(Note: This is an early review of next week’s episode. If you have HBO On Demand, watch it now. Otherwise, wait until Sunday to avoid spoilers.)
Except maybe Omar, who has drawn the most heat in the last three seasons and has still managed to walk out alive. He might not get that chance this time around, but at least we finally know how his character is going to factor into the new season. After staying low in his debut episode, Omar got back to business this week when he held up a high-stakes poker game that included none other than Marlo. Earlier in the episode, Marlo displayed his alpha male superiority during his little run-in with the corner store security guard (whose own machismo landed him an upright grave courtesy of Chris and Snoop), but his ego was seriously damaged when Omar stole all of the cash, nabbed Marlo’s new ring and embarrassed him in front of the room. For those who can’t keep up: Marlo = Avon Barksdale. Get the picture?
The rest of the episode was pretty average, with Prez still shaken up over the schoolyard slashing, Kima being hazed during her first day on homicide, and Proposition Joe making his rounds to West Baltimore, but there were a couple of other great developments that are worth mentioning. First off, it seems that both Cutty and Bunny Colvin have officially been christened into the education storyline – Cutty for a side job as a wrangler, rounding up students to serve their mandatory one-day-a-month attendance in school, and Colvin visiting the middle school before his new experimental program begins.
Second, while the relationship between Michael and his brother has been touched upon in the past, it wasn’t until now that the full extent of his situation has been established. This kid is single-handedly taking care of his younger brother (apparently an ongoing problem in the city of Baltimore) because his parents/guardians are too doped out to do anything. So while Michael’s friends go home and play video games (I’m looking at you Namond, perhaps the biggest loser of the four kids), Michael is handed the responsibility of making sure his brother gets to school, does his homework, eats a proper meal, etc. The reason that this development is so important is because the audience can now understand why Michael won’t allow himself to depend on any adult – including Cutty, who is perhaps the only adult that is honestly making an effort to reach out to him parentally. This subplot will no doubt play a much larger role as the season progresses, and it will be interesting to see if Cutty ever earns his trust, let alone given the chance to train him.
