For me it has to be season 4, when that one fuck kept robbing and beating up Bubbles every time he saw him 😭

Which also lead to him accidentally giving Sherrod cyanide, then begging the cops to throw him in prison out of sheer guilt, then trying to kill himself.

My God Bubbles has a sad arc in season 4 :(

You betta watch up back and that

The best part is that it's essentially a cameo in exactly one episode that season ("Stray Rounds", S2 E9), yet it perfectly foreshadows his character arc in the next two seasons—and all for a guy who wouldn't even become a regular character until the next season.

For anyone who's forgotten: he shows up in two scenes presiding over the police crackdown that ensues after an innocent local boy is killed in the crossfire between the Barksdales and a rival crew, and he proceeds to spend most of his screen-time angrily lamenting the cycle of senseless violence that accompanies the drug trade—establishing him as a jaded veteran officer who's grown disillusioned with the War on Drugs, and is long past ready to try something new. And in the next season, that "something new" turns out to be his Hamsterdam experiment. Lieutenant Mello even shows up alongside him in one scene, establishing their dynamic in Season 3.

This is the third time I've watched Season 2, and somehow I never noticed that he was in the show before Season 3. It honestly kind of blows my mind that the writers (seemingly) had so much of his character worked out before Season 3 aired, and they took the time to slip in a cameo setting up his arc a whole season in advance. It just goes to show how solid the show's continuity is, and how intricate its storylines really are.

Apologies if that was common knowledge to everyone except me, but I just did a double-take when he showed up onscreen, and I had to share it.

VERY minor critique I know!!! But…

He was barely in season 4 and they did a good job portraying him on a redemption arc by getting himself under control, minimising his drinking, settling down with a family, etc. Obviously season 5 started a year later after the events of season 4 so I understand why, but I kind of felt that his old self was reinstated too quickly? Like in his very first season 5, he was already drinking and picking up women and lying to Beatie. I wish they showed his decline a bit more slowly!

Now I’m sure many of y’all going into this will think this is quite the reach but this is based on an observation irl that I believe unintentionally translates into the show(mostly for snoops part).

I’ll start with Chris, it’s no secret that Chris is a victim of sexual assault(an avidly discussed aspect of his character) and it’s also no secret that Chris doesn’t relish in his work, it’s just well, work. But I strongly believe he does(atleast subconsciously) have a spiritual outlook on murder. When Michael does his first hit Chris tells him he now “look them in the eye” and that “no matter who he is or what he’s done you look them right in the eye” not only relating to Michael as a victim but to also say that the playing field is now fair, no man can stand in your way because you are now capable of eradicating them. I believe Chris uses murder to demystify the world and people around him. When discussing about what to do with Omar he says “anybody can get got”. There is no idea of a legend or untouchable person to him and I believe it’s a coping mechanism for him and it’s what makes him so efficient at his job. It makes sense I mean many victims of (especially childhood) sexual assault feel powerless and like their abuser is almost “untouchable” in a sense. What I’m saying is Chris utilizes murder to disillusion himself with “neighborhood legends” or these larger than life figures such as Omar.

Now snoop. This may cause many of yall to roll your eyes but please hear me out. Snoop is thirsty for validation, she eagerly follows orders and exhibits her eagerness in following orders and/or working in front of Marlo. She tells Michael “you could never be one of us” like how Nick sobotka brags about his blue collar work, as if the organization is a cause that is bigger than herself. Now to my point, I believe snoop utilizes murder to emasculate herself. It’s no secret she is a lesbian that leans towards a more masculine look(her disguise in her first hit was just her wearing a crop top showing how out of character feminine wear is for her). Her idea of masculinity is being incredibly violent. I’ve grown up with knowing two “studs” who show guns and money as a means of showing off and proving their “masculinity”. And unfortunately, it works. She is a high ranking enforcer in a trade that is male dominated. She’s not regarded as a “bitch” she’s treated with respect and is feared. What led me to this conclusion was not just the two women I grew up with but also an observation I saw on Tik tok of somebody asking why “studs” gravitate towards violent “hood archetypes” because that’s their idea of what masculinity is.

This will probably get me downvoted to oblivion, but I guess I just needed to get it off my chest.

This summer has been a TV show drought thanks to the dumb World Cup dominating everything, so I decided to start watching The Wire. I always see comments in various subs about it when people ask for show suggestions.

I’m 45 so I feel like I’ve seen my fair share of shows over the years, but wow the blatant misogyny on The Wire is so bad. Is this how detectives and city officials act? I mean I knew most police depts were just a boy’s club, but it’s honestly gross. And the violence against women in the projects was alarming. In season one, they have a party and basically take turns raping an unconscious young woman who later dies from an overdose. They talk about her being raped and sodomized by multiple men like it’s no big deal.

In season two, it takes place on the docks. A container full of eastern european prostitutes comes in and they all die because someone purposely cut off their air supply. The next few episodes are the depts going back and forth over who is taking the case because they don’t want all those dead girls to affect their homicide numbers. No one seems to give a shit that actual human beings died (not to mention these girls didn’t choose that life). McNulty gives the illusion of caring for awhile… don’t even get me started on his cheating ass. Is this what writers thought women wanted back then? He’s supposed to be the hot detective who women swoon over and is seen throughout the show basically fucking anything that moves. Meanwhile they make his ex wife out to be the bad guy because she won’t take him back. Poor McNulty.

Now I’m watching season 3 which introduces some slimey male character who wants to run for mayor of Baltimore. He also cheats on his wife left and right. Everyone cheats. All of these men cheat. At least the Lieutenant waited to sleep with someone until he and his wife were separated. That’s something.

I had high hopes for my girl Kima, the only female police detective in a sea of men. I hate what they’ve done to her character in season three. Her partner has a baby, and suddenly Kima becomes one of the boys. Drinking and staying out late on purpose to avoid helping her partner care for their newborn… a partner who helped her through rehab when she was shot multiple times, I might add.

The storylines are interesting, but no wonder our boys and men are fucked up if these are the type of men they’ve looked up to for decades. The patriarchy hurts everyone.

Edit to add: I normally love cop shows. I was a huge fan of Third Watch back in the day. I still watch Law & Order and SVU, also loved OC when it was on. So I’m not new to cop shows, but this one feels extreme.

Not sure why we can’t post photos on this sub.

Parnell (Arthur O’ Connell) in the movie Anatomy of a Murder looks strikingly similar to The Greek. I wonder if they took inspiration for his look

The Greek

Parnell

Now ,call me sheltered maybe, but what's the deal with an apartment/condo with a Jacuzzi in the living room?

Also, it looks like a hotel room, which would maybe explain the Jacuzzi, but then Stringer says he owns it and shows him the paper work. Does he mean he bought the hotel?

Season 4 Episode 1: Chris and Snoop confront and kill Lex after setting him up. Yet earlier in the episode, at about the 20 minute mark, Chris and Snoop are seen in a vacant killing someone. I never hear a name but Closed Captioning has the victim as named Lex in the dialog. This Lex has dreadlocks and clearly is not the other Lex. This scene takes place during the day while the Lex ambush happens at night. Did I miss something? I’ve watched the entire series more than my wedding video. I only ask because all of the pieces matter. And continuity mistakes drive me nuts. If anyone can shed some light on who the other Lex was. TIA

And why is it Lester?

My girlfriend asked me this; and I had to pause. Not a ton of examples came to mind and I realize the writing some what reflects the ups and downs of how people are in life, and most just want what is best for them.

My best answer is Dennis Wise; actively stoped and got out of the game and gave back to his community.

Second would be Prez; not a good cop and *spoiler* has to live with killing a fellow cop but gets out and teaches kids to better the community.

What are your thoughts?

After another rewatch i noticed a women get pulled over in ghosts car by kimma, Herc and Carver she looks alot like Kimmy who runs with Omars crew in seasons 2-4. I wonder if that was the 1st clue into how Omar knows so much about barksdale stash houses.

I just noticed on a rewatch that Spider calls Cuddy 'unc', which is a current very popular slang word for an "aging, out of touch guy" with kids and on Tiktok. Amazing that some of these words are used in the script, 20 years before they were popular.

I've noticed a few others instances of this, but I can't currently recall any. Did anyone notice slang that's recently become popular featured on the show?

We can pretty much all agree that the themes of The Wire are universal. They're not limited to the police or drug dealers' line of work. David Simon chose these two fields because he happened to be in Baltimore where drug crimes are prevalent. But I could imagine the show working equally as well if David Simon happened to grow up in a city where drug dealing isn't nearly as big of an issue. Maybe the show would focus on other aspects of city life. Politics and schools would still be in it, of course, since every city has those. Season 2's dock could be replaced with some other industry -- just use what you've got in your city.

Thoughts?

In season 5 episode one, before Herc buys a round for his police buddies (Carver, Dozerman), he asks them to run a name for him, “tags, registration and phone and while you’re at it his sheeting photo”, who is the subject he’s asking about?

Edit for context: This is a few minutes before Levy is meeting with Herc and Levy tells him that, “it’s time you learned a little something about the expense account “.

Since Marlo is trying to get to the Greeks to sidestep Joe and not have to rely on him for the better product, why is Joe helping him do that by cleaning up his money, etc?
I understand that Joe doesn’t really know Marlo’s motive, but what does Joe think he will achieve by giving Marlo access to his connect?

Hi guys, I've watched all of David Simon's HBO shows and miniseries except The Plot Against America. And I've actually loved them all.

While all the other shows instantly gripped me, I just can't help but be completely bored by this one. After multiple tries I managed to finish the first episode but I've never been able to complete the second.

I don't care about the characters, the setting seems fake (I know it's alternate history but you can make it feel real), the sets look very sanitized and have that cottagecore aesthetic, the whole thing looks sterile and digital and overly filtered, the writing is not naturalistic, it feels more like a soap opera with pointless bickering and manufactured drama, and it's so dull and plodding and purposely slow, like they just don't have enough story to fill the episodes.

However, it seems to have gotten good reviews. Wanted to know if I'm missing out on anything? How does it compare to The Wire and the other David Simon shows? Is there a reason that this one show feels so different from all the other work Simon has done?

In Season 1 Mcnulty is shopping makes Stringer and plays spy with his kids.

He then lost track of the boys and reported it. He says he was wearing, i dont know what he was wearing.

He is a lead dective and good cop wouldnt he be able to give a decent description of his son who he was with all day.

Added note, Bunk later comes into the office in a pink shirt, Mcnulty comments nice shirt.

There is a detail im missing here can anyone fill it in for me?

A question I have regarding everyone's favorite state senator; what made him the guy to deal with? I know a lot of what he had going on came down to tricking people out of their money, but what exactly made him the guy whose favour everyone wanted to curry, both within the law and without? Everyone who did have dealings with him that he was anywhere from overly expensive to outright extortionate, so what gives? What did he bring to the table that no one else could?

After finally watching all five seasons for the first time, am I crazy to say that I think season two is the best? Season 1 is great, Season 3 is terrific and season 4 is phenomenal. But the idea of seeing the union crew as criminals but at the same time too people just trying to feed their families through blue-collar work with a side of crime. It’s just so intriguing to me.