The Wire- Season Three

[stonemonkts]

That was one of the best episodes of any of the seasons thus far. It was vibrant, visually distinctive from most of the others, and extremely well-written from beginning to end. Some great location shots too, especially the outdoor crab joint.

[Jon Abbey]

That was one of the best episodes of any of the seasons thus far. It was vibrant, visually distinctive from most of the others, and extremely well-written from beginning to end. Some great location shots too, especially the outdoor crab joint.

agreed, and you know why? first Richard Price episode, that guy kicks ass. the Olsen Twins/Gus Triandos running dialogue was almost Reservoir Dogs level, and I mean that in a good way.

the opening credits are better than they were first season, but the Neville Brothers version of "Way Down in the Hole" is pretty wack, certainly not good enough for repeated listening. the synth solo near the end is brutal.

[Gordon B]

He came up through the Yankee organization and hit 30 HR in 1958.

[Brian Olewnick]

Loved the movie theater scene. Still really intrigued by Marlo (Marlowe?)--great look to that guy.

Beginning to fear that Stringer won't survive.

[hearsay]

Finally caught it last night since I work Sunday night(twice actually, as an experienced Wire viewer now I know what I have to do). Great episode all around. Stringer has problems- he's got Omar calling him out, and if he doesn't deal with that he looks like a bitch to his people; He's got McNulty digging up D'angelo's "suicide", and soon Avon will be out to take care of business.

Loved the line about- "where do you get those hats with the bills on the side?" and the movie theater scene was great too, Bodie says, "See you tomorrow". Herc and Carver are hilarious.

[stonemonkts]

Finally caught it last night since I work Sunday night(twice actually, as an experienced Wire viewer now I know what I have to do).

I always tape them and watch them at least twice. I find I enjoy them more with each viewing, and also catch nuances I missed the first time.

The scene I enjoyed the most on the second viewing was the Bunk-McNulty interrogation of "Cheese". That is a classic.

[Jon Abbey]

too bad Richard Price didn't help write all the episodes this year, clear qualitative difference between this week and last week (and that's not biased with prior knowledge, I didn't check the writer until after I saw the show).

they're starting to detour into a few too many subplots also, the ex-con trying to get back together with his ex who's now a teacher could easily get annoying if they don't directly tie it back in somehow.

anyway, not bad, but as I said during the whole Sopranos season, when you only have 12 or 13 episodes each year, you need to make each and every one count, and this one didn't quite cut it.

[Brian Olewnick]

Agreed. Too many threads jammed in, too little time spent with each. I do, however, appreciate any episode with a lot of Sonja Sohn face-time....

[stonemonkts]

I wanted to post my impressions of episode 3 this morning, but decided not until I get a chance to see it again.

Fwiw, I thought it was a major letdown after last week's stellar episode. It wasn't bad, just not nearly as good. One bright spot was the McNulty visit to the prison library.

The Irish wake scene was pretty lame, and the weasel councilman banging the bimbo was unnecessary. For once I even thought the actor who plays Rawls was given weak lines, which is fucked because he swallows his part hook line and sinker, usually.

Who wrote it? I didn't take notice.

[Jon Abbey]

the pullquotes at the start of each show are fucking stupid also, not nearly as bad as that annoying narrator in a wheelchair in Oz but also unnecessary.

[stonemonkts]

I've been to one of those wakes, and yes it was realistic. I just found the scene a bit forced, especially when they cut to the black characters singing along.

The episode was ok overall, but last week set me up for something much better.

[Jon Abbey]

Who wrote it? I didn't take notice.

Dennis Lehane.

http://www.hbo.com/thewire/episode/?...feat_main_text

[stonemonkts]

Thanks, Jon.

He wrote "Mystic River" the book.

I agree it's a shame they didn't allow Price to run with the season. He certainly proved his Wire "chops" last week.

[Jon Abbey]

yeah, again, I can't really recommend Price's book Freedomland highly enough to Wire fans. Clockers is quite good also, but Freedomland is his best. plus it takes place in a (slightly fictionalized) Jersey City! have you read either or both of these, Brian?

[Brian Olewnick]

I read, and enjoyed, 'Clockers', but not 'Freedomland'.

I also found the notion that the black policemen and detectives would be readily knowing and singing along to the relatively intricate Irish ditty a little questionable. Hey, maybe they've been to enough Irish wakes that it's second nature, but it struck me as odd.

[Jon Abbey]

I read, and enjoyed, 'Clockers', but not 'Freedomland'.

ah, but did you read it when you still lived in NYC and couldn't appreciate the Hudson County-ness of it?

[Brian Olewnick]

ah, but did you read it when you still lived in NYC and couldn't appreciate the Hudson County-ness of it?

Yeah, I probably couldn't have located Jersey City on a map then.

[Gordon B]

One puzzling thing, Bunk saying "Kofi Bryant." Was he confusing Kobe Bryant with Kofi Amman?

I agree with stone that the councilman banging the bimbo was unneccesary. We already knew the guy wasn't the most ethical guy without the point being literally drilled home.

[Jon Abbey]

One puzzling thing, Bunk saying "Kofi Bryant." Was he confusing Kobe Bryant with Kofi Amman?

yeah, that was what I thought, another failed attempt by Lehane to be clever.

[Jazzooo]

I liked the Kofi Bryant malaprop.

"I also found the notion that the black policemen and detectives would be readily knowing and singing along to the relatively intricate Irish ditty a little questionable. "

I totally agree--that was one intricate melody, with an awful lot of non-repeating lyrics! I don't think the fact that some of the singers are black has anything to do with it, though--that song would be tough to memorize for anyone.

[Jazzooo]

Some good moments last night, but it also rambled a bit for me. And frankly, I don't know what the writers are doing with Lester's character. For two seasons now, he's been able to hold his cool, going from cynic to supercop. I don't think he ever raised his voice once back then, instead using either a stare or a chesire cat-like grin to convey his emotions. THis season, he's had several bitchy outbursts and last night's was the worst. So out of character for this guy. I understand the rationalization, and yes, he's now back on track, but he wouldn't have done that to McNulty and said the things he did if the writers had referenced last season's footage a little more carefully.

Maybe his agent lobbied for 'more emotionality to show range.'

[stonemonkts]

Some good moments last night, but it also rambled a bit for me.

Yeah, me too.

Last night's episode was on par with the prior week, but again far below the one written by Price.

I think Stringer should whack McNulty as he stumbles out of a bar. He better start removing his enemies, or else he is doomed.

[Brian Olewnick]

Thought last night's was a little better than the week before in terms of setting up future plot developments.

While I'm generally bored by extracurricular romantic entanglements in shows like this, I do rather appreciate the current affair between Cedric and the DA. The contrast between his sterling, upstanding character and this "slip" is being handled in interesting fashion, not so much as a sneering "see, even these morally upright characters have a seedy side" but more as a simple fact of the human condition.

I also like the whole idea of Stringer getting into seriously legal businesses, ones that might well help the community. The irony is certainly interesting...

[hearsay]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we to conclude that Cedric and his wife were separated and that he was going to be posing as good husband for her campaign. His relationship with the DA may end up biting them in the ass, but wouldn't really be considered cheating.

Despite being a little rambling, the last two episodes did have some exciting moments, and I think we're see some of these threads starting to come together already.

[Gordon B]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we to conclude that Cedric and his wife were separated and that he was going to be posing as good husband for her campaign. His relationship with the DA may end up biting them in the ass, but wouldn't really be considered cheating.

Despite being a little rambling, the last two episodes did have some exciting moments, and I think we're see some of these threads starting to come together already.

Hearsay, you are correct about Cedric.

At this point in the season, the third season does not measure up to the first two. One reason is that the actor playing councilman Thomas Carcetti is weak. The actor who played Frank Sabotka in season two was brilliant. It helped that his character was more multi-dimensional but I think there's a world of difference in acting chops between the two men.

[Brian Olewnick]

Huh. Didn't realize they were separated; thought they were merely cool to each other.

Agreed about the councilman. Was a little annoyed (as far as plot developments go) to see in the previews that McNulty and that prospective campaign chairman will be entangled.

[Jon Abbey]

Was a little annoyed (as far as plot developments go) to see in the previews that McNulty and that prospective campaign chairman will be entangled.

in the future, would you mind not referencing the previews, since some of us avoid them to not spoil anything? grazie.

agreed with most of the above, that episode was a little better than last week, not nearly as good as the Price one. hopefully Avon will be out next week, that should be entertaining. I kind of like the councilman, Gordon, I just think the political thing in general is more boring than the dock guys. two more Price episodes still coming this season (as I recall), maybe they're saving him for when the action picks up.

[Gordon B]

I think there's a reason why the political thing is boring.

The Wire has shown the police, the Barksdale crew, and the docks union not as good/bad/bad but in all cases a mixture of good and bad. However, the politicians are depicted as mostly bad. It's easier to identify with Avon or even Omar than the bags of shit politicos.

I hope that Stringer survives the season. I'd like to see him become a pillar of the establishment and known for charitable causes and providing housing for the poor. I'd like to see him end the season running for office.

[Brian Olewnick]

.

I hope that Stringer survives the season. I'd like to see him become a pillar of the establishment and known for charitable causes and providing housing for the poor. I'd like to see him end the season running for office.

That's exactly what I was thinking yesterday. The idea that he could become an absolutely legit businessman/politican (albeit based on a criminal foundation), and a possibly admirable one at that, could be very interesting.

btw, on historical grounds, Baltimore did have a mayor, Curt Schmoke (sp?) who advocated the legalization of (at least some) drugs.

[Jon Abbey]

I don't know about identifying, but Omar's the best character on the show, he's like Adebisi was in the good seasons on Oz. he's a little more two-dimensional lately, but I was really digging him for a while.