While we're on the subject of David Simon's other work... I am currently re-watching Generation Kill, and if anything, I am enjoying it even more on second viewing. Its essentially a war story told in the style of The Wire, and with many of the same themes--particularly the problem of maintaining one's integrity and moral compass when forced to work within a dysfunctional institution. Fans of The Wire will immediately recognize James Ransome, who played Ziggy Sobotka in Season 2, as the motor-mouthed Corporal Josh Ray Person.
Uh, it's hard to remember (probably should have just written it in spoilers). Something about organized crime and the idea of the murder of prostitutes combined with the political corruption and ruthlessness involved seems more shocking, even if the actual acts aren't really all that different (Avon killed people, clearly there was government corruption as well with Clay Davis being involved, etc). It just seemed that people accept it as long as it's part of the game, while The Greek was outside the game. That being said, the drug connection is a big thing. As much as the dealers want to act better by being part of the game and as much as the Russians/whoever they are want to keep their hands clean when it comes to the street stuff, they're an interconnected part of the criminal half of the city - and this connection is stronger than anyone wants to admit.
The initial murders weren't the same, as the organization doing the cover up. Its like when they were testing Bodie if he killed the chop shop crew to cover for his mistake. The other crimes of the Greek's organization were on the same level as the Barksdale organization.
Season 3 looks like it's going to have more to do with Season 1 than 2. We even get a scene of McNulty pushing past a box marked "Dock Case" to a box marked "Barksdale". Stringer introduces the rules of parliamentary order to the street. Gotta love "Shaft". Carver looks like a fool up on top of his car. It's amazing that this show keeps pulling back the camera, from the drugs, to the shipping, now to City Hall. By season 5, we'll be seeing how the heroin is grown in Colombia...
Well, not quite. Spoiler: the new setting of season four and season five Season four tackles public education; season five tackles the media, principally print journalism. That's not a huge spoiler by any means, but just in case... Season three isn't my favorite year, but it has a terrific climax.
As has been said, season 2 is a bit of an aberration from he rest of the show, seasons 1, 3, 4 & 5 focus more on different aspects of West Baltimore gangs. The stevedores are now out of the picture, although Nick does make a brief appearance later on. However, the dock storyline wasn't entirely self-contained and did introduce a very important element that will come into play later. "You do not get to win, shit-bird! We do!!" Season 3 is the point where Carver starts to grow into one of my favourite characters, thanks to the introduction of Major Colvin. (Actually, Colvin was introduced in season 2 as a nod ahead to what was to come in season 3.) Afghanistan, actually. Most of the cop characters decide to join to army in order to stop the drug trade at its source, and the Barksdale crew join with Afghani warlords in order to stop them. It was a serious jump-the-shark moment.
I'd say the series does keep expanding its horizons, in ways. Spoiler: seasons 4 & 5 The fourth season doesn't show us where they get the drugs; but it does show us where the drug dealers come from; how tenuous the legitimate aspect of society is for Baltimore's poor. And then the fifth season shows us the media that'll get more worked up over a dozen allegedly sexual murders then it will over twenty-two homicides of black men... and so why nothing ever frigging changes becomes as clear as day. Aw, c'mon. The scene where Stringer Bell and Osama bin Laden discuss market share strategies and compare their graphs of expected expotential growth is arguably the highlight of the series.
Honestly, Season 3 annoyed me by going back to the war on drugs. At the time I was still thinking of the show as cops vs. bad guys and I was upset that they ran out of ideas and was already reusing the bad guys from season 1. Plus, the season went so slowly at first that it took a leap of faith for me to believe it was really going somewhere. But, in the big picture, it works well. In the overall theme of the series of why things are the way they are and how things both change and stay the same, this season illustrates that point quite clearly. Plus Spoiler: season 3 The political aspect with Carcetti really broadened the focus of the show to truly cover all of Baltimore and allowed them to bring in the schools in Season 4
I had a totally different response. The 'bad guys' from season 1 hadn't gone anywhere; the Barksdale story was a secondary strain of the second year - and with the evolution of Stringer Bell as a character and the suggestion that Avon would be out of jail after serving a single year of his term, it seemed inevitable we'd face the Barksdales again. I felt the evolution of the drug war and the drug dealers was just way more important and interesting then the stevedores. Man I had a smile on my face thoroughout Stringer Bell's market strategy meeting - the boys were back. Spoiler: end of season 3 I was in for a much greater shock, really, when the series then wrapped up the Barksdale saga with two seasons left to go.
There is another reference to the dock workers and it even reminds you of when Bubbs was checking out Sydnor before he went undercover in season 1. But few will notice it on first viewing.
Colicchio, the Wire narcotics detective with the high-and-tight haircut, also turns up as the shotgun-toting battalion XO in Generation Kill. As for Season 3, the return to the Barksdale investigation is understandable as it's a perfect way to examine the next level of police and city dysfunction. Just to be on the safe side... Spoiler: The Wire S3 S1 and S2 showed McNulty et al at odds with their bosses, but S3 get into why the bosses are the way they are, and what the happens to those who try thinking outside the box, in police HQ or city hall. As I've said before, I found Burrell and Rawls's ComStat meetings to be some of the most uncomfortable segments of the whole series, violent crimes and all! --Justin
Spoiler: season 3 I was glad the show went back to the Barksdale gang as the were some of the most interesting characters in the show, and the Stringer/Avon relationship provided some of the best character drama The Wire ever did. But more than that, season 3 didn't return to the War on Drugs in a normal way, it introduced an interesting "what if" scenario with Hamsterdam and showed the positives and negatives of such a venture. That was the perfect opportunity to introduce politics into the show, and the political aspect is one of the things that kept the show so interesting in the later seasons. I must admit, I'm flummoxed. All I can remember is Frank Sobotka's poster showing up in the season 3 montage.
Ziggy's checker partner and his distictive beard is in the background when we meet an undercover officer.
Up to 3.4 now... Highlights - Omar isn't invulnerable. A stick up goes bad, on some bad luck. Major Colvin and his "I'm almost out... what they gonna do to me?" I love the attitude... but he doesn't know he's a character on The Wire, so he's gonna get screwed. Especially as a decent, competent character. McNulty and Bunk working the bar scene. Love it. Cedric (I mean, Daniels) and McNulty finally talk about Rhonda. I hope that's the end of it - I watched Battlestar Galactica; I know how these things can go wrong. But I'm sure it's not over... Cole's wake - the BPD gets their Irish on. Kima "Damn, I'm turning into McNulty." I love how disposable cell phones are a new thing to these people. It's 2010! no, wait... (In season 2, Zigg had to explain an internet search to Nicky!) Major Colvin can't talk to a gym full of dealers... but a high school principal can. Awesome... but eerily true. Reason isn't going to work. I don't like watching Freamon and McNulty fight. It's like watching your parents fight - who do you back? Can't we all be friends? I have yet to watch any of the extra - though it seems like the extras are really just the odd commentary track. Two questions - are they spoilery? - are they any good?
Colbert: "Thank you Ray" Person: "Thank you Sargeant" The only thing wrong with Generation Kill was that it was so short. Of course, it was following a factual account and couldn't continue but it was so well done I couldn't help wishing for more.
I'd agree with that, but I love the bit that the moment McNulty is out of earshot, Freamon asks for the stuff he's referring to be pulled. Heaven forfend Freamon admit McNulty has a point to his face.
Jonny Fifty? I just checked and it seems he appeared in season 5 but I must have missed it, I'll have to watch out for it when I watch it again. He may be decent and competent, but he's also the one serving his ass up to get screwed. He's a nice guy and I don't have any ideological problems with his plan, but he does seem a bit naive about the shit-storm he's brewing. You don't have to worry too much, from what I remember McNulty pretty much drops it and moves on. It's certainly no Quadrangle of Doom. That wake is good, but there's another one in the final season that ranks as one of my favourite moments in the show. Obviously, I'm not going to mention whose wake it is. I only listened to a couple and from what I remember they frequently spoiled events from later in the season but I don't think they spoiled information from later seasons. All I can really remember is the one in season 2 where Dominic West and Michael K Williams are upset when they realise that they're not watching the episode where Nick's girlfriend was topless while getting dressed. On a side note, Michael K Williams is the coolest man alive. Not only did he play Omar, he was also the cop from Trapped in the Closet. How could one man possible be more awesome?
Yeah, he and Nicky came across to me as the writers trying to make a point - there's no life at the docks for a young man. Whether you're stupid or decent, you'll end up crooked because there's no other kind of life... because Baltimore is rotten. The writers seem to like pointing out that Baltimore is a craphole. I figured. He's got that "so bizarre, if you made him up, you'd make him more likable and more believable" vibe. How did you learn this? Where do people find out what's taken from real life on the show? again, hammering the point that good people have no options in this city. I found it disturbing but also pathetic. It was clear he was walking to his doom - he should have known too. And the show made it clear too, that the Greek was promising things he couldn't deliver. It was like Frank was walking through a script he had no choice in. I also found that scene hammered the "if only he'd waited one day" irony a little too hard. Absolutely. I didn't need to see that major throwing up in the head to know that they were all freaked out by their bastard bosses... except Bunny. I just watched our crew react to the news that Avon's out, and between that and ComStat, it's a miracle anyone wants to be a cop.