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I think for me, even after all this time, the most heartbreaking thing about the Wallace scene is the shirt he's wearing. It's so boyish and innocent, and through the whole thing, from the lead-up where Bodie and Poot are giving him one last fun day, to the murder itself, I'm thinking "I can't believe someone is about to be executed while wearing a cartoon t-shirt." I'm going to go ahead and guess it was a deliberate choice by the show's creators 
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Aug 30, 2013 16:23
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Orange Devil posted:Obama said Omar was his favorite character because he was the biggest badass... Not exactly. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/14/obama-gloves-off/ posted:“That’s not an endorsement. He’s not my favorite person, but he’s a fascinating character.” http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/18690/b-s-report-transcript-barack-obama posted:Bill Simmons: Last question, quick, five seconds.
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Aug 30, 2013 16:35
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Why did Lester show Marlo the clock when the arrests happened at the end? I mean I get why, but at that point BPD wasn't supposed to have cracked the code, legally, so why would he potentially tip his hand like that? I don't recall there being any follow-up references other than Levy possibly referring to it, among other things, when he claims there's a lot of stink in their case. Did he just figure Marlo wouldn't have poo poo but hearsay?
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Aug 30, 2013 17:18
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Parachute Underwear posted:Why did Lester show Marlo the clock when the arrests happened at the end? I mean I get why, but at that point BPD wasn't supposed to have cracked the code, legally, so why would he potentially tip his hand like that? I don't recall there being any follow-up references other than Levy possibly referring to it, among other things, when he claims there's a lot of stink in their case. The case was supposed to be built around a CI that stated the clocks were a form of coded messages.
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Aug 30, 2013 17:19
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Boywhiz88 posted:The case was supposed to be built around a CI that stated the clocks were a form of coded messages. Ahhh. I must have missed the part about the CI knowing about the clocks. Carry on 
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Aug 30, 2013 17:20
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Parachute Underwear posted:Ahhh. I must have missed the part about the CI knowing about the clocks. Carry on Yeah, it's in the affidavit they receive and that's when Levy asks Marlo who knew about the clocks, and Marlo says just him, Monk, Cheese, and the supplier.
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Aug 30, 2013 17:25
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The clocks bit would have been in the warrant anyway, plus Lester just couldn't resist the chance to gloat to Marlo that he finally outsmarted him. Efb grading essays nude fucked around with this message at 18:51 on Aug 30, 2013 |
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Aug 30, 2013 18:49
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It was to get Marlo and his crew to start turning on each other trying to figure out who was the snitch, which is why they got word to Snoop to take Michael out figuring he was the only person not in prison who could've known and was likely to talk. And gloating a little. Lester Freamon is nothing if not a professional poo poo disturber.
Alec Bald Snatch fucked around with this message at 18:59 on Aug 30, 2013 |
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Aug 30, 2013 18:56
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comes along bort posted:It was to get Marlo and his crew to start turning on each other trying to figure out who was the snitch, which is why they got word to Snoop to take Michael out figuring he was the only person not in prison who could've known and was likely to talk. And gloating a little. Lester Freamon is nothing if not a professional poo poo disturber. Not really. Snoop didn't even know the code, I don't think Chris did either. Like Marlo tells Levy, it was just Monk and Cheese. Michael gets targeted because they think he talked to the police about Chris killing his dad.
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Aug 30, 2013 19:02
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Boywhiz88 posted:Not really. Snoop didn't even know the code, I don't think Chris did either. Like Marlo tells Levy, it was just Monk and Cheese. Michael gets targeted because they think he talked to the police about Chris killing his dad. That's the whole point. Lester knows that they didn't actually have an informant. From his perspective he was making Marlo think that they did, which the affidavits would later confirm. Marlo, Chris, Cheese, and Monk ran through likely sources while in booking, landing on Michael for a number of reasons. Chris points out Michael wouldn't have been the informant on his murder because it would've implicated himself as well, but Monk telling Marlo he'd been acting cagey lately led Marlo to decide it was him.
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Aug 30, 2013 19:23
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On my first watch, the stuff with Michael being a victim of sexual abuse really wasn't evident to me until Bug's dad showed up. When Michel flipped out the moment he showed up I knew something must have happened in the past. Now that I'm rewatching for the first time, all his reactions to Cutty make a lot more sense. I don't think it was really spelled out, but I think Cutty figured out what was up with Michael after he jumped out of his car. It seemed like Cutty was much more open about flirting with women at the gym and makes mention of it to Michael even. I think we was deliberately trying to Michael feel safer around him, showing he only had eyes for women, but this may be a stretch.
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Aug 30, 2013 20:26
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comes along bort posted:That's the whole point. Lester knows that they didn't actually have an informant. From his perspective he was making Marlo think that they did, which the affidavits would later confirm. Marlo, Chris, Cheese, and Monk ran through likely sources while in booking, landing on Michael for a number of reasons. Chris points out Michael wouldn't have been the informant on his murder because it would've implicated himself as well, but Monk telling Marlo he'd been acting cagey lately led Marlo to decide it was him. Considering I just watched the 5th season, what happens in holding is that Chris has the murder charge on him and that's why they think Michael rolled. He's not up high enough to know anything about distribution, but he could put the murder charge on Chris and so they wonder if he snitched about that, not the whole operation.
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Aug 30, 2013 20:45
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Boywhiz88 posted:Considering I just watched the 5th season, what happens in holding is that Chris has the murder charge on him and that's why they think Michael rolled. He's not up high enough to know anything about distribution, but he could put the murder charge on Chris and so they wonder if he snitched about that, not the whole operation. This is correct, they think the only way Chris could have the murder charge on him is if Michael flipped when really Chris just hosed up and left DNA behind.
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Aug 30, 2013 21:09
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Meltathon posted:On my first watch, the stuff with Michael being a victim of sexual abuse really wasn't evident to me until Bug's dad showed up. When Michel flipped out the moment he showed up I knew something must have happened in the past. Now that I'm rewatching for the first time, all his reactions to Cutty make a lot more sense. I don't think it was really spelled out, but I think Cutty figured out what was up with Michael after he jumped out of his car. It seemed like Cutty was much more open about flirting with women at the gym and makes mention of it to Michael even. I think we was deliberately trying to Michael feel safer around him, showing he only had eyes for women, but this may be a stretch. The whole situation is just tragic. A perfect storm of bullshit heads in Michael's direction and pushes him into joining Marlo's crew.
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Aug 30, 2013 21:13
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Herc is playing one of Al Capone's brothers in the new season of Boardwalk Empire. As if I needed another reason to be mega hyped for its return.
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Aug 31, 2013 18:14
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Speaking of which, what does The Bunk have to say about this? If this happens, Larry Gillard has to be at the ceremony, only so Idris can yell "That's where Wallace at D!"
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Aug 31, 2013 18:34
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Lugaloco posted:Herc is playing one of Al Capone's brothers in the new season of Boardwalk Empire. As if I needed another reason to be mega hyped for its return. Holy gently caress that is fantastic news.
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Aug 31, 2013 23:13
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Oh good he's playing Ralph and not Frank. Fun fact: Silas from Deadwood played him in a tv movie back in the 90s in which Dominic Chianese played the Capone's dad. Alec Bald Snatch fucked around with this message at 23:30 on Aug 31, 2013 |
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Aug 31, 2013 23:27
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The Midniter posted:Bodie's death was the most impactful death of the entire series to me. After it happened I kinda got this lump in my stomach and felt numb - about the murder of a fictional gangbanging murderous drug dealer. I texted my brother in disbelief (he had already seen The Wire before). This was one of the few television moments in my life that actually left me staring in stunned silence. The hardest part for me was that, from the moment you saw the scene where Monk sees Bodie get in the car with McNutty you almost know its coming but you want so badly for it not to happen. When Poot begs Bodie to run the look on his face says it all.
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Sep 1, 2013 01:59
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Lugaloco posted:Herc is playing one of Al Capone's brothers in the new season of Boardwalk Empire. As if I needed another reason to be mega hyped for its return. I need to catch up on Boardwalk Empire. I watched the first few episodes and never kept up with it for some unknown reason. I didn't know that Michael K Williams was in it. And this season they're adding Jeffrey Wright? He's one of my favorites.
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Sep 1, 2013 12:18
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geeves posted:I need to catch up on Boardwalk Empire. I watched the first few episodes and never kept up with it for some unknown reason. I didn't know that Michael K Williams was in it. And this season they're adding Jeffrey Wright? He's one of my favorites. Yep, Jeffrey Wright is going to be a big player in Season 4. You really should give Boardwalk another chance, the thing you have to bear in mind starting out is that Season 1 is very much a prologue to Season 2. Lots of pieces being set up and deals taking place that don't pay off until the next season. The first season is still great but it's from Season 2 onwards that Boardwalk really comes into its own. Plus Michael K Williams is fantastic in it. He really shows his range with the character of Chalky White, especially in comparison to Omar.
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Sep 1, 2013 12:34
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Boywhiz88 posted:Considering I just watched the 5th season, what happens in holding is that Chris has the murder charge on him and that's why they think Michael rolled. He's not up high enough to know anything about distribution, but he could put the murder charge on Chris and so they wonder if he snitched about that, not the whole operation. The whole situation is so hosed up. Chris even says to Marlo that he doesn't see Michael talking to the cops. Marlo's "Me neither, but are you going to bet your freedom on that?" is ice cold.
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Sep 1, 2013 21:38
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Fragmented posted:The whole situation is so hosed up. Chris even says to Marlo that he doesn't see Michael talking to the cops. Marlo's "Me neither, but are you going to bet your freedom on that?" is ice cold. The only reason they were suspicious was because Michael had earlier questioned Marlo's judgment with the Junebug massacre and his tactics going after Omar. I think even if Marlo hadn't been arrested he would have tried to off Michael eventually. What happens to Michael in Marlo's crew is the same thing that happens to every other character in the series who questions their institutional instructions.
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Sep 1, 2013 22:17
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cletepurcel posted:I think even if Marlo hadn't been arrested he would have tried to off Michael eventually. Totally agree, but for a different reason: Michael has the potential to dethrone Marlo one day. I bet Marlo can smell that possibility on someone from a mile away. Keep your enemies closer and all that.
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Sep 2, 2013 08:24
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Season 4, Episode 6: Margin of ErrorNorman Wilson posted:Don't try this poo poo at home. It's the last Sunday before the primary and the politicians are out in force to make a final play at a concentrated group of voters. A suited Randy follows in Miss Anna's wake to attend service, spotting Bodie's crew (including Little Kevin) working their corner like it was any other day. Carcetti attends a black service, attempting to keep rhythm while his kids fling themselves about enthusiastically, having more fun than they've probably ever had in Church before. The Ministers give their lessons from the pulpit, and in Carcetti's Church the wording doesn't exactly come out in favor of Carcetti, but it DOES highly suggest to the voters that they have a real and important choice to make between the candidates. Afterwards, Carcetti and his wife join the Minister outside (this is the Deacon's Church too) where the Minister makes note that Delegate Watkins - down on the street greeting parishioners - now appears to be onboard the Carcetti bandwagon. He promises Carcetti to keep an open mind till he gets to the voting booth, noting with amusement Carcetti's assurance that new polling puts him within "the margin of error". That goes to show how close he is to passing Royce, but also serves as a reminder that one mistake could undo all his hard work so far. In a rare moment of letting his political guard down, Carcetti cracks a joke about the Minister's lesson being about Moses, saying it is a hard act to follow, Jesus Christ! His wife is amused but horrified at his blasphemy, but Reverend Franklin takes it in good stride, telling him that Moses will do for now, they can worry about Jesus Christ in his second term. They laugh and say their goodbyes, but the momentum Carcetti is feeling now is clear - the Minister isn't just talking about a possible win, but a second term as well. A bored Sydnor sits in a van idly playing with the controls for the remote camera watching Marlo's concrete park, which is empty. Herc shows up with coffee to get an update, but it's dead, and Sydnor offers sarcastically that maybe everybody went to Church. Herc tells him to give him a call if anything happens and leaves him alone, Sydnor maybe thinking back on all the "real" work he did when Freamon was effectively running things in Major Crimes. Delegate Watkins and others campaign on behalf of Carcetti, who shares a pleasant conversation with a female teacher who turns out to be a County resident, and thus unable to vote for him. He says a cheery goodbye as she leaves, but the moment she is out of earshot complains bitterly about having his time wasted by a county resident - if they can't vote for him, they're unimportant. Watkins comes over with bad news, a flier that is being anonymously handed out accusing Carcetti - complete with photoshopped image - of defending a notorious white slumlord when he was in private practice. It's a complete lie, Carcetti has never met the man in question, but with only two days to go before the primary, it's timed for maximum impact. Even if they can prove it was faked, will they be able to do so in time? And how many people will just take the accusation at face value and never hear his proof anyway? The others seem less concerned, if anything it's an indication of how scared Royce's Campaign is, but Carcetti is intensely aware of that "margin of error" and grumpily snaps that he will lose the election behind this poo poo. They escort him away, it's time to move on to the next section of the city to shake hands, smile, and ask for people's votes.   De'Londa and Namond are dressed up in their Sunday best too, but not for Church. They've been summoned to a meeting with Brianna Barksdale, the last member of the once mighty Barksdale family still walking free. Brianna has specifically requested that Namond be there, and a proud De'Londa assures Namond that Brianna must recognize talent when she sees it. She reminds Namond not for the first time that the Barksdales owe a massive debt to Wee-Bey, who stood tall in season one and took on so many of the crimes linked to the Organization. Namond agrees with pride, his father is a soldier, and De'Londa proclaims the rather ludicrous praise of,"Like father, like son." At the concrete park, Marlo is greatly enjoying himself as he and his lieutenants put on a little show for the camera they know is watching them. Marlo takes a phone-call and speaks personally into the phone, announcing to the others that "skinny girl" arrives from New York on the 8:45pm train, and that he will pick her up himself, as he doesn't want to take any chances of anything going wrong on this one. In the van, Herc and Sydnor listen as the lip-reader echoes what Marlo is saying. Sydnor is confused and suspicious - Marlo openly on a phone? Marlo doing a pick-up? Herc is dismissive of his concerns though, assuring him that Marlo is a dope just like he always said, that "skinny girl from New York" is clearly code for cocaine, and that they have him dead to rights. Herc still hasn't learned the lessons that other young, brash police like Carver and Sydnor have picked up as the series has gone on - he still believes all criminals are inherently stupid, brash and subtle as a sledgehammer.... in other words, that they're like him. Convinced of his own superiority, the man who thinks roughing up street level dealers is good police work is about to make the same mistake as Marimow and completely misread the situation. At Carcetti Headquarters, Tommy is losing his goddamn mind over the flier while his advisers remain calm and unconcerned. They have contingency plans for things like this, and it won't take them long to prove the photo is a fake and the story a complete fabrication. Tommy does want to worry though, and is furious at Norman's joking suggestion that they photoshop Royce together with a dead girl and a live boy. D'Agostino finally has to lay down the law, he's going to go back to his schedule of meet and greets and attend a donor's dinner tonight, and leave them - the people he hired to run his campaign - to fix things for him. Frustrated, he sighs but accepts the inevitable. De'Londa, however, does not. The meeting with Brianna is not the happy ascension of Namond into a higher echelon of the Barksdale Organization like she thought, but the revelation that the money the Barksdales have been paying is about to be cut off. She's furious, her husband is facing life without any possibility of parole for the weight he took and she's cutting them off? Brianna is calm though, explaining that she respects and appreciates Wee-Bey's sacrifice, but time moves on. When De'Londa bristles at this - time does not move on for Bey after all - Brianna clarifies that she means time has moved on for the Barksdale Organization.... in that it no longer exists. Avon and all his best muscle are in prison, Stringer is dead, the remnants have gone independent or moved into work for Proposition Joe or Marlo - there is simply no more cash TO pay. De'Londa looks around at the luxurious home that Brianna lives in and cattily remarks that she is doing well for herself, and then makes a threat that Wee-Bey himself would never follow through on - he still has information he can give to the police, enough to hurt plenty. Brianna is unmoved by this, Wee-Bey never heard or saw her do anything illegal, and when De'Londa makes a desperate last-ditch play she remains unmoved. Yes Avon could be hurt by Bey's information.... but she doesn't give a poo poo about what happens to Avon. De'Londa stares appalled, unable to accept the sudden change in what she thought was a permanent state of affairs, but Brianna's only interest now is in Namond. She leans forward and, eyes only on him, explains that she requested he be here so he could hear this directly from her and not get a warped version from his mother later on. The fact is, enough money has been directed to them over the last two years to set up Namond to live in comfort and make something of his life - his father has NOT been disrespected, and compensation has been paid for what he did. You could say that she did this to protect herself from Namond - whom she doesn't know, maybe he IS his father's son, which makes his incredibly dangerous - coming after her. But I think it more like it is exactly what she said, and that she knows De'Londa well enough to know that the money that has been directed to De'Londa AND Namond has been frittered away casually by De'Londa, who thought the gravy train was never going to end.   At Homicide, Norris brings Greggs a bit of good news - a jailhouse snitch is claiming to know who killed the eyewitness. Norris demonstrates his level of commitment to the case by having to be reminded by Greggs what the victim's name actually was, but gleefully tells her they can have a little fun with this. If they time it right, whatever information the snitch gives them could cause a shitstorm for either the Mayor OR Carcetti. Norris doesn't care which way it goes (in fact he doesn't even vote!) but it will be fun to screw over some "downtown suits", and besides, he figured Greggs would enjoy getting a little revenge after having her name dragged into all this as a "rookie" just recently. She shrugs, she can't deny that, and thus both Detectives find themselves pumped up to take action in the investigation of the death of a human being! At home, Carcetti watches the news on different channels, frustrated by the story about the flier gaining traction as well as another about Royce holding his lead in polling. Switching the television off, he tells Jen that they found the original image that was photoshopped in the Baltimore Sun archives, and that Royce is denying all involvement. But what is really bothering him is something else, the fact that he's now so close. He admits that when he was 15 points behind in polling, he was resigned to losing - a white guy running for Mayor in Baltimore losing by a landslide is to be expected.... but two points? He's so close he can feel victory, and if he loses now it will just seem too cruel. Jen offers the only comfort she can and hugs him. De'Londa is not in a comforting mood. At her own well-furnished home she is insisting to Namond that the time has come for him to step up and be the man of the family. Namond agrees, especially when she reminds him that Wee-Bey was younger than Namond when he went out on the street to make money, and eagerly exclaims that he can leave school an.... she puts a stop to that immediately. Torn between her maternal and predatory instincts, she insists he must stay in school AND go to work on a corner, and he's going to go to Bodie and demand a package to sell. What if Bodie says no? She informs him icily that she never takes no for an answer, and isn't at all amused when he reminds her that she just did take a no from Brianna. That reminds him, what did Brianna mean by enough money being given for the two of them? Furious, De'Londa growls that Brianna is a lying bitch and demands the phone, and puts through a call to Wee-Bey of all people to vent her fury. Wee-Bey has a phone in his cell, an example of the preferential treatment he gets in prison, but much to her chagrin he seems unmoved by the revelation that the cash is being cut off. He listens to her explain the situation, agrees that Brianna has everything covered, and then just rolls his eyes and pays no attention as De'Londa raves away on the other end about the injustice of it all. Wee-Bey knows they've been well paid, that he is taken care of in prison, and Namond is old enough to start earning if need be - what's the big problem here?  I love it when The Wire does something like this, taking such a familiar domestic scene - husband rolling his eyes as his wife nags - and putting a twist on it, in this case the fact that Wee-Bey is a murderer serving life in prison. It's a nice reminder that these are human beings we are dealing with. De'Londa is a fascinating and appalling character. It is easy to dismiss or simplify her as just a horrible, greedy and self-centered person, but there is more to her. Her actions throughout the season are reprehensible, but she does seem to be acting out of a genuine desire to make Namond into what she thinks a man is supposed to be. It's true that their situation is largely of her own making, and it's interesting to see her torn between her self-interest and her misplaced maternal instincts. She wants Namond to stay in school AND work the corner "like a man". She wants him to be a soldier, but continues to coddle him as her precious little boy. She is disgusted that he is scared to spend the night in "Baby Booking", but outraged at the idea of another adult taking him under his wing. She is a vile person, but she didn't appear in the world fully formed that way. I could see Donette (D'Angelo and later Stringer's girlfriend) turning out much the same way with her son, Tyrell. Norman arrives at Carcetti's house pre-dawn to pick him up, surprised and apologetic when Jen answers - is Tommy not ready? She informs him that he has already gone into the office because he couldn't sleep, and Norman's reaction is not a good one - he knows that a candidate all alone in that office in the middle of the night the day before the primary is a recipe for disaster. Lieutenant Mello briefs the incoming shift and reminds them that they are looking for officers to work on polling stations at the primary. Getting to the latest arrest warrants, he shows a picture of Omar and asks if anybody knows him. Everybody laughs and speaks up, Omar is well known to everybody in the Western, and a curious McNulty asks who he murdered, and is surprised to learn it was a regular civilian, a "taxpayer". Colicchio is savagely delighted that they have paper to serve on the likes of Omar, while Santangelo mocks that if they want to find him, they just need to go in the opposite direction of a Corner Boy with poo poo in his pants. As everybody laughs, McNulty leans over to Colicchio and asks if it strikes him as odd that Omar would kill a citizen, that doesn't stike him as a very Omar thing to do. Colicchio just shrugs, nuance is no more his strong suit than it is Herc's. Norman arrives at the office where Carcetti has enthusiastically re-written his schedule to hit some middle-class black neighborhoods where undecideds are strong enough he thinks he can make a difference. Norman ignores his changes, reminding him that these areas are pro-Gray and the undecideds are unlikely to go for Royce so they don't need to bother about them. Carcetti, obsessed and desperate to fill the final hours before the Primary, insists that he needs a wider cross-section of the vote to have a mandate if he wins. Norman reminds him of the important point he should be focused on, that he actually CAN win, and reminds him he worked his rear end off to get him three radio interviews this morning that they need to get to now. They have professionals to run the scheduling of his campaign for him, "don't try this poo poo at home." They leave together, Carcetti noting he might have a spot for Norman in his Administration when he wins, and Norman just laughs. At school, Prez calls Dukie away from his three friends as they arrive in school together and asks him to come with him. The other boys look confused, and Michael in particular is suspicious of Prez's interest in his friend (an older male wanting to be alone with a young kid? That sets alarm bells ringing). Prez takes Dukie to the gym locker rooms, where he has set aside a padlocked locker for his use. If Dukie arrives early each morning, he will be able to shower before school, and he can leave his dirty laundry in a bag and Prez will get it cleaned for him, allowing him to protect his clothes from his family and not go through the school day stinking the place up. It's a kind gesture, and he leaves Dukie to get cleaned up, the boy obviously touched but concerned that there must be some kind of catch. Namond, Paul and Monell walk down the halls and pass Tiff, he says a happy hello to the two boys who had sex with her in the bathroom the previous week. They ignore her, and once past comment loud enough to hear that she is a skanky bitch. Her face falls, the poor girl having obviously thought letting them have sex with her would endear them to her, while Namond just laughs at their crude comments that she was "good". He turns and calls back to her that he has fifty cents too, and jokes with the other boys that he bets she could take all three of them at once. "Slut" shaming is sadly nothing new, but Tiff's attempts to exact revenge will have fatal consequences. Rawls arrives in Homicide, heading straight for Landsman's office, passing Crutchfield and Holley who complain that the Bosses putting in an appearance below the 8th floor is always unsettling. Rawls closes the door and gets straight to the point with his old Sergeant, why is the Braddock case progressing as it is? Landsman reminds him that he is not pushing it in any way nor is he holding it back, simply letting the case progress at its own pace with zero interference. Rawls doesn't accept that though, State's Attorny Demper - who like Burrell is at risk from Royce - informed Burrell that a writ had been put forth to visit a jailhouse snitch, and the timing couldn't be worse. Like Norris noted to Greggs, whichever way the tip pans out, they risk alienating either Royce or Carcetti, both of whom stand a good chance of reelection/election respectively. Casually leafing through one of Landsman's pornographic magazines, he reminds the Sergeant that Tactical is short officers to work the polling booths at the Primary tomorrow... so why not assign a couple of Homicide Detectives to do so? Landsman guesses Rawls would like Norris and Greggs, and Rawls comments happily that this would work for him.... and they can serve their writ on Wednesday, when the Primary is over and it won't make any difference to it anymore. Grace Sampson has good news for the assembled teachers in the common room - the University of Maryland education program is set to start today, and 10 of the "worst" 8th graders will be taken out of their classes, 8 boys and 2 girls. If the program works well, more will be taken out, and everybody is pleased by the idea, it's a good start at least. Carcetti returns to his headquarters eager to know how he sounded on the radio, and D'Agostino says he did well, particularly on the flier question. That just sets Tommy off again though, as he gets into the quiet of the back office and begins complaining bitterly again about the prospect of losing because of the flier. D'Agostino reminds him that they could point to 10 different reasons why he might lose, so they have to concentrate on trying to win. Enter Norman, who has a tantalizing prospect to offer. He's just had a phone-call from everybody's favorite slime-ball, Clay Davis, requesting a meeting between the two. There are no illusions here, everybody knows that the only thing that interests Clay Davis is money, and Norman laughs at Tommy's insistence he will offer no policy concessions in exchange for Clay's support, because Clay doesn't give a gently caress about policy. They figure that Davis can read the writing on the wall re: Royce and is preparing to jump ship like Watkins did, only unlike the Delegate his interest is in getting paid to do it. He'll probably ask for 20-30k in "contributions" to various political causes as the price of his support, and there is no guarantee that he will actually deliver on it anyway. But the only thing they have to lose is money, and Clay Davis support could give Tommy that extra momentum he wanted in the West Side to get that mandate. They set it up, effectively accepting that they are going to pay a bribe, and not a single one of them even blinking at the idea.   At Edward Tilghman, various classes are interrupted by Sampson and Donnelly, who call out select students to join them, accompanied by,"OOOOOOOOOOH!"s from the other students. They're not told where they are going, and soon all 10 are being lead down the corridor. As they walk past the school office, Namond notices a tearful Tiff making a report to a concerned looking police officer. He shrugs and continues on, not making any connection to his earlier horrific insults towards her. At a hotel restaurant, Clay explains to Tommy and Norman that can't endorse Carcetti at such a late date. What he can do, however, is hold back his organization from the usual support they'd give Royce and give assistance to Tommy in certain select Districts where he needs it. He writes a figure on a napkin and passes it to Norman who moves it over to Tommy, who nods at the figure - $20,000. Clay is delighted, and picks up a menu to order his meal. Tommy and Norman excuse themselves, they have a sitdown lunch scheduled, and Clay smoothly accepts, then tells them to be sure to leave enough to cover his tab. They stare in surprise and he chuckles heartily, even he wouldn't go that far, and so they head away as he laughs away alone at the table, very pleased with his day's work - after all, he just made $20,000 for doing absolutely nothing.... and absolutely nothing is what he intends to do. Paul and Monell wait outside Donnelly's office... and so does Randy. He probably suspects why he is there but he has no idea just how serious it is until Donnelly calls him into her office and informs him that Tiff identified him as being involved in her rape. Randy is horrified, and struggles to try and explain to a hard-faced Donnelly exactly what happened - he was just standing lookout, he didn't know what was going on, he wasn't involved, he didn't do anything but take 5 bucks to stand by a door! When she angrily points out that he stood lookout for two boys while they raped a girl, his face is an amazing assortment of conflicting emotions - disbelief, horror, confusion. He tries to explain that Tiff was a willing participant but that doesn't hold any water with Donnelly, who warns him that he could face criminal charges for this - he's certainly going to be suspended. She begins to put through a call to Miss Anna, which horrifies him more than anything, and he insists that he can tell her anything she wants to know. When she reminds him that she already knows everything (or thinks she does, at least), in his desperation he lists off the many little petty acts that he knows about, all of which make no difference to Donnelly. So he makes the biggest mistake of his life, one that will haunt him and ruin him forever.   Grace Sampson explains to the 10 selected students how the program will work, and they're all canny enough to recognize the same thing that worried the School Superintendent - they've been removed from the classes so they won't be dragging back the other students. Sampson very much pushes the optimistic side of things - that this is a class too, that it will work to their benefit, that they will be able to use it to get back to regular classes and fit in which they currently can't do. Namond bitterly points out that she's talking about a prison - they're in solitary with the promise that if they're good they can go back to Gen-Pop. Used to his comments getting a rise, Namond doesn't quite know how to react when Colvin steps forward and happily admits that this is solitary, leaning forward, grinning and telling Namond that this is a hole up in here. The students can only stare, not used to all artifice being stripped away like this. Donnelly goes to see Prez, looking for guidance from a former police officer. He warns her that Randy is a genuinely good kid and calling the police will put his name into the system forever and potentially wreck his life. Donnelly is torn though, if he knows about a murder then she MUST call the authorities, she has no choice in that. Prez offers to take this bitter cup from her though, offering to contact people in the police force that he can trust to talk with Randy, and she eagerly accepts, wanting to get this hot potato out of her hands as fast as she can. That night, Herc waits at Penn Station with a member of the Transport Police for Marlo to arrive. When he spots him he lets the officer know, telling him he doesn't want to be involved in the collar so that Marlo won't know local police are onto him. Marlo heads to the arrivals board, and when he spots a dignified looking woman in a dashiki with a large bag he knows he has found the lure he needs. He heads over and before she can really react has scooped up her bag with a friendly offer to give her assistance. Clearly suspicious of him but too self-confident to be alarmed, she asks who he is and what he wants, and when he says he just wants to escort her to the exit she smiles and lets him know her husband is waiting outside. Marlo says he'd be happy to meet him, and as they continue on together they're suddenly mobbed by Transport Police. The woman protests, demanding to know what they're doing, while Marlo smiles in delight - now he knows that it is the police who are filming him, and he knows it won't be the Transport Police doing it.   Prez meets with Daniels at the Western District to discuss the Randy situation. Prez hasn't questioned Randy too closely so he doesn't know what the details of the murder are, but he is worried about Randy being chewed up by the system if it just goes to a Downtown Homicide Detective. Daniels agrees to play it close and send somebody to talk to him who has a little discretion, and surprises Prez by saying he'll ask Carver to speak to Randy. Prez, who has grown a lot since he, Carver and Herc took a drunken ride up to the Towers one night, seems surprised to learn that Carver has similarly matured, but takes Daniels' word for it. Daniels is intrigued though, who is Randy to Prez? Why does he care? Prez can't really articulate it, though, all he can offer is that Randy is one of his students, a statement that Daniels appears to take some comfort in. Herc gets the bad news that neither Marlo or the mystery woman had anything on them - no drugs, no paraphernalia, not even an inordinate amount of money. The Transport Police are going to have to cut them both loose unless Herc has any ideas, and since this is Herc we're talking about, they're soon set free. At Randy's home, Carver fills Miss Anna in on what has happened. She's understandably upset, both by his involvement in the murder and the rape, though Randy insists in desperation that in the latter case he really didn't do anything. It seems he has come as clean as he can with Carver, who explains that Randy was just asked by one person to tell another to be at a certain location at a certain time, and this is the extent of his involvement. The school will be reviewing the rape case and the police will be reviewing the murder, but he lets her know that from what he can tell, Randy is actually a good kid and hasn't played any malicious role in either. Miss Anna's fears aren't just for Randy's actions of course, but a genuine and justified fear of what will happen that word gets out about Randy's involvement - no matter how peripheral - in a murder. Carver agrees, and turns to speak up louder for Randy's benefit, Randy is going to make sure to keep his mouth shut, go to school and be a good boy from now on.  This above image is so sad, just look at it. Here's a young boy watching a man and woman discuss his recent actions. This could be a mother and father talking about their son, but it's not. It's a police officer and a Foster Mother discussing a suspect and foster child. Poor Randy's life is so unstable, always living in fear that Miss Anna will send him away, return him to a group home where it is survival of the fittest and life is maybe even worse than it is for Dukie, who can at least safely rely on being ignored by his family most of the time. The day of the Primary dawns at the polling place signs are put out. Cops walk the streets in preparation to serve as security, the streets currently quiet. Cutty takes a morning jog, leaving the home of a woman who is obviously upset at the way he dodges her questions about whether he will be back, clearly having hoped this would be more than a one-night-stand. He moves through the streets listening to Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up, which becomes somewhat non-diegetic as we see Tony Gray, Royce and Carcetti making their own vote/photo-ops inside polling places, each after Cutty passes one of the many election signs that have plagued the city throughout the season. Gray is pleasant and nonthreatening for his photo-op, just like his campaign has been. Royce pretends to be surprised to see the Press there and then eats up the media attention. Carcetti smiles happily and is then all business as this piece of campaigning ends and he moves straight onto the next one, walking side by side with Royce who lays out his itinerary for the day. Outside of the school - closed for Election Day of course - people wait in line, safe within the boundary where no electioneering is allowed. But outside of it buzz desperate campaigners making every last effort they can to push for their chosen candidate. Spider is handing out fliers for Carcetti and Randy says hello when he spots him, asking Miss Anna if he can wait outside while she goes inside to vote. She warns him not to move from the spot and heads away, and the ever industrious Randy - already somewhat recovered from yesterday's panic - asks how much Spider is being paid to do this. It's $40, but Spider has to work the whole day handing out the fliers. A voice calls his name and he is not pleased to see Cutty approaching, and takes off before the big man can arrive. Cutty asks Randy if it was Spider, and tells him if he sees him again to tell him to come and see him, as he hasn't been to the Gym in weeks and Cutty wants to talk to him. As he talks, he has to shoo off a campaigner who tries to hand over a flier and even pushes him when he finds out he's an ex-convict, asking if it was a felony or not. Cutty leaves, and the man who hired Spider comes over, discovers Spider has left and promptly "hires" Randy to replace him. Namond is playing video games in his bedroom when De'Londa shows up demanding to know why he isn't at school. She has no idea there is an election on despite all the posters everywhere in the city, asking if the school is closed for "one of those Jew holidays?", and demands to know what he plans to do today if school is closed. He had intended to sit at home playing video games, and she reminds him that he is supposed to be stepping up. She then does one of the most horrifying and humiliating things any mother can ever do to her child, and informs him that they're going to get dressed and then BOTH of them are going to go see Bodie! Randy has finished handing out the fliers, and the Carcetti campaigner hands him a crate full of leaflets, telling him to go place them in doorways within a particular range of streets. He is going to leave Randy to do this himself or with friends, but he will drive by to check they were done later in the day. Randy eagerly agrees to the instructions and the campaigner, perhaps seeing the genuine enthusiasm for paid work, breaks all the rules by peeling off Randy's payment in advance. Miss Anna returns from having done her civic duty and is pleased to see the delighted Randy has gotten a job for the day. She agrees to let him do it so long as he comes straight home afterwards, and reminds him he isn't on the streets anymore. She heads away, and the campaigner, bemused, tells him it sounds like she means it. Norris and Greggs work the polling places in uniform, Greggs grumpily reminding Norris they're working this poo poo detail because he wanted to stir the pot. All Norris can offer is that timing is everything, an idea that doesn't do much to assuage Kima's grumpiness - tomorrow they could solve the entire case, and nobody will give a poo poo. Carcetti works the sidewalk, shaking the hand of every passerby and handing out fliers, telling everybody that he's running for Mayor and asking for their vote. He can't help but stare after a blonde who happily tells him she is voting for him, and then he and Norman prepare to move on to the next location. Tommy is stopped by an older man who happily tells Tommy he is voting for him and that he knew his father, but Carcetti's pleasure in this chance meeting soon turns to disbelief as the old man casually blasts out a stream of racism before waving a happy goodbye, leaving Tommy to offer an apology to Norman, who can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.   Randy meets up with Dukie, Michael, Kenard and Donut and explains the job he is doing. The flier he is handing out is detailing the way the anti-Carcetti flier from Sunday was put together, and showing how desperate Carcetti's opponents are to keep him from becoming Mayor. It needs to be slipped into every doorway along certain blocks, but they don't need to do any vacants, and many of the blocks in question are ONLY vacants, making the job any easier. Dukie is happy to help out to get a little cash (as well as a Carcetti hoodie) and Kenard wants in to, while Donut suggests they could make it even easier with a car. Randy nips that in the bud right away, he's in enough trouble with Miss Anna already, and asks Michael if he wants to help out. He doesn't, either because he feels the work is beneath him or he just has better things to do - like the gym - so he says his goodbyes and heads on. Meanwhile, Namond is suffering the horrible (and familiar to all of us at one point in our lives I'm sure) experience of having his mother stick her nose in where it doesn't belong. Having driven them to Bodie's corner, she is insisting (demanding!) that he put Namond back to work on the corner. Bodie agrees that Namond can sometimes do well on the corner, but he's inconsistent, and often does nothing at all. De'Londa angrily shuts down all his arguments, insisting they've dealt with all this, reminds Bodie who Namond's father is and offers to get him on the phone so Bodie can tell HIM why he doesn't think his son is good enough. Bodie quickly agrees to take Namond back on and backs off the car, as De'Londa, ignorant of her utter emasculation of her son, tells him to make her proud and leaves him behind on the corner. Bodie sighs and tells him he has a Dragon Mother, and when Namond notes that she doesn't quit, Bodie suggests that meeting her has made him understand something - now he knows why Namond is the way he is. Unable to resist despite himself, Randy has taken on Donut's idea and let him drive them around the blocks in a stolen car. Arriving at their latest destination, he isn't pleased to see Donut, Kenard and Dukie heading for the corner store, and tells them they should finish up their work before getting something to eat. They're all bored though, and when Randy accidentally lets slip he has already been paid they insist on getting their share, telling Randy - who has a work ethic - that it is the campaigner's fault for paying in advance. Grumpily handing over their share while complaining they couldn't even finish the job, he tells Dukie to pick him something up, while he goes on placing the last of the leaflets. At the Gym, Cutty is happily showing yet another attractive young woman some moves in the ring. Michael is training when Namond arrives and asks where the crew is, and Michael explains they're doing work for Randy, laughing at idea and saying it was a bullshit job. Namond has his own job though, revealing he is now working a package of Bodie, and eagerly asks Michael to come in on it with him, they could work together. Michael, a little taken aback, shakes his head timidly and then tells him it is his thing, not Michael's. Namond is upset but accepts it, and tells him he'll see him later, heading out of the gym. Michael goes back to shadow-boxing with the mirror, while Cutty makes a huge mistake by attempting to make small-talk with him before bringing up his concerns about Spider. Remembering Michael's focus on the ring-girl at the boxing match he took him to, he motions to the woman he was flirting with and overemphasises how much he LOOOOVES women, while Michael ignores him, the statement just cementing his belief that Cutty is interested in young boys. Cutty moves awkwardly onto Spider, explaining that he's concerned that his former top prospect has stopped coming to the Gym and he can't make contact with him, hoping that Michael might have some insight or contact with him. Michael has finally had enough, and points out what should have been obvious to Cutty - if he wants to know why Spider is upset, maybe he should ask Spider's mother? He motions over at the other woman, a mother herself cheerfully talkiing with her young son - another of Cutty's recruits - and Cutty shakes his head, amused and reminding Michael that he was in jail for a LONG time and he's no angel. Michael agrees, he certainly isn't, and goes back to shadow-boxing, leaving Cutty to face up to an unpleasant truth - HE is responsible for Spider disappearing. At Carcetti Headquarters, Tommy returns to applause from his busy campaigners. Reports are coming in of heavy turnout citywide for the Primary (the REAL race in Baltimore elections, the actual election day is basically a certainty for the Democratic Candidate), but in the back office, he is horrified to see live television footage of Clay Davis at a Royce Rally. Davis has just been reported declaring he and his organization were doorknocking heavily in support of Royce for Mayor, disgusting Carcetti who can't believe he paid Clay 20k for the privilege of assisting his rival. The others take it in stride though, knowing that Clay probably used the 20k he was paid by Carcetti to leverage 30k from Royce. Tommy, always looking for the cloud in any silver lining, is positive that Clay must know something he doesn't to so openly support Royce in a close race, but the truth is that all Clay knows is enough to get paid twice, nothing more. It's their own fault for paying him up front.   In a store, Omar is getting a drink when he notices a police car conspicuously parked outside. The sense of self-preservation that has kept him alive in his dangerous line of work warns him something is wrong, and he makes a point of returning to the cooler to get a colder drink, taking the opportunity to hide his gun inside. Leaving the store, he pulls his hoodie up and smokes a cigarette, walking the street as the uniformed officer shadows him. He stops and looks, and the officer - Walker - demands he turn and places his hands against the wall. Omar recognizes him immediately (Everyone knows Omar, and Omar knows EVERYONE) and does as he is told, telling Walker he wouldn't be foolish enough to walk the streets strapped. Walker pats him down, spotting the ring that Omar took from Marlo (who took it from Old Face Andre) and grabs it for himself. Omar is bemused but slightly offended, and asks Walker if he doesn't understand there are rules to "the game". Walker slams him to the ground, safe in his uniform, and Omar is only saved from a beating when more officers arrive on the scene, including McNulty. Colicchio mocks Omar for his lack of shotgun, while Omar demands to know what this is all about, what charge do they have on him? He's confused to learn they're arresting him for murder, recognizing McNulty and asking what the hell is going on. McNulty would like to know the same, telling him he's been charged with the murder during the robbery of a store. Omar thinks fast on his feet, he knows he has committed no such murder and recognizes a set-up when he sees one, and as he's taken towards Santangelo's wagon to be taken to booking, he reminds McNulty he gets a phonecall... and it needs to be made BEFORE he is put into the system. Note here that McNulty looks to Walker first before allowing Omar to make a call. This is Walker's collar, and so McNulty respects that it is his call, and since Walker sees no problem with this, McNulty calls the number Omar gives him on his cell. It's Butchie, and Omar explains he's been arrested on a murder charge. Butchie understands what needs to be done, and assures him he will be taken care off. Omar is loaded into the wagon, and Santangelo - bemused to see Omar given a phonecall before booking - asks a beaming McNulty if he's some kind of Democrat or something At hotel rooms around the city, McNulty and Jen watch news coverage together, while Royce has a large group of staffers in his, and Tony Gray is there with his wife and a staffer (campaign manager?). Exit Polls give Carcetti a slight 2% lead over Royce, though late polls from the Western District are expected to favor (Tony smiles) Mayor Royce (Tony's reaction isn't shown, but footage of a beaming Royce is shown on the television). Namond returns home and finds De'Londa sitting at her table with a bottle of Jack Daniels, which apparently she's been sipping at all day. He heads upstairs, leaving her sitting staring into the middle distance. She told him she is counting on him, but you can see in this brief moment just how empty and miserable her life is, and how much she has come to rely on and need the money she has become used to. Namond is a poor substitute for Wee-Bey, and she knows it. Randy does his homework at the table while Miss Anna works on her laundry and the election results play on the television. She looks over at him with kindness as he works, but when he looks up she shakes her head at him, not ready to let him feel forgiven for his recent actions just yet. Carcetti talks on the phone and learns that Bond is doing well against Demper, which is potentially good news for him - Demper is Royce's man. Jen tells him to dare to hope, and suggests they get out of the hotel and take a walk. Omar is taking a walk, far less pleasant. Escorted through any number of criminals who would be terrified to see him on the street, here he is vulnerable and outnumbered and they know it. Word is spreading fast throughout booking, and detainees thump on windows and walls and shout out to each other - Omar is here, Omar is amongst them, Omar is unarmed, Omar is vulnerable.   Carcetti and Jen enjoy a rare moment of quiet together, as they walk along the harbor. In the distance the city looks beautiful, but the harbor smells and Jen reminds him he'll probably be expected to do something about that. He notes she sounds confident, and she tells him she has a good feeling. His phone rings and he wants to hold off on answering, now that the primary is over he no longer feels that need for constant updates, but she brings him back down to earth and tells him to take it. He does, and is informed of a startling thing - Royce is conceding. The Western districts that were supposed to go to Royce saw Carcetti bring in up to 2 out of every 5 votes - he took away a significant portion of Royce's own base, and the Mayor knew once that happened that he simply could not win - he has given up. Carcetti stands stunned after giving Jen the news, and admits that he isn't sure if he's happy or not... but slowly a wide smile crosses his face, yeah, he's happy all right, he won. He is the Democratic Candidate, and in Baltimore that basically makes him the Mayor already. They return to his headquarters, where all is smiles and laughter, tension and stress broken by victory. Applause greets Tommy and Jen as they come on stage, and after he finally calms them down he cracks a joke about having to win the General Election and then reminds them all that they have hard work ahead of them to make Baltimore a better place. D'Agostino, Norman and Watkins all bask in the victory, and for once he doesn't make a big speech, congratulating them all and telling them to enjoy themselves. Mingling amongst the excited crowd, he finds two of Royce's former closest allies have already jumped ship - Council President Naresse Campbell and, of course, Senator Clay Davis. Carcetti wants to be upset with Davis, but the Senator's glee won't be dented, as he unashamedly admits screwing Carcetti out of his money but insists he went easy on him, he could have had him for twice as much. In the end, Carcetti can only shake his head in appreciation of Davis' complete lack of shame.   The door to Omar's holding cell opens and two large men enter, nodding their thanks to the guard who has put them there. Omar, resigned, stands up and puts up his fists to go down fighting. The lead man takes out a knife... and then casually cleans his fingernails before revealing that Butchie sent them. Omar's relief is palpable, and he hugs the man (Donnie Andrews, one of the real life inspirations for Omar) and asks what they are in for. Donnie is here for a 2255, while "Big Guy" just grunts that he talked back - both are effectively the same thing. Omar is still in a bad position, but now he has back-up, and he isn't as vulnerable as the other detainees may think he is. In Carcetti's hotel room, Norman is gleefully telling D'Agostino and Gerry the "moolie" story. Carcetti reminds him he told him to shore up his base, to much amusement, and then asks Norman if HE voted for him. Norman won't reveal, joking that the sanctity of the voting booth will not be breached. He and Gerry leave, singing in victory, leaving Carcetti with D'Agostino, Jen having left earlier during the party, saying she knew he would be unable to pull himself away from the celebration and giving her blessing for him to enjoy himself. Carcetti knows he should be heading home now, but agrees to one last drink for the road. He admits to D'Agostino that his victory feels good and she tells him it should, he worked hard for it, and after their drink she reminds him he offered her a win bonus when she took the job. He agrees she earned it, but it seems unlike Clay Davis, money isn't the only thing on her mind. She kisses him and he reciprocates eagerly, before pulling himself away. She's amused by his sudden attack of conscience, knowing he is still the old horndog he has always been, Norman has told plenty of stories about having to pull him away on the Campaign Trail when he was getting too close to various women. If he wants to be "Mayoral" this could be his last chance for some fun for four years, and she makes another move. Again he pulls away after initially seeming eager, and, genuinely surprised, she notes that maybe he has changed after all. Amused more than anything else, she collects her things, heads to the door and tells him to write her a cheque for the win bonus instead. With that, she's gone, and Tommy Carcetti is left all alone.   Ladies and Gentlemen, the new Mayor of Baltimore. Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 13:22 on Sep 2, 2013 |
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Sep 2, 2013 13:16
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Link for the OP: Episode 5 - Alliances Episode 6 - Margin of Error
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Sep 2, 2013 13:20
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Jerusalem, you're some kind of machine. I got super disoriented when I errantly clicked on this thread and expected to find a new Doctor Who review, only to be greeted with a headline about slum lords. When I dream tonight, I will dream of HBO's Doctor Who. 
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Sep 2, 2013 13:20
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Margin of Error is one of my favorite episodes in that the subtext show how vulnerable these characters are, especially Omar and Randy. I can't fathom Donnelly's horror in hearing Randy know and was involved with, even tangentially, a murder. I really like what Carver tries to do for Randy and while it doesn't work out, we get some sort of catharsis with Colvin and Namond Jerusalem, you compared De'Londa to Donette, and while fair, I think that Squeak is more of a De'Londa in training.
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Sep 2, 2013 17:57
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What makes the stunt Royce pulled with the photoshopped flyer extra funny is the Clinton campaign used a very similar tactic in real life not two years later during the '08 primaries, though in that case there was actually an element of substance to it.
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Sep 2, 2013 18:46
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I don't know if this is mentioned before but is Randy related to Cheese? They're both wagstaff's, I don't know if this is just because its a common name but being the wire all the pieces matter.
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Sep 3, 2013 03:03
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Tha Duke posted:I don't know if this is mentioned before but is Randy related to Cheese? They're both wagstaff's, I don't know if this is just because its a common name but being the wire all the pieces matter. Father and son, according to David Simon.
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Sep 3, 2013 03:06
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geeves posted:Margin of Error is one of my favorite episodes in that the subtext show how vulnerable these characters are, especially Omar and Randy. I can't fathom Donnelly's horror in hearing Randy know and was involved with, even tangentially, a murder. I really like what Carver tries to do for Randy and while it doesn't work out, we get some sort of catharsis with Colvin and Namond The gently caress you say? Personally, the thing that gets me about Omar's trouble this season is how ingenious Marlo's (Chris's?) plan is. If Omar didn't know McNulty, he'd be one dead dude. Well, a year before he'd be dead anyhow.
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Sep 3, 2013 03:17
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I always loved this episode, even more on rewatch. The moment when Cutty tells the election worker to, "Move on, man" is superbly delivered and a little haunting. It's a brief glimpse into his former life and drives home how someone's past is always with them, which then brings me right back to D's interpretation of Gastby. Then you've got the "framing Omar" subplot: a civilian dies because the drug organization knows the lazy and stats-driven police will take the first easy explanation. The parallel of course is Donnelly flipping Randy. It's something that seems so harmless from a suburban perspective - a teacher using her cunning to get information from a student - but put into the context of a poverty ridden inner city reeling from the drug war, it basically ends a human life. Was Donnelly wrong to flip Randy? I just don't know. It brings me back to the discussion earlier about Bodie...everyone's just stuck in the game.
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Sep 3, 2013 03:44
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She didn't really flip him though, did she? She was all set to just call his foster mom and move on with it, he volunteered all his stuff without her asking about it. Once he mentions he knows about a murder (something she couldn't possibly have expected), she has no choice but to listen. ...unless she was just being clever about it and even I fell for it. I never really got in trouble as a kid, I never had to deal with teacher tricks.
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Sep 3, 2013 04:38
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Hammy posted:The parallel of course is Donnelly flipping Randy. It's something that seems so harmless from a suburban perspective - a teacher using her cunning to get information from a student - but put into the context of a poverty ridden inner city reeling from the drug war, it basically ends a human life. Was Donnelly wrong to flip Randy? I just don't know. It brings me back to the discussion earlier about Bodie...everyone's just stuck in the game. Well this is the other side of "stop snitching." While many rightfully decry the culture that encourages people to never go to the police, there is a real danger to putting your life into the hands of a police officer who doesn't necessarily have your best interests at heart. In the real world, you have cases like this - http://www.democracynow.org/2013/2/20/throwaways_recruited_by_police_thrown_into In fiction, you can now see a situation like this playing out on Breaking Bad (Breaking Bad spoilers only) where Hank tries to use Skyler and Jesse as informants on Walt, pushing them not to go through lawyers in his single-minded pursuit of Heisenberg. In each situation, once a police officer gets his or her claws into the informant, that's only an excuse to dig deeper the next time. So it is with Randy - once Donnelly knows that she can come to him for information, she knows that she can go right back to that well. It's like that for Bubbles as well in some sense, given how Kima and McNulty use his addiction. You just don't notice it so much since he's already at the bottom of the food chain. In a way the school setup is worse in that minors miss many of the rights that adults do. When you are read your Miranda rights, the bit about a lawyer is in acknowledgement of the fact that a police officer need not have your best interests at heart. If Randy had a lawyer at that meeting, he would be counseled to certainly not give up anything about his tenuous connection to Lex's murder.
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Sep 3, 2013 05:11
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Skeesix posted:In a way the school setup is worse in that minors miss many of the rights that adults do. When you are read your Miranda rights, the bit about a lawyer is in acknowledgement of the fact that a police officer need not have your best interests at heart. If Randy had a lawyer at that meeting, he would be counseled to certainly not give up anything about his tenuous connection to Lex's murder. And in fact, later on when Lester and Bunk show up to get information from Randy, Prez refuses to let them talk to him and tells Randy not to tell the police anything, because he knows the police either can't or won't do anything to look out for him. He remembers what happened to Wallace, and that was when competent and committed officers were involved.
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Sep 3, 2013 05:14
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Jerusalem posted:And in fact, later on when Lester and Bunk show up to get information from Randy, Prez refuses to let them talk to him and tells Randy not to tell the police anything, because he knows the police either can't or won't do anything to look out for him. He remembers what happened to Wallace, and that was when competent and committed officers were involved. I may need to refresh my knowledge, but I felt like at that point it was a mistake. Prez almost certainly could have found a lawyer friend who could take a couple of pro bono hours for Randy. At that point, Randy was in pretty deep with the police and could have used a little bit of the extra help that law enforcement could give him.
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Sep 3, 2013 05:43
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Jerusalem posted:And in fact, later on when Lester and Bunk show up to get information from Randy, Prez refuses to let them talk to him and tells Randy not to tell the police anything, because he knows the police either can't or won't do anything to look out for him. He remembers what happened to Wallace, and that was when competent and committed officers were involved. I always wonder why Prez goes to Daniels instead of Lester but when you look at it that way it makes sense. Of course, none of them could have foreseen the bizarre chain of events that led to Herc getting to question Randy instead of Bunk. Great little detail I noticed on the aforementioned scene with Lester and Bunk: Prez, in fact, is told precisely what happened to Lex and the other Marlo victims, but he only tells them that Randy was told to tell Lex to go to the playground, in the naive hope that maybe they won't figure it out from there and maybe Randy will be saved from further harm. 
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Sep 3, 2013 05:46
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Ainsley McTree posted:She didn't really flip him though, did she? She was all set to just call his foster mom and move on with it, he volunteered all his stuff without her asking about it. Once he mentions he knows about a murder (something she couldn't possibly have expected), she has no choice but to listen. You have a good point. My feeling is that she's learned from the tagging incident that she can break Randy by threatening to call Miss Anna. This is what she intends to do here. She lands a much bigger fish than she expected, but she is still coercing Randy to snitch despite almost certainly knowing the potential consequences for him.
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Sep 3, 2013 05:51
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geeves posted:Jerusalem, you compared De'Londa to Donette, and while fair, I think that Squeak is more of a De'Londa in training. I think the difference is that if Squeak had her livelihood threatened, she would find work for herself rather than casting about for another man to "look after her". You get that brief sense with De'Londa when she is sitting alone at the table, having clearly been drinking the day away, that she's pretty lonely and depressed and bitter about the fact that the only "man" in her life she can look to as a provider is her 8th grade son. I do wonder how Donette is doing. I imagine that while Brianna dismissed Avon from her life after she began to suspect he was aware of the truth behind D'Angelo's death, she still clung tight to Donette if only because of Tyrell, who is the last link she has to her son. Hopefully Donette was smart enough to hold on to whatever money had been provided to her before the cash dried up. If she wasn't, I imagine that she is kept on a fairly tight financial leash by Brianna, who has the discipline to make what money she has left last. Even though the Barksdale Organization is no longer active, I have to imagine Avon had plenty of laundered money tucked away safely that the police never found. But then there's that scene in season 5 where Avon makes sure the cash Marlo has to fork over to meet Sergei goes to Brianna, so maybe even she was feeling the pinch? Skeesix posted:Personally, the thing that gets me about Omar's trouble this season is how ingenious Marlo's (Chris's?) plan is. If Omar didn't know McNulty, he'd be one dead dude. Well, a year before he'd be dead anyhow. It's a good example of how they complement each other. Marlo's first instinct is to go after Omar like Avon did, but it is Chris who notes this will accomplish nothing. But when the lure is set for the police to capture Omar for them, it is Marlo who (cold-bloodedly) thinks to up the robbery to murder to ensure Omar can't wriggle out of it. Jerusalem fucked around with this message at 05:59 on Sep 3, 2013 |
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Sep 3, 2013 05:57
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