War (he's doing a cross-word)
Omar: Ares - try Ares. Different name. The Greeks had different names.
Court Guard - that works. Thanks.
Later...in the court
Defense attorney: Isn't it true that you are amoral?
Omar just stares at him...I mean how is he supposed to answer that question?
Omar is a wonderful character.
There's also a couple of cool Greggs and Beadie Russell moments. Greggs takes Prez and her girlfriend (Cheryl) to a club, after talking to Lester's girl about them. Lester - has gotten into a relationship with the gal that D used to be dating and they turned from S1 - who is now pursuing nursing school with Lester's encouragement. Later, Greggs takes Cheryl to the docks and tells her about the dead girls - and how they died, explaining why solving this case is important to her.
Lots going on in these episodes. Little things - such as conversation between Frank and the other dockworker (the black guy) - after they visit the home of comrade who got his leg crushed by a cargo can. Frank has given the family some cash, lots of it. The other guy (whose name I can't remember)
tells Frank a story - about the guy that got crushed. You know why we called him New Charles? His first day - was when old Charles got crushed by that cargo can which fell on him and we needed a shovel to mop him up? Well New Charles helped and that's why. Then he asks, privately, where'd you get the money? Frank doesn't say anything.
In an earlier scene - Frank has a conversation with a politican - who he is paying to promote the canal, clean it up and bring in more ships and more work. He's furious because they politican has allowed a new group to come in and bring in new technology, which will take away more jobs. The technology makes the docs safer, but also gives the jobs to robots or machinery, while the stevedores are laid-off. It's a great scene because it underlines what is happening around the world at the moment, the shrinking middle class - the high unemployment. Marketing jobs are taking the place of physical manual labor. Entrepreneurs are popping up everywhere because they can't count on company's to keep them employed and working.
Anyhow, it's late and this a bit too long again. So I'm off to bed. Had a great and long walk today, exploring a new park along the Brooklyn waterfront - gentrification in action - yes, it is wonderful, but I couldn't help thinking as I strolled past the young couples stretched out on blankets in the grass - the number of jobs lost...these used to be working docks, warfs, but no longer. Of course they've been out of commission for a very long time. But there used to be industry down there and it's been pushed out. Nice walk though. Bottoms of feet burn a little - it was incredibly long - walked the equivalent of 100 blocks maybe more, or 200 round trip. About 5 miles. Maybe 6. Easy to do in NYC without even thinking about it. Which is one of the many reasons I love NYC.
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Date: 2011-07-04 03:07 pm (UTC)"" I'd read it as an influence from tragedy: in a way you know very quickly how things are going to end, but what's more interesting is how the trap is slowly closing down on the character, how his own efforts to get out of it only end in making his dismise more ineluctable.
"" I caught that, but my first reaction as someone who lives outside of the US was to feel how history is still living through this peculiar noun. African American people have appropriated it but in certain usings one can feel how its heavily loaded.
"" It's little scenes like that that made appreciate her greatly. Season 2 is great for her character development.
Ah the trial scene, it's a great one. I love how Omar takes the time to observe and assess the Defense attorney before striking back.
Omar's amorality is a very complex question, because obviously the guy has a moral code. It's one of the things that I find the most fascinating about this character.