The Wire - S3 - Episode 4 - New Amsterdam
Jul. 12th, 2011 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatGoing to HBO to see who certain people are in The Wire, contains spoilers that I could have done without. Must stay away. I only went there to figure out who the heck this Norman character was that people mentioned. Still no clue who he is. Looks like maybe a future character?
Finished watching Episode 4 of S3. Moving along. Although I think I may be talking to myself about it now, or you've grown sick of my posts on it? Hard to tell. Blogging is an odd experience. I rarely comment on posts - because unless I have something interesting to say, what's the point? And responding, same deal? Also..well see my landmines post before this one, assuming I don't regret it tomorrow and delete it.
Anyhow...this episode appeared to be setting stuff up more than anything else. McNulty may be an ass, but he's not wrong - they are going after the wrong people and kissing ass to further Daniels career.
The Wire does an excellent job of cynically revealing the power hierarchy and one-upmanship that seems to take precedence. You can't really fix anything. There is no better system. And no matter how good you are as a cop...it won't matter.
I still love McNulty - possibly for all the reasons a lot of people may despise him, and understandably so. He is in a way a fantasy character for us rule-abiding folk who don't step outside the lines. Omar as well for that matter - Omar is very much the anti-hero character. McNulty and Omar remind me a lot of each other...both are gunning for Stringer Bell and have more or less been doing so since the beginning. Both step outside the bounds to do it, in their own ways. And both end up with casualties, because it's never simple. Often hurting people they care about. Hence McNulty's catchphrase - "what the fuck did I do?" McNulty also reminds me a great deal of a classic noir trope - of the private dick who just won't let go of a case, even though it is clearly destroying him. The noir hero who can't achieve his goal, the more he fights to pull himself and his world out of the abyss, the farther he falls inside it.
There's a great bit about the cell phones. And how the dealers have changed their tactics. First it's pagers and pay phones, then cells, then meet to meets, now it is burners - or cells that don't have a lot of minutes or are used and they can dispose of easily.
McNulty: How the hell are we supposed to put a Wire on that?
Lester: Got to give them credit. They learn. And fast.
They can't win. It's either their own system, the police force, and their bosses who pull the rug out from under them. Their target adapts. Or...the politicians.
Lester: Stringer is worse than a drug dealer.
McNulty: He's a developer.
How the drug money affects the city, reaches into it.
In this episode I laughed out loud when McNulty found out Daniels was well, hee, involved with Rhonda.
Rather like that relationship - Rhonda and Daniels have much better chemistry. And they understand each other. Also Daniels is a grown-up, McNulty, as Rhonda put it once, is a child. But a great cop.
At any rate, I do like how they film their sex scenes - most of which are eluded to, and take place off stage, with Daniels body exhibited more than Rhonda's - we see his chest instead of hers - his is prettier. Much prefer it. Lance Reddick and Idris Elba have the best bodies on the show, no question about it, with Michael Williams (Omar) not that far behind. I do have a feeling that their relationship may cause problems with his wife's run for city council. But maybe not.
Later in a bar, Daniels and McNulty have a rather awkward conversation about it - which McNulty is actually very civilized about. As well he should be, since he had no claims on Rhonda and treated her like the gal he slept with when no one else was available (ie. like shit). So he redeemed himself a bit when he told Daniels - that he had no problem with it, and wished them both well.
I love Daniels and don't blame him for how he has to run that unit. I agree with Lester Freamon - who is hunting a middle road between McNulty and Daniels. Which leads to another funny scene - after he reams McNulty and Kima for following Stringer Bell and ignoring the Kettle case that they've been assigned, he tells Prez to pull the properties that McNulty mentioned. When McNulty gets back from his two days of tracking Stringer and grinning like a cat - about what he knows, Lester tells him what he found out, and Kima tells him her discoveries...both of which confirm and trump McNulty. Great series of scenes.
Lester tells McNulty he has three days to come up with a case and work it like real police, if he doesn't, he has to rejoin their unit. He owes Daniels for peeling his ass off that boat. This unit may not be perfect but it is better than either have had in quite some time and McNulty knows it.
Bunk meanwhile is trying to solve a murder case at the same time he's being ordered to track down a gun. His hunt for the gun, and Landsman's bugging him about that gun are hilarious. At one point he shoves his business card on a bunch of dealers demanding they produce it in exchange for charges being dismissed. Regarding the murder case? He figures out it involves Omar and that he needs McNulty to produce Omar again.
Rather good episode with some nice character moments. Stringer and Donette. McNulty playing with Stringer.
Bunny in a school full of dealer kids that he can't convince to move to the vacant lots to sell their dope and away from the residential districts - hence the title - New Amsterdam. Bunny tells the kids - the vacant lots are their New Amsterdam. He has Herc and Carver herding them in that direction.
Tommy Carchietti and his betting, always winning. Show's that Tommy plays the game and does it well.
The consummate manipulator and politician. He works both his friends, and the old school-mate, who his friends think he wants to fuck and literally bet he can't convince to have a drink with him only to end paying for all their drinks - but no, he has no interest in that - he wants her to run his campaign. To get him elected mayor.
McNulty/Kima and Bubbles - and how Bubbles gets information, plays McNulty and Kima for money, and plays the streets for info - smart guy Bubbles, shame he's such a fuck-up, but aren't we all at times. Have to give Carchietti credit for seeing that. That's another line that fits the Wire - it's not about color, Carchietti states, it goes beyond that. People can't get ahead. White or Black. Whether he's sincere in wanting to change it or not, I can't tell.
I love the title line - "What you have to go and fuck with the program for?" A line that applies to Omar, McNulty, Bunny, and Carchietti - four people who don't like the status quo who are fed up and start shaking things up. Not being a person who likes to shake things up, chaos makes me edgy, and having been thrust in more than one chaotic situation in my life (every company I join seems to be either merging, going through major changes, or being shook up in some way) - I find characters who do fuck with the program fascinating. It's a narrative trope I happen to like quite a bit.
Okay off to bed.
Finished watching Episode 4 of S3. Moving along. Although I think I may be talking to myself about it now, or you've grown sick of my posts on it? Hard to tell. Blogging is an odd experience. I rarely comment on posts - because unless I have something interesting to say, what's the point? And responding, same deal? Also..well see my landmines post before this one, assuming I don't regret it tomorrow and delete it.
Anyhow...this episode appeared to be setting stuff up more than anything else. McNulty may be an ass, but he's not wrong - they are going after the wrong people and kissing ass to further Daniels career.
The Wire does an excellent job of cynically revealing the power hierarchy and one-upmanship that seems to take precedence. You can't really fix anything. There is no better system. And no matter how good you are as a cop...it won't matter.
I still love McNulty - possibly for all the reasons a lot of people may despise him, and understandably so. He is in a way a fantasy character for us rule-abiding folk who don't step outside the lines. Omar as well for that matter - Omar is very much the anti-hero character. McNulty and Omar remind me a lot of each other...both are gunning for Stringer Bell and have more or less been doing so since the beginning. Both step outside the bounds to do it, in their own ways. And both end up with casualties, because it's never simple. Often hurting people they care about. Hence McNulty's catchphrase - "what the fuck did I do?" McNulty also reminds me a great deal of a classic noir trope - of the private dick who just won't let go of a case, even though it is clearly destroying him. The noir hero who can't achieve his goal, the more he fights to pull himself and his world out of the abyss, the farther he falls inside it.
There's a great bit about the cell phones. And how the dealers have changed their tactics. First it's pagers and pay phones, then cells, then meet to meets, now it is burners - or cells that don't have a lot of minutes or are used and they can dispose of easily.
McNulty: How the hell are we supposed to put a Wire on that?
Lester: Got to give them credit. They learn. And fast.
They can't win. It's either their own system, the police force, and their bosses who pull the rug out from under them. Their target adapts. Or...the politicians.
Lester: Stringer is worse than a drug dealer.
McNulty: He's a developer.
How the drug money affects the city, reaches into it.
In this episode I laughed out loud when McNulty found out Daniels was well, hee, involved with Rhonda.
Rather like that relationship - Rhonda and Daniels have much better chemistry. And they understand each other. Also Daniels is a grown-up, McNulty, as Rhonda put it once, is a child. But a great cop.
At any rate, I do like how they film their sex scenes - most of which are eluded to, and take place off stage, with Daniels body exhibited more than Rhonda's - we see his chest instead of hers - his is prettier. Much prefer it. Lance Reddick and Idris Elba have the best bodies on the show, no question about it, with Michael Williams (Omar) not that far behind. I do have a feeling that their relationship may cause problems with his wife's run for city council. But maybe not.
Later in a bar, Daniels and McNulty have a rather awkward conversation about it - which McNulty is actually very civilized about. As well he should be, since he had no claims on Rhonda and treated her like the gal he slept with when no one else was available (ie. like shit). So he redeemed himself a bit when he told Daniels - that he had no problem with it, and wished them both well.
I love Daniels and don't blame him for how he has to run that unit. I agree with Lester Freamon - who is hunting a middle road between McNulty and Daniels. Which leads to another funny scene - after he reams McNulty and Kima for following Stringer Bell and ignoring the Kettle case that they've been assigned, he tells Prez to pull the properties that McNulty mentioned. When McNulty gets back from his two days of tracking Stringer and grinning like a cat - about what he knows, Lester tells him what he found out, and Kima tells him her discoveries...both of which confirm and trump McNulty. Great series of scenes.
Lester tells McNulty he has three days to come up with a case and work it like real police, if he doesn't, he has to rejoin their unit. He owes Daniels for peeling his ass off that boat. This unit may not be perfect but it is better than either have had in quite some time and McNulty knows it.
Bunk meanwhile is trying to solve a murder case at the same time he's being ordered to track down a gun. His hunt for the gun, and Landsman's bugging him about that gun are hilarious. At one point he shoves his business card on a bunch of dealers demanding they produce it in exchange for charges being dismissed. Regarding the murder case? He figures out it involves Omar and that he needs McNulty to produce Omar again.
Rather good episode with some nice character moments. Stringer and Donette. McNulty playing with Stringer.
Bunny in a school full of dealer kids that he can't convince to move to the vacant lots to sell their dope and away from the residential districts - hence the title - New Amsterdam. Bunny tells the kids - the vacant lots are their New Amsterdam. He has Herc and Carver herding them in that direction.
Tommy Carchietti and his betting, always winning. Show's that Tommy plays the game and does it well.
The consummate manipulator and politician. He works both his friends, and the old school-mate, who his friends think he wants to fuck and literally bet he can't convince to have a drink with him only to end paying for all their drinks - but no, he has no interest in that - he wants her to run his campaign. To get him elected mayor.
McNulty/Kima and Bubbles - and how Bubbles gets information, plays McNulty and Kima for money, and plays the streets for info - smart guy Bubbles, shame he's such a fuck-up, but aren't we all at times. Have to give Carchietti credit for seeing that. That's another line that fits the Wire - it's not about color, Carchietti states, it goes beyond that. People can't get ahead. White or Black. Whether he's sincere in wanting to change it or not, I can't tell.
I love the title line - "What you have to go and fuck with the program for?" A line that applies to Omar, McNulty, Bunny, and Carchietti - four people who don't like the status quo who are fed up and start shaking things up. Not being a person who likes to shake things up, chaos makes me edgy, and having been thrust in more than one chaotic situation in my life (every company I join seems to be either merging, going through major changes, or being shook up in some way) - I find characters who do fuck with the program fascinating. It's a narrative trope I happen to like quite a bit.
Okay off to bed.
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 08:37 am (UTC)I did mean to keep commenting on your posts about the show, but was so knackered after the weekend I haven't really commented on anything much.
Re: Norman - I don't remember a character with that name. When does he get mentioned? Also I'm glad you're coming around to Pearlman and Daniels. I do love that pairing. Shall re-upload my spoilery icon now that you've got that far.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-14 11:13 pm (UTC)Totally understand. Also you are doing your own posts on Game, which I'm enjoying quite a bit. I think I prefer the tv show to the books at the moment.
Love the TV show to bits. It was surprisingly good - completely worth my decision to subscribe to HBO (which I admittedly did for it and for this Seasons True Blood.)
Also I'm glad you're coming around to Pearlman and Daniels. I do love that pairing. Shall re-upload my spoilery icon now that you've got that far.
I need some icons of the Wire. The one I want though is of Greggs.
And yes, I've decided that I adore the Pearlman/Daniels pairing - finally Daniels has found a woman who appreciates him and someone who understands his goals. Also Pearlman deserves a guy who gets her. Plus I'm enjoying it vicarously - Daniels is hot.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-15 11:46 am (UTC)I would happily subscribe direct to HBO if I could, but unfortunately the option isn't available. Maybe one day. In the meantime, HBO have done a deal with Sky in the UK, which has bought their entire back catalogue and has exclusive rights to their new shows. Since I don't have Sky (and won't pay for it), I have to access these shows however I can.
Re: The Wire icons - there's a community called
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 10:20 am (UTC)There's another favourite character being introduced pretty soon, though. No spoilers.
Bunny Colvin is tha man.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 12:18 pm (UTC)There's a funny bit in the first episode where he tells new recruits to figure out which way is north and east and west, and to buy a compass if they can't figure it out.
And yep, a great character. I love him. He
decided not to play the numbers and just tell the truth and refused to let Burrell or Rawls scare him. "I've got five months left, there's little they can do to me now..." Plus he's being heavily recruited for something else.
I got spoiled on what happens to him by just looking a the cast and crew pictures on HBO, dang it. Also got spoiled on Tommy Carchetti, although David Simon already sort of did that in his commentary.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 06:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 01:50 pm (UTC)There really is a character called Norman? Why can't I remember him?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 06:49 pm (UTC)I'm guessing he shows up in S4 as a political assistant to Tommy. Since I'm only in S3, was highly annoyed to be spoiled on that. Dang HBO. ;-)
PS: The Game of Thrones website on HBO isn't quite as spoilery.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 07:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 07:54 pm (UTC)The HBO site is full of spoilers, it's better to stay away from it.
Wanted to say something about Carcetti but I'll have to wait till you are farther in the series.
"". I'm still very interested in your posts. But as there wasn't any answer to my comments these last days, I feared you had grown tired of my prattle, so I stopped.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-13 10:27 pm (UTC)Oh, sorry about that. I'm not tired of your comments. Quite enjoy them.
Just haven't had the time to respond. They require a more thoughtful response. And I can't quite decide whether I agree with you or not.
Sometimes I don't comment - because I have nothing significant to add. Others because I can't figure out how to word it. And still others...because I don't quite agree but can't quite figure out how to explain it.
But it wasn't because I didn't like your comments. Enjoy them quite a bit actually.
I think we disagree a bit on Frank Sobotke - but that may well be that I've just seen a lot more of this particular narrative trope than you have - in part because I've watched a lot, and I do mean, a lot of American television and film, including some really bad tv shows and films. That said, spoke to a guy who is from Baltimore, Maryland and who lived there in the 90s, who told me the waterfront was a corrupt mess and has since become gentrified. So The Wire is rather accurate. And your point was supported by the writer, David Simon, in his commentary to episode 2 as well as by Tommy Carchietti who states more or less the same thing - that problems really aren't racial.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-14 01:39 am (UTC)I'd add Stringer to your list, as he's trying to change how the drug dealing system works and also his place in the system.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-14 11:08 pm (UTC)I can't fault him for that. Unfortunately I think Marlo may do him in.
Also the actor is definitely hot. Am considering watching the TV miniseries Luther via netflix - so I can see him again.