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Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

I have to wonder if laundering the money actually ended up making it harder for them to use it for drug-related business. Once that money is tucked away somewhere nice and legitimate, suddenly accessing a large chunk of it at once to use to finance a drug connection was likely to put all their hard work legitimizing it at risk. Remember that these were guys happily bragging about selling properties they purchased with drug money to the City Council for a big, healthy profit of legitimate cash. They didn't want to put their own personal fortunes at risk.

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grading essays nude
Oct 24, 2009

so why dont we
put him into a canan
and shoot him into the trolls base where
ever it is and let him kill all of them. its
so perfect that it can't go wrong.

i think its the best plan i
have ever heard in my life

Jerusalem posted:

I have to wonder if laundering the money actually ended up making it harder for them to use it for drug-related business. Once that money is tucked away somewhere nice and legitimate, suddenly accessing a large chunk of it at once to use to finance a drug connection was likely to put all their hard work legitimizing it at risk. Remember that these were guys happily bragging about selling properties they purchased with drug money to the City Council for a big, healthy profit of legitimate cash. They didn't want to put their own personal fortunes at risk.

This makes sense too, particularly since they were all Eastside dealers.

Alec Bald Snatch
Sep 12, 2012

by exmarx
The other thing with the Barksdale organization is they'd only taken over the towers and the lowrises about a year before the first season took place.

the black husserl
Feb 25, 2005

geeves posted:

If we were to compare the Barksdale organization to a Mexican Cartel like Los Zetas or the Sinaloa Cartel, then I think those salaries could be on point.

Small, local gangs are probably more like this: http://www.streetgangs.com/academic/gangfinance.pdf If I read this correctly, these are 1995 numbers

David Simon talks about how much even the lowest of the low level dealers makes in The Corner and it's a lot of money actually. Way more than you would ever make working fast food or something, a crew of four working one package can turn over 2000 in a week.

So I think Slim Charles would be making at least 100k or something but it's not like money matters much to the lifers, beyond taking care of their families. They can't spend it on anything meaningful anyway.

Frostwerks
Sep 24, 2007

by Lowtax
Yeah but doesnt a crew of four got an even bigger crew of touts and lookouts minding and mining the streets for prospectors and cops? So the pyramid scheme builds another layer... on the very bottom.

the black husserl
Feb 25, 2005

Frostwerks posted:

Yeah but doesnt a crew of four got an even bigger crew of touts and lookouts minding and mining the streets for prospectors and cops? So the pyramid scheme builds another layer... on the very bottom.

No the crew of four includes the tout and the lookout, who don't really get paid much since they're either fiends or kids. Imagine the way Bodie's corner worked and you've got a good idea. The setup in the courtyard that De'Angelo had was huge compared to a normal corner.

The fiends are definitely the "bottom layer" though, and they have huge enough numbers to keep the whole thing steady slinging.

TheBalor
Jun 18, 2001

the black husserl posted:

No the crew of four includes the tout and the lookout, who don't really get paid much since they're either fiends or kids. Imagine the way Bodie's corner worked and you've got a good idea. The setup in the courtyard that De'Angelo had was huge compared to a normal corner.

The fiends are definitely the "bottom layer" though, and they have huge enough numbers to keep the whole thing steady slinging.

I suspect that was the Barksdale organization consolidating after claiming all the prime territory. Have one big crew for the whole multi-block area, rather than a smaller crew on each corner. It's probably not a coincidence that they were in the courtyard, rather than the corners.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

the black husserl posted:

No the crew of four includes the tout and the lookout, who don't really get paid much since they're either fiends or kids. Imagine the way Bodie's corner worked and you've got a good idea. The setup in the courtyard that De'Angelo had was huge compared to a normal corner.

The fiends are definitely the "bottom layer" though, and they have huge enough numbers to keep the whole thing steady slinging.

The Corner (everybody read The Corner!) goes into this a bit, mentioning how the young crews are running the most basic set-up possible on a corner, while up by the towers the crews were able to "run deep" because of the larger potential labor force they had to work with. There is momentum to consider as well, a small crew that starts doing well gets attention by the bigger crews, who either absorb them into their own crew (ala Marlo and Bodie) or wipe them out... or run the risk of the crew becoming powerful enough to do the same thing to them (ala Marlo and Avon).

Soupisgood
Dec 5, 2012

Jerusalem posted:

The Corner (everybody read The Corner!) goes into this a bit, mentioning how the young crews are running the most basic set-up possible on a corner, while up by the towers the crews were able to "run deep" because of the larger potential labor force they had to work with. There is momentum to consider as well, a small crew that starts doing well gets attention by the bigger crews, who either absorb them into their own crew (ala Marlo and Bodie) or wipe them out... or run the risk of the crew becoming powerful enough to do the same thing to them (ala Marlo and Avon).

While the corner goes into great detail about how young entrepreneurs could work on a split then use the proceeds to buy their own packages, that model seems at odds with larger organizations like you see on The Wire, where the supply is very centralized and only the right people are allowed to distribute the package at sub minimum wage. Freakonomics did a good job of showing how a large Chicago gang worked, and the street dealers were making maybe $100 a week while being in the most dangerous position. Between arrests and violence, the rate of low level workers getting incapacitated was drat near 100%. The guys in charge of the packages were only payed out about $10,000 a year and only a few members of the gang reached up to the lofty height of $50,000 a year, with the boss making about a quarter million. Baltimore had something special where anyone who was lucky or smart enough to dodge the police and the stick up boys while maintaining control of a corner could earn as much as he'd like.

empty baggie
Oct 22, 2003

The amount of money made is relative to the quantity of product initially purchased. If it's just some corner hustler that picked up one package at a time, that person might be doubling their money, whereas a large organization is picking up the equivalent of, say, hundreds of packages at a time is going to get their supply at a much cheaper rate, which enables them to make 4-5-? times as much.

inignot
Sep 1, 2003

WWBCD?

comes along bort posted:

The county, which is separate from the City of Baltimore, is also significantly whiter and a little bit wealthier to boot.

Baltimore City / County schools having or not having air conditioning probably has a lot to do with when they were built; and by extension, the population growth in an area demanding additional new schools to be built.

I went to elementary and middle school in Baltimore County (about 1 mile outside the city line) in the 80s; and neither of those schools had air conditioning because they had been built in the 1950s.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Season 4, Episode 8: Corner Boys

Zenobia posted:

We got our thing, but it's just part of the big thing.

Prez attempts to teach a lesson in a rowdy 8th grade math class and gets his own in return. Having provided a simple arithmetic example for the students to work through, he is surprised when a student named Calvin - who has been gossiping happily with Randy and seemingly not paying attention - gets the right answer. However, his method of working out is entirely different to what Prez has taught, and relies on observation as opposed to actual applied mathematics. Having spotted that Prez has a tendency to "dink" on the board, tapping the board with chalk near the numbers in his problem, and so Calvin just looked to the multi-choice option that had dinks around it from an earlier class. Amusing the class with his casual banter, he leaves a stunned Prez behind as he returns to the desk, declaring that he is Audi 5000. Everybody laughs, and Prez can't help but be pleased by the example despite ignoring the actual math element of the problem. Calvin has found his own way to get the result wanted without being a part of the accepted system - just like the Corner Boys who make up the title of this episode.

At Homicide, Landsman is briefing the shift and reminds them that Carcetti will be in attendance today as part of his fact-finding within the department, having already done some uniform ride-alongs. Restraining his usual flowery language as much as possible, Landsman cracks a couple of jokes before moving on to more serious business - CID Commander Colonel Foerster has passed away from cancer (his actor, Richard DeAngelis, actually did die of cancer during this season) and a Detective's Wake is to be held tonight. Landsman delivers a touching tribute to the dead man, noting that he spent 39 years in the BPD and made the rank of Colonel and yet somehow never betrayed anybody or left bitterness in his wake, which Landsman declares a miracle. The briefing over, Landsman cracks to Bunk to come to his office and drop his pants so they can discuss his overtime requests, while Carcetti heads for the breakroom. Pouring himself a coffee, he notes the pot is now empty as he puts it back, and is immediately called out by Greggs (still pissed at her recent suffering due to his politicking) who tells him if he finishes the pot, he makes a new batch. Carcetti shrugs, it's fair enough and an accepted part of office etiquette, so the soon to be Mayor of Baltimore does as he is told and makes some coffee.

At Major Crimes, Herc and Dozerman go over a catalog looking for a potential replacement camera for the one they have lost when a pissed off Marimow arrives on the scene, wanting to know why a Jamaican woman has issued a complaint against the Department for being stopped at the train station. Herc insists he had good reason to believe the information that she was a drug courier for Marlo Stanfield, which is in the report he presented to Marimow. But because he doesn't want to bring up the camera, he has said the info came from a CI, and tries to put off Marimow who demands to know who this so-called CI is, who is having none of it. Finally Herc reveals the name of the "informant" he and Carver used in season 2 - Fuzzy Dunlop - and is horrified when Marimow grunts that he may want to meet this informant at some point. He reminds Herc that Royce lost the Mayoral race and is no longer there to provide protection for him, and now Herc knows more than ever that his career is ruined if he reveals he lost a video camera.



Note the organizational "chart" they have for the Stanfield Organization? It's pathetic and threadbare, and what makes it worse is that there is a box of information already gathered by Freamon sitting collecting dust while they stumble their way through their investigation.

At Edward Tilghman, the "Special Class" is full of despondent students who aren't their usual boisterous selves. Zenobia complains there is no point since they can't seem to get suspended, and the teacher agrees, but tells them that the rest of the school believes that the students have "won" because of being taken out of regular class and put there. The students are pleased to hear that, and Namond agrees that he feels like a winner. When another student says that is how "we" do, the teacher jumps on the word, asking him to elaborate on what that means. Now that they've gotten through the bucking phase, the teachers are eager to press the students to open up about why they act the way they do, and the students - almost all of them attention seekers - are happy to talk. Who are they? Players? Kingpins? Namond says they're not Kingpins, not yet, and Albert says he expects to be one in "two, three years". The teacher - who Parenti notes to an impressed Colvin is a Doctoral candidate who wrote a thesis on Social Alienation - gives them all an exercise, asking them to write down where they expect to be in 10 years. The answers are interesting if a little predictable - the NBA (but only for the Lakers!) or dead - though Albert surprises when he notes he wants to be a pediatric surgeon. Parenti is fascinated, noting to Colvin that Albert's role model is a black surgeon at John Hopkins... a rare example of a "Corner Boy" looking to a more positive black role model. Throughout all of this, Namond has been leafing through a magazine, enjoying the chance to buck back on the teacher with lame excuses that it's not even his, it was there when he showed up. Colvin steps into the breach here, laughing openly at Namond's excuses and declaring that none of them are aware that they have been getting something out of coming to school all this time - they've been practicing for the corner. They treat the teachers like police and find ways to get over on them, to run differing scams and learn how far they can take things in a relatively safe environment. Parenti eagerly takes notes as Colvin asks the female teacher for permission to take over, and asks the students to tell him what makes a good Corner Boy? Instantly they're all loudly and enthusiastically offering answers, taking a more active part in any class than they ever have before.

Bunk is still pushing for Holley and Crutchfield to reopen their investigation into Omar's case, which Crutchfield takes great exception to. When Carcetti shows up to look at the huge list of names in black and red, they insist it isn't a heavy case load and politely excuse themselves, leaving Carcetti all alone as they head into an Interrogation room. Inside, Crutchfield is again all over Bunk for being out of line and questioning their clearance, and makes many of the same arguments that Bunk himself made to Omar. Bunk offers Omar's argument back - if he isn't guilty of THIS murder then the real killer is walking around free - but Crutchfield doesn't care. He warns Bunk he is going to be crawling up Bunk's rear end on his next murder, and storms out of the room, furious that Bunk is making such a big deal out of OMAR, who is hardly George Washington Carver (Crutchfield refers to the creator of peanut butter in a slightly more salty way!). Holley goes to follow his partner, but Bunk turns on the charm, asking him to go through the scene with him one more time.... and if everything pans out okay, he'll give Holley a back rub like he wouldn't believe!

Carcetti sits at a desk across from Freamon and Greggs, Landsman leaning on a desk and all three reading through file folders and making a point of looking busy. Finally the bored Mayor-to-be speaks up, telling them that they don't need to act differently just because he's here. Greggs points out she wouldn't know, being "new and inexperienced", and Carcetti realizes belatedly that she is the "rookie" he used to score a heavy blow on Royce during the Primary Campaign. He insists again he isn't the Hall Monitor, and taking that as their cue, the Detectives decide to act normal... which means miniature furniture for Freamon, a nap for Kima, and porn for Landsman! Carcetti remains the 5th wheel, asking if this is what their day is normally like, and Freamon has to explain - things are different when they catch a body.



Marlo is pulled over by Herc and Dozerman, proving Joe's strategy was the correct one, Marlo has flushed out the person filming him. As Dozerman checks the driver's license, Herc informs Marlo that his camera must be returned to him. Marlo gives nothing but amusement away, asking for Herc's card and telling him that he'll be sure to keep an eye out, but cameras can be like pigeons in a storm... sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't. They drive away, and Herc complains angrily to Dozerman about Marlo mentioning pigeons. Not for the first time, Herc is given good advice - to just admit he used the camera for the PC on the train station and that it was stolen. Herc, not self-aware enough to realize that his attempts to get out are digging him deeper, reminds Dozerman that he already lied to Marimow about getting the PC from a CI, and if he admits he lied now then he could lose his stripes. His only hope now is that Marlo will be spooked enough to return the camera... and just how likely do you think that is?

Michael, Randy and Bug head home together, with Michael questioning Randy about his suspension being lifted - did Tiff just drop the charges or did Randy have to do something/promise something to the teachers/police? Randy is careful in his answer, insisting that Tiff just dropped the charges, and Michael is relieved, offering Randy some advice he could have used earlier - whenever the teachers or police come at you, they act as if they have you by the rear end already and that you have no choice but to do as they say and speak up. Michael's advice is to just keep quiet and say nothing, because more often than not they will just go away. Bug - walking slightly ahead - agrees bravely with this, causing a huge smile to cross Michael's face. Randy notes that Miss Anna is now keeping him on a tight leash, and Michael notes with some bitterness that at least Randy HAS a leash.

At Foerster's Detectives' Wake, "Body of an American" plays as the police drink. Bunk, having over-imbibed as usual, runs outside to vomit, sharing a nod with the funeral workers waiting to return the body. Returning inside, he spots McNulty drinking club soda and reacts with disgust until Jimmy hands him a drink, at which point he's all charm and happiness again. They all join in on the end of the song, Daniels and Pearlman also in attendance, having a joyful celebration of a man's life. By complete contrast, in a vacant rowhouse, Chris and Snoop quietly go about their work covering the bodies of two New York dealers. Snoop offers a "prayer" to the dead, asking the "New York bitches" where their "Yankee Pride" is now. They leave, boarding up the door and heading out to get some Chinese food - just another night and another job for these two.

The next day, Prez is attempting to give his class a test, which they are not taking seriously at all, talking to each other and laughing. Prez is disconcerted when some of the students complain about the fact that the questions involve cars instead of fruit, or different fractions. He tries to stress that they just need to focus on the numbers and go through the same steps he has already shown them, and when Dukie tries to offer some helpful advice to one student, she screams at him and storms out, leaving him to shrug with amusement at Randy.

Again in contrast to the "normal", Chris and Snoop give a test of their own to their "students". Chris is teaching them the best way to kill, pointing out what areas to avoid shooting, how to finish somebody off, how to get around a bulletproof vest (Omar's assailant could have used that lesson) etc. Snoop goads them on and for the most part they are able to offer reasonable answers, even one who is clearly uncomfortable being called on to give an answer. Satisfied at last that the lesson has sunk in, Chris moves on to dealing with the occupants of moving cars - education never ends.



Marlo visits with Prop Joe and Slim Charles at Joe's repair shop, handing over Herc's card. Joe is pleased, he told him that City Police would come running if it was them. He promises to look into things and get Marlo the relevant information, but they have a slight issue they need to deal with now. He is impressed with how Marlo has been taking out New York dealers who have been moving into the East Side, but the disappearances are not quite what they were looking for. Slim Charles explains rather unnecessarily after Marlo nods his understanding, saying that if a New York dealer simply disappears, then who is to say they didn't just decide to go back to New York? They're trying to send a message that Baltimore is off-limits to New York. Joe is quick to point out that this isn't a knock against Marlo's professionalism and they're all very impressed, and if anything Marlo just seems amused by their eagerness not to offend him. Joe promises to look into Herc again, and Marlo leaves satisfied.... and watched VERY carefully by Joe and Charles.

Carcetti has moved on to the Flex Squad, and as he has done with every element of the police force so far, he insists that he came to them to see the "real" police - he is a politician of course. The Flex Squad are eager and enthusiastic as opposed to the relaxed attitude of CID, mocking each other and betting they can get more collars than the other teams. It all sounds great, but like Carcetti the actual results are going to be less than impressive. Carcetti sits and watches as they drive a car into a drug neighborhood, stop a local on his bike as he is making his way to work, and convince him to go and buy $20 worth of drugs for them in exchange for $10 for himself. After doing so, he is arrested by a squad of cops, his bike confiscated, as Carcetti is told with great pride,"One down!" as if they just took down Avon Barksdale.

In school, Colvin is continuing to take a more active role in the class, with the students eagerly explaining the rules of the Corner to him and arguing happily amongst themselves. A common theme is that they can never allow anybody to get one over on you, and Zenobia insists that a beating must be delivered for any infraction. Darnell actually offers surprisingly thoughtful advice, the kind that D'Angelo might have once given - you save a beating for a really serious infringement, if you deliver one for every little infraction then all you've done is lost a good worker. This statement kicks off raised voices and good-natured arguments only stopped by Colvin quieting them all down, asking if talking over each other is how they communicate on the corner. Darnell, given a chance to be heard, explains his reasoning - if the money is short and it is an honest mistake, then you give the worker a chance to make up the shortfall out of his own cut. The others have to admit that this makes sense, and they all agree that if the worker refuses then it is pretty clear he deliberately ripped them off... and THEN you gently caress them up! Colvin takes this opportunity to ask an important question - why? This kicks off loud shouting and he quiets them down again, and Namond asks Darnell to explain - the reason you have to gently caress somebody up is because somebody is ALWAYS watching. Police, other dealers, junkies... everybody is looking for a weakness to exploit.

Bunk and Holley arrive at Old Face Andre's store, and he's not pleased to see them. While Holley plays good cop and makes pleasantries to a plainly concerned Andre, Bunk gets a good look around the store and immediately picks up on the same things that Kima did when she was there - cameras, thick glass, padlocked back door and low inventory mark this as a drug depot. He questions Andre, whose evasive and unhelpful answers sink Holley's heart, as the Detective realizes that Andre (who he already knew was a scumbag) is full of bullshit. What nails it for him is when Andre lamely offers that he forgot to report an attempted robbery with a .50 caliber, and his refusal to come downtown and answer more questions. Outside, Bunk points out all the reasons the story makes no sense, most particularly because he knows that Omar uses .50 caliber and there is no way he would have robbed the place on a reup a few weeks earlier and then come back with a 9. Not to mention why kill the deliverywoman and then leave Andre - a witness! - alive? Holley accepts the conclusion but doesn't take kindly to Bunk sermonizing, warning him not to try and tell him what the job is all about. Holley didn't see these things because he was given no reason to look deeper than the surface level of what was presented. Had he and Greggs been on the case, Greggs would have told him about Andre and they would have maybe investigated deeper. It's tempting to say it was just pure luck that Omar had somebody in the department that he was able to reach out to, but then remember how he was able to hide out with the junkie mother in season one when Barksdale soldiers came looking for him at his home - Omar networks and builds contacts, there may be something to be said for having his name ring out the way it does.... but then again, maybe he wouldn't get into these predicaments if he wasn't so well known!

The Flex Squad is continuing their war on drugs, as they arrest a young man with a massive three vials on him. Carcetti watches as they try to play him, warning that he will get three years minimum for the other convicts will love his fresh young boy rear end... unless he mitigates by giving up the location of the stash. Whether the young guy is just a junkie himself or too smart to give up a stash over something as trifling as three vials, he refuses to play ball, insisting that the vials are for his own personal use and not for sale, and that he's high right now. They haul him away, still trying to play him, while Carcetti is proudly told,"That's TWO!"

School over, Namond explains excitedly to Michael and Randy that he spent his day in class talking about slinging, and it felt like he was the one schooling the teachers. Michael doesn't believe it and dismisses the idea outright, more interested in if Namond is going to come to the gym with him. Namond has to bottle up the last of his package for a re-up so he can't, and a disappointed Michael says goodbye and heads away with Bug, leaving Namond and Randy to make their own ways home. Meanwhile back in class, Dukie plays games on the computer, impressing Prez when he learns that Dukie has made it to level 12 when he could only get to 10. Just like with Calvin earlier, Prez learns that Dukie ignored/bypassed the rules of the system to get where he wanted, finding out how to activate cheat mode and select any level. Prez points out this is cheating, but can't help but smile when Dukie offers to teach him how.

In one of the funniest scenes the show has done, Robert Chew gets a chance to show off some great versatility as Prop Joe uses Herc's business card to track down as much information as possible about the police targeting Marlo. Here is the scene, words can't really do it justice. Take note not just of the improvisation that Joe employs through voice as well as ridiculous business names, but Chew's acting. His amusement turns to shock when he is transferred to the Mayor's Office, followed again by the unpleasant realization when he gets put through to Major Crimes that Marlo has some heavy hitters after him. Of course what Joe can't know at this current time is that Major Crimes has been gutted, but now he has some big news to impart to Marlo, as well as a chance to show off his own skills. Marlo can make enemies disappear, but Joe can dig up information on anybody.



That night, Chris and Snoop have encountered an odd problem in their usual efficient handling of "removal" jobs. They need to find a New York dealer, murder him (so far no problem) and then leave the body on the street. This means approaching somebody in the open in a block that has New York dealers working on it, which means they won't be able to ascertain if they're a New York dealer from afar and then get them in isolation. It's another funny scene, though in a completely different way from Joe's earlier scene, as they argue over the best way to ascertain if somebody is from Baltimore or not. Chris is convinced that they can ask about the Baltimore music scene, in particular a popular morning radio show, proclaiming that Snoop isn't "right" (He's right about that!) if she doesn't know these things herself, the average Baltimore friend of the family will! They approach a guy on the corner and Snoop asks him to settle a bet about his favorite person on the radio show, and when he says that girl Sonjay from New York, Snoop is convinced he's a New Yorker and pulls a gun, ready to blow him away. Chris has to hurriedly intervene, pulling her away and explaining that Sonjay is on the show, and they head off back down the street, Chris saying he'll ask the questions from now on. The poor bastard is left standing on the corner, and think about it from his point of view - some crazy girl asks him who the best person on a morning radio show is and pulls a gun on him when he gives the "wrong" answer! The Baltimore music scene is some serious poo poo!

Carcetti and Norman visit with Rawls, who Carcetti has come to consider his man in the BPD now that Burrell is persona non grata. He complains about the actions of the Flex Squad, and Rawls risks being hit by lightning when he doesn't hesitate in saying that he's always hated the stats game and has argued for high end drug enforcement targets. When Carcetti asks why this isn't SOP considering he is Deputy Ops, he explains that he only follows orders.... and hey, he's not a racist or anything, butttttttttt..... Norman's eyes immediately flick to Carcetti, he can't believe Rawls is saying this! Rawls notices Norman and insists he is only talking about politics and means no offense, before laying out some incredibly offensive drivel that Norman has probably heard many times in his life - affirmative action is bad, it means better white detectives are passed over for worse black ones etc, all to meet particular representation. Norman has to sit and listen to this old white man tell another white man about how black people are to blame for the problems in the department.



The worst thing is that it sounds entirely reasonable on the surface level, as certain truths are twisted to meet Rawls' take on things. Does Rawls actually believe any of this? Are these his true feelings coming out or is he just saying what he thinks Carcetti - who comes from a predominantly white area of Baltimore - would want to hear? The truth is of course that the numbers game exists independent of any racial group pushing for it/propping it up. After all, while Royce supported the stats game and he was a black Mayor, the white Mayor Carcetti ends up happily using them himself once it suits him. Burrell makes the point himself when he is finally foisted from the Commissionership, the word from on high always changed - sometimes it was supposed to be high end, other times it was about stats, and he got the blame whenever the Mayor decided he'd changed his mind about what he wanted that particular week. Rawls tells Carcetti he will be happy to follow changed orders... or to get the opportunity to change them himself. Carcetti shares a look with Norman, Rawls' meaning clear - he wants to be the new Commissioner of Police. They leave the meeting with Norman seething, saying he'd like to kick Rawls' entitled rear end, and doesn't take kindly to Carcetti's joking reply, saying maybe he'll kick Carcetti's too. Once in the lift, Carcetti asks about the one police officer he's seen over the last few days who impressed him - Major Daniels. Norman has nothing to offer other than that he doesn't appear to have much in the way of political suction with anybody.

Namond listens to music while bottling his package in the house when De'Londa bursts in. She is furious to see drugs in her house, but not for the usual reason - her concern is that if the police came in then they'd be able to seize the house, and then where would they be? Continuing to complain that he needs a lieutenant to do this for him, Namond cringes when he hears her say that "they" are going to hear about this - does she intend to go rant at Bodie again?

As bad as Namond's home life is, it's nothing compared to Michael's. Searching through the cabinets and fridge, he is horrified to find all the food in the house is missing, including a box of Rice-A-Roni. Demanding his mother tell him where it is, she spins a pitiful lie about giving it to a boy who was starving on the stoop, but admits she only gave him the box and didn't prepare the meal, as if Michael is going to believe that this boy ate a box of raw, uncooked pasta. He knows she sold the groceries for drug money and doesn't put up with her angry protests, and when she tells him she needs to go out he turns his back so she can't see his money as he peels off $10 for her. She complains at the small amount and he reminds her that she has Rice-A-Roni profit she can spend, and doesn't put up with her empty threat to take the DSS (Department of Social Services) card away from him. She is his mother but she has no authority, to him she is just a junkie who only looks out for her own desires, somebody who cannot be trusted to be there for him and Bug. She leaves the door open behind her as she goes, and he shouts angrily after her not to sell their food out from under them before closing the door on her - De'Londa is a monstrous person but at least she takes an active interest in her son's life, horrible as that interest may be.

The next day in school, the "special" class is attentive and active, with Namond taking the leading role as he excitedly explains the rules of the corner. Having been given a subject that he is truly interested in, he has become an almost model student. He points out the hypocrisy of a system that sells booze and cigarettes, that allows Enron to pollute and athletes to use steroids, all while throwing up their arms in horror at the kids selling drugs like it was the end of the world. Zenobia puts it succinctly, their "thing" is just part of the "big thing". Colvin asks if they would be able to put down these rules of the corner on paper and they all eagerly agree, Namond actually leaping into his seat to do his work (Colvin shares a pleased look with the teacher, this was unthinkable only a few days ago) but then hits them with the clincher - he doesn't want them to put down their individual rules on paper, he wants them to work together and come up with a shared list of rules that they can all agree on.

In the staff room, Prez vents about the awful performance of his students on their test, and is getting yet another unpleasant lesson on how things REALLY work. The other teachers admit their own students are all struggling (the poor chemistry teacher notes she is trying to teach the periodic table to kids who can't read at grade level) but stress that he MUST stick with the curriculum. Prez won't have it, the curriculum is useless to these students. They insist he must teach to the test, because if enough students fail then the State will take over the school, and he upsets the others when he tells them that maybe that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Grace Sampson offers him the compromise that they have all learned to live with though - he must devote some time each day to the test, he must leave a unit problem on the board in case Donnelly pops her head in, but the rest of the time he should teach the students in the way he thinks they are best suited to learn. This is still his first year and he has an evaluation coming up, and they remind him that his first year shouldn't be about the students, it should be about himself. It';s a sad reality, and bears a great similarity to the stats games of the police - tests are taught to instead of real learning, teachers focus on keeping themselves employed and the State from taking over... but because all efforts are put towards these actions every year, nothing is ever actually accomplished or gained. At best they're standing still, and at worst they're slipping slowly into oblivion.... and a large part of what is to blame for all these children being left behind is a program called No Child Left Behind.

Herc, subtle as ever, brings the Western District DEU in force to Marlo's concrete playground and harasses Marlo's soldiers, with Colicchio and one soldier having a rather amusing exchange while an utterly indifferent Marlo just stares blankly up at Herc as he tries to threaten him, warning that he will be in Marlo's poo poo every day till he gets his camera back. They leave, their little show of force having done nothing but show how ineffectual they actually are, with Colicchio happily declaring it felt good to do things the old Western DEU way, as if they'd just accomplished something by "letting them know".

Pearlman pops in to Daniels' office with a smile, but her face falls when she hears him telling the other person on the phone that he would respectfully prefer them to go through proper channels. When he hangs up she asks if he is having trouble with the bosses, and is shocked to discover he's just had a call from Mayor-Elect Tommy Carcetti asking to meet with him for lunch to offer his take on the police department. She immediately sees the upside, if he has the Mayor's ear then he is being groomed for big things, but he is more concerned - what if he says something impolitic that offends the Mayor? What if he starts to talk about what is wrong with the BPD and can't stop? What if he takes a shot at Burrell and Rawls and nothing comes of it other than him destroying a career he has only recently salvaged? She pushes the optimistic side of things though, telling him to go for it and unload with both barrels - if Carcetti is calling HIM, then it means Burrell and Rawls are on the ropes, and if he doesn't make his move now, he'll never get a better chance. In that respect she is much like Daniels' ex-wife, she wants him to climb the career ladder. The difference to me seems to be that she is happy with him staying where he is, but wants him to take his chances when he gets them. With Marla, it seems like every little thing was based on getting higher, making a move, improving his career, always looking for elevation for its own sake - if not in the police, then as a lawyer. Or maybe I'm just being unfair to Marla?



Chris and Snoop approach another area where New York dealers have been operating, and this time Chris asks the questions. The dealer, who has just made a sale, is hostile but mostly confused by the sudden appearance of this man and young woman asking questions about "Young Leek", and asks if they mean Tupac's cousin. Snoop gets angry and the dealer gets angry back, and while his attention is solely on her Chris casually blows his brains out. Everybody nearby scatters or hides, while Chris and Snoop casually turn and walk calmly back up the alley, completely self-assured that nobody is going to come after them, leaving the dead dealer on his knees against the wall, dead eyes staring in confused surprise at nothing.

Michael returns home from the gym and checks in on Bug, who is doing his homework. He tells Michael their mother is upstairs, but then to Michael's confusion happily declares that his daddy came home. Too late he realizes what has happened, and turns and stares in horror as his mother comes smugly down the stairs with a man in his underwear, exclaiming look who is back. The man approaches Michael who immediately turns his head away in a mixture of revulsion and fear, jerking back when the man strokes his face and comments on how big Michael has gotten. He passes Michael and goes to the fridge, while Michael stares holes through his defiant mother. This is Bug's father, and though the show never comes out and says it, it's clear that at some point in the past he sexually abused Michael... and his mother has brought this man back into their lives simply because she is pissed off that Michael is restricting her access to money so she won't get so frequently high.



In Old Face Andre's store, a prostitute named Dee-Dee is picking up some cigarettes and discussing her pimp, who she insists loves her even though he beats her up. Dee-Dee is the same woman we saw hesitant to talk to a dealer in Hamsterdam in season 3, and it's obvious how far she has fallen from being a young woman out to get high with friends only a year or so ago. Andre casually flirts with her, amusing her, and she leaves as Bunk and Holley return, Bunk eying her up appreciatively. Bunk stands and just stares at Andre who demands to know what he wants, and Bunk shows him a summons to appear before the Grand Jury.

Michael complains to his mother about Devar's return, who was supposed to be in jail for a 12 year sentence. He's out on parole though, and to Michael's disbelief she claims that people change, then gets up and lets him know that he can return the welfare cards to Devar, he's going to look after them all from now on.

The next day, Carcetti starts to feel the pressure that has lead to the stats game he has been so disgusted by over the last few days. Visited by representatives of the Democratic Party, they've very keen to talk about his future prospects before he has even won the actual election for Mayor. They want him to get a 10% reduction in crime figures (just like that!), build something big he can put his name on (problematic, as previous politicians have already peppered the city with landmarks) and maybe do something with education. Norman quickly speaks up, warning that the last four administrations have screwed the schools up so badly that they don't want to get anywhere near them and make it THEIR problem. The representatives agree, telling him that if he can do those first two things, avoid getting involved in the third, AND keep his boyish good looks.... then he could be looking at a run for Governor of Maryland in 2008.

At the school, Dukie has gotten the internet running during lunch and is showing the girls in his class (most of whom were disgusted by him at the start of the school term) various bits of jewellery that can be purchased online. Prez is pleased to see Dukie doing so well, but notices that Michael is sullen and depressed, and it's probably a sign of just how terrible Michael feels that he actually approaches Prez - a male who shows interest in being nice to young boys - to talk to him. He can't elaborate on what is causing him problems and doesn't want to admit it was trouble at home, because he knows that while action might be taken, it would potentially lead to he and Bug being taken away from each other. Prez says he is always available to talk to but if he doesn't want to talk to him, the social worker is available. Michael teeters on the edge of wanting to say yes, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he attempts to hold in his rage, but finally he says no and walks sadly back to his seat, knowing that there is no official channel he can go through to solve his current dilemma, not without losing Bug.

Unfortunately for him, there IS an alternate route he can take.

Parenti and the Specialist teacher are eagerly discussing the progress they are making and the information they are collecting in the Special Class, and this time they are the ones who explain to Colvin the difference between the Corner Kids and the kids with deeper problems. The Corner Kids have social and personality issues, but they are at heart "normal" kids in a hosed up environment who have learned different values to the rest of us, and Parenti is excited by the way they've gotten them to engage in the class. But there are others who are suffering from deeper issues, and those kids have "opted out" of participation. Parenti isn't abandoning them though, saying they will bring in a social worker to deal with them on a daily basis. But his true excitement is in how to work further with the Corner Kids... how to get them to engage so enthusiastically in something that doesn't involve their own expertise in drug dealing? Colvin asks what their plan of action is, where do they go from here? The answer is that they're in uncharted territory... so they're just going to let things run and see where they go.

After school, Namond reveals the difference between his theoretical expertise and his practical experience. He needs a lieutenant he can trust, and since Michael wouldn't come onboard his operation, he has turned to... Kenard. Yes, the little foul-mouthed boy is now in possession of Namond's package, and Namond - quite wisely - lays out that any screwing around with the drugs will result in a beating from Namond. Even worse than that, screwing up could also get the attention of Marlo, and Marlo will just flat out kill him if he fucks up. Kenard listens wide-eyed and insists he won't shake-up the vials. They head into Kenard's basement and hide the drugs behind the water heater, and Namond explains his reasoning for picking Kenard - because he's under 13, he's "safe" from the police and everybody else... except for him and Marlo. Kenard complains that he should be getting more than an extra $10 for his troubles, and Namond tells him that if he does well then they'll talk about a bump in pay, already showing Kenard that he can be pushed.

At the Circuit Court, Bunk and Holley point out the Grand Jury Prosecutor to a suited-up Andre and warn him that lying to the Prosecutor is a far more serious thing than lying to them. As the Prosecutor - Gary DiPasquale, who will play a pivotal role in season 5 and is played by Gary D'Addario, a Homicide Shift Lieutenant who appeared in Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets - passes they call him over and bullshit Andre a little, revealing that the sentence for Grand Jury perjury is 10 years in prison. Andre falls completely for this little charade, quickly changing from assurances of the truth of what he was saying to complaints that he was woozy and couldn't really see, also he's on medication... and oh yeah Holley was working hard on him and he's even still groggy now! He heads for the bathroom to collect himself, while a pissed off Holley grumbles under his breath, fully convinced now that Andre is a lying motherfucker.

Herc continues his pathetic little campaign against Marlo, as he and Dozerman pull over Chris and Snoop. Hiding a gun in a hidden compartment in the dashboard, they quietly go along with Dozerman's requests that they sit on the curb with their legs crossed and hands over their heads, while Herc searches the car despite the lack of warrant or probable cause. In the back of the car is lime and the nailgun they use to board up the dead bodies, but they're so focused on the camera that they don't put 2 and 2 together, not really bothering to listen to the explanation that the lime is for Chris' mother's garden. Herc examines the hugely important piece of evidence in his hands, fires a nail into the road to try and intimidate the two killers, then puts the nailgun back and leaves, complaining that he wants his loving camera back. Chris and Snoop watch him go, barely able to believe his stupidity.

Daniels meets with Carcetti in a mostly empty cafe, where they drink coffee and Daniels is careful to walk a fine line. He acknowledges that Carcetti probably saw a waste of time, effort, manpower, money and, in some cases, talent during his little ride-along with the Flex Squad. He is clearly amused at Rawls' claim of wanting to do high-end enforcement work and drat the stats games, but draws the line at openly criticizing Rawls or Burrell. He is open about it, saying he will talk the Mayor's ear off over anything below him in the chain of command, but he won't give his opinion on those above him, he is a soldier just like Rawls claims to be. Carcetti respects that, but he surprises Daniels by noting that with Foerster's death, a new Colonel is needed to be in charge of CID... and he wants Daniels to be that Colonel. He asks if he can work under Rawls, and though Daniels makes his distaste for the man clear, he agrees. Noting that Major Crimes WAS the only place that was doing high end police work, he won't tell Carcetti why it was gutted but agrees it's a very interesting question. Noting that he'll only be able to make a difference if the Mayor is pushing for high end enforcement as well, he comes right out and asks the question - is Carcetti for real? Carcetti says they're just going to have to wait and find out, and offers his hands to Daniels, who shakes it.



Unfortunately for Daniels, the answer he eventually gets will not be the one he wants.

In Major Crimes itself, Herc and Dozerman are sitting at the table trying to figure out their next move. They're all out of ideas, they've tried intimidation and force and it hasn't worked, and it's literally the only thing they know how to do. Dozerman suggests that the three of them (Sydnor is notably absent from these pathetic little shows of force) pitch in and buy a used camera to replace it, but Herc points out that even then the serial numbers wouldn't match. But in this moment of his greatest need, Herc is forced to actually think, and finally comes to the conclusion he should have far earlier - Randy got the message to give to Lex from Little Kevin.... maybe Little Kevin is the key to getting wood on Marlo and getting themselves out from under this problem Herc has gotten them into? Of course Herc is still convinced there is an easy solution, that this Little Kevin will be their eyeball witness and roll on Marlo and give them everything they need to make the case without actually having to do any work. But hey... baby steps!

At home, De'Londa sternly counts Namond's money and is furious that there is "only" $420 there, where is the rest? Namond explains he is working a difficult strip that he needs to build up, but that just enrages her further. Why should he have to build up a strip when Wee-Bey already built them up years earlier? How dare Bodie disrespect Wee-Bey like this? Namond of course can't admit that he moved off a pretty good corner after being confronted by Sherrod outside Cutty's gym, but he actually has a good point. He does need to build up a strip, just like Bodie did with his terrible territory after losing Barksdale protection, and it probably would be somewhat character-building for him to do so. To his great dismay, his mother ignores his protests as she collects her keys and storms out the door to go and confront Bodie and emasculate her son even more than she already has.

Burrell, clearly feeling desperate about the post-Royce situation, makes the surprising move of actually coming to Rawls' office to see him. He says he's decided they need to regroup, upset that Carcetti has been visiting different areas of the police without talking with him first. Rawls makes his decision and reveals the truth, Carcetti has been to see him and they have spoken several times, putting it all out in the open. Burrell's face falls momentarily and then he slowly stands, noting that Rawls has made his move, and saying with what seems genuine regret that they were a good team. "We were," agrees Rawls, emphasis on the last word, and after a long silence Burrell turns and leaves, knowing that he is now completely isolated within "his" Department.



Michael arrives at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center to pick up Bug, and is horrified when Miss Ella (based on the late Ella Thompson, who you can read about in the excellent The Corner) tells him that Bug was picked up by a man who claimed to be his father, and that Bug said he was as well. Horrified, Michael charges out the door, racing home where he finds a seemingly happy domestic scene as Devar helps Bug with his homework. Michael insists that Bug come over and join him, glaring at Devar who grunts his displeasure at Michael's attitude and heads up the stairs, while Michael just sighs with relief, holding Bug close.

Landsman is enjoying his dinner when Bunk and Holley arrive with a report showing that they are dropping the charge against Omar based on further investigation into the murder at Old Face Andre's, and the black clearance is now being changed back to red. Furious at them, he warns Bunk against interfering in cases that aren't his (giving a gently caress when it ain't his turn) and Holley for not standing up for himself and his case. He angrily dismisses them, looking for the first time like he has lost his appetite.

Chris and Snoop dump their weapons in the water, spooked after Herc's stop. As they prepare to leave, Chris has a moment of instinctual self-preservation and collects the nailgun as well. He dumps it into the river as well, removing the physical evidence that could link him to more than a dozen murders. Snoop is aghast, complaining that he now owes her $800, and Chris just smiles happily, knowing that he is free and clear of any possible charge being brought against him. Chris is a careful, deliberate man who makes few mistakes and covers up those that he does.

Michael's problem will put an end to all of that.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Links for the OP:

Episode 5 - Alliances
Episode 6 - Margin of Error
Episode 7 - Unto Others
Episode 8 - Corner Boys

Asbury
Mar 23, 2007
Probation
Can't post for 6 years!
Hair Elf
Just as an aside, I watched season 4 when it aired and thought it was pretty great, but then I watched it again after I started teaching and decided it was a loving brilliant work of art.

The way I teach I teach because of this season. Don't underestimate your students. Don't think they're stupid. Don't think you can run circles around them with academic thought. They care about what they care about because they care about what's important to them and not anything else, and if you give them the chance, they'll loving stun you with insight.

DarkCrawler
Apr 6, 2009

by vyelkin

geeves posted:

If we were to compare the Barksdale organization to a Mexican Cartel like Los Zetas or the Sinaloa Cartel, then I think those salaries could be on point.

Small, local gangs are probably more like this: http://www.streetgangs.com/academic/gangfinance.pdf If I read this correctly, these are 1995 numbers

Homegrown drug dealers can turn out a nice profit too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Team_(gang)

quote:

At its 1987 peak, the Supreme Team's receipts exceeded $200,000 a day

Avon had the entire West Side under control, he probably made enough money to pay his top workers a high five figure salary at the least.

Asbury
Mar 23, 2007
Probation
Can't post for 6 years!
Hair Elf
double post for some goddamned reason

Asbury fucked around with this message at 04:34 on Sep 14, 2013

Ainsley McTree
Feb 19, 2004


This is a thing that happens a couple times in this show, but how widespread in real life is this practice of making up a fictional CI to cover the fact that you gathered evidence illegally (or in a manner that you'd otherwise prefer not to officially disclose)? I'm not exactly sure you'd gather that data, but I'm curious all the same...

It strikes me as pretty irresponsible, in that once the perps find out about it (reading the warrant after they've been arrested or whatever) it would launch a snitch-hunt that may well get someone in a lot of trouble who had nothing to do with it (see: Michael in season 5).

Orange Devil
Oct 1, 2010

Wullie's reign cannae smother the flames o' equality!

Ainsley McTree posted:

It strikes me as pretty irresponsible, in that once the perps find out about it (reading the warrant after they've been arrested or whatever) it would launch a snitch-hunt that may well get someone in a lot of trouble who had nothing to do with it (see: Michael in season 5).

What gives you any indication whatsoever that the police would give a gently caress about this when doing so would help their clearance rate and other stats games?

Ainsley McTree
Feb 19, 2004


I didn't say they did, I was just wondering how widespread a phenomenon it was.

Sam.
Jan 1, 2009

"I thought we had something, Shepard. Something real."
:qq:
The NSA and DEA are apparently doing that fairly often.

Slo-Tek
Jun 8, 2001

WINDOWS 98 BEAT HIS FRIEND WITH A SHOVEL

Ainsley McTree posted:

I didn't say they did, I was just wondering how widespread a phenomenon it was.

Perfectly typical, like more often than not. It is how the FBI operates, it is a special kind of illegal to make a false statement to the FBI, and it is illegal to record their interview, so it is their word, backed up by what they wrote down. If what they wrote down is different than your recollection 6-8 months 2-3 years down the road? Well, looks like you just lied to the feds, 10 years away from your wife and kids...unless we can come to an arrangement. And, of course, once you do this little thing, then they own you, and will work you till you get caught and killed, not like they are going to let go of that little handle on you.

Orange Devil
Oct 1, 2010

Wullie's reign cannae smother the flames o' equality!

Slo-Tek posted:

Perfectly typical, like more often than not. It is how the FBI operates, it is a special kind of illegal to make a false statement to the FBI, and it is illegal to record their interview, so it is their word, backed up by what they wrote down. If what they wrote down is different than your recollection 6-8 months 2-3 years down the road? Well, looks like you just lied to the feds, 10 years away from your wife and kids...unless we can come to an arrangement. And, of course, once you do this little thing, then they own you, and will work you till you get caught and killed, not like they are going to let go of that little handle on you.

Another good reason why the only words you say to a law enforcement officer of any kind are "I want my lawyer, now".

twerking on the railroad
Jun 23, 2007

Get on my level

Jerusalem posted:

Chris and Snoop dump their weapons in the water, spooked after Herc's stop. As they prepare to leave, Chris has a moment of instinctual self-preservation and collects the nailgun as well. He dumps it into the river as well, removing the physical evidence that could link him to more than a dozen murders. Snoop is aghast, complaining that he now owes her $800, and Chris just smiles happily, knowing that he is free and clear of any possible charge being brought against him. Chris is a careful, deliberate man who makes few mistakes and covers up those that he does.

I was thinking about this shot just recently - that Chris is so cautious about this particular detail betrays a relative ease he has about the rest of the crime. Specifically, he must feel pretty secure that he didn't leave any DNA at the rest of the vacants. this in addition to how readily he digs up Sergei from the courthouse records suggests that Chris has a past with law enforcement! I don't necessarily mean that he used to be a cop or anything, but maybe his father was? Maybe he had an internship somewhere or went to the academy? Given how people have said that Gbenga will talk to people on Twitter, I'm tempted to ask if this was part of whatever backstory he had cooked up for Chris.

theCalamity
Oct 23, 2010

Cry Havoc and let slip the Hogs of War

Skeesix posted:

I was thinking about this shot just recently - that Chris is so cautious about this particular detail betrays a relative ease he has about the rest of the crime. Specifically, he must feel pretty secure that he didn't leave any DNA at the rest of the vacants. this in addition to how readily he digs up Sergei from the courthouse records suggests that Chris has a past with law enforcement! I don't necessarily mean that he used to be a cop or anything, but maybe his father was? Maybe he had an internship somewhere or went to the academy? Given how people have said that Gbenga will talk to people on Twitter, I'm tempted to ask if this was part of whatever backstory he had cooked up for Chris.

Well...

grading essays nude
Oct 24, 2009

so why dont we
put him into a canan
and shoot him into the trolls base where
ever it is and let him kill all of them. its
so perfect that it can't go wrong.

i think its the best plan i
have ever heard in my life

Skeesix posted:

I was thinking about this shot just recently - that Chris is so cautious about this particular detail betrays a relative ease he has about the rest of the crime. Specifically, he must feel pretty secure that he didn't leave any DNA at the rest of the vacants. this in addition to how readily he digs up Sergei from the courthouse records suggests that Chris has a past with law enforcement! I don't necessarily mean that he used to be a cop or anything, but maybe his father was? Maybe he had an internship somewhere or went to the academy? Given how people have said that Gbenga will talk to people on Twitter, I'm tempted to ask if this was part of whatever backstory he had cooked up for Chris.

It's been speculated by some - I'm not sure precisely where this came from but it would make sense - that Chris has military training, which would explain how he trains the soldiers to be precise in their shooting, etc (unlike Avon's soldiers). I remember this idea coming up in the commentary on Sepinwall's blogs, or maybe Sepinwall himself.

Overall though I think Chris' professionalism as a killer just represents how the Stanfield crew is a new, more ruthless sort of crew in general. They grew up in the game and have been in it long enough to know what gets you caught by the cops. With the nailgun i get the sense he wasn't sure if the police could trace it but didn't want to take that chance. And he was right, since its later explained they could have, in fact, run a ballistics test and matched it. Slim Charles exhibits some of this as well - when planning the hit on Marlo's corner in season 3 with Cutty he notes that they need to dispose of not only the guns but the shell casings since "police can trace them shits". Of course they're still not as careful as The Greek's crew, who not coincidentally are at the top of the chain - like a real Mafia crew, they go so far as to chop up and dispose of the body completely.

Regarding DNA - I think it's a funny/nice touch that its explained in S5 that Chris' DNA might have been in one of the vacants but the entirety of evidence taken from them is rendered unusable because of an incompetent in the crime lab.

As a side note I always wonder if the guns in the storm drain (the standard method of disposal in both the Barksdale and Stanfield crews) ever wash up somewhere.

Ainsley McTree
Feb 19, 2004


Skeesix posted:

this in addition to how readily he digs up Sergei from the courthouse records suggests that Chris has a past with law enforcement! I don't necessarily mean that he used to be a cop or anything, but maybe his father was? Maybe he had an internship somewhere or went to the academy? Given how people have said that Gbenga will talk to people on Twitter, I'm tempted to ask if this was part of whatever backstory he had cooked up for Chris.

Hey, the poo poo's open to the public after they finish prosecutin' your rear end.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

cletepurcel posted:

Regarding DNA - I think it's a funny/nice touch that its explained in S5 that Chris' DNA might have been in one of the vacants but the entirety of evidence taken from them is rendered unusable because of an incompetent in the crime lab.

I love the Anti-CSI feel of that whole section - not only did they gently caress up, but the person kept their job (and is apparently working out pretty well!) and the lab rather than admitting what happened kept putting off telling Bunk in the hopes he would just lose interest and stop asking (Herc was probably hoping for the same thing re: the camera).

Sneaky Fast
Apr 24, 2013

Jerusalem posted:

I love the Anti-CSI feel of that whole section - not only did they gently caress up, but the person kept their job (and is apparently working out pretty well!) and the lab rather than admitting what happened kept putting off telling Bunk in the hopes he would just lose interest and stop asking (Herc was probably hoping for the same thing re: the camera).

That's one of my favorite things about the wire. How it juxtaposes good and bad police-men/work. Instead of other cop shows, where they're geniuses or (in shows about anti-heroes) they are a bunch of lunkheads.

It's significantly changes the way I view shows with cops. When departments and agencies fight over who GETS to work a murder... I just shake my drat head. One of my favorite Mcnulty moments is in season 2 when he spends hours figuring out how the tides move. The reaction from Rawls is so well done.

GuyDudeBroMan
Jun 3, 2013

by Ralp
Been slowly rewatching this show and the one thing that always bumps me is Brother Mouzone. The guy just feels like a cartoon character. Like Michone from Walking Dead or something. Every time he comes on it kinda kills the realism of the show for me.

Anyone else feel that way too?

Ainsley McTree
Feb 19, 2004


GuyDudeBroMan posted:

Been slowly rewatching this show and the one thing that always bumps me is Brother Mouzone. The guy just feels like a cartoon character. Like Michone from Walking Dead or something. Every time he comes on it kinda kills the realism of the show for me.

Anyone else feel that way too?

It did stick out to me, yeah. The rest of the show prides itself so heavily on realism though, I've always just kind of given it the benefit of the doubt and assumed that he was based on some real person who actually was like that.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Brother Mouzone definitely evokes a larger than life, almost cartoonish quality. I noticed that he was largely paired off with Omar, and I like to think the idea was to showcase the mythic/legendary aspects of both characters. Both stand out as truly unique individuals, and their stand-off in the alley seems to me to be deliberately playing up in a dramatic, almost cinematic way - it's dark, there is a mist in the air, both characters talking more like fictional characters than the "real" people most other characters in the show appear to be. Given how much of season 3 (and later season 5) is about perception and the importance of reputation, it seems to me that Mouzone's almost cartoonish feel comes down to a deliberate decision (by the showmakers and by the character of Mouzone himself) to be larger than life, to scare and intimidate by reputation alone before he even arrives on the scene. Hilariously, I'm going to quote Batman - criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot.

Look at Marlo and Chris, as another example. Chris is pure, unemotional business 99% of the time and his near robotic actions build a larger than life reputation with no embellishment from himself. He just does his job, but people live in terror of him, and build up stories about Chris the Voodoo Master who hypnotizes his victims and raises them from the dead. Marlo is far more concerned personally with his reputation than Chris, to him reputation is the be-all and end-all of life itself, and his ultimate victory in the show is a hollow one because he's lost the one thing he truly valued, and in his pursuit to get it back, we can see he is going to destroy himself. Meanwhile, Omar dies in as drab and anti-climactic a way as possible, but because of the legend he had built and the reputation he had created, his name continues to ring out in stories for years to come - stories of things he did exaggerated for effect, and made up stories of his heroic last stand against an army of foes. Remember when those dealers in season 2 were telling stories about Bumpy Johnson laying siege to a police station? Stories like that will be told about Omar in the future.

Alec Bald Snatch
Sep 12, 2012

by exmarx
The mythmaking element also ties back into David Simon's comments on the inner-city crime story as the new Western and the city itself the new frontier.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Season 4, Episode 9: Know Your Place

Prop Joe posted:

Might as well dump 'em, get another.

An incredulous Bodie stands on his corner listening to his crew, including Little Kevin, happily explain the premise of Spongebob Squarepants to him, laughing happily over their description of Spongebob's pet snail Gary. All that is forgotten a moment later though when he spots a very welcome sight crossing the street towards him - Poot is back! Though he hugs his oldest friend with open pleasure, he still asks the requisite question - how is he already out of prison, considering he was arrested in the big mop-up of the Barksdale crew? Has he been snitching? He makes it a joke, but it's a necessary question. Happily the answer is rooted in the failure of the system as opposed to Poot turning on his fellow criminals. Poot shrugs and explains he was only locked away for 4 years and he's done 15, and they're overcrowded so come his first parole hearing he was "what the gently caress?" and he was out! They laugh about how you can't take the system seriously (he was a relatively long-running member of a massive drug organization and had made some upward movement in it, and he gets out in 15 months?), and then get down to business. Bodie explains that they're working for Marlo Stanfield now, surprising Poot, but Bodie admits while the drugs are lower quality, Marlo has the muscle to hold the territory (contrary to Stringer Bell's philosophy). Poot takes it in his stride, shrugging and saying that one Boss is the same as the other, clearly already slotting himself back into his old job. Bodie clearly has no problem with it, calling over Little Kevin, who immediately recognizes Poot's name - this is the "pussy hound". He asks if Poot has gotten laid yet, who admits that he thinks he may have already gotten burned and jokes that they should drive him over to the clinic to be tested.

Good old Poot :allears:

We get another firsthand experience of the failures of the system soon enough. The police roll up in force, lead by Herc who gets everybody up against the wall, demanding to know who Little Kevin is. Everybody keeps their mouth shut, of course, though Herc recognizes Poot and asks wasn't he locked up or shot or something? Contrast that with Carver's vastly expanded and in-depth knowledge of the people working corners in his District, Herc can't even remember one of the slingers he dealt with on a daily basis for years. Dozerman asks Little Kevin if he is Little Kevin, who angrily demands if he looks "little" to Dozerman. Herc orders everybody skinny or short to come along with them to be questioned until they can provide proof of their identities, and insists they'll be back every day until they find Little Kevin. It's the same kind of empty threat countless cops have made countless times in the past, and leaves the targets of the threats completely unmoved - nothing the cops can threaten them with compares to what Marlo can do to them, or that they would do to each other if they found somebody "snitching". So Bodie, Little Kevin and Poot are left on the corner, laughing at the ineffectiveness of the cops. They walk away, their corner is closed down for the day but they know they'll be back soon enough and the police will move on to something else. They ask Little Kevin why the police wanted him and he just shrugs, noting that if any of the police knew how to do their job even a little bit, he'd be in cuffs right now.



Omar leaves Harford County Detention Center, where he was moved thanks to Bunk's intervention, saving him from Marlo's reach. Bunk is waiting for him outside, and when Omar asks if he is responsible for getting him out, Bunk makes the very accurate claim that Omar should consider him his savior. He isn't too pleased about the fact either, reminding Omar that he didn't do all this for Omar's sake, but because it was the right thing to do - if he could go back over his old cases and put Omar right back in jail, he would. Omar agrees, but is unable to resist trying to wheedle information out of Bunk about who IS responsible for the deliverywoman's death. He knows it wouldn't have been Andre himself, so who is Andre getting his package from? In the past Omar has been able to pick up information willingly and unwillingly from the police, but Bunk offers nothing, so Omar just comes right out with it and offers to go and hunt up the information, pretending that he'd be doing it to help Bunk "do the right thing". Furious, Bunk grabs Omar and makes the price for his salvation clear - he wants Omar to stay the hell out of things. No revenge, no payback, no getting-even, and especially no killing. He didn't get Omar out of jail so he could go back to putting bodies on the street. Omar restrains himself but looks mad as hell about being manhandled, but he can't deny Bunk's angry reminder that he owes him, and he wants his word. So Omar gives it, there will be no bodies on him.... and this remarkable vow will actually stand for a surprising length of time. Bunk, not quite satisfied with this heroic feat, suggests that Omar should leave town entirely, but that's a step too far. Omar - who did retreat briefly to New York at one point in season one - says that Baltimore is where he belongs, and he knows that Bunk can understand THAT at least.

Carcetti meets with City Leaders to discuss his plans/hopes/dreams for Baltimore once he is Mayor, and quickly makes his own preferences clear. He wants to focus on crime, he wants an across-the-board payrise for all police and a $50k bump in annual salary for the Commissioner. The new States Attorney - Bond - points out his Department of Justice grants are about to dry up and he's hoping the cost of keeping 12 extra ASAs on payroll can be absorbed in the city's budget. As they discuss the one time surplus it looks like they're going to have (roughly 20 million extra cash) and whether they should spend it or save it for the Rainy Day fund (the first rumblings about the schools being financially destitute are made here), Council President Nerese Campbell won't let the proposed bump in the Commissioner's salary go uncommented on. She hammers Carcetti much as he hammered people when he was a Councillor, demanding to know why Burell is getting a 50k bump, and if not him, then is it for the next Commissioner down the line? What does he mean Burrell "might" decide to retire? He has three years on his term left, what is going on? Warning about the backlash from her constituents if Burrell is forced out, not to mention from the Ministers city-wide, she reminds him of his own relative inexperience at the TOP level of City Leader discussions, about the difficulty in putting together a budget that everybody can live with, and warns she would vote against any proposed bumps in salary he is proposing. The tension in the air has risen high, as Carcetti gives a pained smile and notes that he is starting to see just what a "delicate" balance this all is. But Norman defuses the situation, bursting out laughter and giving everybody else permission to do so. Carcetti and Nerese are all smiles at each other, but both are clearly not fond of the other - Tommy doesn't like being hammered by another politician, and she doesn't appreciate the way he has leapfrogged from Councillor to Mayor. Carcetti has just gotten another bowl of poo poo to eat.

At Edward Tilghman Middle School, the kids happily walk into class only to discover Prez has arranged all the tables into fours and assigned each student to a group. As he peels off their names and shows them where to sit, they stare glumly about, not liking the changes to the familiar. But this is also a sign of how far Prez has already come as a teacher. Remember how poorly his seating plan worked out on the first day? How he was ignored and didn't know who anybody was? Now he puts names to faces, has an air of authority, and more importantly, now the kids lesson, no matter how begrudgingly it might be.

Marlo is getting schooled without even realizing it, as he and Chris pull up alongside Prop Joe and his driver for a quick meet-up. Joe hands Marlo back Herc's card, then notes that they "might could have a problem", explaining that Herc works for Major Crimes. Marlo doesn't see the significance, so Joe explains - Major Crimes were responsible for the last three big city-wide drug busts, first with Avon Barksdale, then Kintel Williamson (who McNulty scoffed at) and finally Stringer Bell. Joe is either unaware of their big port case or, more likely, sees no reason to mention The Greek to Marlo, even if it would impress on him the seriousness of the Major Crime Squad's ability (even if he is unaware it's no longer quite what it was). He warns Marlo to get off of a burner, and when Marlo says he dumps his phones every 2 weeks, Joe explains that Stringer Bell was changing his phone every single day and they still pulled his number down off of a wire. As proof he hands over all the legal documents on the case against Stringer, surprising Marlo who had no idea Joe's reach extended that far. Joe just laughs and reveals the secret behind that little trick, all this information is available from the clerk's office at the Courthouse - once the case is over, they don't care who has access to it, even if it essentially provides criminals with a roadmap of what NOT to do. Finally Joe points out that he hasn't touched a burner personally in over a year, and gives the signal to his driver for them to go. They leave, having impressed on Marlo that Joe is a man of his word with an ability to uncover valuable information. Marlo and Chris exchange a look and then silently dump their phones, neither aware that it probably would have been too late by this point if Lester Freamon was still running Major Crimes in all but name.

In Prez's class, the group system seems to be working. Prez wanders about as different students do different things, with Michael having his height measured and taking notes. Prez suggests as an afterthought that Michael measure his armspan, and a delighted Michael discovered that his arm span is equal to his height. Prez notes that as a boxer he obviously has a hell of a reach, causing Michael to beam happily as he does his work - despite all his family problems, it seems that the classroom has become, like the gym, a safe place. Meanwhile Dukie shows a couple of girls some cute marine turtles online, and then shows Randy that he can access a wholesale website for candy, allowing him to buy his candy stores at a lower price than he gets it from the Koreans. Randy is excited, till Dukie points out he can only pay with a credit card. Randy - who is seemingly over his bad fright regarding Lex, Tiff and the group home - is momentarily saddened, till he notes Prez walking about and a pleased grin crosses his face.



The City Leaders meeting continues, as proposals for some kind of building to mark Carcetti's impact on the city (he isn't even the Mayor yet!) are discussed. They're talking about a harbor promenade and a terminal for Washington commuters as their favored idea, as any further inland they go they lose skyline, prominence, and those Washington commuters who are so important to Carcetti's larger political aspirations. The planner points out the Locust Point Marine Terminal as a good location, and without the barest hint of irony or self-awareness casually notes that it is "unfortunately" still a working enterprise. This is politics at its worst - Carcetti isn't even Mayor yet and he's talking about the monument he wants built to a legacy of things he hasn't done yet. A working marine terminal where money is made and jobs are to be found is considered an obstacle to celebrating Carcetti's as yet unrealized achievements. Tommy even brings up the old urban planning standby of casinos, alarming everybody in the meeting who quickly voice their objection - not BECAUSE it creates crime and takes money from voters, but because those things are bad politically for the likes of Bond and Campbell. With the meeting broken up, Carcetti takes a moment to speak privately with Nerese, where she reveals her hostility is purely down to the fact that she had an arrangement with Royce to replace him when he stepped down as Mayor - but Tommy and Tony jumped to the front of the line. Carcetti correctly points out he can't be blamed for not knowing what her private deal was, and when she warns him that she intends to stand for Mayor next term and to beat him, he reveals just how much he truly cares about "making a real change" for the city - because he's already planning to run for Governor in two years time. She could be Mayor without making a campaign speech, with the suggestion that if she plays ball, he will make sure of it. Wisely, she doesn't jump at the chance, but walks away quietly to consider what he has had to say and make her own plans accordingly. Everything both these characters do, every claim of working for some greater good, has a self-serving political reason behind it. Maybe that seems cynical, and maybe on some level they genuinely believe that are making a real difference/that things will just be better with them in charge, but it seems to me that what truly interests them is their own personal accomplishments/successes.

Bubbles is desperate enough over his current predicament with the big junkie that he has reached out to Kima for help. After struggling to track her down, she drives up to see him sitting on a stoop at the corner of an alleyway, looking beat up and beat down. He explains the troubles he is facing and tells her he is more than willing to go to work informing for her if it means she can help him out, but unfortunately Kima is no longer working narcotics and has no need for his services, she's homicide now. Rather bitterly, Bubbles notes that he'll have to be killed for her to take an interest, and against her better judgment she offers to drive him around to point out his bully to her.

At Carcetti's Campaign Headquarters, he and Norman meet with Odell Watkins to discuss Tommy's newest headache - Nerese Campbell. Watkins isn't surprised that she is bucking, but is surprised she is doing it so early (that seems to be the theme of the post-Royce politicians, everybody is impatient). Carcetti knows that her interference is going to have at least one immediate impact though, without the approval to bump the Commissioner's pay, he can't attract strong minority contenders to be Commissioner, which means he is stuck with Burrell. He isn't having that at all, he reached out to Burrell who made it painfully clear that he was Royce's man, and he wants his own men in key positions. Norman makes a suggestion, a painfully naive one considering his usual political nous - maybe they can shame Burrell into quitting for them?

School over, Randy works his charm on Prez as he heads for his car, explaining that he wants Prez to use his credit card to purchase bulk candy at wholesale for him. He insists that he won't need to see or use the card himself, Prez can handle everything on that end, but a bemused Prez is hearing none of it. He asks if they plan to offer money up front and Dukie joins in to tell him that Randy will definitely pay him back, amusing Prez further who shows off a bit of his own relatively small street knowledge - they want him to take points on the package, but he's only interested in cash up front. With a sigh, Randy agrees, and Prez - thinking he has bought himself some time - warns that he will want to know the source of their cash if they show up with a wad of notes tomorrow, he doesn't want them working a corner. They nod seriously, Randy too scared of Miss Anna to consider something like that and Dukie too timid and awkward. They prepare to leave, and when Carcetti notices another teacher look about herself on the road aimlessly and she tells him she thinks her car might have been stolen, they quickly clear out - they know EXACTLY who will have stolen her car.

Donut pulls up to Namond's new corner in the teacher's stolen car, having driven himself and Kenard there without a care in the world. Bodie, with Poot in tow, is describing the new territory to Namond, explaining that while he has Namond's back for one side of the corner, Namond'll need to post lookouts himself to watch his own back on the other side. Bodie attempts to fire Namond up, and is dismayed by Namond's weak insistence that he is "ready to work". Wanting to lay down the law to Namond without making him look bad in front of his underlings, he asks Donut to go talk with Little Kevin, but makes the mistake of overlooking Kenard (he won't be the last) as he warns Namond that he has done everything he can for him, and that he can't be sending his mother down to fight his battles for him anymore. Namond, equally as unmindful of Kenard, explains that he didn't send his mother, he just couldn't stop her when she decided to head down and harangue Bodie. Bodie warns that he has now done everything he possibly can for Namond and his family, and he and Poot leave, the latter shocked that Namond could possibly have come from Wee-Bey. Left alone on the corner, Kenard - who has an eye for weakness/vulnerability/opportunity - openly questions Namond, implying that he can't believe Namond REALLY needed his mother to get him this corner? Namond dismissively tells him to shut the gently caress up, not realizing he has lost all authority and respect in the eyes of his little lieutenant.



Marlo calmly reads a magazine in his concrete playground courtyard, joined by Chris who has been looking into Old Face Andre's troubling absence. Andre's store has been locked up for a week, he hasn't called for a re-up and he hasn't been seen. Equally troubling, Omar hasn't been seen in prison for a couple of weeks, and Chris suspects he is now in protective custody or in a county lock-up, beyond their reach. Marlo makes the more paranoid but accurate call though - Omar may actually be out of jail entirely, and if the charges against him have been dropped, that means Andre is likely backing away from his story. Most troubling of all, Andre is a direct link back to Chris. Chris considers this and notes that he will take care of it - they've accurately read the situation, but have done so with nothing beyond suspicion and paranoia.... tools that keep them on their toes and dangerous. Marlo asks how the New York situation has been handled, and Chris casually mentions he has killed ("dropped") five New York drug dealers, and the rest have gone to ground. Even Baltimore dealers are too scared to wear Yankees caps at the moment, Chris notes with satisfaction, and asks if Marlo wants him to stay on this - talking about death and murder like it was a business project or assignment. Marlo considers and says he'll see what Joe has to say, but makes it clear that as far as he is concerned, they're done wtih dropping New Yorkers for the Co-Op for now, he wants Chris to prioritize business that affects them personally, and that means Old Face Andre must be found.

Kima has been driving around Baltimore in search of Bubbles' junkie bully, but with no luck - Bubbles can't escape the guy when he tries, but now he can't find him when he wants him. Tired of looking, Kima tells him she can't do this all day, she works shifts now and can't spend all day driving around the streets for him. Bubbles is desperate, he's been mugged four times by this guy in the last week and has started having nightmares about him, he NEEDS to deal with him. Kima considers and makes a disastrous decision, telling Bubbles that if he is still willing to work for his help, she'll get in touch with Sydnor or Herc in Major Crimes and get them together with Bubbles to work as an informant for them, and THEY will deal with his problem. Bubbles pleads that he needs this sorted out immediately and she assures him she'll make his urgency known to Major Crimes, and offers to drive him to his current "home" so she'll be able to tell them where to find him.

Randy and Dukie walk past Old Face Andre's store, unaware of the predators watching from a van. Omar and Renaldo are staking the place out, confusing Renaldo who points out that Omar gave his word to Bunk he wouldn't kill anyone. Omar agrees, but points out he can still stick a gun in Andre's face, he wants explanations for why he was fingered as the killer. Having established that Andre isn't there, they drive away. Randy and Dukie continue on up an alley, complaining that Prez doesn't find them trustworthy enough to pay with his card up front and get the money later. Spotting a game of craps in the alley, they observe and decide to put some of Prez's mathematics to practical use - Randy slips up to the front and declares he is in, and is told by an angry player to gently caress off.... until Randy pulls out his cash and the same player declares,"Oh.... you in?" welcomingly. Considering the odds, Randy starts making bets on the most likely outcome of the dice rolls - Prez would be proud.... well, horrified.

At Homicide, Greggs checks her mail and is surprised and pleased to discover a check for $2500+ dollars - overtime on the two cases she has worked so far, and both of those were as a secondary officer! Freamon happily points out that cases start red, go green and then black - money is the key to cases being solved, and Landsman adds in that if a case actually goes all the way to trial, she can expect extra court pay as well. You can see why so many of the police in the show have been so keen on knowing who signs overtimes slips - police aren't paid all that well by comparison to the social function they serve (though they're kings compared to those poor bastards the teachers) but the overtime helps make up for that. They ask what she intends to do with the cash, and Landsman seems disappointed when she notes she is going to pay down some debt, though he doesn't understand the significance of what she really means.



Randy leaves the craps game with one of the players, the others calling for them to return and keep playing, wanting a chance to get the money they've lost back. Randy thanks the player for escorting them out, admitting he was worried he'd won too much and was going to get banged, and a suddenly nervous Dukie asks if the guy intends to bang them himself. The guy just laughs, folding away his own fat wad of cash, and says he isn't so ungrateful - he followed Randy's lead on the last ten shoots and made more money than he ever has before. All he wants from Randy is a warning the next time he means to play, so he can come along for the ride again. Randy, busily counting his money, folds it away and admits it's all a matter of probabilities, and explains that his "normal" game is played at Edward Tilghman Middle, catching the player by surprise.

Herc and Dozerman meet with Bubbles in his shack home, where Herc is delighted by Bubbles' immediate acknowledgement that he knows exactly who Little Kevin is. Herc of course doesn't take things a step further and recognize that he would be more effective at his job if he attempted to learn the local players for himself, and lets Bubbles do all the work for him - tomorrow he'll head down to Bodie's corner and do the old hat trick from his time working against the Barksdale Organization. Pleased, Herc prepares to leave, but Bubbles calls him back to remind him WHY he is doing this - it's not about money, he has to have this mugger/bully/junkie off of his back. Herc hands him his business card and assures him that the moment Little Kevin is dealt with, he'll be there the moment Bubbles calls to let him know he has spotted his tormenter. Herc isn't lying either, he genuinely means it, and if there's one guy you can rely on to be brutal with a junkie it's him.... but this is a promise he will never keep, and it will have far reaching (and in some cases, lethal) consequences - all because Herc half-asses his job.

Michael is enjoying helping Bug with his science project - a model volcano - when Devar's presence casts a shadow over the happy scene. He grunts at Devar that nobody wants him here, but Devar confidently notes that Michael's mother does, and warns him not to speak ill of her when Michael sullenly points out she also wants the crack-pipe. Bug - oblivious to the tension - happily asks his dad to look at his volcano, and Devar points out that Bug wants him here too, in fact he's needed to pick up Bug's new glasses on Saturday. Michael tells Bug to go to his room, but Devar makes a point of stopping him and holding him close, not so much goading Michael as establishing his presence is not temporary, that he is a part of their family whether Michael likes it or not. When Michael has finally gotten Bug to go he tries to leave himself, but his rage finally breaks free when Devar - who we all but know for a fact sexually abused Michael - complains that he's got no forgiveness in him. Michael storms up to Devar who immediately goes eye to eye with him, and Michael immediately turns his head aside, as always incredibly uncomfortable with looking an authority figure right in the face. Devar, satisfied, reminds Michael he's big but he isn't big enough yet, and points out that he wants the Department of Social Services Card - he is going to be responsible for handing out the cash from now on, he is going to be the head of the family. Michael tells him there's no point, last month's check has been all used up, and Devar accepts this, but insists he have the card before the first of the next month. Michael is left seething, his step-father isn't going to go away.

Kima returns to her family too, a somewhat unwelcome presence though nowhere near as bad as Michael's situation. She knocks on the door and a smiling Cheryl answers, her face immediately falling the moment she sees who it is. She recovers and invites Kima in, who notes that the "little man" has taken over the living room. She hands over a check, explaining it's the last three months of support that she owes, and that she appreciates the fact that Cheryl hasn't come after her over the payments she HASN'T made so far. She hopes that the overtime will keep up and she'll be able to stay on top of it, and when Cheryl clearly is about to tell her she doesn't have to bother with it, Kima insists that a promise is a promise. It's important to Kima to not be the kind of deadbeat that she's seen other cops - like McNulty - be, but the problem is she's no longer part of this family, as quickly becomes apparently when Cheryl's new partner arrives home. She and Cheryl are friendly enough, but Kima is an intrusion, a third wheel who once could have been "Momma Kima" and is not "Aunty Kima" to the toddler. Nancy has just passed the Bar Exam, something that Cheryl long pushed Kima to do, and they politely tell her she COULD stay for dinner but they're having friends around for a celebration. Kima mostly can't keep her eyes away from the happy child playing in the living room, oblivious to their presence as he happily babbles away to himself. This is the family life that Kima rejected as imposing on her individuality and freedom, a fact she now clearly regrets, not having realized what she would miss until it was actually gone.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Chris and Snoop break into Old Face Andre's house and quickly make their way to the upstairs bedroom, so fast that when they burst in the door, Andre's horrified wife has barely managed to sit up in bed. Chris slams her back down and demands to know where Andre is, and she moans that she doesn't know. Chris turns to Snoop and asks if she believes her, and when Snoop says no he doesn't miss a beat in slamming a pillow over her face and firing his gun into the mattress beside her, before asking her once more. Crying in terror, she says that Andre wouldn't tell her because he knew they would force it out of her. Chris asks Snoop again and this time she believes her, and just like that they're gone, disappearing as fast as they arrived, a terrifying, unstoppable force.

Randy pops in to see Dukie early in the morning at Edward Tilghman, where Dukie is taking the chance to freshen up and put on clean clothes. He heads up to Prez's classroom and hands him the money, alarming Prez who reminds him of his warning about working a corner. Randy happily explains how he used the math skills he was taught, leaving Prez only slightly less horrified - he GAMBLED for the money? Randy, happy as a clam, declares he never actually tossed the dice himself, just passing or not passing on others bets, and brags that he even had other players following his lead. Prez, holding the thick wad of cash, insists lamely that Randy shouldn't gamble, and the boy agrees happily but notes that Prez's maths are "right", and that he'll be back at lunch to get Prez to put through the credit card payment for him. He heads out the door feeling on top of the world, leaving behind Prez to stare in quiet resignation at the cash the boy has so easily made.

Carcetti meets Burrell in a small booth at a diner, where he lays out his rather naive plan - he wants Burrell to quit as Police Commissioner, or suffer through being shut out of all power and responsibility, with the Department being run completely by Rawls as Deputy Ops. He reminds Burrell that he has made no secret of his desire to reform the Police Department, causing Burrell to roll his eyes at the idea of Bill Rawls as the voice of reform. Carcetti reminds him that a year ago at this very booth, Burrell made a proud statement of his respect for the chain of command, so Carcetti is asking him to prove that now. Burrell, incredulous at the shocking naivete of Carcetti handing him a loaded gun and expecting Burrell to shoot HIMSELF rather than threaten the Mayor, lays down his won proposal - and Carcetti has another bowl of poo poo to eat. As always, he serves at the discretion of the Mayor, so if the Mayor wants him gone, he'll go and go quietly.... but he won't resign. The Mayor will have to fire him, and though he doesn't say it, Burrell makes it clear that he now knows (thanks to Carcetti himself!) Carcetti can't afford to do that, it'll cost him politically with the people and the Ministers. With great pleasure, Burrell points out that it's a fine day and, since Rawls is now running everything, he's going to go to the golf course and play 9 rounds. The smug son of a bitch even makes a point of telling Carcetti to pay the check!

The Pilot Program at Edward Tilghman has an interesting surprise when they show up for their class. Scale model kits have been placed at tables for the students to work at putting together in groups - and whoever can work together as a group the best and put together their model the fastest wins a prize. Not a gold star, but a real dinner at a proper restaurant that all members of the group can agree on. There are no instructions in the box, Colvin explaining they removed them to make things more interesting, and Namond gets a laugh when he notes they never listen to instructions anyway. The class immediately sets to work on their tasks, an unthinkable situation not so long ago, and do so happily. There is a real buzz in the air, a happy atmosphere that even seems to infect the specialist teacher, Colvin, and Parenti himself.

Old Face Andre has run to the only person he can think of to help him out of his jam - Proposition Joe himself. Joe is working on a piece of equipment as Andre explains his sob story - he was forced to give false eyewitness testimony to the police, the charges didn't stick and now he knows the crew who forced him are going to blame him. Joe wants to know exactly who Andre was working for, and does an admirable job of hiding his surprise when Andre says it is some West Side boy named Marlo, his screwdriver slipping slightly but otherwise maintaining his poker face. He says he thinks he might have heard of the name, before commenting on the shortsightedness of people who dump out cheap pieces of equipment like the one he is currently repairing, giving us the episode's epigraph. People are shortsighted and foolish in those ways, just like Andre and others before him are being in thinking they can hide in a city the size of Baltimore by simply crossing downtown - Andre should be in New York or Philly. Andre agrees, but he doesn't know anybody there, and so he's come to Joe hoping to sell up his store for some traveling cash and an introduction to some of Joe's people in one of those cities, give him a place to head for and set up until the people looking for him "remember how to forget". Joe calculates and lowballs an offer - $2000 cash and a ride up North. Andre is horrified, but like Carcetti he has given far too much of his hand away, and has no choice but to accept what he is given.

The Groups in the Pilot Program are getting loud and a little aggressive, with Albert's group falling apart as they argue over the best way to go about their tasks. But Namond demonstrates good natured leadership and delegation (which are sadly lacking in his Corner work) when he assigns he, Zenobia and Darnell different parts of the Eiffel Tower model to work on, and their cooperative teamwork sees them making quick progress, observed with great satisfaction by Colvin. Not as much satisfaction as Randy is showing though, as Prez settles in at the computer during lunch and - after shooing Randy away - inputs his credit card information, making the bulk purchase that Randy sees as the first step towards a higher profit margin - his Great-Uncle would be proud!



The groups finish up, the Big Ben model collapsing for one group, while Albert's group haven't made anything at all. Namond's group have completed the Eiffel Tower, but with a few pieces left over that Namond carefully scoops off the desk into his lap. Their model is solid though, holding together even after Colvin picks it up, and Namond laughs off their observation of the missing pieces he slid into his pocket, asking who cooks the best steak around here, once again drawing a laugh from everybody.

Carcetti and Norman meet with Rawls, where Carcetti gets to lay out the way things are going to be to somebody who is more than willing to do exactly as told. From now on, Burrell does nothing and runs nothing, all responsibility now lays with Rawls to make decisions about the day to day running of the Department. Stan Valchek is to be elevation to Deputy of Administration, and Daniels is to be put in charge of CID. Rawls notes that Valchek is a good man but Carcetti freely admits he's a hack... but he's Carcetti's hack, and he needs to reward his loyalty while making sure he doesn't do any damage. Rawls assures him he can oversee Valchek easily enough, though he does offer some reluctance over Daniels, noting that he is good police but definitely has a trouble independent streak. When Norman - who already doesn't like Bill "I'm not a racist, but...." Rawls very much - asks WHO Daniels is independent from, and Rawls bites his tongues, making it clear he has no trouble with working with Daniels whatsoever. His orders dictated, Carcetti prepares to leave, but Rawls has one last question - if they don't mind him asking, why not just fire Burrell? Carcetti looks to Norman, who makes the very sensible reply,"We DO mind you asking."

Michael collects the last of the money from his DSS card, having lied about spending all the cash in order to keep the card away from Bug's father for at least a little longer. Joining Randy and Dukie (who is wearing an outsized old men's jacket) they continue up the street, and Michael timidly asks Dukie if he has ever considered calling Social Services on his own family. They're confused, asking if he intends to call Social Services on his mother since they know about her drug problems, and he explains that she brought somebody home who now won't leave. Randy, always in fear of the dreaded Group Home, warns him to make the call, they'll be shifted into a group home and he and Bug will be split up. Michael is angry at the idea, complaining (with some justification) that he just wants this other person to leave, why should they have to go as well? They pick up that he is talking about Bug's father, and Dukie suggests that he talk to a teacher, maybe Prez? Michael considers for a moment, remembering that Prez suggested he could talk with the school's social worker, but again the other two dissuade him of going to an official - their social worker is an alcoholic and likely to cause more harm than good. Dukie next suggests Cutty, who most of the boys look up to as a positive role model, but Michael is disgusted at the idea, and finally verbalizes his distaste and why he feels so uncomfortable around the boxing instructor. He is distrustful of how friendly Cutty is for no real reason, and carefully puts forward the idea that he might be a "human being", clearly not wanting to reveal his own suffering of sexual abuse. When Randy and Dukie seem to find the idea ludicrous, pointing out that Cutty is all about women, he angrily insists that this is just what faggots do to fool people, and angrily declares that Cutty is just too friendly, everybody is too friendly, and storms away, leaving his two confused friends behind. This is the aftermath of sexual abuse, what Devar did physically to Michael was bad enough, but the psychological and emotional damage goes on and on.

On the street, Bubbles does his hat trick for Bodie, Poot and Little Kevin, the three young men laughing and enjoying playing up how stylish they look in their hats (in the past I'm sure that Bodie was less than pleased by Bubbles' antics, he seems to feel more relaxed now). Herc and Dozerman watch from their car, identifying Little Kevin at last and laughing as they realize how he got his name. Bubbles has delivered for Herc and proven just why he is such a good informant, because now even one of the worst detectives in the BPD has a potential in to Marlo Stanfield's Organization, you'd have to a huge idiot to blow the chance that has just been served up to him on a silver platter. Oh.... right.

Prez attends a Faculty Meeting, where Donnelly explains that their Standardized Test Scores are in the toilet, and all Middle Schools are now expected to see at least a 10% bump in test scores. As a result, they are going to beginning teaching for the Standardized Tests six weeks before they are due... and by teaching, they mean that they're literally going to give the students the questions that will be ON the test and teach them the answers. Donnelly sticks up for the practice, saying that these questions still test skills so she doesn't see the point of the one teacher's complaint, to which he mutters that he also doesn't see the point. Prez is utterly flummoxed, noting that the same tests they've been handed are all on language arts, and Donnelly explains that because this is where their test scores are lowest, all classes are now going to "teach" language arts questions... even if that isn't the actual subject - Prez's math class is now a Language Arts class! He asks Sampson where exactly evaluation of student's learning comes into play and she gently explains that the point of the Standardized Testing is to evaluate the teachers. If scores raise, they can say the schools are improving. If the scores don't raise, or fall, then they can't. Sadly, Prez is all too familiar with this type of thing, and sighs that this is juking the stats - in the police force, they turn robberies into larcenies, make rapes disappear, turn Majors into Colonels. Sampson agrees when he says he's been there before, noting that wherever you go, there you are.

Carver leads a DEU raid on Namond's corner, exactly the kind of thing that you'd expect him to have moved past by now. Betraying their inexperience, Namond and his crew make a run for it as soon as they see them coming, even though none of them are actually holding drugs. Kenard is caught trying to make a break for it, and their stash has been so pitifully hidden that Carver is able to go straight to it. But to the surprise and disgust of his men, Carver doesn't want to chase the runners down, arrest Kenard, and actually drops the stash to the ground and smashes it underfoot, explaining he doesn't want to waste his or their time by putting Kenard through baby-booking or logging a small paper bag of vials through evidence control. Colicchio demands to know WHY they bothered with this whole thing then, and doesn't have a clue what Carver means when he explains that he just wanted a chance to talk to some of the kinds of this amateur corner - like Colvin he is targeting younger dealers, ones he hopes he can still reach before the street hardens them too much. Unfortunately for him, the one they did manage to catch is probably the most "real" of all the kids on that corner.

Also making outreach, that night Colvin drives Namond, Zenobia and Darnell to Downtown for the dinner they were promised, playing some Billie Holiday on the radio which Namond shows a surprising appreciation for. Darnell is excited to get a quarter-pounder, making Namond laugh as he explains they're going to a proper restaurant where they can get steak. As they argue over what exactly medium-rare means and Zenobia fusses about only having three hours to prepare her hair, Colvin beams happily, and tells them they can just ask the waiter if they need advice. Now Namond is excited, he didn't realize the restaurant would have ACTUAL waiters!

Bubbles has finally tracked down his tormenter, arguing angrily in an alleyway with other junkies as they stand over a trashcan fire. Rushing past the alleyway to a payphone, he frantically puts through a call to Major Crimes to report to Herc, leaving a message of his location. Unfortunately for Bubbles, Herc and Sydnor are currently interrogating Little Kevin over Lex, and Herc doesn't take too kindly to Dozerman calling him away from it. He says to tell Bubbles he'll sort his problem out tomorrow and goes back to the interview, as Dozerman prepares to call back, realizes that Bubbles doesn't have a phone and figures gently caress it and just walks away. Herc returns to Little Kevin, he and Sydnor working him, catching his use of the past tense in reference to Lex, accusing him of being there when Lex was killed... and Herc blows it big time by declaring they have a witness to Kevin being there. Kevin knows that is bullshit, and instantly he is relaxed, knowing that the police are bluffing. Sydnor knows that Herc has hosed up, storming out and complaining to Dozerman that the key to an interrogation is leverage, and they have none - all they have is Lex's name.

Meanwhile, a concerned Bubbles is relieved when he spots a police car approaching and immediately makes his presence known to the junkies in the alley, pushing his trolley past calling out that Bubble's "Depo" is here. The junkie charges, demanding money, and Bubbles taunts him, laughing and mocking him, shouting that the money is on him and not in the trolley, causing his tormenter to come for him as the police car approaches.... and passes by, the officers inside heading to some other crime somewhere else in the city. Bubbles is horrified, and moments later he's on the ground as the junkie attacks him, takes his money, and administers a beating with a nearby piece of wood for good measure. All because Herc didn't want to leave his utterly useless interrogation, as a now bored Little Kevin casually eats candy and ignores Herc's attempts to browbeat and intimidate him. Herc goes too far, saying that they know he wasn't there alone, that he set Lex up, and that DOES pique Little Kevin's interest - they KNOW he wasn't alone? Who gave them that information, Randy? Herc shows a terrible poker face, going completely quiet before taking a seat and grumbling that HE is asking the questions here, and tries the old standby of claiming that there is somebody else they can go to for information, and they'll implicate Kevin if he doesn't give his side of the story first. Kevin just goes back to eating candy, and Herc gives up, having completely failed to make use of the golden opportunity given to him by Carver, Randy and Bubbles - and the latter two at least are the ones who are going to suffer for it.

At the restaurant, Colvin is at ease but the previously excited kids are now uneasy and unsure of themselves. They don't want to give up their coats (remember D'Angelo?) and Darnell is confused when the hostess pulls out a chair for him, thinking that she intends to sit there and wondering where he will sit. Colvin has to explain after she leaves that she wasn't their waitress, and Namond - the only one who seems truly confident - is left embarrassed when he kindly offers not to break Colvin's bank and will just order the "special", and Zenobia explains that the Specials are something not on the regular menu. Zenobia is mortified that Darnell is wearing his napkin tucked into his collar "like Fred Flintstone", and Darnell hurriedly hides it away when the waitress arrives. She explains what the day's specials are, leaving the kids utterly mystified by the long, elegant descriptions of the meals, and Namond is embarrassed again when she has to tell them that he can find the steaks on the SECOND page of the menu. Colvin orders four cokes for the table, and the kids are left looking utterly lost at sea, feeling like they're in an alien environment - this isn't the fun reward they were expecting, but just another reminder of how distant the "real" world is from their own.

In a far more intimate dinner, Daniels enjoys a meal with Pearlman, who raises a slightly uncomfortable issue - would he mind if she comes to his promotion ceremony tomorrow? He doesn't mind at all, and she asks if he won't be embarrassed? Of course not, he says, then realizes that is hardly the right thing to say and makes his feelings clear - he's be proud to have her there. After years of being the "other woman", Rhonda is still concerned about having to hide away for one reason or another... but those days are over. The two marvel over those changes - after years of trying to play the good politician, Daniels has spoken his mind about the police force and is going from Lieutenant to Major in just a couple of years. Meanwhile Pearlman was sure she would be fired for her part in Lester's subpoenas, and instead she has been promoted herself. Depressingly given what is soon to come, Daniels and Pearlman allow themselves a moment of optimism - maybe the city isn't going to be so unbelievably hosed up anymore? Maybe they're turning a corner? Maybe... maybe things ARE going to get better? They toast Carcetti and themselves, and drink happily.

Colvin and the kids leave the Steak House, the three kids still uncomfortable and miserable, Zenobia no longer wanting a photo of the restaurant though Colvin insists. Returning to the car, Darnell asks if they can stop at McDonalds, he wasn't able to finish his meal because the fish didn't seem right to him. He and Zenobia begin arguing, while Namond - who happily praised Billie Holiday earlier - turns on some rap and deliberately turns it up when Colvin tells himto turn it down. They're clearly trying to cover up for their feelings of inadequacy, and Colvin sighs, wondering how much damage to their progress has been made by this little "field trip".



The next day in class, Prez attempts to teach to the Language Arts test, the students utterly bored and completely unengaged, and he knows it. He has no choice though, he has to teach it, he has to teach it a certain way, and the students MUST answer in a particular way or else they "fail" the test. It's utterly ludicrous and completely pointless, but the inertia of the system demands that this is the way it is, and it will brook no attempts to change it.

Marlo and Chris meet with Joe and Slim Charles to make their payment for the quality drug connection that Joe supplies to the Co-Op, but they've brought less cash than required. In typical Marlo fashion, he TELLS Joe that they've taken out the normal cost of assassinations for each of the New York dealers. Chris asks if they still want him on that, but the demur, New York seems to have gotten the message to stay away from the East Side. Marlo thinks that is that, but Joe surprises him by putting his foot down - the price they set him for the package stands, because they're already applied a discount for the assassination work he would be doing. Before Marlo can get offended though, Joe reveals that he is going to provide Marlo with something he is looking for, and do it for nothing, as proof that the Co-Op really does cooperate.

Burrell oversees one of the few ceremonial duties still left to him - promotion of officers. Amongst the handful of promoted are Valchek and Daniels, with Valchek's proud wife and daughter in attendance and Pearlman, Kima, Sydnor and Carver all there to see Daniels get his due. As the newly promoted are congratulated, Burrell makes another attempt to politic with Rawls, pointing out that he saw Valchek being rewarded by Carcetti... but Daniels? Rawls doesn't rise to the bait though, walking away and leaving Burrell isolated, thinking that his own time for promotion is coming soon.

At Edward Tilghman, Colvin explains his concerns to Parenti, that he expected them to be lost in the restaurant, but not to that extent. He's worried about how they shut themselves down and wouldn't acknowledge how bad they felt. Indeed, when they enter the class, Namond, Zenobia and Darnell are joking about their dinner, making out like the whole thing was a big joke and a great deal of fun, as opposed to a sobering and uncomfortable evening of feeling out of place.

Prez goes over some of the sample tests he gave out, hoping that at least some of the students picked up on the painfully obvious forced answers they were supposed to get. Unfortunately...



I like to think the last one was by Donut :)

Furious that he's wasting his and their time, he complains to Sampson that at least beforehand they were getting something out of what he was teaching them. He declares he won't teach this anymore, to hell with Donnelly and the system, he came to teach and that's what he means to do. Sampson just smiles and nods, she's heard it all before and she probably did it herself the first year - but the system grinds everybody down eventually, and in the end the teachers either quit or stick with it and just give up entirely or do whatever little good they can inbetween all the bullshit. In that sense, it's just another similarity to the police force.

Namond, Donut and Kenard head into Cutty's gym looking for Michael, but he's not around for a change. Carver shows up looking for Namond, and warns him that he knows it was he and his crew working the corner they hit the previous day - and that it was easy for them to do so because Namond runs things so badly, with no lookouts and an entirely visible ground stash. Carver informs them this is their ONE warning, next time they all get booked, and Carver doesn't put up with Namond's attempts to act tough, warning him he won't hesitate to write him up as a special if he continues pushing. They leave, Kenard offended that Carver would think he was scared of going to jail, and Cutty heads over to greet Carver and ask what was going on. He reveals that Namond hangs around but doesn't really train, and explains that he's Wee-Bey's kid, from the same blood but without the same heart - he spotted a long time back that Namond is all talk. Carver is amused at what a small world it is, telling Cutty he was one of the guys who arrested Wee-Bey in Philadelphia. Cutty bears him no ill-will whatsoever for that, even though he and Wee-Bey served time together, and to his credit Carver doesn't hold that fact against Cutty either. They say a pleasant goodbye and go their separate ways - two guys doing their best to make up for past mistakes and make a difference in the lives of some of these kids.

Slim Charles drives Old Face Andre up into an alleyway and stops, confusing Andre who thought they were heading straight to New York. Charles explains that he is dropping him off with his escort out, and when Andre says he thought Charles was that escort, Charles admits that's true... in a manner of speaking. To Andre's great horror, Chris and Snoop appear out of the shadows like something out of a nightmare, casually preparing their gloves and telling Andre to come with them. Charles walks away, having given that gift that Joe promised Marlo, while Old Face Andre pleads and bargains and begs with the brick wall that is Chris. He and Snoop just calmly go about their business, ignoring his pleas and excuses - which horribly aren't for his life but for the chance to die in his own home or in public so at least his people can find him and give him a proper "homecoming". He doesn't want to be left in a vacant, his fate known to his family but his body never found (like Lex), the rats eating his corpse as it lies forgotten. But Chris just calmly tells him not to worry, they'll take care of him, even as they lead him and he walks accommodatingly along to his death.

The next day at Marlo's concrete playground courtroom, Omar spots a shockingly familiar face - the man he robbed at the high-stakes poker game is walking along with Snoop, and now Omar knows who Marlo Stanfield is... and why he hates Omar so much. As he explains to Renaldo, Dukie walks with Michael as far as the entrance, where Michael hesitates a moment before approaching one of the men standing guard and explaining why he is there. Dukie can only stand and watch as Michael makes his fateful decision, lead by the guard to see Marlo. Snoop takes a place between them, face impassive as Michael - barely able to look Marlo in the eyes this time - explains he came looking for Chris, he has a problem that he can't bring to anybody else. He looks to Snoop, who simply looks to Marlo, making it clear that this is the man to speak with. Marlo watches Michael carefully, and satisfied by what he sees, motions to him to take a seat. They all settle down, and Michael commits to changing his life forever.
And watching from the vacant overlooking the playground, Renaldo asks Omar who Michael is, and Omar reveals not for the last time his one blind spot, as he dismisses Michael - he's "just" a kid.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Links for the OP:

Episode 5 - Alliances
Episode 6 - Margin of Error
Episode 7 - Unto Others
Episode 8 - Corner Boys
Episode 9 - Know Your Place - Part 1
Episode 9 - Know Your Place - Part 2

myron cope
Apr 21, 2009

How old is someone like Wee-Bey? 30? Cutty did 14 years, so he's gotta be around 30 at least, right? How many people in the game actually make it past, say, 25 (if they stay in the game, at least)? How many make it past there without being in jail?

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

myron cope posted:

How old is someone like Wee-Bey? 30? Cutty did 14 years, so he's gotta be around 30 at least, right? How many people in the game actually make it past, say, 25 (if they stay in the game, at least)? How many make it past there without being in jail?

If you take his actor's real life age when he was making the show as roughly the same as Wee-Bey's own, then he was in his mid-to-late 20s during the show's run, and had probably hit about 30 when season 4 rolled around. He may be a little bit older than that since he notes in season 4 that he dropped out of school to follow Avon and Stringer and they probably weren't meant to be that much older than him in the show and were supposed to be the same age as each other.

I can't answer the latter part of your question, but I imagine most of them either end up junkies themselves, or dead through gang violence, or rotting away in jail, with the minority making a clean break ala Poot. Take DeAndre McCullough as a real-life example, he achieved some small measure of fame as one of the subjects of The Corner and managed to get work on The Wire and Treme, but life and the system had still hosed him over to the point that he ended up dead at the age of 35 from a drug overdose :smith:

Fenrir
Apr 26, 2005

I found my kendo stick, bitch!

Lipstick Apathy
Man, I don't know how you guys can do this so slowly. My girlfriend and I started our rewatch just a few weeks ago and we're already up to the last episode of season 4, which we'll be watching tonight, probably along with another or two from season 5. It's just too addictive a show to ever want to take my foot off the gas pedal. We both had this past Monday off and watched eight episodes between cooking and doing laundry and running a few errands.

myron cope posted:

How old is someone like Wee-Bey? 30? Cutty did 14 years, so he's gotta be around 30 at least, right? How many people in the game actually make it past, say, 25 (if they stay in the game, at least)? How many make it past there without being in jail?

They mention Avon was around 30 in season 1, so I'd imagine that Wee-bey was very close to that. Considering that his son is in the 8th grade three years later (so, probably 13-14) he's probably 32 or so by that point. I'd guess at the start of the show he's probably at least 29. Give or take maybe a year or two.

e: VVV Yeah, especially season 4. That's why we're almost done with it already. We finished 3 over the weekend and blew through the first 8 of season 4 in one drat day. It's just too loving good. Possibly the best season of a TV show ever made.

Fenrir fucked around with this message at 01:12 on Sep 22, 2013

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Fenrir posted:

Man, I don't know how you guys can do this so slowly.

I've rewatched the show multiple times already, but it's incredibly difficult to take things as slow as they are, especially with season 4. I try to always have at least 3 days between write-ups just to give people time to discuss the episode/themes/other stuff that comes out of it, and sometimes real life stuff gets in the way and I have to wait a week or so before I can get something written.

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Trivia
Feb 8, 2006

I'm an obtuse man,
so I'll try to be oblique.
Can't rush a masterpiece my man.

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