The Wire Virgin’s Diary – Old School vs New School

(Season 3, Episodes 8-10)

Well, I’m almost all the way through season three and things are getting interesting. I’ll save most of my overall thoughts on the season for my final post of season three.

In these series of episodes, I really enjoyed the contrast between the old school and the new school. The subtle struggle between Avon and Stringer as they try to steer the drug dealing operation is very well done. At the same time, we get to see the new way of doing things that Colvin is trying to implement in Hamsterdam, and the new wave of politics that Carcetti is trying to usher in.

“Moral Midgetry”

I find that in such a deep and often complicated show, that it is usually the small moments that stick out for me. In this episode it was Herc and the drug dealers that he brought into the station playing with the police sketch computer. It reminded me of the time in season one when Herc and Carver ended up shooting pool with one of the dealers that they had arrested. I love these small reminders that everyone, regardless of their situation, is a human and can be related to.

There was a great scene in this episode between McNulty and Brianna Barksdale. It was a confrontation between the two that had building for over a season, with McNulty laying D’Angelo’s death squarely on Brianna’s shoulders. It was a little heartbreaking, but sadly true. What a horrible woman.

This was also the episode where Stringer admitted to Avon that he put the hit on D’Angelo. Lots of good drama in this episode!

“Slapstick”

If I was unsure that Carver was an idiot, this episode removed all doubt. What was he thinking dragging a dead body from one district to another to preserve the sanctity of the free zone?

Prez, Prez, Prez… Why would they even let that guy out of the office? Poor Prez. This was certainly a tragic turn for the character and I’m not really sure where they’re going with the storyline. Will there be an IAD investigation? Is this just a way to bump the character off the show? Time will tell, I suppose. It was certainly a jarring turn of events though.

Speaking about subtlety again, there was a great moment with McNulty, when he gets home after his booty call with Theresa D’Agostino. After turning on the TV to the same political talk show that she was watching, he quickly changes the channel to a war program. It was just a small thing, but conveyed the complete lack of relationship between them, as well as Jimmy’s own self consciousness. It just floors me how this show is written so much better than just about every other show out there.

“Reformation”

In this episode we saw the real butting of heads between the old way of doing things (Avon) and the new way of doing things (Stringer). It seems like Stringer’s empire is beginning to crumble around him. It took a lot of work to get the drug dealers unified, but it appears that it’s about to bite Stringer in the ass. He can’t control Avon and the Barksdale/Stanfield turf war is only escalating. Things are going to come to a head.

Similarly, it is very clear that Colvin’s new way of doing this is about to crumble around him. With the newspaper getting wind of Hamsterdam, and Colvin coming clean to the rest of the police department, it’s only a matter of time before his vision will be over. It should be an interesting end to the season….

Also, Rawls at a gay club?!? WTF?!?

Clacked by Bob Degon
on Feb 05, 2009 @ 17:02 EST5EDT