I've never watched The Wire. Would I be able to jump into season 5 and understand what's going on, or do I need to see it from the beginning?
Need some alternatives because of the strike.

Read here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=520470

It's pretty obvious what Marlo is up to.



I like the new batch of characters at the newspaper.

Damnit! I'm at my parents and they don't have HBO On Demand. And none of the alternate ways of viewing it online have it up either. I'm stuck. Can you guys create a new thread for Episode 1?

It's funny to re-read that thread after seeing the Season 5 premiere:

I called my cable provider, and found a deal where HBO was free for 4 months...awesome timing. Great first ep. My thoughts:

Yeah called the cable provider for my folks and found out that the first month of HBO on demand is free for us, so we ordered it for the time I am still here. I agree with everything people have said so far. Can't wait to see where it all leads.

"The bigger the lie, the more they believe." - Bunk Moreland

Plot Summary:



Great introduction to the Baltimore Sun crew. Glad to see most of our favorite characters. As someone said in the other thread, where's Prez? Where's Naymond and Randy? Omar? I'm sure we'll see em eventually. We didn't see Bubbles or Omar till a few episodes in during season 4.

Regardless, can't wait to see next weeks episode.

Mods, can you move the Episode 1 talk from the Wire Season 5 thread into here, to keep that one spoiler free? Or if this thread is premature, please delete it.

It was great to see Clark Johnson acting again. I always liked him on Homicide. As for missing characters...given this year's story outline I'm not sure where Prez would fit in as a regular character. I'm sure he'll pop up at some point though, just as I'm sure we haven't seen the last of great characters like Bunny Colvin, Cutty, or even Poot. They found a way to work Wee-bay into a key role in season 4 so anything's possible.

I watched the four minute season four catch-up before the episode.



Love that we're getting more of the Wire, but the ending is definitely going to be bittersweet.

Nice opener.

I'm pretty sure they stole that photocopier gag from Homicide I recall Detective Munch doing the same thing.

Good opening ep

Loved the opening.

Herc working for Levy should be interesting. You know he's going to fuck up at some point, it's just a matter of him fucking over the police or one of the clients.

As a side note, I bought the new rendition of "Way Down in the Hole" off iTunes...and keep listening to it. Good stuff.

I can already tell that I'm going to hate newspaper higher-ups and Thomas McCarthy's character more than I've hated any of the dealers and politicians (and maybe even Levy, my most hated character ever on The Wire.) When I say "hate," I mean that they are despicable characters, not that I hate the storyline.

Sorry to nitpick, but

Since this is the episode thread, I don't think that it's necessary to spoilerize everything about the episode, Is it?

I loved the episode's cold open as well, but thought it was a little far-fetched that someone, albeit a street kid, hasn't seen a photocopier before. The McDonald's trick is a classic.

With Chris going to the courthouse to look up information on Sergei, it's pretty obvious that Marlo is infogathering on the Greek, and wants to become the sole drug wholesaler for Baltimore. Interesting that Daniels had no idea who Chris was. Daniels' character arc seems to display how when cops move up the chain of command, they lose almost all touch with the crime itself. I don't think we'll be seeing Daniels do any policing this season.

Joe hasn't done anything to help his mystique, either. In season four, when he told Marlo about how to use public records, he tipped Marlo off to how he seemed to know more about police actions than anyone else on the street.

The kids from season four were great. I like how Michael mimics Chris's physical mannerisms and posture, but Marlo's personality. It's a great performance.

Dukie can't seem to get a break. I think (hope, really) we might see him go back to Prez and try to get Bug and himself of his situation.

Beadie's "leave the light on" moment was really poignant. I don't think McNulty will ever be able to stay on the wagon. I think that Bubs will, however.

A couple of classic lines this episode. McNulty's drunken "Fucking lying motherfuckers" line was hilarious, and Snoop's promise to be "brief with you motherfuckers" was chilling.

Loving the end-run of this series so far.

cheers,

-the Jesus

Speaking of the "Leave the light on" moment, I loved how it transitioned from a shot of a solitary light in the outside night, to a shot of Bubbles apartment, which was a solitary window of daylight in Bubble's dark apartment.

As for the photocopier incident, I'm guessing its something that's been done before in real life, knowing David Simon.

You'd be surprised

"That's my desk."

I'm already starting to miss this show knowing this is the last season.

God is in the details, indeed.

The countdown is on, and there is not much time left. Unlike the Sopranos, I don't think anyone is coming in with the expectations that the show will tie all storylines together neatly with a bow.

The opening was classic Wire. Ironically, it brought back a familiar face from last season. Monell (the one eating McDonald's) was one of the kids who asked Randy to keep lookout last season while they had sex with a fellow female student in the bathroom. And now, just one year later, he's been arrested for murder. As for the copy machine trick, I don't think its far fetched at all to think that an uneducated youth has never seen a photocopier before. You'd be amazed what children don't know. Plus, I love Steve Earle's cover of "Way Down in the Hole".

Once again, Major Crimes is being gutted as a result of a decision made by a mayor. Carcetti has proven as effective as Royce, almost even worse, as his aspirations to become Governor have clouded his vision. He screwed over the schools last year, and now is screwing over the police force. Things are about to get worse, of course, I have no doubt that Carcetti will "win" in the end. Man, I wish Tony Gray had won the primary.

McNulty is a waste.

Bubbles breaks my heart. You hope and wish that he makes it... but you know that he won't. I wouldn't be surprised if the last shot of the season has him buying "Big Yellow Bird".

Michael ain't Michael no more. Funny to see Spider and Kennard as his corner boys. Even crazier, Dukie was clean, groomed, and wearing decent clothes. His lack of responsibility in the morning should lead back to his return to school. BTW, Michael was clearly identified on the MCU board.

Herc sold his soul. He gets fired, and takes up with the enemy. He definitely knows Levy from seasons prior. And now he will provide him with all the ammunition he'll ever need. I'm not sure if one character has wrecked as much havok in West Baltimore as Herc has, and will do.

Marlo. Prop Joe's days are numbered. Wonder if he'll reach out to Omar? Also, its a bad idea to investigate the Russians. Marlo and Chris have no idea what kind of monster they're dealing with.

The Baltimore Sun. In a mere 5 minutes, I was thankful to have never desired being a newspaper reporter. The job is incredibly pressured, and the level of research to pull a quote is extraordinary.

I love this show.

Oh snap. Episode 1 has some company out in the internet tubes.

Heh, yeah I viewed the successor to episode 1. >_>

Normally I'd be on this already, but I love this show so much, I want it to last as long as possible, so I'll be passing on it.

Wow, I second everything that's been said on here so far, especially the sentiments of Jack and Cupcake. Nothing to add, really, except to say it's great to see Clark Johnson in front of the camera again, and I think the newspaper storyline shows a lot of promise. You have to love the balls this show has. No soft intro to a character as we slowly learn more and more about him. Fuck it, cut to the loading dock of the paper. Here are a bunch of reporters bitching about the corruption of the higher ups. Same as it ever was.

I f-ing love this show.


-Doc

1st ep delivered and THEN SOME!

Show rocks!

saw the first half this morning. Hopefully will finish it up tomorrow. Is this a trend for every week hopefully?? I just wish there was a season 6.