Final verse, same as the first eight: talk about "Late Editions," the penultimate episode of "The Wire" (and the last one to be shown early On Demand) here. Do not talk about this episode in last night's review thread, and do not talk about the series finale if you happen to know anything about it. All spoilers will be deleted. And since I've seen the finale, I'll know if someone's trying to be clever with a "guess" about something that actually happens.Also, as I mentioned in the episode 8 review thread, I'll be talking to David Simon sometime before the finale for a retrospective interview, and I'm open to outside questions -- whether about this season, seasons past or the series as a whole. Obviously, some will be answered with the finale, but fire away in the comments for this post. (I'm asking here so that the On Demand viewers aren't asking questions in the regular review post that give away stuff from this episode.)
252 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 252 of 252"There's Marlo's scene in the cell, Bubble's given name of Reginald and the fact that he introduced himself as such at the NA meeting and Bunny pointing out to Carcetti that it's not "Major" anymore but rather "just" Colvin. Someone else mentioned the Greek's quote from several years ago as a parallel to Marlo. Now, I'm going to have to go back and watch earlier episodes to see if there is a thread here."
For one, Bubbles has finally overcome his past and started living for today and tomorrow and, as such, has for the first time introduced himself as "Reginald" to the group (though they still call him Bubbles -- possibly related to the way that they actually *haven't* moved on from the past yet)... and all through season three, Dennis "Cutty" Wise alternated between the two, being "Cutty" with the Barksdales and "Dennis" with others, until, ultimately, he chooses "Dennis" (there's a scene towards the end of season three where somebody asks him if his name is Cutty, and he shakes his head and says "Dennis").
I agree that Chris is likrly out of action for the finale, ehich creatss a good problkem for Marlo. With Snoop dead and Chris in jail, Marlo loses his biggest asset. The reason why he always could get away with being reckless and so ambitious around the other dealers was that it was clear that Marlo had Baltimore's best muscle, guys like Cheese and Monk are probably pretty good, but they are good in the same way someone like Slim Charles is, withou Chris and Snoop Marlo is vunerable.
What's the timeline of this season? In episode 2,it's said that Bubbles is clean for 15 months already, so what was the anniversary at the meeting? 18 months? I imagine it had to be a special date given that he invited his sister. So if we are at the middle of the second year of the Carcetti administration shouldn't the budget crisis be over or nearly over?
Does anybody think we'll see Slim Charles again in the finale? Ever since Joe was offed, I've hoped that he'd team up with somebody to take down Marlo.
At the same time, he is a soldier and has never really wanted to make waves.
CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FINALE!
Watched it again last night so I could focus on the dialogue in Michael and Bug's goodbyes instead of being destroyed emotionally...and I had a question.
Michael hands Bug the box filled with $ and says "Give this to Aunt [forgot name]. Tell her there's more behind it when she finds Nee"
I rewound it 3 times to make sure he said what sounds like "Nee". So my question is...what/who is he referring to there?
"when she finds need"
"...when she finds NEED"
He's saying that she can contact him if she wants more money for raising Bug.
Obviously, Michael and his aunt love Monty Python and are sharing a private joke.
Could someone please explain to me why Michael is the only one in any of the organizations to have two jobs? Why was he the only "muscle" running his own corner?
For all we know, O-Dog and some of the other hitters also have their own corners to run. No doubt it's part of the always-efficient Stanfield organization trying to train their young employees as well as possible. That way, if there's an opening on either the drug or enforcement side of things, the young'uns are prepared to step up and fill the gap.
I think that Michael wasn't yet "muscle" -- notice how Omar didn't have him on the list. I think he was the hitter-equivalent of a trainee (like McNulty riding with Bunk for a few weeks before officially joining a squad).
Ah. My ears must be going in my old age. Thank you for the clarification and anonymous 1:44, as well as the "knight who say 'ni!" reference latest anonymous.
I think part of me wanted to think Michael was done with the corners... but he'll need to make a living to make sure Bug's taken care of.
Mike was a crew chief. Same job as D'Angelo. He ran his corner and got points on the package. He was selling over 6 G-pacs a day so that corner was yielding good profits under his management. Chris Partlow and Snoop were also training him to be a hitman in case of possible under-staffing in their muscle (natural attrition due to death or jail). Marlo Stanfield always did more with less.
Snoop said Mike was always a "smart nigga". He learned fast and could multi-task. O-Dog was dumb. That's why they kept him strictly in muscle duty.
Herc giving Snoop the half-hearted finger point goodbye was absolutely hysterical.
Herc feeling sorry for O-Dogg because he's not getting injury pay/leave was also hilarious.
What a show! After reading the comments, I think its a credit to the atmosphere David Simon has created over five seasons that a character who manufactures a serial killer and diverts important city resources would be ranked morally higher than a character who speaks up and remains honest to her soul. What a show!
It just goes to show how deeply ingrained the "anti-snitch" mentality is among the populace. I'm disgusted by the hypocrisy really. The police threaten citizens to snitch - even going as far as to throw them in jail - yet when one of their own is a dirty cop, then suddenly everyone hates "snitches". Go figure!
Question for David Simon:
Is there any chance that you might continue the story of The Wire via a novel(s)?
Frankly we all have grown to love these characters so much over the course of 5 seasons and would love to know what happens with people like Kenard, Namond, Dukie, Randy, Mike, Kima etc.....
My problem isn't with the snitching for snitching, it's with the consequences. If doing McNulty in would not let Marlo off the hook, then by all means, but he did it for good reasons, and Kima will also have to live with the results of her decision. The stop-snitching mentality is premised on stopping police from helping solve crimes; in this instance, the snitching is actually also going to help stop the police from solving the crime.
Question for David Simon:
I've read some interviews where he wonders about the role of the internet in the demise of the newspaper, and seems to equate the demise of the newspaper with the demise of The News. I'd be curious to learn what his views are of internet news sites such a Talking Points Memo, which has a staff of investigative reporters, and which can call upon a dedicated, distributed corps of volunteers to do leg work.
For example, when the government does a document dump, TPM can go distribute the material through their network and analyze, synthesize, and pick out the tiny bits of wheat meant to be masked by the avalanche of chaff. They can get to information faster than a lone journalist or author can when confronted with a mountain of paper.
It wasn't technology that destroyed the newspaper, but the profit motive. I'd love to hear his thoughts on ways Internet journalism could be superior to print.
The consequences for citizens snitching is much more precarious:
William Gant snitched. He was executed by Bird.
Randy Wagstaff snitched. Miss Anna was murdered. Randy was beaten & sent to live in a violent group home.
Raylene Lee snitched. Marlo sent Snoop to execute Michael. The boy barely escaped with his life.
Still these cops like Bunk will bully, threaten and coerce citizens into snitching AT THE RISKS OF DEATH.
Yet when there is corruption in their own department, they will keep quiet and cover up.
If McNulty is exposed, the worst that will happen is that he gets fired. So what? At least nobody will execute him.
I have much more respect for Kima than I do for Bunk (who should have reported this as soon as he witness McNulty strangle that corpse).
Kima has a moral code.
The last two episodes have been remarkable television and these have been two great discussions that make nice companions to them. Kudos. Great "Unforgiven" parallel and I love the Uncle Junior/Larry David scene, thanks for bringing that back to memory. As for the last episode, I was happy to see Snoop go. She has taken one life after another motivated only by Marlo told me to. Scary, that away from the art she may have performed similar deeds with equally pathetic motivations.
Tons of sadness in this episode. Mentioned already, but god, those scenes with Michael/Bug/Dukie in the car then Mike/Bug outside and Michael/Dukie afterward had tears in my eyes that have not been there since Randy yelled at Carver in the hospital in one of the last episodes of Season 4. Those kids have been nothing but heartbreak since they left 8th grade. With that said, it was very appropriate for Dukie to tell that story in what could be his last time around Michael. That run in with the terrace boys was one of our first introductions of them as innocent friends to us. I remember that they all smiled during that episode and eventually just got some ice cream and went home. This season has shown them all, smiles gone, god only knowing what voids they fill as they gradually move into adulthood...if I'm even naive enough to think they ever get to be adults. After being a fan of this show for the last six/seven years of my life I know that cynicism is your best bet for any character's future. Great to see Namond serve as a contrast to all their fates and when you think about it, he was the only one involved in the game when we met them all. Seeing Randy all hardened may still be the hardest to swallow, but god dammit those were some hard scenes to swallow on Sunday night.
I want to see Marlo, Chris, Cheese, and Monk killed so badly, but I can really see them getting off. Herc is SUCH AN ASSHOLE! I almost let him off the hook for five seasons of idiot/asshole behavior and he finally does something to redeem himself and then he just fucks it all up for everybody. WHAT AN ASSHOLE.
I want to see McNulty win and get away with this, but it seems that he's going to fall as well. He is truly a character committed to self destruction and as much as I hate to say it, self pity. He may just have started to realize it, but it will be too late.
Here's my dream last scene. After Slim Charles kills every last one of those Stanfield people and the killing is done and he has all the power and the control of the Co-Op, we see the gates of prison close behind Avon Barksdale as he walks out a free man, puts on a Kangol hat, tucks a gun into his pants and Slim drives him off in a giant, excessive SUV. We win!!!!! Never will happen. This isn’t a movie, this is “The Wire” and I really wouldn’t want it any other way than what our shepherds have planned.
I am also shocked at how angry people are at Kima. You could solve a lot of crimes by breaking the rules and running illegal wiretaps... and kidnapping... but it doesn't mean you should. It appears a lot of Wire viewers support the Patriot Act.
Responding to some of the comments up thread, it is absolutely necessary to judge Michael just as we judge Chris, Snoop, even Marlo. Michael is now a cold blooded killer just like the rest of them. But this cuts both ways. They were also all kids just like Michael, living through the same traumas, lacking the same support and love.
I've been trying come up with a good question for David Simon, but I keep coming back with a question to ask you all. I work in the world of the wire, so I discuss all of the issues and questions raised in the show in my real life. Both worlds consistently and heartbreakingly remind me that we are just so broken, broken, broken. All the pieces matter, and we have to put them all back together... so my question is, (my hope really) has the show inspired anyone to get involved and pick up a piece?
Is Michael going to get arrested? He's driving without a license! Just a few episodes back, he had to pay a "hack" to take him, Duke & Bug to the amusement park because of no license. Given how many black guys that get pulled over just for driving nice vehicles (cops usually suspect the vehicle is stolen and/or drugs inside), the odds seem to favor this happening to him. He's a minor, so he'll be returned to his junky Mother, after being arrested.
Question for David Simon:
I enjoy the authenticity of the show. I just read (somewhere), that you still live in Baltimore City. I do as well. Are you hanging on by a thread (like me, hope fading), that the time is fast approaching to flee? The "Bloods" are gaining more members each day, and (Monday's highly touted arrest of 21 members), will not put that much of a dent into their violent ways. They're growing in the counties as well. PA. is looking awfully good!
David-Why did you reward Felicia Pearson (the convicted murderer), by giving her the role of "Snoop?"
Sam makes some good points, but he also refers to a Dominic West interview that was more spoiler-y than I'm sure David Simon would have liked.
David-Why did you reward Felicia Pearson (the convicted murderer), by giving her the role of "Snoop?"
Are people who've committed crimes (even murder) undeserving of redemption, or even another chance?
4:00AM Anonymous, with all due respect, I think you need to go back and re-watch all the seasons of The Wire at least one more time - you've missed some important themes.
I haven't read all yet (lots to chew on)but last night I read someone's contempt for Kima because she blew the whistle.
Think about why. One, since she was actually working the fake serial killer case, she had to interview families like the one that knew their son might OD after they exercised the tough love--but now believe their son died in a horrible manner, being sexually abused. She knows these are not "victimless" crimes just because McNulty made it up.
Two, Daniels was her mentor and she owes loyalty to him. He could be undone by the scandal if the case comes unraveled in the wrong direction.
Three, fruit of the poisonous tree. When she goes to Daniels she doesn't know the timing of the bust, but knows that if the scheme is discovered afterwards, all will get thrown out.
Four, she wants to insure that the cops who don't know what the deal is will be protected from jail time or repercussions.
I think this anyway. It's implied from the sequence/dialogue.
Sorry if someone else got all these.
No surprise from Kima. She would never cut a corner to get the job done. "Sometimes it has to play hard" is one of the most courageous lines in the history of television.
Question for David Simon:
Do you think that the downfall of the newspaper is due just to the internet, or do you think the oversimplification of the news, starting in the 80s with USA Today, has anything to do with it? USA Today, with its short articles and colorful graphics (the first newspaper to use color), started the bite-sized news trend. Not to be a Luddite, but it also seems that when it became easier for reporters to write and rewrite their stories up until the last second (because newspapers were digitally produced instead of pasted up on light tables), the writing became shoddier. Also, when all newspapers began printing in full color instead of black and white, it seemed more emphasis was put on colorful art above the fold. Flash instead of substance. Does DS think that these trends were also part of the newspaper's downfall?
Question #2: Newspapers aren't just giving away the news for free on the internet; the news on the internet is more up-to-date than the printed news can ever be. How does David Simon feel that newspapers can re-invent themselves to become an irreplaceable part of our culture, again?
Question #3: Does DS ever hire interns?
I can understand people’s anger with Kima, but what bothers me, is not the fact that she did it but how she did it. You want to rat out your colleague due to your ethics and moral standing, fine, but give the gay a chance to be prepared. Carver did a similar thing, but Carver looked that asshole straight in the eye and said “I’m writing you up”. Kima did not exhibit the smallest amount of decency, for the sake of friendship if nothing else, to go to Jimmy first. She is obedient and competent employee but she, certainly, is not a good friend.
another point to think about with Marlo's "My name is my name" scene. Yahweh/God = The I am = speaking Yahweh's name was punishable by death
What was Michael driving? He borrowed the Taxi so he could stake out Snoop...after that I would assume he was done with it. And after he shot Snoop, he got out of the car and walked away. I don't remember him behind the wheel...and certainly not behind the wheel of a nice ride?
A parallel between Marlo and Carcetti just occurred to me.
Both are seen as ultra-ambitious and both have steadily moved up the food chain. Carcetti to mayor, Marlo to the de-facto head of the co-op.
But neither has actually earned it. Carcetti had to do something to get to the city counsel, but after that, he got to the mayors office on the so-called murder of a state's witness. And he's going for the Gov's mansion based on the made up homeless killer.
Similarly, Marlo hasn't been shown to earn his reputation. He had to do something to be the head of a drug crew that had some corners, but after that, he moved up by taking out the Barksdales. But in truth, he was never able to get Avon, who went to jail, and he didn't take out Stringer, despite rumors that he did (if its a lie, we fight on that lie). Then, if not for this arrest, he'd have solidified his rep by getting credit for beating omar.
don't know what it means, but the point hit me when Marlo was in jail talking about how he'd take anyone down, "barksdale, omar, anyone."
"OMG.....I'm TERRIFIED!!! Let me explain:
Ok, so in anticipation of the grand finale I went back to watch all of season 5 on Demand which is a tradition of mine...anyway, upon finishing I decided to watch the prequels again and thats when it hit me.....
1st is Prop Joe right? Dead.
2nd is Omar right? Dead.
3rd is....Do you see where I'm going with this? Those two are characters that I identify with on so many levels and the mere thought is enough to hate David Simon forever....
Am I bugging? Or does anyone else see where I'm going with this? My girlfriend thinks I'm crazy but I swear a chill went up my spine as I watched the very last prequel....."
i get your drift here, and i was thinking this as various people commented on how morose mcnulty has been the last few eps. i didnt even think about the prequel bit, but since he defined himself through ego validation via cop work, i could totally see jimmy putting a pistol in his mouth next sunday
"I don't remember him behind the wheel...and certainly not behind the wheel of a nice ride?"
Good grief! Did you NOT see him driving Bug to his Aunt's house? Did you MISS Michael sitting in the DRIVER'S SEAT reminicing w/Duke, then DRIVING OFF after Duke got out of the car?????
"Are people who've committed crimes (even murder) undeserving of redemption, or even another chance?
4:00AM Anonymous, with all due respect, I think you need to go back and re-watch all the seasons of The Wire at least one more time - you've missed some important themes."
I get the "important themes" of this FICTIONAL show. "Redemption" does not equal rewarding a REAL killer with a tv role, fame, & celebrity. I would suspect the family of the person Felicia killed, find this repulsive as well.
"I get the "important themes" of this FICTIONAL show. "Redemption" does not equal rewarding a REAL killer with a tv role, fame, & celebrity. I would suspect the family of the person Felicia killed, find this repulsive as well."
I’m sorry but if you can make a statement like than you are definitely not getting some of the points of this show. Fame and celebrity did not come from Snoop, they came from our culture's obsession with killers and violence. She was just acting in a show and presenting us with an unbelievable character. It’s the viewers who magnified everything else.
If we follow your logic, Michael (yes FICTIONAL Michael who represents hundreds of REAL Michaels) should never ever get a chance for a better life?!? Snoop had a life not much different from our kids in the show, and it’s OK to have compassion for them but it’s not OK to care about real human being with the same problems?!? Please.
You're damn right Levy has a problem. Marlo knows that very few people had his cell number and he knows that HERC -- a former cop who lost his job after a failed attempt to place Marlo under electronic surveillance (the "lost" camera) -- works in Levy's office. If Levy manages to free Marlo, he and Herc are going to die. If Levy wants to keep his brains in his skull, he had better convince Marlo that the cops had no wiretap. The man needs to start thinking like a prosecutor and forget about his role as defense attorney.
The only thing I'm certain of going into the series finale is that Scott Templeton gets off "scott" free (pun intended), possibly wins a Pulitzer, and Gus gets canned for his investigation of Templeton, but it will be chalked up to budget cuts.
Simon is so pissed about his time at the Sun, be sure that institution will be the one that looks most evil at the end of this wonderful series.
Wire fans check this out!!!
omar's killer kennard on a local radio show. lest we forget he's just a kid. very amusing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHXpgbQrsEo&feature=related
Why did Michael drop Dukie off there? Did Dukie ask to go there?
Why did Marlo's cell number end up on the court papers held by Ronnie?
"I guess what it's saying to me is that it's easy to look at people and see the outcome and maybe work back from that and impute something about their character and what they deserve...Especially when you don't know them or their life."
I really agree with amanda's statement. This is why I love The Wire. For those of us who live this or interact with individuals like this, we can see that there is usually so much more to their stories as to why they end up in lives like this. The Wire shows that people are people, there are common threads throughout mankind, its life (environment, circumstances) that makes venture down one path over another.
In last season, the opening episode with the boys retaliating against their rivals with piss-filled water balloons could have been almost any neigborhood in America. The fact that this episode shows Namond succeeding also indicates what a little intervention could do to turn a life around.
Great blog, such intelligent posts. Great series, great town of Baltimore!
So, there's a made-up C.I. in the Chris murder case? Will someone explain that to me?
Nevermind. It's Mike's mom.
Hey Alan:
"But I think that's the point. To quote William Munny in "Unforgiven," deserve's got nothing to do with it. In the world of "The Wire" -- and the real world it so eerily models -- good things, when they happen, come not to those who've earned them, but those who happened to be in the right place at the right time."
That's from your season 4, final episode recap. And--in a great, meta-its all connected way--its the tagline of course for this episode. I'm starting to realize I'm going to miss these recaps and comments almost as much as I will miss this show.
Dan asked, What was Michael driving?
He was driving the taxi that he was sitting in when he staked out the corner earlier. He told the driver he knew that the car could be rented by the day (without the driver). The driver said something to the effect that he hadn't seen any compensation and Michael handed over a wad of cash. He told Michael to leave the car (once Michael was through with it) at the same place where he had picked Michael up. I assume Michael parked the car somewhere near where he lived (so he could quickly evacuate the place). Of course, we don't know whether Michael took the car back, since the episode ended with him dropping off Dukie, but I guess will find out a week from now (argggh - two weeks between eps, I'm going through withdrawal, not to mention anticipatory withdrawal re: the end of a magnificent series).
Brian asked, Why did Michael drop Dukie off there? Did Dukie ask to go there?
He went to the stable where the arabbers keep their horses and wagons. I assume Dukie asked to go there because he had nowhere else to go & he knew he could at least make some money to survive - he certainly could not go back to where he, Michael & Bug lived, and last we saw of his biological "family" - they were being evicted from their house.
Did anyone notice that Templeton can't pronounce "Pulitzer?"
He said "Pew-lit-zer."
Whiting pronounced it properly: "Pull-it-sir"
i was watching the episode again and noticed something funny- if you pause on the frame where michael opens the box of money in the taxi, the one roll of bills that is not showing the face side says "MOTION PIC(TURE ...)" where THE UNITED STATES is supposed to be. pretty irrelevant, i know.
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