tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post245554866026700340..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Wire, Season 2, Episode 3: "Hot Shots" (Newbies edition)Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30784922759435438682024-03-04T20:01:51.560-05:002024-03-04T20:01:51.560-05:00And I found them in 2024 as a very late to the gam...And I found them in 2024 as a very late to the game newbie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88207165915722893442021-09-02T22:13:03.685-04:002021-09-02T22:13:03.685-04:00It's 2021 and we're still reading them!!It's 2021 and we're still reading them!!Sherrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15644763022786746497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39619940987358567392014-07-31T13:57:42.205-04:002014-07-31T13:57:42.205-04:002014 and we're still reading your Newbie recap...2014 and we're still reading your Newbie recaps. Thanks for posting these. Such a great resource! Hope they continue on for the rest of the seasons.DJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75664141760501120552014-06-09T17:22:11.612-04:002014-06-09T17:22:11.612-04:00Alan, there still are newbies watching and reading...Alan, there still are newbies watching and reading your posts. How cool is that :-)<br /><br />Every night, after I've seen an episode of The Wire, I go to your blog and read your posts. I love the insights and explanations and it really makes my experience of The Wire (and previously, Deadwood) sooo much better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-4962672631921333812013-05-16T18:27:45.247-04:002013-05-16T18:27:45.247-04:00I've put off watching the Wire for a few years...I've put off watching the Wire for a few years now, and am finally getting around to it. I stumbled upon this blog from your Mad Men posts, and just wanted to let you know that the Wire section is still getting new readers! I'm looking forward to reading your blog as I make my way through the rest of the series.Thank you!Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03911463512754102986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53981449073080660062012-11-26T09:38:34.169-05:002012-11-26T09:38:34.169-05:00Another newbie. Just got the entire run on DVD fr...Another newbie. Just got the entire run on DVD from a friend. Glad you kept the posts coming.<br /><br />I am a big fan of yours, especially regarding Mad Men, Breaking Bad and F&G which is my all-time favorite show. I read your newbie versions of that show, as well.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34506117098739033972012-08-19T20:41:25.583-04:002012-08-19T20:41:25.583-04:00Newbies keep arriving. Finally watching your show ...Newbies keep arriving. Finally watching your show and appreciate your analysis.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58611320204480686772012-08-13T08:42:44.447-04:002012-08-13T08:42:44.447-04:00Also, thanks for pointing out the parallel between...Also, thanks for pointing out the parallel between Nick and D'Angelo.<br />And, yes... I agree with another commenter...D'Angelo now looks suspicious! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-881801221137655052012-08-13T08:37:27.678-04:002012-08-13T08:37:27.678-04:00Just watched this episode for the first time on HB...Just watched this episode for the first time on HBOgo... only 9 years after it first aired...and, this is as far as I've gotten! Please keep the newbies edition posted separately. I'm sure it will continue to be a valuable resource for years to come. <br />I also agree with what some commenter posted earlier, regarding Ziggy's reaction at the bar, having <br />more of a guilty/I'm just a criminal doing this for my own gain v. My father is a criminal in order to put money in other people's pockets. <br />I also kind of disagree about Valcheck's understanding of Prez's "laying it all out on the table" story regarding the barksdale case. He clearly understood that there was an invalid... smelling of corruption...reason that the barksdale investigstion was shut down to quick. But, yes...it is sad that the only thing he does with this knowledge is use it to strong-arm Burrell into providing a real investigative detail for a case on a guy he seems to only have a personal vendetta against. I agree that if he was more concerned about justice... and were it a typical procedural...he would have probably made a more impassioned speech about the dead girls found on the port, etc. And, maybe even also a "you better tighten your shit up burrell and get out of that game, or I'll expose you...I've got my eye on you!" However, as you pointed out, that would really compromise his position in this kind of "chain of command first" BS force they have. <br />Thank you again for your insight! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-90822965135194614902012-05-06T10:59:22.206-04:002012-05-06T10:59:22.206-04:00Alan, you won´t be running out of newbies here. I ...Alan, you won´t be running out of newbies here. I am viewing for my first time, and the only thing I want to say to you is thank you very muchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62192571917707293342012-04-05T22:18:14.642-04:002012-04-05T22:18:14.642-04:00I'm finally watching The Wire and your blog is...I'm finally watching The Wire and your blog is super helpful. I really appreciate the newbie posts. I'm not going to add to the conversation since it looks like it died a couple years ago, but I wanted to say thank you.PuzzleGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06835502266781516627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91217389343119088912011-11-24T19:04:14.220-05:002011-11-24T19:04:14.220-05:00Alan, I'm very late to discovering The Wire an...Alan, I'm very late to discovering The Wire and am so glad I found your blog. Just wanted to let you know people are still reading it -- and enjoying it -- two years later. Really like reading your perspective, and you also help me fill in the things I missed (especially in the early episodes). I know you spent a lot of time writing these, and just wanted to say thank you!DLHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-28172916623948118322011-02-28T00:45:24.951-05:002011-02-28T00:45:24.951-05:00Working our way through season 2, and your posts a...Working our way through season 2, and your posts are a great resource, showing me everything I'm missing, and putting the many pieces together. Thanks for doing this.dah_sabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02600893678085625549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-43073872509522166222011-01-17T20:47:38.904-05:002011-01-17T20:47:38.904-05:00After seeing Stringer Bell spend 15 episodes being...After seeing Stringer Bell spend 15 episodes being a "company man", I was shocked to see him defy Avon and go after Dee's woman. <br /><br />Yes, Donette is her own person, but I really expected Stringer to deliver the message and leave.obafgkmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46517663602483411932011-01-17T20:45:03.778-05:002011-01-17T20:45:03.778-05:00Alan, thanks for posting the two versions. I grew...Alan, thanks for posting the two versions. I grew up in Baltimore, but never watched "The Wire" because I didn't have HBO. My brother loves the show, and gave me the five-season DVD set for Christmas 2010. I watched the first couple episodes and was hooked.<br /><br />I discovered your blog posts toward the end of season 1. Having the newbie version makes it nice to read after watching an episode, because I <i>hate</i> to be spoiled.<br /><br />A comment about this episode in the next post...obafgkmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13763628889541078722010-01-21T08:16:35.482-05:002010-01-21T08:16:35.482-05:00Alan, your question has been answered many times o...Alan, your question has been answered many times over by other enthusiastic newbies, but just wanted to point out that the Internet is forever, and there will probably be folks discovering The Wire for the first time for many years to come. Your posts are a great resource. <br /><br />Wondering, though, since I'll be ready for season 3 in a couple weeks and you haven't blogged it: Are there any other good resources for recaps and analysis that you would recommend, perhaps a fellow TV critic's blog, for "The Wire" (particularly season 3)?Mary-Kate Hopkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832774245899798162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-77405017273083669962009-12-10T16:47:46.526-05:002009-12-10T16:47:46.526-05:00Alan, I was watching this episode last night wonde...Alan, I was watching this episode last night wondering what ziggy's forlorn look meant when he saw Dolores handing money to the down-on-his-luck stevedore. I said to myself, I wonder what Sepinwall's interpretation will be. You speculated that it's because Frank cares about his union more than his own son. That's valid, I think, but I took it another way. It seemed to me that Ziggy was feeling guilt at having taken the dishonorable road when there are so many hard working blue collar guys trying to make an honest living but coming up short. Also, maybe there was some guilt about having stolen a 'can' from the few remaining shippers who are keeping the dwindling dock industry afloat. Dolores uttering "Your dad's a good man, Ziggy" only reinforced this for me. Frank's an honest man who sometimes has to cut corners to provide for his dock workers, but Ziggy on the other hand is just a common thief now...I think Ziggy came to this conclusion right before our eyes.<br /><br />Just my two cents.<br /><br />LOVE your blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23110343345450714192009-12-04T23:33:43.821-05:002009-12-04T23:33:43.821-05:00I'm so thankful for these newbie editions of T...I'm so thankful for these newbie editions of The Wire - so, hope you'd be doing a run for season 3 next summer (and finally, I could join in the fun at the same time instead of writing in them months after!). <br /><br />Not much to say, but that I'm rather impressed at just how far Prez has gotten from the first episode we saw him.belindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21973750105295199352009-11-07T14:48:37.018-05:002009-11-07T14:48:37.018-05:00Newbie here. Really enjoyed your season 1 comment...Newbie here. Really enjoyed your season 1 commentary and looking forward to following all the other seasons as you roll them out. Keep up the newbie editions!toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06523843590422832449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-25066996029109330312009-10-12T13:11:41.268-04:002009-10-12T13:11:41.268-04:00PS. Also... referring to what Karen wrote ("A...PS. Also... referring to what Karen wrote ("Avon was taking quite a chance ... If Dee had decided to go against him, he'd be dead. Was Avon prepared for that?"). Really good point, this scene got me thinking a lot, too. <br /><br />My theory is that Avon decided to deliver this message to Dee in such an indirect form for two reasons. <br /><br />First, Avon knew that Dee is a decent guy who would most likely warn the others not to take drugs that evening, and then Avon's plan agaist Tilghman wouldn't have worked. <br /><br />Second, by making Dee suspicious in the eyes of other inmates, Avon might be trying to isolate him from other new "friends" and tie him closer to the old Barksdale crew again. Because it MUST look suspicious to others if Dee, after sniffing heroine every day, suddenly decides to pass on it this very evening, right?Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50455410770802042342009-10-12T08:52:43.144-04:002009-10-12T08:52:43.144-04:00Pleeeaaase don't stop posting your newbies ver...Pleeeaaase don't stop posting your newbies versions! I'm a real newbie as God bids ;) and am completely hooked on your analyses of each chapter. It has become sort of a ritual for me -- first watching the episode, then checking on Wikipedia to make sure I got the plot development right, and finally your blog for interpretation and interesting remarks. I appreciate so much what you do, if I'm not commenting, it's just that I feel that compared to the veterans, I have so little to say... Looking forward to reading through seasons 3, 4 and 5 with you as well!Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17062031848953265752009-08-27T20:15:58.909-04:002009-08-27T20:15:58.909-04:00Oh, also? No, I don't think that was a real r...Oh, also? No, I don't think that was a real rat the terrier mauled. They showed the rat peek his head out and then duck is back as Junk stuck his snout in after him, wrestled a bit, and then pulled out what was clearly an already dead rat. Or, you know, a stuffed rat.<br /><br />Also also? Avon was taking quite a chance, I thought, that Dee would really listen to him about getting his head straight. If Dee had decided to go against him, he'd be dead. Was Avon prepared for that? I wonder.<br /><br />And finally: to the commenter who noted an episode or so back that Idris Elba would make the perfect black James Bond, I can only say, with Donette, "No doubt."Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66655440907846004752009-08-27T20:02:32.464-04:002009-08-27T20:02:32.464-04:00Add me to the chorus that wants the newbie posts t...Add me to the chorus that wants the newbie posts to continue. I may not be able to keep it going forever, as I've sped through the last half of season 1 this morning and will probably be halfway through season 2 by bedtime, which means I'll be done with the whole series by Labor Day at the latest, but whatever. I'm really enjoying your commentary, which I race to as each episode ends.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58292240476988327782009-08-06T00:09:17.283-04:002009-08-06T00:09:17.283-04:00Alan,
Please continue the newbie reviews. We'...Alan,<br /><br />Please continue the newbie reviews. We're watching the DVDs as fast as the library can queue them for us, and your insights are wonderful. I'll try to post reactions when I can, to let you know we're here. Thanks.<br /><br />BobBob Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6868007556461096582009-07-08T06:07:19.466-04:002009-07-08T06:07:19.466-04:00I don't usually comment, but I just wanted to ...I don't usually comment, but I just wanted to say I really appreciate the newbie posts. One point that hasn't been mentioned about a move to a single post system is that even if you (Alan) have a big SPOILER tag, us newbies will still have to abstain from the comments.Jordannoreply@blogger.com