Wednesday, July 25, 2012

HARD TIMES IN A HARD LAND: I don't know when's the last time I laughed as hard as when Stringer confronted Shamrock after the New Day Co-Op meeting regarding his compliance with Robert's Rules of Order. Wow. (Also funny as hell: Bubbles and Johnny's ladder scam; Bunk's Dink procession; Santangelo telling Johnny that "the WMD is the bomb.")

"Straight and True" is the episode where we see the reformers have their go at it -- Bunny gets Hamsterdam up and running, and Stringer is going to make the Corleone Family 90% legitimate within five years (so to speak). Cutty has given up on reforming himself, however, and Bushy-Top is still Bushy-Top, for better and for ... eh, I don't judge. And on all sides there's resistance -- the rank-and-file police don't quite get it, the junkies and many dealers are incredulous, Marlo certainly isn't on board yet, and Avon ... I think it's safe to say that Avon's still trying to figure out what he wants his organization to be.

It's always good to see Maury Levy again. Such a credit to the profession.

6 comments:

  1. I'm really, really nervous that Avon doesn't have the vision Stringer does and is going to mess everything up. Wait, when did I start rooting for the criminals?

    I think I may also be turning the corner on Carcetti.

    This episode is turning everything upside down.

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  2. I'm really, really nervous that Avon doesn't have the vision Stringer does and is going to mess everything up. Wait, when did I start rooting for the criminals?

    I think I may also be turning the corner on Carcetti.

    This episode is turning everything upside down.

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  3. isaac_spaceman11:50 AM

    Hamsterdam is my favorite arc in this series.  This show proves, time and again, that Jane Jacobs was wrong.  There's plenty you can do with a vacant. 

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  4. The humor of this show is its most underrated component.  It's so funny.

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  5. Jordan5:53 PM

    A lot of people approach the Wire as if it were constantly depressing, but for all the heartbreaking deaths that stick with you, there's this scene, and Omar in court, and Jimmy driving and Bunk worried about trace evidence.

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  6. Marsha12:13 AM

    Damned, damned funny. Jordan, you are absolutely right - this is supposed to be The Year of Guns and Sadness, but I laughed so much and so hard at this episode. (I'm also marveling at McNulty's way with the ladies. He gets a lot of tail for a guy with that many issues.)

    My love for Bunny Colvin continues to grow. I knew he was going to bus in the drug buyers, but who knew he would do it with such flair? The moment they come out of the back of the wagon, blinking in the sun, to 40 dealers seeking their business...well, that was a thing of beauty.

    And when Stringer tried to sell McNulty a condo... well, that about did me in. (As did McNulty's recounting of it later.) Previous seasons didn't talk much about what happens to guys like Stringer and Avon, who survive long enough to make it to the top of the pyramid. So, so interesting to see that the result of all that crime is legitimate (and, it seems, well-run and lucrative) business.

    What's so interesting to me about this season is that for the first time, I don't have a great sense of the direction we're headed. Season 1 we're presented with cops and the Barksdale organization. Direction: will the cops be able to bring down the Barksdale organization? Season two: cops and dock workers. Direction: will the cops find a way into the syndicate on the docks, and what will be the effect on the guys in the union? Season 3: lots of different threads. The cops don't really have much of a lead on Barksdale's crew, and they're barely the target any more, we've not been too involved with their new target, stuff is going on with the mayor and the city council, Bunny Colvin is trying to move every drug dealer in Baltimore onto one block, and there's this Marlo guy. I feel like in both previous seasons, by episode 5, we had a handle on the long term plot, and you could see the pieces being set up, even if you didn't know the final payoff. Season 3 seems different - like they're playing a longer game this time. I know, I know, it's always about the theme, and the persistence of The Game no matter how smart and how efffective the cops are, but there's overarching plot in each season, and so far, I don't really know where season 3 is headed.

    That said, I sure am enjoying the ride.

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