 Ever since the Barksdale bust at the end of season three, there hasn’t been a whole lot of police work being done on “The Wire,” so it was a pleasant surprise to discover that the opening minutes of tonight’s episode featured the long-awaited takedown of the Stanfield crew. After the latest cell phone image shows an upcoming meet in one of the city’s most unpopulated areas, Lester is positive that this isn’t just a regular re-up, but rather the monthly re-supply between Marlo and his connect.
Meanwhile, as Lester’s $16 million drug bust gives new hope to Carcetti’s run for governor, McNulty is on the opposite side of all the congratulations. Not feeling like celebrating after being mocked by Landsman for his inability to catch the Red Ribbon Killer, McNulty continues to work on slowly letting the case go. Unfortunately, Greggs isn’t so forgiving, and after consulting with Carver, she heads to Daniels to narc on McNulty and Lester. Even Daniels is mildly surprised that McNulty would go so far to catch Marlo in the act, but it looks like he isn’t quite ready to let him back on the street either. And so he heads to the Evidence Room with Asst. D.A. Pearlman to conduct “evidence control” – which may or may not mean getting rid of the one thing that links McNulty’s serial killer to Lester’s wiretap. Of course, it may not matter now that Herc knows what really happened. After taking the risk to steal Marlo’s cell number from his boss’ rolodex, and then giving Carver that bullshit monologue about catching the bad guy, he’s now decided to go directly to his boss about how Lester really found out about Marlo’s operation. Doesn’t he realize the trouble he got into the last time he tried to take the fast track up the career ladder?
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Sending Sydnor and every other available detective to stake it out, Lester then goes to Daniels to fess up (sort of), claiming that they used hours from the Clay Davis case to work a tip about Marlo. Daniels greenlights the operation, and within minutes, Marlo is sitting in lockdown along with Chris (who’s also been served his murder warrant), Monk and Cheese – all of whom can’t seem to figure out who could have snitched. Marlo suggests Michael, but while on the way to a purported hit with Snoop, Michael realizes that he’s being set up, and quickly improvises – killing Snoop and getting the hell out of Dodge. On a related note, didn’t you love watching Lester dangle the phone and clock in Marlo’s face, almost as if to say “I’m smarter than you”? Classic.
One observation that you make about Daniels and Pearlman going to conduct “evidence control” is not quite accurate, although thats exactly what I thought the first time I saw the episode. But now after watching the episode again (x7 to date), I now see that he was referring to the location of the evidence which would be known as Evidence Control. Also, I almost died when I found out that the last episode would not be shown on demand, but it’s all good. I love the show and will miss it. Props to Omar, the man living and dying by the code, yo.
my friends have been trying to predict how the last episode will end. However it goes for these guys, they will be sorely missed.
Well, I didn’t start watching in 2002, I watched the whole run in the last month (thanks Netflix!)
However i see a few constant themes of the show
1. The city lives forever, no matter what happens in it.
2. The bad don’t always lose.
3. The good don’t always win.
and in the 5th season: 4. There is a thin line between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”
I see the bad reporter guy going down, McNulty Lester (and possibly Daniels) taking a big fall, Bubbles (thank the Lord) seems to have gotten a happy ending, and the biggie: The Stansfield crew gets let off the hook b/c of the cell phone. If Stansfield gets off i think herc dies.
Or Daniels could “lose” the phone and leave us wanting more.
P.S is there any movie plan around? i know a lot of series seem to be doing, or trying to do, the movie type wrap-up?
My only regret is not starting to watch the show sooner
This is one of the best shows ever ending, its as good as th Sopranos if not better, it seems kinda like they could keep going their still alot they could do with their characters..im wondering why they so quick to end it..maybe before their stars start asking to get paid
I read that there was a plan for five seasons, but i gotta agree with you, it seems like we got at least 2 seasons (if not 3) of material left…
As talented as these writers are, the show could go on for another five seasons, but it’s not about ratings or budget - the show had a 5 year plan and that’s what they stuck to.
I really can’t believe we’re one week away and there is so much up in the air. Herc’s actions are the most confusing - why would he provide the cell number and then turn around and sabotage the department’s case - that seemed really odd and out of character for him.