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« The Wire
Episode Recap: "The Dickensian Aspect"
Catastrophic success is the upshot of nearly everyone's gambits on this episode of The Wire.
McNulty and Freamon's fraudulent case of serial killing of homeless men in Baltimore get ever more attention, and ever more promises of support, from the mayor on down the hierarchy...but no more actually humanpower or technological resources, leaving them slightly hobbled in their real investigation, into the activities of Marlo's gang. Lester brings his Major Crimes underling into the conspiracy, and between them they manage to determine that the real business of the gang is being conducted through cell-phone photos rather than text messages or coded conversation, but that just taunts them in not having quite what they need to put Marlo and his enforcers away. As Freamon notes, when Assitant D.A. Rhonda Pearlman drops by about the investigation of Clay Davis, his "official" work, it's remarkable what one can do when no one's looking over your shoulder...a luxury that McNulty and Freamon are rapidly losing. Realizing that one way they might shake loose some actual material resources for their case is in providing another corpses, McNulty speeds to site of another DOA found by Lester's old partner, only to find that the official support of the homeless murders investigation does mean that all available officers will arrive on-scene, making faking up another murder scene impossible. McNulty manages, however, to hatch a new angle on the supposed murders that will probably also get Lester the equipment he needs to intercept and view Marlo's crew's photos...the "serial killer" sends a photo of his next victim, who conveniently disappears in reality (since McNulty, having taken a photo of a particularly disabled homeless man, then drives him down to Richmond, Virginia, and drops him off at a shelter there under an assumed identity...a process which, even more than the rest of his "cover" case, gives Jimmy pause).
Meanwhile, Scott Carpenter, gaining attention from the national news sources as well as local for his role in the serial killer story (much to McNulty's amusement), takes it upon himself to actually go do some reporting on the lives of Baltimore's homeless...effectively killing the Baltimore schools' crisis story in the process, given the bosses' preference for "Dickensian" flash over complicated substance, but also turning it some genuinely worthwhile reportage, for a change. Scott's tendency to fabricate quotations and upbeat endings for his stories begins to come home to roost, as Gus receives and passes on complaints about factual inaccuracies in a previous Carpenter story.
Marlo makes it clear, at the first (and last) monthly meeting of the drug lords after the murder of Prop Joe, that he is now in command, and blames Omar for the deaths of both Joe and Hungry Man, something that none of the others believe. He attempts to push Hungry Man's old territory onto Slim Charles, who declines, and then onto Cheese, who cockily accepts. Marlo also offers a huge bounty on Omar, and notes that the price of the dope he's now buying from the Greeks in Joe's place is going up. None of this sits well with the other gang leaders, who are not yet ready to challenge Marlo...but clearly won't miss him if he goes.
Despite fairly extensive efforts to find Omar after the trap didn't quite catch him, Marlo's lieutenants come up empty; Omar turns out to have hobbled himself literally in his jump from the balcony, but was able to hide in the building's maintennance closet and make his escape with some improvised first aid tools. Though not 100%, he makes his present felt in bracing Fat-Face Rick and in shooting the knee of a corner-boss (and destroying the days proceeds and their SUV) with instructions to let Marlo know that Omar is calling him out.
Meanwhile, Bunk, while disgusted as much by the way the system apparently can be played as by McNulty's playing of the system, decides to review all of the known actual serial murders of Marlo's lieutenants, which are the actual targets of McNulty and Freamon's work. Bunk discovers that part of the reason that the lab work on those scenes is a year overdue is a result of mismanagement of the crime lab, which led to all the crime scene findings being mixed together, and that even review of a possibly related separate case will have to wait its turn...until McNulty's serial murders are done, since they clearly take priority. Another part of Bunk's reinvestigation of the murders also puts him on the trail of some of the younger folks involved with Marlo's corners...including Randy and Michael. Kima also makes it clear that the three murders that she's been working are also the work of Marlo's crew.
And, while Mayor Carcetti is heckled by some port workers from season 2 as he attempts to get good press for a renovation project, he discovers that an impromptu passionate speech on behalf of the homeless may be the tack he can ride into the governor's office...and the City Attorneys discover that Prop Joe had access to their most secret documents, via some sort of mole in their office, even as they are about to close in on Clay Davis.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, given that this is The Wire, it's a real question of how much of this is likely to end happily for anyone involved...and the likely answer it, not too much...
For more on The Wire, please see our Online Video Guide.
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Feb 10, 2008 10:20 PM
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Best show on television!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Feb 11, 2008 2:53 PM
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I'm very worried about where Omar and Michael are going to end up. I would love to see Omar beat Marlo in the end - but I'm not so sure that's where the show is headed. And Michael's mother turning on him like that makes me sad for what's bound to happen to him next week.
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Feb 11, 2008 4:04 PM
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people really need to give this show a chance. It really is great tv. i don't understand why people don't blog more on it. what the police are doing this season is more criminal than what most (and I say most bc marlo has really stepped his bad boy game up)are doing
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Feb 12, 2008 7:21 AM
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I agree. Each episode leaves you wanting more! I cant stop guessing what will happen next. Randy broke my heart. The kid never had a chance. As close to real life and true corruption as it gets.
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Feb 12, 2008 12:58 PM
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I've loved The Wire since the first season. I don't think HBO promoted it like the Sopranos - it has to be one of the BEST SHOWS EVER!!
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Feb 12, 2008 1:54 PM
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My heart also broke for Randy...I fet like crying when he walked upstairs and pushed the little boy, what a waste of a life that had potential. the thing about this show is....it's not just a tv show...this is real life for so many children...so many adults who never had a chance...or did have a chance and didn't get the nurturing/opportunities they needed. So sad. Best show on TV, will miss it so much. I also wish more people had taken notice to this show.
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Feb 13, 2008 11:45 AM
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I have been a fan since the first episode of the first show as I was born and raised in DC and live in MD, therefore have spent plenty of time in B'more. I just rarely get around to blogging here.
I love this show because it truly is the most authentic experience of everyday life for real people. Not the people that make alot of money (legally) or the kids with the greatest test scores, or the "nuclear" family that has dinner together every nite. But a reality for so many of us. It's not watched or heavily regarded because no one cares. The show just reflects that back to society. Those of us who know the value of this show are in the minority just like real people who care in real life.
Anyway, I get that what McNulty and Lester are doing is technically wrong, but at least they're trying to do something that will get a cold blooded murderer off the street. When the system is broken, you go around the system. I can't say that's wrong.
My heart broke all over again when I saw poor Randy. And each time I see Dukey and Michael. None of them had a chance. I'm afraid for each of them but especially for Michael.
What I'd like to see on the final episode (although not very realistic) is for Michael and his little brother to somehow walk away from the life and for my boy Omar to walk down a deserted street, shotgun in hand, whistling. 
I don't care how bad Omar is - I JUST LOVE HIM!!
Death to Marlo, Cheese, Snoop (although it's hard not to like her too) and Chris......
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Feb 15, 2008 10:39 AM
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