Author: Jason Zingale (Page 118 of 154)

(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.)

When I heard about all of these other critics saying that “The Wire” was the best show on television, I couldn’t help but question their reasoning. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the show (because I do), but I also find it very difficult to give anything the “best” label. After watching episode three, however, there’s not a doubt in my mind that the HBO drama is certainly in the running. It wasn’t even a spectacular episode by most standards (there have certainly been better), but so much happened throughout the course of the show that really got me thinking just how multilayered (and unique) this series is.

Perhaps I liked this week’s episode so much because almost every character was given something to do. Even Omar made his big debut, although he didn’t appear nearly as entertaining or threatening as in past seasons. Maybe it’s the new do, or the fact that he traipsed the streets in a silk robe that kind of lost respect points on my end, but here’s hoping that he plays a much bigger part further into this season. I sure would like to see him face off against Marlo’s crew – namely Chris and Snoop – in a big gunfight. That would create some bodies, and that would give the Detail a reason to get back together.

For now, however, it looks like the Detail has been shut down. With only four remaining members causing trouble around town with their issued subpoenas, Capt. Rawls has decided to kill the project by issuing the unit a new Lieutenant. A move that eventually causes Kima and Lestor to throw in the towel and ask for new assignments in homicide.

They’re not the only ones with new jobs, either. Herc gets the call from the Mayor for what looks to become the fast-track to Sergeant, and after Bunny Colvin quits a decent gig working as the head of security at some fancy hotel, he’s decided to hook up with Social Services as a consultant for a new experimental project in the schools. Apparently, it looks like they’re going to separate the good kids from the bad, with the hope that the bad kids will be much easier to teach as one group. It’s not a bad idea, and one that (according to the recently-aired “Wire” specials) has actually worked in Baltimore.

Speaking of school, Prez certainly has his hands full. His first day doesn’t go very smoothly, and what first appears to be a simple problem of disciplining the students to listen, quickly snowballs into a much bigger situation when a girl slashes another student’s face with a razor blade… for the dumbest reason ever.

It’s official: things are about to get very interesting, but I’m too sure McNulty is going to be there when it all goes down. He seems pretty happy (and domesticated) in his new life with Beatty, and while Bunk doesn’t buy the new image, McNulty assures him that it’s the real thing. And while I would normally be ready to count McNulty out of the game, “The Wire” has a history of never really getting started until midseason. It takes a little while to build up such complicated storylines, but if he isn’t riding with the pack by episode seven, I’d say he’s pretty much a beat cop for good.

(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.)

For all of the whining that Carcetti did about not having any chance at winning the election, he sure wiped the floor with Royce during the debate; and Gray barely even got a word in. Of course, Carcetti couldn’t have done it without the help of Major Valcheck, who tipped him off to the murder of yet another state’s witness. It looks like that formal letter to the mayor finally paid off, and that’s not even the worst of Royce’s worries. While searching for his Lieutenant in the city government building, Herc accidentally walked in on the mayor getting a blowjob from his assistant. And while Herc is gonna try his darndest to keep his mouth shut (since loyalty = promotion), it’s only a matter of time before this makes its way into the public.

All isn’t well for many of the government officers, in fact, especially now that Lestor and Kima have begun delivering the money laundering subpoenas to several of the city officials (courtesy of the Major Crimes detail), including Senator Clay Davis, who might just have the coolest articulation of “shit” (“Sheeeeeeiiiiiit”) I’ve ever heard. In fact, it’s amusing to watch some of these rich assholes sweat as poorly-paid (but smart) police officers prepare to send them to jail. The new season may appear to be all about the education system, but it’s just as much about politics, which is why Marlo’s sudden decision to play the role of Robin Hood (handing out money to all of the kids on the street) is so intriguing. This may not be the hardest guy on the streets, but he definitely knows how to attract all of the youngins over to his side of the woods.

Meanwhile, Prez prepares for the start of a new school year, and two more characters jump on the education bandwagon: Bubbles, who has taken on a fatherly role by enrolling the young kid that’s been slinging with him in school, and Cutty, who’s burgeoning city boxing program is succeeding as another outlet for troubled teens. Unfortunately, this only means that the big debut of Omar has been delayed yet again (but the specials currently airing on HBO Demand promise that he is returning, and very soon), and while I could very well spend the next few minutes reminding everyone why the stick-up man is one of the best characters on the show, I’ll turn my attention to the complete absence of McNulty in the second episode. I mean, he is still the main character, right? It’s not just Dominic West, either, but most of the principal cast from the first three seasons Where have they been these past two weeks, and more importantly, when are they coming back?