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Another odd observation: this is pretty much the only show which shows the effects of gentrification using a predominately white neighborhood.
Alec Bald Snatch fucked around with this message at 00:18 on Apr 12, 2013 |
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Apr 12, 2013 00:14
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| # ? Apr 23, 2024 11:10 |
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So Hamsterdam has come to Canada http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/11/world/americas/wus-canada-drug-safe-haven/?hpt=ju_c2
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Apr 12, 2013 16:22
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I like that Bodie and Shamrock are listening to Prairie Home Companion before Bodie gets in the second car, and then after Bodie is still listening to Prairie Home Companion! I always imagine he got in and flips on the radio and looks for the station, curious about the strange programming 
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Apr 12, 2013 18:19
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I loved that part too. Bodie even kind of makes a stink about it being the reason no one ever leaves Baltimore (still leaving the station alone). But then when he's alone in the second car, sure enough, he can't get enough of that Garrison Keeler.
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Apr 12, 2013 18:47
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So that's who garrison keeler is.
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Apr 12, 2013 19:53
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I seem to remember Bodie listening to some nature-documentary-esque show about the springtime and caterpillars when he's driving alone. It strikes me that there's some potential significance to this but it's been a while since I'v seen that scene.
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Apr 12, 2013 22:30
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If you wanted to track it down it was Season 2 Episode 1, probably about halfway through. But yea, it's maybe 2 minutes of stuff you definitely wouldn't notice at first glance. And not anything super fascinating, I've just been enjoying Bodie a little more on this second watch through and maybe paying more attention to him than usual.
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Apr 12, 2013 23:14
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BattleCake posted:I seem to remember Bodie listening to some nature-documentary-esque show about the springtime and caterpillars when he's driving alone. It strikes me that there's some potential significance to this but it's been a while since I'v seen that scene. Also in Season 4 he talks about watching a documentary on Marin fishing in the Carribean. "The sea was...this color!"
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Apr 13, 2013 00:14
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BattleCake posted:I seem to remember Bodie listening to some nature-documentary-esque show about the springtime and caterpillars when he's driving alone. It strikes me that there's some potential significance to this but it's been a while since I'v seen that scene. That's just a PHC bit in the first episode of season 2.
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Apr 13, 2013 04:43
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Calico Heart posted:So Hamsterdam has come to Canada Kinda depressing to read the politician's reaction to it has been the same empty rhetoric that sounds nice but doesn't actually achieve anything.
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Apr 13, 2013 05:01
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Jerusalem posted:Kinda depressing to read the politician's reaction to it has been the same empty rhetoric that sounds nice but doesn't actually achieve anything. Much like Hamsterdam, InSite is far from a perfect solution but it's unquestionably an improvement over the alternative. It also reminds me that the real Bubbles died of AIDS and that the show treated it as basically a miracle that fictional Bubbles didn't get it. Makes that guy's quote that much more infuriating. Actually I'm pretty sure something like InSite was part of the on-the-spot social work stuff that Hamsterdam had in its last days, which almost persuaded Royce to endorse it. I remember they were passing out condoms and NA lit I think but I could have sworn that needles came up as well. drat I should just skip to season 3 on the rewatch. grading essays nude fucked around with this message at 05:51 on Apr 13, 2013 |
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Apr 13, 2013 05:47
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Season 2, Episode 2: Collateral DamageMcNulty posted:They can chew you up, but they gotta spit you out. 13 dead woman are in bodybags, being checked over by the Doctor in a shed on the docks. Representatives of different investigate agencies are standing around, some joking amongst themselves, the presence of the bodies apparently little more than a novelty. Only Beadie seems concerned, the others are more worried about WHO is going to be responsible for the investigation, and rather callously they explain amongst themselves that since the girls aren't alive it isn't an immigration issue, so this makes them cargo, not people. Customs insist that there is nothing to be investigated since there is no contraband, so this makes it a State issue. Sighing, the representative for the Port Authority Police says they'll eat it, noting that since it looks like accidental death it's just a matter or trying to identify the bodies. Everybody starts to leave including the CID, much to Beadie's consternation, telling her that this case is nothing but a lot of paperwork, and that's her problem to deal with. The Doctor leaves as well, and Beadie is once again alone with 13 dead women - women who might as well not even exist as far as anyone else is concerned, simply collateral damage.  The old man is reading his paper at the dingy little cafe/diner in the middle of nowhere when his regular routine is ruined by the arrival of new people. Frank Sobotka isn't going through an intermediary today, he's furious and he wants to speak with Vondas personally, while Nick runs alongside him trying to calm him down and talk reason - there's nothing he has to say that Nick can't pass on for him. Nick is looking out for his uncle AND his boss, we saw in the first episode he is smart enough to know you need to be careful when you're breaking the law, and now we see that Frank is a little more like Ziggy than he might like to admit. He storms into the cafe, sitting beside Sergei and opposite Vondas where in a harsh whisper he rants about dead girls being left on "his" docks, complaining that Sergei just stood around with his dick in his hand while they suffocated to death. Sergei doesn't like being lectured and warns that Frank doesn't know what he's talking about, but Spiros is calmer, insisting that everybody is upset including them, nobody wanted this to happen. Sergei wasn't just standing around, he was waiting for their contact on the Atlantic Light to come off and give him the go-ahead that everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about re: customs. That never happened, so they couldn't go ahead and take the can in case somebody was waiting to swoop on them. Nick tries to play peacemaker, telling Frank that they weren't deliberately hosed over on this, and Frank does calm a bit... but he isn't quite ready to let go of his anger, and demands to know why Vondas didn't tell him there were girls in the can, if he'd known that he wouldn't have dumped the can in the stacks - clearly Frank feels some guilt, maybe even asking himself if his actions caused the women to die. Sensing the danger is passed, Vondas leans back and is more assured, reminding Frank that he never wanted to know before what was in the cans, he just wanted the money. He essentially taunts him - maybe the cans held guns, or drugs, or whores, vodka, cavier, bombs maybe? Sergei laughs and Vondas tells him he's just kidding, but Frank never asked before because he never wanted to know. Frank isn't laughing though, and snaps at Vondas that the next time The Greek has something breathing inside the can, he has to know. He leaves, Nick remaining behind a moment to ask Vondas to please give him a couple of days to settle down - how many times has he had to play this same diplomatic role for Ziggy? They leave and the kindly looking old man returns from the back, joining Vondas at the window to watch Frank and Nick leave. Vondas isn't The Greek after all, but surely it's not this sweet looking old man? Brianna Barksdale arrives at the prison to meet with Avon, telling him the news about Roberto's arrest. Things make a lot more sense to Avon now, though he's slightly alarmed to hear they've received back their advance payment for the non-shipped drugs in full. The Barksdale Organization has lost their drug connection, and that is bad news - they're concerned that Avon's comparatively short sentence may be down to cooperation, and until they know for certain they can trust him they aren't going to supply him with drugs. That means that the territory they're barely holding on to already is on even shakier ground, and they're relying on him to hook them up with a fresh connection. Avon rose to the top for a reason, he knows a man called Vargas in Atlanta who can work as a back-up supply, so they'll have Stringer fly down to see him as soon as possible. With the business out of the way, Brianna finally moves on to her flesh and blood son - how is D'Angelo doing? Avon offers a lame excuse that it is difficult for him to see him since they're on different tiers, but Brianna knows this is bullshit. She tells him that he's not checking up on her and she hasn't been able to get in contact with Donnette, and Avon notes that she hasn't been making regular visits to see D'Angelo either. Concentrating on Donnette's shortcomings rather than his own, Avon says he'll get Stringer to make contact with Donnette. Brianna reminds Avon again that D'Angelo took 20 years in prison for the family, and that is a lot of weight for a young man to deal with, especially if he feels isolated. Avon explains that D'Angelo is acting cold to him at the moment because he's trying to get his head around his current situation, but Brianna insists that he make more of an effort. McNulty is back at Homicide for a casual social visit with Bunk, and they're sharing a meal of fresh crab and drinking Miller Genuine Draft in the interrogation room - one of the fringe benefits of the Marine Unit. Bunk wants to open the door to let in some air but McNulty says it isn't worth the hassle if Rawls comes by, and Bunk laughs that McNulty isn't just any regular kind of rear end in a top hat. How long did it take McNulty to figure out where the girl went into the water? McNulty happily admits it took him 3 hours to work out the math, much to Bunk's delight at all the effort he went to just to offer up a gently caress you to Rawls.... but what about Cole, who has just been stuck with a stone-cold whodunnit? McNulty shrugs, Cole is just collateral damage. Bunk eats the crab guts that McNulty won't (Bunk calls him a pussy in addition to being an rear end in a top hat) and then finally broaches the subject of Omar. McNulty is already distracted though, having noticed on the oily newspaper that they're eating off the story about the 13 dead girls. Bunk dismisses it, it's not a homicide and it's not city business, but Omar and the upcoming Gant trial is - their case falls apart if Omar doesn't testify, so Jimmy needs to show Bunk some love and get him Omar. McNulty's response? He sucks the meat out of a crab leg and tells him if he wants love he should come and sit on his lap. At the Union Hall, Horseface is complaining that he's being blamed for a broken customs seal on a shipping can when he knows it was broken while it was on the ship. The can had vodka in it, and Frank throws a knowing glance at Horseface who admits MAYBE they took a crate or two, but the seal was already broken and the crew had already been at it before it was unloaded. Neither man seems remotely troubled by their part in the 13 dead girls case, joking about the couple cases Horseface and his boys took..... well, maybe four! Ott runs in to tell them the police are outside ticketing every car parked outside, and they head outside to discover a less than enthusiastic Sergeant Ellis Carver leading his officers in ticketing each car for various bullshit reasons. Frank calls him on it, and the two share a surprisingly civil conversation - Carver admits that the tickets are bullshit, but says he has no choice in the matter, the word has come down through his Shift Lieutenant from all the way up to Stan Valchek, they have to drive by the union hall twice a day and paper the cars. Frank knows Valchek, and tells Carver he works for a gaping rear end in a top hat, and Carver replies he works for more than one, but there's nothing he can do about it, it's the Chain of Command. It's a familiar refrain from Daniels early in season one, the chain of command was everything, and it seems like Carver is learning all the wrong lessons from his Valchek on down to his shift lieutenant. He tells Frank he's welcome to fight this all the way to the Mayor if he wants to, but - here he stops to look around and make sure he can't be overheard - he has to work with the son of a bitch as well, so please keep his name out of it. He drives away, Frank having a bit of a chuckle, clearly seeing Carver as a peer opposed to an adversary, a working man being stiffed by a higher-up. The same can't be said for Wee-Bey. A surprise inspection of his cell by a belligerent Corrections Officer Tilghman is going very badly. Tilghman is abrasive and confrontational, while Wee-Bey - a very, very, very dangerous man - tries to maintain his cool. Tilghman snaps at Wee-Bey not to talk unless told to, tears his sheets off the bed, hands over stashed porno magazines to the officer waiting outside, rips posters from the wall (including the pornographic one tucked behind another) and, after messing up the cell, shouts at Wee-Bey that the cell is a mess. Wee-Bey starts to retort and Tilghman is on him immediately, slamming him against the wall as Wee-Bey makes a great effort to maintain his composure, and that's when Tilghman takes things too far. He notices that Bey has a small tank of plastic fish, they move about with little motors, a reminder of Wee-Bey's one true love, his home aquarium. Tilghman smashes the tank onto the floor and stomps over the fish as he leaves, demanding that Wee-Bey clean up the mess before lockdown. The other officer kicks the sheets back into the cell (and into the puddle of water) before closing the door, while Tilghman storms into the next cell to begin tearing into that as well.   The next day Valchek arrives at the Union Hall, where Frank is having an argument over the phone regarding the seniority system. Horseface lets him know Valchek (his sweetheart) is there, and Franks heads out where Valchek immediately gets off on the wrong foot by pointing out how empty the hall is and then demanding to know if Frank "got the message". He complains that he's been working on putting together a stained glass window for the nave since Easter, and that he took money from half a dozen people on the understanding that it was going to a window in the nave. Frank gets right to the heart of Valchek's fault though, he never actually told Father Lewandowski, and Valchek's angry response that it was meant to be a surprise doesn't illicit much sympathy. Valchek tells him about the other window that is available and Frank doesn't see the problem, they can put his window there, but Valchek is adamant - he wants that spot on the nave. He warns Frank that if he doesn't want Valchek's finger in his eye, he'll do "what's right". Frank has a very different concept of what is right, and in this instance he is absolutely correct. He points out that what would have been right is if Valchek had come down and spoken politely to him to ask a common courtesy, but that just isn't his way. He insults Valchek, telling him how father always said he was a punk, how his sister said he was a pest at the local dances, and how everybody in Locust Point said it was a mistake when he became a police officer and he's proven them right every day since. Furious - what exactly did Valchek expect from this pathetic display of power BEFORE telling Frank what he was even angry about? - Valchek storms out, apparently spitting on the floor as he goes, and Frank yells after him,"gently caress you, and gently caress your window!" It's such a petty thing to feud over, but it will have gigantic ramifications for the entire city.  McNulty and Diggins pull in to the pier for their lunch break, and McNulty says he'll be back in an hour. Diggins agrees, but it disgusted to see McNulty's idea of tying the boat up has been to loosely wrap the rope about the pier post, saying he might as well have just tied bunny ears. McNulty heads to the docks where Beadie and two other Port Authority officers are going through the dead girls' luggage searching for identification, having little luck - the language in the letters they've found is "backwards" and none of them know enough geography to make sense of the place names. McNulty shows up and asks where the detectives are, getting a laugh from Beadie and the others, who explain the deaths have been ruled accidental and all they're doing is figuring out the identification for the bodies. McNulty - ignoring/not noticing Beadie's attempt to shake his hand, a good start! - takes a look inside the shipping can and tells Beadie he's interested because of the Jane Doe he fished out of the water a couple of days ago, and gets a surprising bit of news. Beadie found 13 bodies, but there are 14 bedrolls in the can. McNulty checks out photos and spots what looks like his Jane Doe, but this begs the question - if 13 of the 14 girls died accidentally locked inside the can, how was the 14th outside of it and murdered? He and Beadie look around inside, Beadie telling him how the girls were locked in and scratched and clawed at the walls as they suffocated - she's so far the only person who has shown even a muted interest/empathy for the fate of the women. She explains how the smuggling usually works, including the use of a shepherd in the crew who makes sure they have air and may even let them out to walk around a bit. They climb up onto the roof of the can where Beadie shows McNulty the air pipe, flattened against the roof, apparently crushed when other cans moved around on top of it as the ship moved. McNulty spots something though, kneeling down for a closer look - to him it looks less like the pipe was crushed and more like it was deliberately flattened. Valchek - having failed to cow Frank Sobotka - has gone running to his political connections. Andy Krawczyk, a prominent Baltimore Property Developer, is one of Valchek's MVPS, he has money but more importantly influence. Unfortunately for Valchek, while he can pressure or influence politicians, he has none over a Priest, only a Cardinal could step in on Valchek's behalf, and a Cardinal only feels pressure from the Pope.... and Krawczyk sure as gently caress doesn't have any influence over the Pope. He quite rightly points out that Father Lewandowski isn't going to give back money once donated, and that Frank paid for a window so he gets a window, so Valchek should just get over it. Valchek doesn't like being stymied though, this has become a point of pride for him now, especially after being openly denigrated by Sobotka. He complains that he can't understand where Frank got the money, and that Krawcyzk does find interesting, providing Valchek with a surprising bit of information - Frank Sobotka has hired a VERY expensive lobbyist - Bruce DiBiago - to lobby on his union's behalf. The entire IBS has maybe 1500 people in Baltimore, and Frank's Local Checkers probably less than 100, so how in the hell can he afford DiBiago? Valchek is convinced that Frank must be into something dirty, and it's a case of a broken clock being right twice a day - Frank IS into something dirty, but Valchek has only come to that conclusion because he desperately wants the nave window spot for himself. Krawcyzk says he doesn't know about that, Valchek is the cop, not him, and as Valchek walks away Andy's face grimaces - he quite clearly can't stand Valchek any more than Frank can, but Valchek is as much a necessary political connection for him as the other way around. He follows Valchek to follow up a little on this now, he's heard that Burrell is looking set to be named the new Commissioner of Police and wants to know Valchek's take. Valchek seems indifferent, there are worse choices, and he's more interested in Krawcyzk's model of a proposed high-rise condo development on the grain pier - the very thing that Nat Coxson was warning Frank might happen. He moves one of the little model ships before moving on, and Andy fussily shifts it back into place. McNulty and Beadie have gone to see the coroner - Randall Frazier - who tentatively agrees with McNulty's assessment that the air-pipe was beaten down into place rather than being accidentally crushed. He says he'll have to check with a metallurgist first, but it looks like Beadie just bought herself 13 homicides. Valchek visits with Burrell in his desk, supposedly to discuss Burrell's potential promotion. The current Commissioner is set to be promoted to a position in Washington D.C (the actor who played the Commissioner died shortly after his single appearance in season 1) and Burrell seems to be the favorite to replace him, though nothing is yet set in stone. Burrell knows that while the Mayor is backing him, the First District are pushing for a white colonel named Shipley, and Valchek despairs that this is racist, how dare they reach down past Burrell for somebody just because they happen to be white! Valchek "spontaneously" decides that he is going to get on the phone to his friends and make sure the First District falls into line, and the very canny Burrell instantly knows that Valchek is angling for something. Thanking him for this kindness, he asks what - if anything - he can do to repay such a kindness, and Valchek just so happens to remember that trouble he's having with Frank Sobotka, what a coincidence! Burrell - whose political instincts are VERY sharp - instantly picks up on the IBS connection but Valchek assures him he isn't interested in going after the Union, he just thinks it is one of the Locals, and hell it may not go beyond one guy, Frank Sobotka. Burrell has never heard of him but knows Valchek wouldn't be requesting a Detail unless there was a personal element, and asks Valchek exactly who Sobotka is to him. Valchek's reply is probably the first honest thing he's said all episode - who is Frank Sobotka to him? He's an rear end in a top hat! They both burst out laughing, it's a back-room deal between two politicking assholes, but both guys know this is how things get done in Baltimore. Valchek can have six guys for six weeks, and Rawls will pick them out for him.   Somebody who DIDN'T understand how things get done in Baltimore until too late is Daniels. Walking home with Marla after dinner, he's distracted and she's concerned about how little he ate, finally stopping him to apologize - she brought up his career during dinner and he's been surly and uncommunicative ever since. He stops her apology though, telling her that she is right - he did what he did, he took on Burrell and he lost, and now his career is literally in the basement. They continue walking, Daniels saying that Burrell won't always be around, but she points out he's about to become the new Police Commissioner, he's in for the long haul. They stop again and she brings up his law degree, any law firm would be eager to have him considering his experience and rank, he DOES have options outside of the police force. He agrees, much to her surprise, and then delights her as he comes to a shocking decision, he's going to put in his papers. She hugs him, delighted for him AND for her, and they continue walking home, holding each other close. Daniels looks genuinely relieved, like a huge weight has been lifted off of his shoulders. It has, he clearly loves a job that doesn't love him back, and has finally realized that he can't keep holding out hope that things will somehow get better. Remember that he has options, compare that to - for example - the checkers in Frank's Local, many of whom probably realize that things aren't going to get better but feel like they have no choice but to stick it out and just hope that somehow, some way, the thing they know and love will be a viable way of living again. The next morning Johnny 50 arrives at Delores' bar with eggs, it's time for "breakfast" - a disgusting "meal" of beer and raw egg. Ziggy arrives, not for work but to share a drink with these "ugly whores", and they all knock back their booze before preparing to set off down to the docks to work. Ziggy pulls Nick aside first, it should come as no surprise that he has a business proposition, a get rich quick scheme! He tells Nick that "White Mike" is going to set him up with a package, but if Nick comes in with him with some money down they can get a bigger one. Nick has no idea what Ziggy is talking about, and Ziggy smugly tells him he means dope - he's going to make more money than Nick does working hard all day. Nick is disgusted, despite his dealings with The Greek his pride tells him that selling drugs is a disgusting, vile act and he can't believe that Ziggy would make him that offer. Ott pops in to tell everybody the ship is in and it's time to get to work, and Nick asks to catch a ride with him, leaving a despondent Ziggy behind. The cars head on down the street... and straight into an 8am D.U.I checkpoint being lead by Carver. Ott can't believe it, demanding to know who would be driving drunk at 8 A.M in the goddamn morning? Of course they HAVE all been drinking, but this is another case of Valchek doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons. At Homicide, a Commander from the Maryland State Police - Robbie or possibly Ronnie? - is having a very tense meeting with Colonel Rawls. He admits that the 13 homicides are "technically" within the Port Authority's jurisdiction, but stresses that they simply don't have the resources or experience to properly investigate such a big and difficult case and it's going to be dumped on MSP, who will also struggle to deal with it. Rawls is not unsympathetic to the difficulties, but he also isn't about to take on 13 "whodunnits" and completely gently caress up his squad's clearance rate. For Rawls, statistics are king, and he explains how he has struggled and fought to get his clearance rate up over 51% (which probably involves a lot of fudging of what constitutes a murder) and taking on these murders would drop his clearance rate down to 39.4%. He laughs that they didn't make Colonel by being idiots, and offers to get him a coffee. Heading out of his office, he deliberately uses defeated body language, Landsman, Cole, Bunk and Freamon watching with concern as he collects the drink. Each of them knows that the 13 murders would destroy their clearance rate, which will affect all of them professionally and personally, and it looks like Rawls has bad news for all of them. He grumpily walks past them back to his door, then stops and fist pumps before heading back inside, much to their relief. They shake hands, Landsman declaring that Rawls is a God.    Avon is enjoying a meal of KFC in his cell, drinking a soda, as casual and relaxed as it he was at home. Wee-Bey is brought for a visit by the prison guard, who (respectfully) warns Avon that Wee-Bey needs to be back in maximum security by 6pm. It pays to remember that Wee-Bey is a convicted MULTIPLE murderer, that he's supposed to be in prison for life and constantly within maximum security confinement of some sort. The fact that he can be brought into the relatively low-security section of the prison holding Avon goes a long way to showing how much power and influence Avon continues to wield, even more than the fact he can have KFC delivered to him in his room. To his surprise, Wee-Bey turns down the meal, clearly upset and in no mood to kick back and relax - this visit isn't to make plans or give out orders, Avon just wanted to see his friend and hang out a little. Avon thinks Bey's depression is down to having his cell torn up and tells him they'll just keep replacing everything that is taken, they'll bring it in faster than it can be taken out. That isn't the problem though, Wee-Bey is a rock and could care less about such things... but you don't gently caress with his fish! The look in his eyes, the way his entire body rocks and his arms flail as he tells Avon,"He didn't have to gently caress with my fish!" says it all. Wee-Bey isn't so much depressed as he is furious, and it's clear that his breaking point isn't about breaking down and giving up names, but breaking his control and murdering the poo poo out of Tilghman - and that would mean the Death Penalty. Bey is between a rock and a hard place, if he doesn't do something it is going to eat him up inside, and if he does he's a dead man. Avon asks exactly what Tilghman's problem is and we learn it's very personal. One of the charges that Wee-Bey took was for the murder of a relative of Tilghman's, a rival dealer. Avon has absolutely no recollection of the man, joking that it is difficult to keep up with Wee-Bey's "lethal rear end", but Bey doesn't see the funny side, Tilghman is always up in his poo poo, it's maddening. Avon assures him that he is going to find Tilghman and talk with him and sort everything out, and Bey complains that Tilghman acts righteous but is bringing drugs into the prison and selling it to prisoners. Avon tucks aside that info inside his head, it'll prove incredibly valuable, and assures Wee-Bey again that he is on things. McNulty and Beadie are discussing with Coroner Frazier and another man how to get the 13 homicides away from the Port Authority over to Homicide. McNulty stresses that the case needs proper murder police investigating it but Frazier knows him well enough that this is bullshit, McNulty just wants to gently caress with Rawls. McNulty happily admits it's true, pissing off Beadie who isn't pleased to hear McNulty is using 13 dead women as a way to get even with an old boss, but McNulty does point out that regardless of the reason, if he doesn't then she's stuck with the murders. Frazier has an idea, using the dimensions of the cavity the women were stored in and the approximate time of deaths, they can work out how much air was inside, how long it took to breath and therefore the most likely physical location the Atlantic Light was in when they died. It's math beyond McNulty, who took 3 hours to work out where a dead body went into the water, and the man helping Frazier is from the State Bureau of Mines. "Minds" asks Beadie. "Mines" replies Frazier. Beadie's not on-board. In the prison, Avon gets the nod from a guard when Tilghman is coming near. He approaches and rather respectfully asks for the chance to parlay, Tilghman ignoring him at first but then stopping on the stairs to turn and pretend he isn't entirely sure who Avon is. After confirming his identity, he shuts down Avon immediately, telling him,"No!" with finality. Avon - who isn't used to being told no - frowns and asks,"No?" and Tilghman replies,"No. Motherfucker," and continues on up the stairs, snapping at another prisoner to stop loitering on the stairs.  This is NOT a look you ever want this man to be making in your direction  With great glee, McNulty takes a 13 page document he has prepared and faxes it through to the Maryland State Police, literally rubbing his hands together in happiness. Diggins is watching from the doorway and says he can tell McNulty is deep into somebody's poo poo. McNulty leaves the room with a spring in his step, as far as loving Rawls goes, he's just arranged the biggest, baddest gangbang you can. Shortly after, a furious Rawls finds himself outnumbered by three representatives of other Agencies, and this time Robbie (Ronnie?) is adamant, the figures are accurate for a time of death to within 3 hours, and the numbers weren't just put together for the coroner, they're confirmed by Rawls' own man in the Marine Unit. This rankles Rawls the most, who declares he knows for a fact that "his man" in the Marine Unit is without a doubt the most swollen rear end in a top hat in law enforcement. This gets a laugh, but everybody is presenting a united front despite Rawls' angry attempts to shut them down - the 13 women died while the Atlantic Light was anchored within Baltimore City jurisdiction, that makes it a City problem, that makes it RAWLS' problem. Robbie happily declares that it looks like Rawls could use a coffee, and Rawls manages a hard grin before storming out. Shortly after, Landsman, Cole, Bunk and Freamon stand like mourners at a funeral as the 14 Jane Does are added in red to the board underneath Landsman's Squad. The 14 dead murders are now Cole's problem, and thus EVERYBODY in Homicide's problem.   Ziggy drives Princess to White Mike's corner, where he's greeted with an instant no. White Mike warns the "little rat-faced gently caress" that he hosed up the last two packages he was given, so he can forget getting another. Ziggy insists that wasn't his fault (it never is) but Mike is adamant - if he has money, he can buy a little weight, if he doesn't then he can gently caress off. It's as simple as that. Ziggy complains, he thought they were friends, and White Mike reveals that they are, because he hosed up the last two packages (Ziggy finally admits he "sorta" did) and yet he hasn't taken a severe beating for it - so he should take a walk now while he's still able. As far as drug dealers go, White Mike is being surprisingly tolerant, but of course Ziggy doesn't see it that way, as far as he is concerned White Mike just hosed HIM over. Stringer visits Avon in prison again, though this time Avon is in the yard and Stringer travels along the small path between the fences. Guards watch the two of them but keep their distance, and Stringer tells Avon he has sorted out the connection through Atlanta. Avon explains he called him in to deal with the Tilghman situation, explaining who he is and why he is causing problems for Wee-Bey, and just like that Stringer says he'll sort it out. Next up on the agenda is D'Angelo, he wants Stringer to visit Donette and make sure she and her son come to visit D'Angelo regularly, she needs to do her part. Stringer asks how D'Angelo is doing and Avon says he will do his part though he does need help now and then, and Stringer is instantly concerned - he has always considered D'Angelo weak, and seems less than convinced when Avon once again puts his trust in the fact that D'Angelo is "family". Freamon and Bunk have left Homicide for the day and picked up McNulty, and are taking great enjoyment in making his take one shot for each of the dead women he has saddled Cole with. Now that the deed is done they can see the funny side, because at least they're not the ones stuck with 14 unsolvable murders. They laugh about how Rawls is taking it, stuck sulking in his office with the door locked most of the day, causing McNulty to declare they need to stop talking because he's getting an erection. One thing is certain though, he will NEVER return from exile after pulling poo poo like this, but McNulty doesn't care - what more could they possibly do to him? He's already stuck on the boat, and he comes to a sudden decision - gently caress it, he'll serve out the next 11 years quietly till he can take his 20 year pension, then walk away forever. He's talking about sitting out the clock, and given his proclivity for drinking and his disdain for the Marine Unit, it probably stands to reason he's going to end up another Polk or Mahon as opposed to a Freamon. Finishing the 14th shot, McNulty almost hits the floor (Bunk declares he won't pick him up) and manages to stagger away to the toilet. Frank has gotten the arrested Checkers out of holding, all except for La La who is being held on an old traffic violation and is currently being sorted out by the bondsman. Frank explains the arrests were down to a beef he has with Stan Valchek, but assures them all that he is working on resolving that. After they all leave, Frank tells Nick that if Valchek wants a war he's got one, and Nick looks delighted at the idea of going to war with a politically connected Police Major. Bunk and Freamon return to Homicide in the morning sharing a laugh, and immediately sense something is wrong when an entirely too happy Landsman approaches them. Before they can say anything, he informs then that THEY are now responsible for the investigation of the 14 Jane Does. He turns and starts walking away, but they angrily call him back, they're not up, they're currently working a double-homicide, but Landsman makes it clear that this is now Cole's case, and they have "pussy in a can" (more on this later). They claim this isn't fair but Landsman replies that what isn't fair is that within the Homicide Department, their squad currently has a NEGATIVE clearance rate, and points to Cole who he says is a good Detective, but not his best - he needs them because he NEEDS those 14 Jane Does to go black. He leaves, and Cole hands over the number for Beatrice Russell, shrugging when Bunk asks if she's at least pretty. Cole has affected a hangdog expression after Landsman told him he couldn't trust him to handle the case, but he's clearly over the loving moon to be released of the responsibility. He leaves with a smile on his face, Freamon and Bunk are now just more of McNulty's collateral damage.   Rhonda Pearlman has had an unwelcome visitor in the night, a drunken McNulty staggered to her door for a place to sleep, too drunk to gently caress and now too hungover. He barely moves as she whips the sheets off of him and joins him in bed, joking that the most useless thing on a woman is a drunken Irishman. Humor aside, she wants to know what she is to him, obviously affectionate as she strokes his hair but fights off his half-hearted attempts to draw her back into bed, she warns him that he can't just show up at her doorstep at 2 in the morning without warning. What is she? His girlfriend? His soulmate? Certainly not his wife, and she doesn't take his lame,"We're good together" attempt to avoid the question. Forced to answer, he happily, sleepily informs her that he'd go back to his wife in a heartbeat if she asked him, then shuts his eyes, leaving her utterly hollowed out. She storms out of the room and he calls back to her to bring him some aspirin, complaining that she doesn't understand how badly he's hurting at the moment, completely oblivious to the irony. Horseface - looking about as shifty as it is possible to - enters the parking lot of the Southeastern Police District building, a big coat pulled close to him to conceal his slim-jim. Spotting the police surveillance van, he unlocks the door and quickly hotwires the ignition, then gets in and drives it right on out of the lot, just like that. As he drives by, he salutes two passing police officers who actually salute him back! Freamon and Bunk arrive at the Port Authority Police building, already irritated at having to climb stairs as the building has no elevator. They greet Beadie at her desk where she is on hold with the Coast Guard, trying to get them to hold the Atlantic Light in Philadelphia. She explains that nobody from their CID is going to assist them because Rawls managed to piss everybody else off, so they're stuck with her. Already impatient, Freamon says they'll call the Coast Guard from the road, and heads out while Bunk waits for her to throw on her coat. She asks if he knows Jimmy McNulty, and he says he does - he's dead to them. Rawls' "Spectacular Six" arrive at a small, squat port side building that will become very familiar over this season and the ones to follow. Inside they find Valchek waiting, and the Major clearly has a sense of drama. Having carefully chosen his position, he's affected a "boss" pose that feels like something out of an action movie - the wise, grizzled old leader in an out of way location who gives a mission briefing to his handpicked crew of elites. He introduces Prez as a prodigy, identifies their "target" and then leaves them to get to work, having satisfied himself that he has set the wheels in motion of a quick, expertly run Detail that'll have Frank Sobotka in handcuffs before Summer (and his stained glass window in the Church nave). Just to give you an idea of how seriously everybody else is taking Frank's pursuit of his white whale, it pays to note that one of Rawls' picks is Detective Polk, the old alcoholic partner of Mahon from season one. The very first question that Prez is asked after Valchek leaves is,"Who signs the overtime slips?"   Meanwhile, a delighted Frank, Ott, Horseface and Nick are admiring the surveillance van that Horseface stole. Loading it into a shipping can, they slap an International Brotherhood of Stevedores sticker onto the back and close up the crate, loading it up on a ship for the start of what will be a VERY long journey. At the Port of Philadelphia, the guard at the gate tries to prevent a car from entering but waves them through after being shown Coast Guard ID - by Sergei. They pull up near the Atlantic Light and wait patiently. Inside the ship, a chubby man named Sam is agitated that they haven't set sail yet, and learns that the ship is being held but nobody knows why. Desperate to get away, he grabs his identification and a money-belt and leaves the ship, prepared to disappear into the city. As he leaves, he's spotted by Sergei and they're instantly after him, Sam running into a shed in a desperate attempt to escape, followed on foot while the driver tries to cut him off from escaping out the entrance on the other side. They run him down, beating him and hauling him kicking and flailing into the car, watched from a distance by the officer who let them in. The beating they're giving him doesn't seem to bother him, and he doesn't seem to notice (presumably he can't here) that at least one of them is Russian, and pleasantly says goodbye as they drive away with Sam in the back. In prison, we get our first look at D'Angelo and it isn't a pleasant sight. Standing in his cell looking ou the narrow window, he's joined by another prisoner who brings him cocaine to snort. With the same hollow look he'd have been used to from his junkie customers in the past, D'Angelo makes sure nobody is coming and then eagerly sits down to snort a line, thanking the other inmate for helping him find a way to do the time. Avon arrives and the other inmate quickly leaves, and he and D'Angelo's heavy sniffing makes it clear what they've been up to, especially to somebody like Avon. D'Angelo tries to affect a casual attitude, but brings up the book they snorted the drugs from, stoned-logic telling him that Avon might wonder why he didn't explain it. Avon asks how he is doing and D insists he is doing okay, and Avon says they need to talk, though not clearly isn't the time, the buzzer just sounded for lockdown. Avon leaves, and D'Angelo slips on his headphones to listen to music and pass the night away.  Freamon, Bunk and Beadie arrive at the Atlantic Light, not knowing they've missed their shot. Onboard, a member of the crew explains the make-up of the crew, which is very international. He admits they speak English, but says that none of them will given the questions they're likely to be asked. The Captain isn't there, he's at the Coast Guard office complaining about the hold on the ship, they're due in New Jersey tomorrow, but Bunk says they're definitely not going to make it, and doesn't give a poo poo at the reveal that every day the Atlantic Light is held costs them $100,000. Sergei is beating a naked Sam, flanked by two heavies (one might be familiar to wrestling fans as "Vladimir Kozlov"), demanding to know what happened with the dead girls. Sam insists that not only does he know nothing, but that he doesn't speak English - we know he does, but much like the other crew with the police, he is trying to take refuge in his foreign status to pretend he can't communicate. Sergei isn't buying it, demanding to know why he ran, while downstairs Vondas arrives accompanied by the kindly old man from the diner. The kindly old man looks far from kindly now though, his eyes are hard and his face is impassive - this is "The Greek", and he doesn't like having to make himself known to people outside of his small group of intimates. Vondas tells him Sam ran when he found out the Coast Guard was holding the Atlantic Light, but they're not sure of his identity/nationality, apparently his role as shepherd was handled from a distance, they think he's an Arab but they're not sure. Arriving on the floor where Sam is being beaten, The Greek seems disappointed that Sergei continued to beat him after it became clear Sam wasn't going to talk, and dismisses everybody but Vondas. He puts on the kindly old man act now, offering Sam a cigarette and asking permission before lighting one for himself. He settles down on a chair opposite Sam and attempts to communicate, offering Sam back his pants and attempting to ascertain which language he speaks. Sam continues to maintain the lie he doesn't speak English, but when The Greek offers him his coat he notices the crescent moon and star tattoo on his arm and guesses that he is Turkish. He assures him he has nothing against the Turks, that is a problem of the old world and this is the new, and Sam finally opens up, speaking English, insisting he knows nothing about the girls. The Greek disagrees, he says Sam DOES know, and he IS going to tell him, and then he'll be free to go, he gives his word. Sam looks into his eyes and whatever he sees there, it breaks down his resistance. He explains that they opened the can to get the girls out to take a bath, and the crew - desperate for female company after weeks of nothing but masturbation - offered to pay for sex. Sam admits that he saw the chance for business and allowed it to happen, but when one of the girls refused (in Sam's words, "one whore decided she didn't want to be a whore no more") the crewman got rough and killed her. The other girls were aware of what happened, and Sam panicked, knowing that he would take the blame for losing one of the "cargo". The Greek is disgusted, he killed one so he killed the others? Sam insists it wasn't him, it was the other man who did it, and is obviously in terror he's going to be killed. The Greek assures him though, he gave his word... and then Vondas steps up and savagely, roughly slits Sam's throat. The Greek watches impassively as Sam bleeds out, one lip raising in a half-snarl/half-grin as he dies, more upset when Vondas warns him that the pooling blood is risking touching his feet. He stands up as Sergei rejoins them and notes that Sam bleeds like a lamb, then complains about the financial damage done by Sam's stupidity. Each girl was set to bring The Greek $250,000+ a year, roughly 4 million total, and they all died because Sam tried to make a few hundred extra dollars on the side. He tells Sergei to make sure that whatever remains of Sam has no hands, no face, and Sergei notes that won't be a problem. The kindly old man and Vondas leave together, casually discussing whether or not to get something to eat before going home.   So what about those 14 dead girls? Throughout the entire episode the dead women have been relegated, dismissed, joked about and ignored. Investigative agencies dismissed them as dead so unimportant; without contraband so not important; dead in the wrong way so not important; dead in the wrong place so not important; all in all NOT important. Landsman called them "pussy in a can"; they were treated like a hot potato between Rawls and the other Colonels; McNulty saw them as a means to an end to get revenge on Rawls; Freamon and Bunk saw them as first a hindrance to their squad, later a joke to laugh about and then a fresh hindrance when it affected them personally; Frank Sobotka was furious about their deaths momentarily and then became more interested in joking about stealing vodka and getting into a pissing match with Valchek; and finally there was The Greek. You could argue that The Greek was the only one who achieved any justice for the women, he found the man responsible for their deaths and extracted the most brutal revenge - but his final comments reveal his motivation. The women were a financial investment, Sam cost him on his potential return for that investment, so he took his revenge. After commenting on the money they could have brought in, he shrugs and mutters,"There will be more" and then moves on to casually discussing dinner with Vondas. The episode's title is Collateral Damage, and that's how the dead women are treated. 14 dead women should be the focus, it should cause an outrage, but it isn't and it doesn't. They're treated as an after-thought, only important for how they affect or can be used by others. In life they were used as objects, and it's the same in death. The scariest part of all of that? Like The Greek says, there will always be more. Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 13:25 on Apr 14, 2013 |
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Apr 14, 2013 06:59
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Adding to that theme, one of the most depressing shots in the entire series comes at the end of this season, when Joe (I think) watches another can full of girls come off the boat, nodding approvingly. Much like how the girls white slavery status is essentially skated over by nearly everyone this season, nobody ever mentions this shot in the same sentence as Wallace' death, Dukie shooting up, etc. but I think it should be. Having said that I always feel guilty at how funny I find Rawls' fist pump scene to be. Also I think if he ever found out that McNulty was not only the guy who saddled him with the 14 murders but was responsible for them being classified as murders to begin with, I think he'd skip from just trying to kill his career to straight up trying to kill him. One thing brought up this episode that I wonder about, relating to the season as a whole. First, Valchek mentions that the Checkers have less than 100 paying members and only 1500 stevedores citywide. A major plot with Frank is him competing with the other local unions. So my question is, why are they split into so many unions when it doesn't seem to help them at all? I understand that the checkers have a distinct job among stevedores but I wonder if this wasn't a subtle point they were trying to make about union power. Mind you I don't think that merging the unions would have prevented the grain pier from being developed but it can't have hurt. Also I absolutely love how Valchek is 100% believing in his role as this heroic badass police commander, even though he knows full well the detail was formed because of his personal bullshit beef, that shot with him on the chair is priceless. He has a line to Daniels when he manages to get him back and ship out the humps that absolutely slays me every time, because he's so proud of himself: "I shipped them worthless fucks back as soon as I could!" Or something like that. Also I always have a perverse minor desire to try that beer and egg thing just to see if its as gross as it looks. grading essays nude fucked around with this message at 07:52 on Apr 14, 2013 |
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Apr 14, 2013 07:40
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cletepurcel posted:Adding to that theme, one of the most depressing shots in the entire series comes at the end of this season, when Joe (I think) watches another can full of girls come off the boat, nodding approvingly. Much like how the girls white slavery status is essentially skated over by nearly everyone this season, nobody ever mentions this shot in the same sentence as Wallace' death, Dukie shooting up, etc. but I think it should be. It's in the final montage of Season 2. Joe has a man check the purity of the heroin, which is also being delivered in the truck where the girls have hidden. The man checks the purity of the dope, nods at Joe, and Joe nods back at him approvingly. Then we see girls (with the camera behind them, exiting the bus, none of their heads in the shot-- deliberately, I think) ordered out of the truck by some European dudes. I know this because it is one of handful of moments that causes me to fight back tears when I see it.
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Apr 14, 2013 09:27
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It's a bit soul-crushing how the ending to each season is mostly depressing, or at best bittersweet. There are no (or at least very few) "happy endings" on this show. It's part of why the show is so compelling and entertaining (not in the schadenfreude way or anything) to watch, but sometimes it can get a bit too heavy. A friend of mine once described the feel of the show as being "too real" and in a way I have to agree. 
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Apr 14, 2013 09:43
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Was D really doing cocaine in prison? I always thought it was heroin.
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Apr 14, 2013 12:09
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BattleCake posted:It's a bit soul-crushing how the ending to each season is mostly depressing, or at best bittersweet. There are no (or at least very few) "happy endings" on this show. Bubbles (I read an interview before season 5 came out that said they felt like they had to give ONE character a happy ending or it would just be too depressing)
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Apr 14, 2013 12:35
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Mescal posted:Was D really doing cocaine in prison? I always thought it was heroin. Whatever it was, it was a drug and it's not good news!
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Apr 14, 2013 12:49
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awesmoe posted:Bubbles Lester retires with his hot girlfriend and has more time to make doll furnitures (which makes more money than honest po-lice work anyway). Cedric becomes a lawyer and Rhonda becomes a judge, they seem to live happily together. Alhazred fucked around with this message at 16:01 on Apr 14, 2013 |
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Apr 14, 2013 15:59
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Namond had a happy ending as well.
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Apr 14, 2013 16:11
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Mescal posted:Was D really doing cocaine in prison? I always thought it was heroin. It was heroin. Jerus I'm going to have to give you a lecture on drugs.
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Apr 14, 2013 17:11
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I don't think this was mentioned yet, but I just realized that Polk and Mahone might be an Irish joke. Their names together sounds like Póg mo thóin, which is "kiss my rear end."
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Apr 14, 2013 19:27
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Cutty gets the gym and the girl. Carver gets moved up the chain and maybe learns something from what's come before. Prez has found his ideal niche in life. McNulty may even stay on the wagon afterward. In the meantime, Kima and Bunk keep plugging along fighting the good fight in their less-dramatic but long-term more effective way. There were plenty of reasonably 'good' endings in the mix.
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Apr 14, 2013 20:00
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That's fair, the very end of the series has some good endings but I meant more like the ending to each individual season usually felt mostly lovely. As well, while some of the individual characters got "happy endings", a lot of others ones (especially the ones from the street) had some less-than-optimal fates, in addition to the fact that the real main character of the show, Baltimore, doesn't really change for the better much.
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Apr 14, 2013 20:20
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cletepurcel posted:Having said that I always feel guilty at how funny I find Rawls' fist pump scene to be. Also I think if he ever found out that McNulty was not only the guy who saddled him with the 14 murders but was responsible for them being classified as murders to begin with, I think he'd skip from just trying to kill his career to straight up trying to kill him. He knows, he gets word that all of the reports are coming from "some useless gently caress in the marine unit" and "his man in the marine unit". The first death he laughs off and gives McNulty credit for his wit, but the 13 additional bodies probably had him contemplating actual murder. But then again, that would gently caress up his clearance rate.  What I like about this episode is that the general theme seems to be petty passive aggressive revenge. Everybody is abusing what power they have to gently caress over everybody else. Valcheck sends his police and pulls strings, Frank steals his surveillance van, Tilghman trashes Wee Beys room, McNulty deals his blow to Rawls. This is juxtaposed with The Greek having Sam killed- he's most efficient at actually "settling" the problem of the dead girls because he operates outside of the system and doesn't have to pussyfoot around. The Greek is able to actually find who is responsible and slit his throat before the police can even start an investigation because of all the bullshit that goes on with the girls in this episode. When everybody else is crossed, their revenge can only make life more difficult for whoever crossed them (although a couple of these revenges will indirectly cause much greater ramifications, I know). When The Greek is crossed, somebody dies for it, pure and simple. Edgar Death fucked around with this message at 20:57 on Apr 14, 2013 |
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Apr 14, 2013 20:53
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BattleCake posted:That's fair, the very end of the series has some good endings but I meant more like the ending to each individual season usually felt mostly lovely. As well, while some of the individual characters got "happy endings", a lot of others ones (especially the ones from the street) had some less-than-optimal fates, in addition to the fact that the real main character of the show, Baltimore, doesn't really change for the better much. Congratulations, you've just got the wire.
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Apr 14, 2013 21:30
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BattleCake posted:It's a bit soul-crushing how the ending to each season is mostly depressing, or at best bittersweet. There are no (or at least very few) "happy endings" on this show. It's part of why the show is so compelling and entertaining (not in the schadenfreude way or anything) to watch, but sometimes it can get a bit too heavy. A friend of mine once described the feel of the show as being "too real" and in a way I have to agree. The endings of Wire seasons have made me believe that montage is the highest of all art forms. Randomly Specific posted:Cutty gets the gym and the girl. Carver gets moved up the chain and maybe learns something from what's come before. Prez has found his ideal niche in life. McNulty may even stay on the wagon afterward. The happiest part of the ending is that Sydnor is the new Mcnulty. The legend never dies!! the black husserl fucked around with this message at 22:33 on Apr 14, 2013 |
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Apr 14, 2013 22:27
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the black husserl posted:
Jimmy's real legend lies in the vice bust. To be fair, he was outnumbered.
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Apr 15, 2013 00:05
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Jerusalem posted:...from the State Bureau of Mines. "Minds" asks Beadie. "Mines" replies Frazier. Beadie's not on-board. Is that an Arrested Development homage?
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Apr 15, 2013 00:35
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Ithaqua posted:Is that an Arrested Development homage? Yeah, sorry it just kinda typed itself out 
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Apr 15, 2013 00:51
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It totally is an intentional joke, since the series features songs by the Pogues.
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Apr 15, 2013 01:05
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Edgar Death posted:He knows, he gets word that all of the reports are coming from "some useless gently caress in the marine unit" and "his man in the marine unit". The first death he laughs off and gives McNulty credit for his wit, but the 13 additional bodies probably had him contemplating actual murder. But then again, that would gently caress up his clearance rate. Actually murdering Jimmy and then copping a plea would be +1 clearance, so it's really win-win.
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Apr 15, 2013 01:57
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BattleCake posted:That's fair, the very end of the series has some good endings but I meant more like the ending to each individual season usually felt mostly lovely. As well, while some of the individual characters got "happy endings", a lot of others ones (especially the ones from the street) had some less-than-optimal fates, in addition to the fact that the real main character of the show, Baltimore, doesn't really change for the better much. Yep. For each character the city lets go of its grips, it hooks onto another. For every Namond there's a Randy; every Bubs a Dukie. the black husserl posted:The endings of Wire seasons have made me believe that montage is the highest of all art forms. It takes a very carefully crafted one to get you to feel so many things at once and have each of those feelings have meaning beyond pulling at a few heartstrings.
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Apr 15, 2013 03:38
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This season really develops the main themes to another level. Hey, here are the people in the towers, they can't find actual employment so they turn to dealing drugs, and society at large doesn't care about them until a judge takes interest in them, for superficial reasons (if they were real reasons he wouldn't have pulled out during re-election). Then you have the second season, where the same thing happens again, only with the dock workers and this time it takes a pissed off Police major(?) before anyone cares, and yet again for superficial reasons. And then, there are the girls who people care even less about than the criminals in the first place showing that when you think you have the bottom, you can go even lower. And then of course it takes it to even more interesting places in seasons three, four and five, but this is just the start. I've never understood why people may have founds this season much of a change, it's still telling the same stories. Actually, one of this show's skills is telling very simple stories and repeating the same themes over and over again without seeming simple or repetitive. Indeed, it comes across quite the opposite in my opinion.
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Apr 15, 2013 03:51
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Jerusalem posted:He stands up as Sergei rejoins them and notes that Sam bleeds like a lamb, then complains about the financial damage done by Sam's stupidity. Each girl was set to bring The Greek $250,000+ a year, roughly 4 million total, and they all died because Sam tried to make a few hundred extra dollars on the side. Interesting parallel here between what happens to Sam and what happens with Ziggy: over a couple thousand between Ziggy and Double G, the Greek is nearly caught. He doesn't sweat the small stuff (What does a multimillionaire like the Greek care about a couple thousand dollars and some stolen cars?); it's all the stupid little people under him that cause the problems. He's more upset about losing his rosary than anything else, perhaps because it has some personal attachment, but even that he dismisses in the end with a simple shrug. "Business, always business."
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Apr 15, 2013 06:35
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And really it was entirely because Double G figured he could punk Ziggy. Glekas is part of the more common gangster culture than the transcendent, purely pragmatic capitalist the Greek represents. Vondas and the Greek thought Ziggy was a joke just like the rest but had Vondas overseen the car deal I think Ziggy would have gotten his fair share. Actually, had Glekas survived the encounter I could have seen him getting a lecture from Vondas much the way Stringer lectures the troops not to go to violence as their first resort.
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Apr 15, 2013 07:06
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Spoilers Below posted:.... He's more upset about losing his rosary than anything else, perhaps because it has some personal attachment, but even that he dismisses in the end with a simple shrug.... Probably worry beads, not a rosary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry_beads
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Apr 15, 2013 22:54
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awesmoe posted:Probably worry beads, not a rosary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry_beads Oh that's a neat little detail, I always just assumed it was a Rosary and that lead to all kinds of assumptions about the hypocrisy of a God-fearing man running a giant international smuggling operation.
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Apr 16, 2013 00:03
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awesmoe posted:Probably worry beads, not a rosary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry_beads Fascinating. I'd always thought that it was just a single decade rosary, albeit just of a sort I hadn't seen previously. Thanks for the info!
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Apr 16, 2013 00:34
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This re-watch thread is great. I mean, little details like the worry beads have never been brought up in any of The Wire threads I've been reading for the past seven years. This show has so much to give, so going over it slowly with a microscope is really great. Keep up the great work everybody. Remember -- all the pieces matter. I got this thread rolling, but I quickly dropped the ball, as I am wont to do. (There's no need to be coy about it-- I'm still an addict and a gently caress-up). Jerusalem picked it up and has been running with it and hasn't looked back. And his write-ups are fostering fantastic discussion. I kind of feel like what I imagine one of the guys who started up Facebook and then didn't stick with it feels like. escape artist fucked around with this message at 02:30 on Apr 16, 2013 |
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Apr 16, 2013 02:27
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