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post #61 of 155
2/4/08 at 6:22am

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
Yeah we need one more of that "sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiit" before serie's end. Please.

--
H

It doesn't get any better then the one he dropped last night.
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post #62 of 155
2/4/08 at 6:44am

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by James St
It doesn't get any better then the one he dropped last night.
It's like he knew everyone was waiting for it and wanted to make sure he delivered a good one.

Isiah Whitlock, Jr. has created a portrait of a crooked politician for the ages. He gets Clay Davis' sliminess into even the slightest gesture. And it truly is a performance; you realize that when you see him do a completely different character in something like Pieces of April.

As for the season itself, it felt somewhat diffuse at the outset, but I have a very definite sense of the disparate threads starting to wind together. And things don't look good for a lot of people. Have we ever seen Omar outsmarted like that? Could anyone have predicted that Freamon would end up cooperating with McNulty to fabricate evidence? (The look of disbelief on Bunk's face says it all.) And that reporter Templeton -- we know, from real life examples, what damage his type of fabrications can ultimately do to reputable news reporting. The Wire, with its usual thoroughness, is taking the time to show us how a Templeton gets created.

M.
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post #63 of 155
2/4/08 at 11:04am

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

The looks between McNulty and Templeton were just priceless.
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post #64 of 155
2/4/08 at 3:48pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
It's like he knew everyone was waiting for it and wanted to make sure he delivered a good one.
Yup. I loved every hour of it.

When he was done I got up and ran around the apartment screaming in joy. Even my friends who don't watch the show know this guy, from the clips I've shown them.

--
H
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post #65 of 155
2/7/08 at 1:31pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

According to HBO.com's schedule, the finale is going to run 93 minutes.
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post #66 of 155
2/11/08 at 11:03am
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

I watched episode 7 last night on On Demand and, without using any spoilers, they hit that great 'pressure cooker' point in the season where you just wonder how the season is going to finish in only 3 more episodes and how is McNulty going to get out of it (if he does). And Dominic West also directed the episode too.
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post #67 of 155
2/11/08 at 12:07pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Interesting seeing Nick Sobotka make an appearance. Isn't he supposed to be in witness protection?
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post #68 of 155
2/11/08 at 12:39pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
I watched episode 7 last night on On Demand and, without using any spoilers, they hit that great 'pressure cooker' point in the season where you just wonder how the season is going to finish in only 3 more episodes and how is McNulty going to get out of it (if he does).
From watching the previews at the end of last night's episode I certainly got the sense that "pressure cooker" point is coming up.
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post #69 of 155
2/11/08 at 1:08pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Wondering how this is all gonna work out with the very limited time left.
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post #70 of 155
2/11/08 at 6:43pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

only 3 left?
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post #71 of 155
2/11/08 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by todd stone
only 3 left?
Just to clarify, there's 3 left after the episode that runs on HBO this coming Sunday (which went up on On Demand late last night).
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post #72 of 155
2/18/08 at 10:15am
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Sheeeeeit, I hate Clay Davis.
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post #73 of 155
2/18/08 at 11:37am

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
Sheeeeeit, I hate Clay Davis.

Ah come on now, it's fantastic he got away with what he did and how he did it. Get caught lying? Make up a lie that they can't check! I know the DA is wishing he didn't reach down to grab that case from Rhonda.

I love this show, but I think they blew it with the serial killer storyline. I've gotten past the fact that it was so out of character for McN and Freamon. Or that they just dumped McN back into his pre-Beadie ways without much of an explanation. But ... what I cannot get past is that they are having an entire season built around a fake crime. There's no tension because the audience knows it's fake. The only drama is whether McN, Freamon and Sydnor get caught, and I find myself wishing they would. It's just boring. I absolutely love everything else about the show, but I think they missed big with this storyline. It should not have been the central plot thread. There had to be another way to cover the press angle in the series without spinning it off a stupid idea of McN's.

Omar broke his promise to Bunk of no more bodies. I think up to now, he was wounding Marlo's guys but hadn't killed anybody.
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post #74 of 155
2/18/08 at 12:05pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Just watched episode 8.... wow!
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post #75 of 155
2/18/08 at 12:11pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

I tend to agree with Charlie about the serial killer storyline (although Bunk's reactions to each time he seems to get screwed over by that "case" are priceless). I am however still holding out hope that in the end it will all come together in a more meaningful way (sort of like season 2 did in the end), but I'm not optimistic.
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post #76 of 155
2/18/08 at 12:22pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raasean Asaad
Just watched episode 8.... wow!

That about sums it up for me as well. A lot of great moments but Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
the FBI meeting was pure comedy.
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post #77 of 155
2/18/08 at 12:26pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Ah come on now, it's fantastic he got away with what he did and how he did it. Get caught lying? Make up a lie that they can't check! I know the DA is wishing he didn't reach down to grab that case from Rhonda.
Been wondering something about that: Why did he "grab the case from Rhonda."? At the time, it looked like the charges they had on Davis were too close for comfort. And unless I misunderstood that conversation in his office with Freamon and Rhonda, I thought the DA narrowed the scope of the prosecution down from what was presented to him, leading me to think he was dirty as well. Now I am confused.

Quote:
I love this show, but I think they blew it with the serial killer storyline. I've gotten past the fact that it was so out of character for McN and Freamon. Or that they just dumped McN back into his pre-Beadie ways without much of an explanation. But ... what I cannot get past is that they are having an entire season built around a fake crime. There's no tension because the audience knows it's fake. The only drama is whether McN, Freamon and Sydnor get caught, and I find myself wishing they would. It's just boring. I absolutely love everything else about the show, but I think they missed big with this storyline. It should not have been the central plot thread. There had to be another way to cover the press angle in the series without spinning it off a stupid idea of McN's.
I dunno. Every time I am in danger of thinking that the serial killer thing strains credibility, I am reminded that much bigger lies with far reaching and considerably more tragic consequences were obediently and uncritically regurgitated by a complicit media in recent years. So yeah, shit like that could/does happen, methinks.

I've only seen up to ep7 btw.

--
H
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post #78 of 155
2/18/08 at 1:31pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
Been wondering something about that: Why did he "grab the case from Rhonda."? At the time, it looked like the charges they had on Davis were too close for comfort. And unless I misunderstood that conversation in his office with Freamon and Rhonda, I thought the DA narrowed the scope of the prosecution down from what was presented to him, leading me to think he was dirty as well. Now I am confused.

He grabbed it merely because it was a high profile case and he wanted it to tout in his impending campaign for mayor. It also looked like a slam dunk with Lester's transfer records. He didn't think he could lose. I didn't recall that the charges were a close call at all. I think he was narrowing it down because he just wanted the headline splash and didn't want to concern himself with smaller details. He never saw the "defense" coming.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
I dunno. Every time I am in danger of thinking that the serial killer thing strains credibility, I am reminded that much bigger lies with far reaching and considerably more tragic consequences were obediently and uncritically regurgitated by a complicit media in recent years. So yeah, shit like that could/does happen, methinks.

The crux of my complaint is not that the serial killer strains credibility. It's completely believeable that the media would run wild with a fake story. The problem is it's boring. There is no crime for the audience to watch the cops struggle to solve, i.e., no tension. There's no killer that's coming after Templeton. There's no rush to catch him. There's not even that much tension around McN's story breaking down under scrutiny. It wouldn't be all that satisfying to watch him get caught for a fake crime. It's like a straw man argument. Not much fun when you defeat it. But we have some of our most compelling characters basically spinning their wheels with uninteresting activities -- McN, Lester, Carcetti. I want to see those guys, Kima and Colonel Daniels kicking ass.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
I've only seen up to ep7 btw.

I watch on HBO (no On Demand with Directv), so I'm wherever they are in the series.
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post #79 of 155
2/18/08 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Campisi
Ah come on now, it's fantastic he got away with what he did and how he did it. Get caught lying? Make up a lie that they can't check!
Yeah, he's a guy you love to hate but seeing him get away with it just shows that with the right lawyer and the right lie, you can do whatever you want.

I think the serial killer story has tension because I do think there's a chance that McNulty will go down on it (and even if he doesn't get caught, it'll be fun to see him get away with it and have won his battle to get money for the police department). When other cop shows have a 'real' serial killer on the streets, there's no tension because you know he's either a.) going to kill new characters that you don't know or b.) even if the killer does go after an established character, there's almost no chance that he'll kill them.

And I'll echo Raasean's comments about episode 8.
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post #80 of 155
2/18/08 at 3:48pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Campisi
He grabbed it merely because it was a high profile case and he wanted it to tout in his impending campaign for mayor. It also looked like a slam dunk with Lester's transfer records. He didn't think he could lose. I didn't recall that the charges were a close call at all. I think he was narrowing it down because he just wanted the headline splash and didn't want to concern himself with smaller details. He never saw the "defense" coming.
I see. As much as I am loathe to see Davis get away, he was an absolute riot on the witness stand

Quote:
The crux of my complaint is not that the serial killer strains credibility. It's completely believeable that the media would run wild with a fake story. The problem is it's boring.
OK I see what you're saying and my feelings are a bit more mixed. I agree that the stuff on McN & co. side is far from the most compelling thread The Wire has seen. On the other hand, I find the flip side of that story (the newsroom) utterly riveting. So McN & co == Boring, B'more Sun == can't have enough

--
H
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post #81 of 155
2/18/08 at 7:21pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by James St
That about sums it up for me as well. A lot of great moments but Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
the FBI meeting was pure comedy.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Yeah, watching Mcnulty realize that they pegged him was too funny
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post #82 of 155
2/18/08 at 8:15pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Just watched ep8. Agreed. Greatest scene in a episode that had a couple.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Spoiler space for the email crowd...
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The Omar thing was telegraphed, the empty corner a tribute to his "badassness." I knew it from the moment that fucking lil punk didn't run like the others. Still, fuck I am so upset. It was always a near certainty but goddamn it's hard to come to terms with. At least he never saw it coming. And i am glad it wasn't any of his long time foes. Still, I always knew that little fuck was up to no good. The other lil punk, "Donut" (car thief extraordinaire last season) was a lot more fun )

One of my favorite aspects in the last 2-3 eps was seeing Chris and Snoop deeply unsettled. 'bout friggin time.

It's funny, a few minutes into the episode (the briefing) I thought about what I wrote earlier about the police side of the serial killer being boring, and how so NOT true that was . I was just hit by the enormity of what McNulty was doing during that briefing, and could barely stand it. The recklessness of the guy is just off the charts.

So is Carcetti now in bed with Davis or is he running a (long ) con? The former was kind of inevitable -- this is Baltimore, we sorta knew from day 1 that C would eventually join the dark side. The scene with his wife was subtle but telling. I think we've lost Carcetti to B'more.

Amy Ryan delivered one of the best (perhaps THE best) "what really matters" speeches I have ever heard. This is the sort of eye-roll inducing wisdom often attributed to females. I am no McNulty but somehow it just hit home this time around.


--
H
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post #83 of 155
2/25/08 at 5:33pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Holy cow. Episode 9 is the first episode this season that cinched everything together for me. Brilliant in that it made me feel as though the long trip there was worth it.
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post #84 of 155
2/25/08 at 7:43pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Regarding episode 8, the FBI profiler guy describing McNulty as the serial killer was classic.

And what was the deal with the tags being mixed up at the end? Was there anything to that or was it just driving home the point that Omar's death was just another forgotten murder (that even got bumped in the paper).
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post #85 of 155
2/25/08 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottH
And what was the deal with the tags being mixed up at the end? Was there anything to that or was it just driving home the point that Omar's death was just another forgotten murder (that even got bumped in the paper).
That was my read of it. He was a legend on the street and unkown and forgotten everywhere else.
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post #86 of 155
2/25/08 at 8:12pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Just watched episode 9.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
After episode 8 I was really disappointed with the previews they decided to show. They should have shown nothing of Michael in the SUV. It was pretty obvious who he shot.

It was nice to see cameos from all living characters from the previous seasons. Looks like Namond made out best being taken in by Bunny.

Is it me or are they setting up Michael to follow the path of Omar and Dukie to be the next Bubbles.
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post #87 of 155
2/25/08 at 8:59pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by James St
Just watched episode 9.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
After episode 8 I was really disappointed with the previews they decided to show.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Yeah, normally almost all HBO commercials are fakeouts that make every episode look like it's going to end up with every character dead but this time, the commercial might as well have shown the entire scene.
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post #88 of 155
2/25/08 at 9:18pm

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Episode 9

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
OK I had to come up and write this down in the middle of the episode: Marlo pissed off is a fearsome thing

I was beaming like a mofo when whatshisname was relating to Michael a vastly exagerated, Rasputin-like version of Omar's death. I didn't see this coming, but like all good plot developments, it makes perfect sense after the fact: Omar's legend is gonna be even bigger than the notoriety he enjoyed in life. It makes his death pretty much worth it!

"They the ones these ghetto mothafuckas always listen to when it comes to cash money" -- Clay sounded a tiny bit resentful there

Best ep of the season. And NO idea where things will go from here. Man, here I am wishing that Daniels gets reacquainted with the evils of his past, i.e., just let it go. Don't screw everyting up.
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post #89 of 155
2/27/08 at 8:10am

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

There is some grumbling online at the Gus character being too good to be true, and a departure from the norm of the show. That may very well be, but I don't hear anyone complain about the sociopath that is Marlo Stanfield? There isn't one layer of depth or complexity to this guy either, he is just a black hole of limitless power hunger and ruthlessness, a singularity of elemental evil. If Marlo is OK, so is Gus. It's not like the series has many of those extremes anyway.

Why is this thread so dead? There is no series I want to discuss more than this one.

--
H
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post #90 of 155
2/27/08 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 

Re: The Wire: Season Five (see post #1 re: SPOILERS)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
Why is this thread so dead? There is no series I want to discuss more than this one.
I always want to discuss the 'next' episode but I don't want to spoil it for people so I end up saying little.

As for Gus, I love that character. I hate what the real world media has become but I'm sure some real reporters like Gus are out there. I defintiely don't think Gus is an example of being "too good to be true". I think he's like McNulty to some degree in that he feels superior to his bosses, wants to start shit by screwing with his bosses and he fights what he sees as wrongs in his industry (like exposes about the homeless that are meant to cash in on tragedy rather than actually work on solving the problem). Not turning a blind eye to a liar like Templeton just to sell more papers doesn't make him too good to be true. And he knows that he's got an Ace up his sleeve in that if the paper ever canned him, he'd be able to expose The Sun and Templeton's BS stories or at least open them up to some serious scrutiny.
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