Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Wire
The Wire
Contents
1
Overview
1.1
The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.2
Style
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.3
Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.4
1.1.5
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
1.1.7
Broadcasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
1.1.8
13
1.1.9
Representation in media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
14
1.1.11 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
18
18
David Simon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
1.2.1
18
1.2.2
22
1.2.3
Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
1.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
1.2.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
25
1.3.1
Series overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.4
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
25
1.4.1
Industry awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.4.2
Critics polls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
1.2
1.3
1.4
ii
CONTENTS
1.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
27
2.1
27
2.1.1
Series overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.4
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
27
2.2.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
2.2.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
2.2.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
2.2.4
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31
31
2.3.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
2.3.2
Cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
2.3.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.4
33
2.3.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
35
2.4.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
2.4.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.3
36
2.4.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
39
2.5.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
2.5.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
44
2.6.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
2.6.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.6.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.6.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
CONTENTS
2.6.5
3
iii
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
Characters
48
3.1
48
3.1.1
The Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.2
Politicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.3
The Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.4
The Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.5
The Docks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.6
The Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.7
Starring cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.8
A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.9
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Police
53
4.1
53
4.1.1
Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
4.1.2
55
4.1.3
Homicide unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
4.1.4
Western District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
4.1.5
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
4.1.6
Relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
4.1.7
68
4.1.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
Jimmy McNulty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
4.2.1
Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
4.2.2
74
4.2.3
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
Kima Greggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.3.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
4.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
Bunk Moreland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
4.4.1
Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
4.4.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
Lester Freamon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
4.5.1
79
4.5.2
Critical response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
4.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
iv
CONTENTS
4.6
Herc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
4.6.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
4.6.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
4.6.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
4.6.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
Roland Pryzbylewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
4.7.1
85
4.7.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.7.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
Ellis Carver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.8.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.8.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.8.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
Leander Sydnor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.9.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.9.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
90
90
4.10.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
92
4.11.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
4.11.2 Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.11.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
96
4.12.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.12.2 Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.12.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
99
4.13.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.7
4.8
4.9
Law enforcement
107
CONTENTS
5.1
5.2
5.3
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
5.1.2
FBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
5.1.3
5.1.4
Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
5.1.5
5.1.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
5.2.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
5.3.2
5.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Street-level characters
6.1
6.2
116
6.1.2
6.1.3
6.1.4
6.1.5
6.1.6
6.1.7
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
6.1.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
6.2.2
6.2.3
6.2.4
6.2.5
Season ve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
6.2.6
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.7
Prequels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.8
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.9
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Depiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
6.3.2
Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
vi
CONTENTS
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.3.3
Trivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
6.3.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
6.4.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
6.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
6.5.2
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.5.3
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.5.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.6.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
6.6.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
6.7.2
Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
6.7.3
6.7.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
6.8.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
6.8.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
6.9.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
CONTENTS
vii
Docks
7.1
7.2
7.3
161
7.1.2
7.1.3
7.1.4
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
7.1.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
7.2.2
Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7.2.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
viii
CONTENTS
7.4
7.5
7.4.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
7.4.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
7.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
7.5.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Politicians
170
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.1.2
8.1.3
8.1.4
Fund-raisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
8.1.5
Relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
8.1.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
8.2.2
8.2.3
8.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
8.3.2
8.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Storylines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
8.4.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
8.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
8.4.4
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
8.5.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
8.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
School
9.1
185
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
9.1.2
Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
CONTENTS
9.1.3
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6
ix
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
9.2.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
9.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
9.4.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
9.5.2
9.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
9.6.2
9.6.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
10 Journalists
199
207
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
CONTENTS
11.1.2 Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
11.1.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
11.1.4 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
208
Chapter 1
Overview
1.1 The Wire
For other uses, see Wire (disambiguation).
The Wire is an American crime drama television series set
and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created
and primarily written by author and former police reporter
David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered
on June 2, 2002, and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising
60 episodes over ve seasons.
Each season of The Wire introduces a dierent institution
in the city of Baltimore. In chronological order they are: the
illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government
and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who
are little known for their other roles, as well as numerous
guest and recurring appearances by real-life Baltimore and
Maryland gures. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is really about the American city, and about how we live together. Its about how
institutions have an eect on individuals. Whether one is a
cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or David Simon, creator of The Wire
a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend
with whatever institution to which they are committed.[1]
working on protracted investigations of violent drug dealers
Despite receiving only average ratings and never winning
using surveillance technology, had often been frustrated by
major television awards, The Wire has been described
the bureaucracy of the Baltimore police department; Simon
by many critics as one of the greatest TV dramas of all
saw similarities with his own ordeals as a police reporter for
time.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The show is recognized for its realistic
The Baltimore Sun.
portrayal of urban life, its literary ambitions, and its uncommonly deep exploration of social and political themes. Simon chose to set the show in Baltimore because of his
intimate familiarity with the city. During his time as a
writer and producer for the NBC program Homicide: Life
1.1.1 Production
on the Street, based on his book Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets and also set in Baltimore, Simon had come
Conception
into conict with NBC network executives who were displeased by the shows pessimism. Simon wanted to avoid
Simon has stated that he originally set out to create a police a repeat of these conicts. He chose to take The Wire to
drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing part- HBO because of their existing working relationship from
ner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective. Burns, when the 2000 miniseries The Corner. HBO was initially doubtful
1
2
about including a police drama in its lineup, but eventually
agreed to produce the pilot episode.[8][9] Simon approached
the mayor of Baltimore, telling him that he wanted to give
a bleak portrayal of certain aspects of the city; he was welcomed to work there again. He hoped that the show would
change the opinions of some viewers but said that it was
unlikely to have an impact on the issues it portrays.[8]
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Toni Lewis and Callie Thorne also appeared on Homicide:
Life on the Street, the earlier and award winning network
television series also based on Simons book; Lewis appeared on Oz as well.[23][24][25][26][27] A number of cast
members, as well as crew members, also appeared in the
preceding HBO miniseries The Corner including Clarke Peters, Reg E. Cathey, Lance Reddick, Corey Parker Robinson, Robert F. Chew and Delaney Williams.
Casting
Main article: List of The Wire characters
The casting of the show has been praised for avoiding bigname stars and providing character actors who appear natural in their roles.[10] The looks of the cast as a whole have
been described as defying TV expectations by presenting
a true range of humanity on screen.[11] Most of the cast
is African-American, consistent with the demographics of
Baltimore.
The initial cast was assembled through a process of auditions and readings. Lance Reddick received the role of
Cedric Daniels after auditioning for several other parts.[12]
Michael K. Williams got the part of Omar Little after only
a single audition.[13]
Several prominent real-life Baltimore gures, including former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; Rev. Frank
M. Reid III; former police chief, convicted felon, and radio
personality Ed Norris; Virginia Delegate Rob Bell; Baltimore Sun reporter and editor David Ettlin; Howard County
Executive Ken Ulman; and former mayor Kurt Schmoke
have appeared in minor roles despite not being professional
actors.[14][15] Little Melvin Williams, a Baltimore drug
lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Ed Burns
had been part of, had a recurring role as a deacon beginning
in the third season. Jay Landsman, a longtime police ocer who inspired the character of the same name,[16] played
Lieutenant Dennis Mello.[17] Baltimore police commander
Gary D'Addario served as the series technical advisor for
the rst two seasons[18][19] and has a recurring role as prosecutor Gary DiPasquale.[20] Simon shadowed D'Addarios
shift when researching his book Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets and both D'Addario and Landsman are subjects of the book.[21]
Crew
Alongside Simon, the shows creator, head writer,
showrunner and executive producer, much of the creative team behind The Wire were alumni of Homicide
and Emmy-winning miniseries The Corner. The Corner
veteran, Robert F. Colesberry, was executive producer for
the rst two seasons and directed the season 2 nale before
dying from complications from heart surgery in 2004.
He is credited by the rest of the creative team as having
a large creative role for a producer, and Simon credits
him for achieving the shows realistic visual feel.[1] He
also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole.[28]
Colesberrys wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the
production sta.[18] A third producer on The Corner, Nina
Kostro Noble also stayed with the production sta for
The Wire rounding out the initial four-person team.[18]
Following Colesberrys death, she became the shows
second executive producer alongside Simon.[29]
Stories for the show were often co-written by Ed Burns,
a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school
teacher who had worked with Simon on other projects including The Corner. Burns also became a producer on The
Wire in the shows fourth season.[30] Other writers for The
Wire include three acclaimed crime ction writers from
outside of Baltimore: George Pelecanos from Washington,
Richard Price from the Bronx and Dennis Lehane from
Boston.[31] Reviewers drew comparisons between Prices
works (particularly Clockers) and The Wire even before he
joined.[32] In addition to writing, Pelecanos served as a producer for the third season.[33] Pelecanos has commented
that he was attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Simon.[33] Sta writer Rafael Alvarez
penned several episodes scripts, as well as the series guidebook The Wire: Truth Be Told. Alvarez is a colleague of
Simons from The Sun and a Baltimore native with working
experience in the port area.[34] Another city native and independent lmmaker, Joy Lusco, also wrote for the show in
each of its rst three seasons.[35] Baltimore Sun writer and
political journalist William F. Zorzi joined the writing sta
in the third season and brought a wealth of experience to
the shows examination of Baltimore politics.[34]
Episode structure
When broadcast on HBO and on some international networks, the episodes are preceded by a recap of events that
have a bearing upon the upcoming narrative, using clips
from previous episodes. Each episode begins with a cold
open that seldom contains a dramatic juncture. The screen
then fades or cuts to black while the intro music fades in.
The shows opening title sequence then plays; a series of
shots, mainly close-ups, concerning the shows subject matter that changes from season to season, separated by fast
cutting (a technique rarely used in the show itself). The
opening credits are superimposed on the sequence, and consist only of actors names without identifying which actors
play which roles. In addition, actors faces are rarely seen
in the title sequence. At the end of the sequence, a quotation is shown on-screen that is spoken by a character during the episode. The three exceptions were the rst season
nale which uses the phrase All in the game, attributed
to Traditional West Baltimore, a phrase used frequently
throughout all ve seasons including that episode; the fourth
season nale which uses words written on boarded up vacant
homes attributed to Baltimore, traditional and the series
nale, which started with a quote from H. L. Mencken that
is shown on a wall at The Baltimore Sun in one scene, neither quote being spoken by a character. Progressive story
arcs often unfold in dierent locations at the same time.
Episodes rarely end with a clihanger, and close with a fade
or cut to black with the closing music fading in.
Music
3
emanate from a source within the scene, such as a jukebox or car radio. This kind of music is known as source
cues. This practice is rarely breached, notably for the endof-season montages and occasionally with a brief overlap of
the closing theme and the nal shot.[40]
The opening theme is "Way Down in the Hole, a gospeland blues-inspired song originally written by Tom Waits for
his 1987 album Franks Wild Years. Each season uses a different recording of it against a dierent opening sequence,
with the theme being performed, in order, by The Blind
Boys of Alabama, Waits himself, The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe and Steve Earle. Season fours version of Way Down
in the Hole was arranged and recorded specically for the
show, and is performed by ve Baltimore teenagers: Ivan
Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir,
and Avery Bargasse.[41] Earle, who performed the fth seasons version, is also a member of the cast, playing the recovering drug addict Walon.[42] The closing theme is The
Fall, composed by Blake Leyh, who is also the shows music supervisor.
During season nales, a song is played before the closing
scene in a montage showing the major characters lives continuing in the aftermath of the narrative. The rst season
montage is played over Step by Step by Jesse Winchester,
the second I Feel Alright by Steve Earle, the third Fast
Train written by Van Morrison and performed by Solomon
Burke, the fourth I Walk on Gilded Splinters written by
Dr. John and performed by Paul Weller, and the fth uses
an extended version of Way Down In The Hole by the
Blind Boys of Alabama, the same version of the song used
as the opening theme for the rst season. While the songs
reect the mood of the sequence, their lyrics are usually only
loosely tied to the visual shots. In the commentary track to
episode 37, "Mission Accomplished, executive producer
David Simon said: I hate it when somebody purposely tries
to have the lyrics match the visual. It brutalizes the visual
in a way to have the lyrics dead on point. ... Yet at the same
time it can't be totally o point. It has to glance at what
you're trying to say.[32]
Music by the Celtic punk band The Pogues is used throughout the series. The bands song The Body of an American, which is always played at the detectives wakes at
Kavanaughs Bar, occurs in three separate episodes. In the
episode "Dead Soldiers, the song "Sally MacLennane" can
be heard when Bunk and McNulty are drinking on the street
outside Kavanaughs Bar. The song Transmetropolitan is
heard in the opening sequence of the episode "Duck and
Cover" during season two, where McNulty crashes his car
while drunk.
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Nonesuch Records.[43] The former features music from all characters. The article expressed great sadness at the toll
ve seasons of the series and the latter includes local Balti- drugs and violence are taking on the black community.[51]
more artists exclusively.[43]
Visual novel
1.1.2
Style
Realism
The writers strove to create a realistic vision of an American city based on their own experiences. Simon, originally
a journalist for the Baltimore Sun, spent a year researching a
homicide police department for his book, Homicide: A Year
on the Killing Streets, where he met Burns. Burns served
in the Baltimore Police Department for 20 years, and later
became a teacher in an inner-city school. The two of them
spent a year researching the drug culture and poverty in Baltimore for their book, The Corner: A Year in the Life of
an Inner-City Neighborhood. Their combined experiences
were used in many of the storylines of The Wire.
The show is realistic in depicting the processes of both po- Murderland Alley is both realistically and bleakly portrayed.
lice work and criminal activity. There have even been reports of real-life criminals watching the show to learn how Simon described the second season as
to counter police investigation techniques.[48][49] The fth
season portrayed a working newsroom at the Baltimore Sun
a meditation on the death of work and the
and has been hailed as the most realistic portrayal of the
betrayal of the American working class ... it is a
[50]
media in lm and television.
deliberate argument that unencumbered capitalIn December 2006, The Washington Post carried an artiism is not a substitute for social policy; that on
cle in which local African-American students stated that the
its own, without a social compact, raw capitalism
show had hit a nerve with the black community, and that
is destined to serve the few at the expense of the
they themselves knew real-life counterparts of many of the
many.[44]
5
Surveillance
We are not selling hope, or audience gratication, or cheap victories with this show.
The Wire is making an argument about what
institutionsbureaucracies, criminal enterprises, the cultures of addiction, raw capitalism
evendo to individuals. It is not designed purely
as an entertainment. It is, I'm afraid, a somewhat
angry show.[56]
Main cast
The major characters of the rst season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in
drug-related crime. The investigating detail was launched
by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic
West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems played counterpoint to his ability as a criminal investigator. The detail was led by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
(Lance Reddick) who faced challenges balancing his career
aspirations with his desire to produce a good case. Kima
Greggs (Sonja Sohn) was a capable lead detective who faced
jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of
her job from her domestic partner. Her investigative work
was greatly helped by her criminal informant, a drug addict
6
known as Bubbles (Andre Royo). Like Greggs, partners
Thomas Herc Hauk (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Ellis
Carver (Seth Gilliam) were reassigned to the detail from the
narcotics unit. The duos initially violent nature was eventually subdued as they proved useful in grunt work, and sometimes served as comic relief for the audience.[31] Rounding out the temporary unit were detectives Lester Freamon
(Clarke Peters) and Roland Prez Pryzbylewski (Jim TrueFrost). Though not initially important players in the operation, Freamon proved a quietly capable and methodical
investigator with a knack for noticing tiny but important details, and Prez turned out to be a natural at following paper
trails and his persistence when dealing with seemingly unbreakable codes paid o eventually.
These investigators were overseen by two commanding ofcers more concerned with politics and their own careers
than the case, Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie
Faison) and Major William Rawls (John Doman). Assistant states attorney Rhonda Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the
courthouse and also had a sexual relationship with McNulty. In the homicide division, Bunk Moreland (Wendell
Pierce) was a gifted, dry-witted, hard-drinking detective
partnered with McNulty under Sergeant Jay Landsman
(Delaney Williams), the sarcastic, sharp-tongued squad supervisor. Peter Gerety had a recurring role as Judge Phelan,
the ocial who started the case moving.[31]
On the other side of the investigation was Avon Barksdale's drug empire. The driven, ruthless Barksdale (Wood
Harris) was aided by business-minded Stringer Bell (Idris
Elba). Avons nephew D'Angelo Barksdale (Larry Gilliard,
Jr.) ran some of his uncles territory, but also possessed a
guilty conscience, while loyal Wee-Bey Brice (Hassan Johnson) was responsible for multiple homicides carried out on
Avons orders. Working under D'Angelo were Poot (Tray
Chaney), Bodie (J.D. Williams), and Wallace (Michael B.
Jordan), all street-level drug dealers.[31] Wallace was an intelligent but naive youth trapped in the drug trade,[31] and
Poot a randy young man happy to follow rather than lead.
Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), a renowned Baltimore
stick-up man robbing drug dealers for a living, was a frequent thorn in the side of the Barksdale clan.
The second season introduced a new group of characters
working in the Baltimore port area, including Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos (Paul Ben-Victor), Beadie Russell (Amy
Ryan), and Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer). Vondas was the
underboss of a global smuggling operation, Russell an inexperienced Port authority ocer and single mother thrown
in at the deep end of a multiple homicide investigation, and
Frank Sobotka a union leader who turned to crime to raise
funds to save his union. Also joining the show in season
2 were Nick Sobotka (Pablo Schreiber), Franks nephew;
Ziggy Sobotka (James Ransone), Franks troubled son; and
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
"The Greek" (Bill Raymond), Vondass mysterious boss.
As the second season ended, the focus shifted away from
the ports, leaving the new characters behind.
The third season saw several previously recurring characters
assuming larger starring roles, including Detective Leander
Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson), Bodie (J.D. Williams),
Omar (Michael K. Williams), Proposition Joe (Robert F.
Chew), and Major Howard Bunny Colvin (Robert Wisdom). Colvin commanded the Western district where the
Barksdale organization operated, and nearing retirement,
he came up with a radical new method of dealing with the
drug problem. Proposition Joe, the East Sides cautious
drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the Barksdale
Organization. Sydnor, a rising young star in the police department in season 1, returned to the cast as part of the
major crimes unit. Bodie had been seen gradually rising
in the Barksdale organization since the rst episode; he was
born to their trade and showed a erce aptitude for it. Omar
had a vendetta against the Barksdale organization and gave
them all of his lethal attention.
New additions in the third season included Tommy Carcetti
(Aidan Gillen), an ambitious city councilman; Mayor
Clarence Royce (Glynn Turman), the incumbent whom
Carcetti planned to unseat; Marlo Staneld (Jamie Hector),
leader of an upstart gang seeking to challenge Avons dominance; and Dennis Cutty Wise (Chad Coleman), a newly
released convict uncertain of his future.
In the fourth season, four young actors joined the cast:
Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie Weems; Maestro
Harrell as Randy Wagsta; Julito McCullum as Namond
Brice; and Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee. The characters
are friends from a West Baltimore middle school. Another
newcomer was Norman Wilson (Reg E. Cathey), Carcettis
deputy campaign manager.
The fth season saw several actors join the starring cast.
Gbenga Akinnagbe returns as the previously recurring
Chris Partlow, chief enforcer of the now dominant Staneld
Organization. Neal Hu reprises his role as Mayoral chief
of sta Michael Steintorf having previously appeared as a
guest star at the end of the fourth season. Two other actors also join the starring cast having previously portrayed
their corrupt characters as guest starsMichael Kostro as
defense attorney Maurice Levy and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as
senator Clay Davis. Crew member Clark Johnson appeared
in front of the camera for the rst time in the series to play
Augustus Haynes, the principled editor of the city desk of
The Baltimore Sun. He is joined in the newsroom by two
other new stars; Michelle Paress and Tom McCarthy play
young reporters Alma Gutierrez and Scott Templeton.
1.1.5
Plot
Season 1
Main article: The Wire (season 1)
The rst season introduces two major groups of characters:
the Baltimore police department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. The season follows the
police investigation of the latter over its 13 episodes.
7
eration to wrap up the case. Detective Kima Greggs is seriously hurt in the operation, triggering an overzealous response from the rest of the department. This causes the
details targets to suspect that they are under investigation.
Wallace is murdered by his childhood friends Bodie and
Poot, on orders from Stringer Bell, after leaving his secure placement with relatives and returning to Baltimore.
D'Angelo Barksdale is eventually arrested transporting a
kilo of uncut heroin, and learning of Wallaces murder,
is ready to turn in his uncle and Stringer. However,
D'Angelos mother convinces him to rescind the deal and
take the charges for his family. The detail manages to arrest Avon on a minor charge and gets one of his soldiers,
Wee-Bey, to confess to most of the murders, some of which
he did not commit. Stringer escapes prosecution and is left
running the Barksdale empire. For the ocers, the consequences of antagonizing their superiors are severe, with
Daniels passed over for promotion and McNulty assigned
out of homicide and into the marine unit.
The investigation is triggered when detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with judge Daniel Phelan following the acquittal of D'Angelo Barksdale for murder after
a key witness changes her story. McNulty tells Phelan that
the witness has probably been intimidated by members of
a drug tracking empire run by D'Angelos uncle, Avon
Barksdale, having recognized several faces at the trial, most Season 2
notably Avons second-in-command, Stringer Bell. He also
tells Phelan that nobody is investigating Barksdales crimi- Main article: The Wire (season 2)
nal activity, which includes a signicant portion of the citys
drug trade and several unsolved homicides.
The second season, along with its ongoing examination of
Phelan takes issue with McNultys report and complains to the drug problem and its eect on the urban poor, examines
senior Police Department gures, embarrassing them into the plight of the blue-collar urban working class as exemcreating a detail dedicated to investigating Barksdale. How- plied by stevedores in the city port, as some of them get
ever, owing to the departments dysfunction, the investiga- caught up in smuggling drugs and other contraband inside
tion is intended as a faade to appease the judge. An in- the shipping containers that pass through their port.[44] In
tradepartmental struggle between the more motivated o- a season-long subplot, the Barksdale organization contincers on the detail and their superiors spans the whole sea- ues its drug tracking despite Avons imprisonment, with
son, with interference by the higher-ups often threatening Stringer Bell assuming greater power.
to ruin the investigation. The details commander, Cedric
McNulty harbors a grudge against his former commanders
Daniels, acts as mediator between the two opposing groups for reassigning him to the marine unit. When thirteen
of police.
unidentied young women are found dead in a container
Meanwhile, the organized and cautious Barksdale gang is at the docks, McNulty successfully makes a spiteful eort
explored through characters at various levels within it. The to place the murders within the jurisdiction of his former
organization is continually antagonized by a stick-up crew commander. Meanwhile, police Major Stan Valchek gets
led by Omar Little, and the feud leads to several deaths. into a feud with Frank Sobotka, a leader of the InternaThroughout, D'Angelo struggles with his conscience over tional Brotherhood of Stevedores, a ctional dockers union,
his life of crime and the people it aects.
over competing donations to their old neighborhood church.
The police have little success with street-level arrests or with Valchek demands a detail to investigate Sobotka. Cedric
securing informants beyond Bubbles, a well known West Daniels is interviewed, having been praised by Prez, Major
Side drug addict. Eventually the investigation takes the di- Valcheks son-in-law, and also because of his work on the
rection of electronic surveillance, with wiretaps and pager Barksdale case. He is eventually selected to lead the detail
clones to inltrate the security measures taken by the Barks- assigned just to investigate Sobotka; when the investigation
dale organization. This leads the investigation to areas the is concluded Daniels is assured he will move up to head a
commanding ocers had hoped to avoid, including politi- special case unit with personnel of his choosing.
cal contributions. When an associate of Avon Barksdales is Life for the blue-collar men of the port is increasingly hard
arrested by State Police and oers to cooperate, the com- and work is scarce. As union leader, Sobotka has taken
manding ocers order the detail to undertake a sting op- it on himself to reinvigorate the port by lobbying politi-
8
cians to support much-needed infrastructure improvement
initiatives. Lacking the funds needed for this kind of inuence, Sobotka has become involved with a smuggling ring.
Around him, his son and nephew also turn to crime, as they
have few other opportunities to earn money. It becomes
clear to the Sobotka detail that the dead girls are related
to their investigation, as they were in a container that was
supposed to be smuggled through the port. They again use
wiretaps to inltrate the crime ring and slowly work their
way up the chain towards The Greek, the mysterious man
in charge. But Valchek, upset that their focus has moved
beyond Sobotka, gets the FBI involved. The Greek has contacts inside the FBI and starts severing his ties to Baltimore
when he learns about the investigation.
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Season 3
Main article: The Wire (season 3)
In the third season, the focus returns to the street and the
Barksdale organization. The scope, however, is expanded
to include the citys political scene. A new subplot is introduced to explore the potential positive eects of de facto
legalizing the illegal drug trade, and incidentally prostitution, within the limited boundaries of a few uninhabited city
blocks referred to as Hamsterdam. The posited benets,
as in Amsterdam and other European cities, are reduced
street crime city-wide and increased outreach of health and
social services to at-risk populations. These are continuaAfter a dispute over stolen goods turns violent, Sobotkas tions of storylines hinted at earlier.
son Ziggy is charged with the murder of one of the Greeks
underlings. Sobotka himself is arrested for smuggling; he The demolition of the residential towers that had served
agrees to work with the detail to help his son, nally seeing as the Barksdale organizations prime territory pushes their
his actions as a mistake. However, the Greek learns about dealers back out onto the streets of Baltimore. Stringer
this through a mole in the FBI and has Sobotka killed. The Bell continues his reform of the organization by cooperatinvestigation ends with the fourteen homicides solved but ing with other drug lords, sharing with one another territory,
the perpetrator already dead. Several drug dealers and mid- product, and prots. Stringers proposal is met with a curt
level smuggling gures tied to the Greek are arrested, but he refusal from Marlo Staneld, leader of a new, growing crew.
and his second-in-command escape uncharged and uniden- Against Stringers advice, Avon decides to take Marlos tertied. The Major is pleased that Sobotka was arrested; the ritory by force, and the two gangs become embroiled in a
case is seen as a success by the commanding ocers, but is bitter turf war with multiple deaths. Omar Little continues
to rob the Barksdale organization wherever possible. Workviewed as a failure by the detail.
ing with his new boyfriend, Dante, and two women, he is
Across town, the Barksdale organization continues its busi- once more a serious problem. The violence related to the
ness under Stringer while Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale drug trade makes it an obvious choice of investigation for
serve prison time. D'Angelo decides to cut ties to his family Cedric Daniels' now-permanent Major Crimes Unit.
after his uncle organizes the deaths of several inmates and
blames it on a corrupt guard to shave time from his sentence. Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins to prepare himself for
Eventually Stringer covertly orders D'Angelo killed, with a mayoral race. He manipulates a colleague into running
the murder staged to look like a suicide. Avon is unaware against the mayor to split the black vote, secures a capable
campaign manager and starts making headlines for himself.
of Stringers duplicity and mourns the loss of his nephew.
Stringer also struggles, having been cut o by Avons drug As he approaches the end of his career, Major Howard
suppliers and left with increasingly poor-quality product. Bunny Colvin of Baltimores Western District wants to
He again goes behind Avons back, giving up half of Avons eect some real change in the troubled neighborhoods for
most prized territory to a rival named Proposition Joe in which he has long been responsible. Without the knowlexchange for a share of his supply. Avon, unaware of the edge of central command, Colvin sets up areas where poarrangement, assumes that Joe and other dealers are moving lice would monitor, but not punish, the drug trade. The
into his territory simply because the Barksdale organization police crack down severely on violence in these areas, and
has too few enforcers. He contracts a feared assassin named also on drug tracking elsewhere in the city. For many
Brother Mouzone. Stringer deals with this by tricking his weeks, Colvins experiment works, and crime is reduced
old adversary Omar into believing that Mouzone was re- in his district. However, Colvin' superiors, the media, and
sponsible for the vicious killing of his partner in their feud city politicians eventually nd out about the arrangement,
in season one. Seeking revenge, Omar shoots Mouzone but, and the Hamsterdam experiment ends. With top brass
realizing Stringer has lied to him, calls 9-1-1. Mouzone re- outraged, Colvin is forced to cease his actions, accept a decovers and leaves Baltimore, and Stringer (now with Avons motion, and retire from the police department on a lowerconsent) is able to continue his arrangement with Proposi- grade pension. Tommy Carcetti uses the scandal to make
a grandstanding speech at a weekly Baltimore city council
tion Joe.
meeting.
Dennis Cutty Wise, once a drug dealers enforcer, is re-
Season 4
Prez has a few successes with his students, but some of them
start to slip away. Disruptive Namond is removed from class
Main article: The Wire (season 4)
and placed in the research group, where he gradually develops aection and respect for Colvin. Randy, in a moment
The fourth season expanded its scope again to include an of desperation, reveals knowledge of a murder to the assisexamination of the school system. Other major plots in- tant principal, leading to his being interrogated by police.
clude the mayoral race that continues the political storyline
Proposition Joe engineers a conict between Omar Little
begun in season three, and a closer look at Marlo Staneld's
and Marlo to convince Marlo to join the New Day Co-Op.
drug gang, which has grown to control most of western BalAfter Omar robs Marlo, Marlo frames Omar for a murder
timores tracking.
and attempts to have him murdered in jail, but Omar manThe show introduces Dukie, Randy, Michael, and Namond, ages to beat the charge with the help of Bunk. Omar learns
four boys from West Baltimore, as they enter the eighth Marlo set him up, and gets revenge on him and Proposition
grade. At the same school, Prez has begun a new career as a Joe by robbing the entire shipment of the Co-Op. Meanmath teacher. Despite mentorship from the more seasoned while, the co-op members, including Marlo, are furious at
faculty, Namond, and later Michael, work as drug runners Joe for allowing the shipment to be stolen. Marlo demands
for Bodie, who has had middling success selling Proposition satisfaction, and as a result, Joe sets up a meeting between
Joe's product independently.
him and Spiros Vondas, who assuages Marlos concerns.
Having
gotten a lead on Joes connection to the Greeks,
The cold-blooded Marlo has come to dominate the streets
Marlo
begins
investigating them to learn more about their
of the west side, using murder and intimidation to make up
role
in
bringing
narcotics into Baltimore.
for his weak-quality drugs and lack of business acumen. His
10
Freamon discovers the bodies Chris and Snoop had hidden. Bodie oers McNulty testimony against Marlo and his
crew, but is shot dead on his corner by O-Dog, a member
of Marlos crew.[57] Sherrod dies after snorting a poisoned
vial of heroin that, unbeknownst to him, Bubbles had prepared for their tormentor. Bubbles turns himself in to the
police and tries to hang himself, but he survives and is taken
to a detox facility. Michael has now joined the ranks of
Marlos killers and runs one of his corners, with Dukie leaving high school to work there. Randys house is rebombed
by school bullies for his cooperation with the police, leaving his caring foster mother hospitalized and sending him
back to a group home. Namond is taken in by Colvin, who
recognized the good in him. The major crimes unit from
earlier seasons is largely reunited, and they resume their investigation of Marlo Staneld.
Season 5
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
ing as a Staneld enforcer, providing a home for his friend
Dukie and younger brother Bug.
Omar returns to Baltimore seeking revenge, targeting Stanelds organization, stealing and destroying money and
drugs and killing Staneld enforcers in an attempt to force
Staneld into the open. However, he is eventually shot and
killed by Kenard, a young Staneld dealer.
Baltimore Sun reporter Scott Templeton claims to have been
contacted by McNultys fake serial killer. City Editor Gus
Haynes becomes suspicious, but his superiors are enamored
of Templeton. The story gains momentum and Carcetti
spins the resulting attention on homelessness into a key issue in his imminent campaign for Governor and restores
funding to the police department.
Bubbles is recovering from his drug addiction while living
in his sisters basement. He is befriended by Sun reporter
Mike Fletcher, who eventually writes a prole of Bubbles.
The Baltimore Sun also faces budget cuts and the newsroom struggles to adequately cover the city, omitting many
important stories. Commissioner Burrell continues to falsify crime statistics and is red by Carcetti, who positions
Daniels to replace him.
Marlo Staneld lures his enemy Omar Little out of retirement by having Omars mentor Butchie murdered.
Proposition Joe teaches Staneld how to launder money
and evade investigation. Once Joe is no longer useful to
him, Staneld has Joe killed with the help of Joes nephew
Cheese Wagsta and usurps his position with the Greeks
and the New Day Co-Op. Michael Lee continues work-
Prequel shorts
During the fth season, HBO produced three short prequels
depicting moments in the history of characters in The Wire.
The three prequels depict the rst meeting between McNulty and Bunk; Proposition Joe as a slick business kid;
and young Omar.[60] The shorts are available on the complete series DVD set.[61]
1.1.6
Reception
Critical response
11
Despite the critical acclaim, The Wire received poor Nielsen
ratings, which Simon attributed to the complexity of the
plot; a poor time slot; heavy use of esoteric slang, particularly among the gangster characters; and a predominantly
black cast.[69] Critics felt the show was testing the attention
span of its audience and felt that it was mistimed in the wake
of the launch of the successful crime drama The Shield on
FX.[68] However, anticipation for a release of the rst season on DVD was high at Entertainment Weekly.[70]
After the rst two shows of season two, Jim Shelley (a
British TV critic writing for The Guardian) called The Wire
the best show on TV, praising the second season for its
ability to detach from its former foundations in the rst
season.[38] Jon Garelick with the Boston Phoenix was of the
opinion that the subculture of the docks (second season)
was not as absorbing as that of the housing projects (rst
season), but he went on to praise the writers for creating a
realistic world and populating it with an array of interesting
characters.[71]
The critical response to the third season remained positive.
Entertainment Weekly named The Wire the best show of
2004, describing it as the smartest, deepest and most resonant drama on TV. They credited the complexity of the
show for its poor ratings.[72] The Baltimore City Paper was
so concerned that the show might be cancelled that it published a list of ten reasons to keep it on the air, including
strong characterization, Omar Little, and an unabashedly
honest representation of real world problems. It also worried that the loss of the show would have a negative impact
on Baltimores economy.[73]
At the close of the third season, The Wire was still struggling to maintain its ratings and the show faced possible
cancellation.[74] Creator David Simon blamed the shows
low ratings in part on its competition against Desperate
Housewives and worried that expectations for HBO dramas
had changed following the success of The Sopranos.[75]
The Wire has generally received rave reviews from major As the fourth season was about to begin, almost two years
television critics, with some naming it the best television after the previous seasons end, Tim Goodman of the San
Francisco Chronicle wrote that The Wire has tackled the
show of all time.
drug war in this country as it simultaneously explores race,
The rst season received positive reviews from poverty and 'the death of the American working class,' the
critics,[62][63] some even calling it superior to HBOs failure of political systems to help the people they serve,
better-known "agship" drama series such as The Sopranos and the tyranny of lost hope. Few series in the history
and Six Feet Under.[64][65][66] On the review aggregation of television have explored the plight of inner-city African
website Metacritic, the rst season scored 78 out of 100 Americans and nonenot onehas done it as well.[76]
based on 22 reviews.[67] One reviewer pointed to the Brian Lowry of Variety wrote at the time, When television
retread of some themes from HBO and David Simon's history is written, little else will rival 'The Wire.'"[77] The
earlier works, but still found it valuable viewing and New York Times called the fourth season of The Wire its
particularly resonant because it parallels the war on terror best season yet.[78] Doug Elfman of the Chicago Sun-Times
through the chronicling of the war on drugs.[68] Another was more reserved in his praise, calling it the most ambireview postulated that the series might suer because of tious show on television, but faulting it for its complexity
its reliance on profanity and slowly drawn-out plot, but was and the slow development of the plotline.[79] The Los Angelargely positive about the shows characters and intrigue.[37]
12
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Academia
In the years following the end of the series run, several
colleges and universities such as Johns Hopkins, Brown
University, and Harvard College have oered classes on
The Wire in disciplines ranging from law to sociology to
lm studies. Phillips Academy, a boarding high school
in Massachusetts, oers a similar course as well.[107][108]
University of Texas at San Antonio oers a course where
the series is taught as a work of literary ction.[109] In an
article published in The Washington Post, Anmol Chaddha
1.1.7
Broadcasters
13
1.1.8
1.1.9
Representation in media
14
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
1.1.10
See also
1.1.11
References
[4] Wilde, Jon (July 21, 2007). The Wire is unmissable television. London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved September 7,
2009.
[28] Org Chart The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved October 16,
2007.
[29] "The Wire season 3 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved October
14, 2007.
[30] "The Wire season 4 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved October
14, 2007.
[31] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire". Salon.com.
[32] "The Wire Complete Third Season on DVD, ASIN
B000FTCLSU
[33] Birnbaum, Robert. Interview: George Pelecanos. Identity
Theory. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
[34] Goldman, Eric. IGN Exclusive Interview: The Wire's
David Simon. IGN. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
[35] Alvarez 10.
[36] ""The Wire on HBO: Play Or Get Played, Exclusive Q&A
With David Simon (page 17)". 2006. Retrieved October 16,
2007.
[14] Deford, Susan (February 14, 2008). Despite Past With Bill
Clinton, Ulman Switches Allegiance. The Washington Post.
Retrieved May 13, 2010.
[37] Todd Weiser (June 17, 2002). New HBO series The Wire
taps into summer programming. The Michigan Daily.
Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved
September 10, 2010.
15
[60] HBO Releases Three Prequel Videos for 'The Wire'". BuddyTV. December 5, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
[61] Bailey, Jason (December 11, 2008). The Wire: The Complete Series. DVD Talk. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
[62] Television Critics Association Introduces 2003 Award
Nominees. Television Critics Association. Archived from
the original on October 13, 2006. Retrieved September 10,
2010.
[63] The Wire: The Complete First Season. Rotten Tomatoes.
[64] Alan Sepinwall (August 6, 2006). Taut 'Wire' has real
strength.. Newark Star-Ledger. p. 1.
[65] Aaron Barnhart (2006). "'The Wire' aims higher: TVs nest
hour is back. Kansas City Star.
[66] Leslie Ryan (2003). Tapping The Wire; HBO Police Drama
Tops Television Weeks Semiannual Critics Poll List. Television Week.
[46] Sweetland Edwards, Haley (MayJune 2013). Should Martin OMalley Be President? by Haley Sweetland Edwards.
The Washington Monthly. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
[67] The Wire: Season 1. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
[69] David Simon (2004). Ask The Wire: David Simon. HBO.
Slow Hand.
Boston
16
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
[96] The Wire Files darkmatter Journal. May 29, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
[97] Geier, Thom; Jensen, Je; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret;
Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney;
Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak,
Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker,
Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate
(December 11, 2009), THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV
SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES,
EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND
TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST
10 YEARS. Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
[98] Barack Obama on his favorite TV show. Chicago Tribune.
January 14, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
[99] Los dioses indiferentes. El Pas. October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
[84] Tim Goodman (May 30, 2003). HBO scores again with a
stellar second season of 'The Wire'". San Francisco Chron- [100] Magnusson, Haukur S. (April 6, 2010). He Really Did
icle.
It!". The Reykjavik Grapevine Features. Retrieved March
14, 2012.
[85] Its time to get 'Wire'-d after all, its the best show on
TV. Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original [101] Acuna, Kirsten (October 10, 2014). Why 'The Walking
Dead' Casts So Many Actors From HBOs Hit Show 'The
on November 30, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
Wire'". Business Insider. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
[86] The Wire re-up. The Guardian (London). August 18,
[102] The Wire (HBO)". The Peabody Awards. May 2004. Re2009. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
trieved September 24, 2014.
[87] The Wire re-up. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
[103] Emmy Nominations: 'The Wire' Gets One Final Snub.
The New York Times. July 18, 2008. Retrieved December
[88] Unknown. Charlie Brookers Screenwipe. BBC Four. The
11, 2012.
best show... of the last twenty years is another HBO show
not as well knowncalled The Wire. The Wire is quite simply a stunning piece of work... it actually physically pains [104] Gallagher, Danny (July 20, 2009). Is The Wire the biggest
Emmy snub of all time, forever and ever, amen?". Aol TV.
me to use this phrase, because anyone who uses it sounds
Retrieved December 11, 2012.
like an absolute tosser, but it is, truly, multilayered; it is just
fucking brilliant. Charlie Brooker
[105] 25 Biggest Emmy Nomination Snubs. Entertainment
[89] All-TIME 100 TV Shows. TIME. September 6, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
[90] 101 Best Written TV Series List. Writers Guild of America. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
[91] Fretts, Bruce; Roush, Matt (December 23, 2013). TV [107] Getting Down to 'The Wire'". Phillips Academy. Retrieved
Guide Magazines 60 Best Series of All Time. TV Guide.
February 2, 2011.
Retrieved December 23, 2013.
[108] Walker, Childs (November 26, 2010). Hopkins students
[92] 26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever. Entertainment Weekly.
discover Baltimore through 'The Wire'". The Baltimore Sun.
March 14, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
Retrieved November 26, 2010.
[93] TV: 10 All-Time Greatest. Entertainment Weekly. June [109] Spring 2012 Courses: 4000-Level. The University of
27, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
Texas at San Antonio. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
[94] Roush, Matt (September 6, 2006). Save the Children: Wire [110] Chaddha, Anmol (September 12, 2010). Why we're teachtaps into a broken school system. TV Guide. Retrieved Auing 'The Wire' at Harvard. The Washington Post. Retrieved
gust 19, 2014.
September 21, 2010.
[95] Smith, Sid (September 18, 2004). "'The Wire' shocks with [111] Silverman, Rosa (May 16, 2010). Sociology degree stuits electric story lines. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August
dents to study 'The Wire'". The Independent (London). Re19, 2014.
trieved November 28, 2010.
17
[112] American TV Show 'The Wire' Breaks Into French [132] The Wire: The Complete Fourth Season (2005)". AmaAcademia. Le Monde. January 12, 2012. Retrieved Janzon.com. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
uary 3, 2013.
[133] The Wire: Complete HBO Season 4. Amazon.co.uk. Re[113] "The Wire, Def Comedy Jam Set For On-Demand Pretrieved September 11, 2010.
mieres. World Screen News. 2006. Archived from the
original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
[134] Wire, The The Complete 4th Season (5 Disc Set)". EzyDVD.com.au. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
[114] BETs editing butchers 'The Wire' story line. The Daily
Bruin. 2007.
[135] The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season (2008)". Ama[115] HBO(R) Unveils New High-Denition Re-Mastering of
zon.com. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
Award-Winning Hit Series The Wire(R)"". HBO. December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
[136] The Wire: Complete HBO Season 5. Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
[116] Obenson, Tambay A. (December 26, 2014). Marathon of
New High-Denition Re-Mastering of 'The Wire - Shadow
[137] Wire, The The Complete 5th Season (4 Disc Set)". Ezyand Act. Indiewire. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
DVD.com.au. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
[117] BBC Two to show US TVs The Wire. BBC News. March
12, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
[138] The Wire: The Complete Series (2008)". Amazon.com.
[118] BBC BBC Two Programmes The Wire Episodes from
2009. BBC. April 23, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
[119] Why no Wire?". BBC. April 23, 2009. Retrieved April 23,
2009.
[120] Brook, Stephen (July 20, 2007). Guardian website to
stream The Wire. London: The Guardian. Retrieved July
20, 2007.
[121] Carrol, Jim (July 30, 2008). On The Record on The Wire
is now in session. Irish Times. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
[122] Elliott, Josh (December 3, 2014). Bell Media unveils
CraveTV premium streaming service. CTV. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
[131] Wire, The The Complete 3rd Season (5 Disc Set)". Ezy- [149] Lee, Nathan. Interviewed4Syndication. DIS Magazine.
DVD.com.au. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
Retrieved July 30, 2014.
18
1.1.12
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Further reading
Ocial website
The Wire at the Internet Movie Database
The Wire at TV.com
1.2
David Simon
Peter Dreier, John Atlas: The Wire Bush-Era Fable about Americas Urban Poor?. City & Commu- For other people named David Simon, see David Simon
nity Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 329340, September 2009 (disambiguation).
(online copy)
Helena Sheehan, Sheamus Sweeney: The Wire and the David Simon (born 1960) is an American author, journalWorld: Narrative and Metanarrative. Jump Cut, 51 ist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked
for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years (198295)
(Spring 2009), ISSN 0146-5546 (online copy)
and wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991)
Play or Get Played Exclusive interviews with David and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an InnerSimon and cast members.
City Neighborhood (1997) with Ed Burns. The former book
was the basis for the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street
Ten Thousand Bullets An interview with George (199399), on which Simon served as a writer and proPelecanos.
ducer. Simon adapted the latter book into the HBO miniseries The Corner (2000).
George Pelecanos on The Wire and D.C. pulp ction
He is the creator of the HBO television series The Wire
A supplement to Ten Thousand Bullets.
(20022008), for which he served as executive producer,
The Rhetoric of The Wire" Movie: A Journal of Film head writer, and show runner for all ve seasons. He
Criticism, No.1, 2010
adapted the non-ction book Generation Kill into an HBO
mini-series and served as the show runner for the project.
Gang and Drug-Related Homicide: Baltimores SucHe was selected as one of the 2010 MacArthur Fellows[3]
cessful Enforcement Strategy Ed Burns discusses
and named an Utne Reader visionary in 2011.[4] Simon
some of the investigations and individuals which inalso co-created the HBO series Treme with Eric Overmyer,
spired The Wire.
which aired its fourth and nal season in 2013.
A collection of interviews with Wire cast members
Interviews include Michael K. Williams, Lance
Reddick, Robert Wisdom, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Isiah 1.2.1 Life and career
Whitlock Jr. and more.
Early life
Reason Magazine Interview with Ed Burns The Wire
co-creator talks about how Baltimore inspires and in- Simon was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Dorothy
forms The Wire, and opinions on the War on Drugs (ne Ligeti), a homemaker, and Bernard Simon, a public relations director for B'nai B'rith and freelance journalist.[5][6]
from his and other co-creators experiences.
19
He was raised in a Jewish family, which originated in Eastern Europe and Hungary (his maternal grandfather had
changed his surname from Leibowitz to Ligeti).[5][7]
Simon attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in
Bethesda, Maryland, and wrote for the school newspaper,
The Tattler. He graduated from the University of Maryland,
College Park. While at college he wrote for The Diamondback and became friends with contemporary David Mills.[8]
the police department and the editors of the paper to receive approval. The detectives were initially slow to accept him, but he persevered in an attempt to seem like
part of the furniture. However, he soon ingratiated himself with the detectives, saying in the closing notes of the
book, I shared with the detectives a years worth of fastfood runs, bar arguments and station house humor: Even
for a trained observer, it was hard to remain aloof.[10] During one instance, Simon even assisted with an arrest. Two
detectives Simon was riding with pulled their car to a curb
to apprehend two suspects, but Detective Dave Brown got
Journalism
his trenchcoat caught in a seat belt when he tried to exit the
Upon leaving college he worked as a police reporter at car. Brown told Simon to assist Detective Terry McLarney
The Baltimore Sun from 1982 to 1995.[9] He spent most of himself, and Simon helped apprehend and search one of the
his career covering the crime beat.[9][10] A colleague has suspects.[14]
said that Simon loved journalism and felt it was Gods The book won the 1992 Edgar Award for Best Fact
work.[10] Simon says that he was initially altruistic and was Crime book.[15] The Associated Press called it a true-crime
inspired to enter journalism by the Washington Post's cover- classic.[14] The Library Journal also highly recommended
age of Watergate but became increasingly pragmatic as he it, and Newsday described it as one of the most engrossing
gained experience.[10] Later in his career he aimed to tell police procedural mystery books ever written.[14] Simon
the best possible story without cheating it.[10]
credits his time researching the book as altering his writing
style and informing later work. He learned to be more patient in research and writing, and said a key lesson was not
promoting himself but concentrating on his subjects.[10] Simon told Baltimores City Paper in 2003 that Homicide was
not traditional journalism. I felt Homicide the book and
The Corner were not traditional journalism in the sense of
coming from some articially omniscient, objective point
of view, said Simon. They're immersed in the respective
In an interview in Reason in 2004, Simon said that since
cultures that they cover in a way that traditional journalism
leaving the newspaper business he has become more cynioften isn't.[12]
[13]
cal about the power of journalism. One of the sad things
about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters
very little. The world now is almost inured to the power of
Homicide: Life on the Street
journalism. The best journalism would manage to outrage
people. And people are less and less inclined to outrage,
said Simon.[13] I've become increasingly cynical about the Main article: Homicide: Life on the Street
ability of daily journalism to aect any kind of meaningful
change. I was pretty dubious about it when I was a journal- The publishers of Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
ist, but now I think its remarkably ineectual.[13]
were eager for a screen adaptation and submitted it to numerous directors but there was little interest.[11] Simon suggested that they send the book to Baltimore native and lm
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
director Barry Levinson. Levinsons assistant Gail Mutrux
enjoyed the book and both she and Levinson became atMain article: Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
tached as producers.[11] The project became the awardwinning TV series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993
1999),
on which Simon worked as a writer and producer.[9]
Simons leave of absence from The Sun resulted in his
Simon was a union captain when the writing sta went on
strike in 1987 over benet cuts.[11] He remained angry after the strike ended and began to feel uncomfortable in the
writing room.[11] He searched for a reason to justify a leave
of absence and settled on the idea of writing a novel.[11] I
got out of journalism because some sons of bitches bought
my newspaper and it stopped being fun, says Simon.[12]
20
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
They chose to take The Wire to HBO because of their existing working relationship from The Corner. Owing to its
reputation for exploring new areas, HBO was initially dubious about including a cop drama in their lineup, but eventually agreed to produce the pilot[38][39] after ordering a further two scripts to see how the series would progress.[40]
Carolyn Strauss, the president of HBO entertainment, has
21
said that Simons argument that the most subversive thing was pleased that he continued to write for them and was a
HBO could do was invade the networks backyard of po- fan of the resultant book The Night Gardener.[50] Similar to
lice procedurals helped to persuade them.[9]
Simons own experience in researching Homicide Pelecanos
The theme of institutional dysfunction was expanded across spent time embedded with the Washington DC homicide
dierent areas of the city as the show progressed. The sec- unit to research the book.
ond season focused on the death of working-class America through examination of the city ports.[41] The third season reects on the nature of reform and reformers, and
whether there is any possibility that political processes, long
calcied, can mitigate against the forces currently arrayed
against individuals. [41] For the fourth season Simon again
turned to Burns experience, this time his second career as
a Baltimore public school teacher in examining the theme
of education.[9][42] The fth season looked at the media, as
well as continuing themes such as politics from earlier seasons.
Crime novelist Dennis Lehane has also written for the series
starting with third season.[46][51] Lehane has commented
that he was impressed by Simon and Burns ear for authentic
street slang.[40]
Eric Overmyer was brought in to ll the role of Pelecanos as a full-time writer producer.[50][52] He had previously worked with Simon on Homicide where the two became friends.[50] Simon has said that he was impressed with
Overmyers writing particularly in synthesizing the story
for "Margin of Error" as the episode is the height of the
shows political storyline but must also progress other plot
Simon was reunited with his The Corner producers Robert threads.[50]
F. Colesberry and Nina K. Noble on The Wire.[37] Simon Simon and his writing sta were nominated for the Writers
credits Colesberry for achieving the shows realistic visual Guild of America Award award for Best Dramatic Series
feel because of his experience as a director.[43] They re- at the February 2009 ceremony for their work on the fth
cruited Homicide star and director Clark Johnson to helm season.[53] Simon and Burns collaborated to write the sethe pilot episode.[43] The completed pilot was given to HBO
ries nale "30-" which received the shows second Emmy
in November 2001.[40] Johnson returned to direct the sec- nomination, again in the category Outstanding Writing for
ond episode when the show was picked up,[43] and would
a Drama Series.[54]
direct the series nale as well, in addition to starring in the
Simon has stated that he nds working with HBO more
fth season.
comfortable than his experiences with NBC on Homicide
Simon approached acclaimed crime ction authors to write and that HBO is able to allow greater creative control befor The Wire. He was recommended the work of George cause it is dependent on subscribers rather than on viewPelecanos by a colleague while working at the Baltimore ing gures.[13] He has said that he feels unable to return to
Sun because of similarities between their writing. The network television because he felt pressure to compromise
two writers have much in common including a childhood storytelling for audience satisfaction.[11]
in Silver Spring, attendance at the University of Maryland and their interest in the fate of the American city
and the black urban poor.[40] Simon did not read Pele- Generation Kill
canos initially because of territorial prejudice; Pelecanos
is from Washington.[11] Once Simon received further rec- Main article: Generation Kill (TV series)
ommendations including one from his wife Laura Lippman
he tried Pelecanos novel The Sweet Forever and changed
his mind.[40] He sought out Pelecanos when recruiting writ- Simon produced and wrote Generation Kill for HBO with
ers for The Wire. The two met at the funeral of a mutual Ed Burns. They again worked with Nina Noble as a profriend shortly after Simon delivered the pilot episode.[40] Si- ducer. The miniseries is an adaption of the non-ction book
mon pitched Pelecanos the idea of The Wire as a novel for of the same name. It relates the rst 40 days of the 2003
television about the American city as Pelecanos drove him invasion of Iraq as experienced by 1st Reconnaissance Bathome.[40] Pelecanos became a regular writer[44] and later a talion and their embedded reporter, Evan Wright. Simon
producer for the shows second[45] and third seasons.[46] Si- and Burns worked with Wright in adapting his book into
[55]
mon and Pelcanos collaborated to write the episode "Middle the series.
[47][48]
which received the shows rst Emmy nomGround"
ination, in the category Outstanding Writing for a Drama
Treme
Series.[49]
Pelecanos left the production sta following the third sea- Main article: Treme (TV series)
son to focus on his next novel; Simon has commented that
he missed having him working on the show full-time but
Simon collaborated with Eric Overmyer again on Treme,[56]
22
a project about musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans.[40]
Overmyer lives part-time in New Orleans, and Simon believed his experience would be valuable in navigating the
ornate oral tradition of the citys stories.[40] Simon also
consulted with New Orleans natives Donald Harrison Jr.,
Kermit Runs, and Davis Rogan while developing the
series.[57] The show focuses on a working-class neighborhood, and is smaller in scope than The Wire. The series
premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO and ran for four seasons.
Treme is named after the Faubourg Treme neighborhood in New Orleans that is home to many of the citys
musicians.[56] Simon has stated that the series will explore
beyond the music scene to encompass political corruption,
the public housing controversy, the criminal-justice system,
clashes between police and Mardi Gras Indians, and the
struggle to regain the tourism industry after the storm.[58]
One of the principal characters in the pilot script runs a
restaurant.[57] The series was lmed on location and was expected to provide a boost to the New Orleans economy.[58]
Simons casting of the show mirrored that of The Wire in using local actors wherever possible.[57] Wendell Pierce, who
had previously played Bunk Moreland on The Wire, stars
in the series. Clarke Peters, also of The Wire, is another
series regular. Many other stars of The Wire have appeared
in Treme, these include Steve Earle, Jim True-Frost, James
Ransone, and Anwan Glover.[59]
Personal life
David Simon is married to Baltimore novelist and former Sun reporter Laura Lippman. They have a daughter, and he has a son, Ethan, from a previous marriage,
to Kayle Tucker. Simons nephew Jason Simon is a guitarist and vocalist for the psychedelic rock band Dead
Meadow.[60] He was the 2012 commencement speaker for
the Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences,
as well as the speaker for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High
School graduation.[61]
Political views
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
faux scandal.[62][63]
During a November 2013 speech at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, he said that America has become a
horror show of savage inequality as a result of capitalism
run amok, and that unless we reverse course, the average
human being is worth less on planet Earth. Unless we take
stock of the fact that maybe socialism and the socialist impulse has to be addressed again; it has to be married as it was
married in the 1930s, the 1940s and even into the 1950s, to
the engine that is capitalism.[64][65]
1.2.2
Simon is known for his realistic dialogue and journalistic approach to writing.[40] He says that authenticity is
paramount and that he writes not with a general audience in
mind but with the opinions of his subjects as his priority.[40]
He has described his extensive use of real anecdotes and
characters in his writing as stealing life.[66]
In a talk that Simon gave to a live audience in April, 2007 at
the Creative Alliances storytelling series, Simon disclosed
that he had started writing for revenge against John Carroll and Bill Marimow, the two most senior editors at The
Baltimore Sun when Simon was a reporter at the paper.[67]
Simon said he had watched Carroll and Marimow singlehandedly destroy the newspaper and that he spent over ten
years trying to get back at them.[67]
Anything I've ever accomplished as a writer,
as somebody doing TV, anything I've ever done
in life, down to, like, cleaning up my room, has
been accomplished because I was going to show
people that they were fucked up, wrong, and that
I was the fucking center of the universe and the
sooner they got hip to that, the happier they would
all be.[67]
One of the actions Simon took was to name a character in
The Wire after Marimow and make the character a repellent police-department toady.[68] Carroll left the Baltimore
Sun to become editor at the Los Angeles Times and resigned
in 2005 after budget cuts were announced.[67] He stands
up like a [bleeping] hero, takes a bullet, said Simon.[67] In
2006 Marimow was diagnosed with prostate cancer, something that Simon said took the edge o his grudge.[67]
Carroll and Marimow were fuel for 10 years of my life. ...
And now, I got nothing, Simon said.[67]
1.2.3
Works
Commentary
David Simon (2009-07-16).
Build the Wall.
Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
23
[9] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
[10] Cynthia Rose. The originator of TVs 'Homicide' remains
close to his police-reporter roots. Seattle Times. Archived
from the original on 1999-04-28. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[11] Mary Alice Blackwell. Fun comes down to 'The Wire'".
Daily Progress. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
[12] Under The Wire. Citypaper.com. May 28, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-14. |rst1= missing |last1= in Authors list
(help)
[13] Jesse Walker (October 2004). David Simon Says. Reason
Magazine. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood (co-authored with Ed Burns) (1997)
[18] Peter Medak (1996-02-23). Justice: Part 2. Homicide:
Life on the Street. Season 4. Episode 14. NBC.
Filmography
Producer Writer
1.2.4
References
[1]
[2]
[3] David Simon: 2010 MacArthur Fellow. MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
[4] David Simon: Television Man. Utne Reader, November
December 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
[5] http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/
Article.aspx?id=195504
[6] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-04-22/news/
bs-md-deaths-elsewhere-bernard-simon-20100422_1_
b-nai-b-rith-international-mr-simon-soviet-jewry
[7] http://davidsimon.com/pickles-and-cream/
[8] Hal Hinson (2002-06-02). TELEVISION/RADIO; Revisiting Baltimores Embattled Streets. The New York Times.
Retrieved 2007-10-11.
24
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
[29] Clark Johnson (1998-10-30). The Twenty Percent Solution. Homicide: Life on the Street. Season 7. Episode 04.
NBC.
[30] Edwin Sherin (1999-02-19). Sideshow: Part 2. Homicide:
Life on the Street. Season 7. Episode 15. NBC.
[31] 60 Minute Category. Humanitas Prize. Archived from the
original on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[32] Nick Madigan (1999-01-14). Cable pix please WGA. Variety. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[55] HBO drafts cast for 'Kill' mini. The Hollywood Reporter.
Archived from the original on 2007-06-03. Retrieved 200701-06.
[56] "Wire Creator Heads to New Orleans. Zap2It. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
[58] Dave Walker (2008). HBO sets drama series in Treme with
focus on citys musicians. The Times-Picayune. Retrieved
2008-07-13.
[59] Dave Walker (2008). New Orleans native Wendell Pierce
set to star in 'Treme'". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved
2008-07-13.
[60] Dead Meadow Gets Some Help From Uncle Dave. New
York. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
[61] http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/2012/
05/04/living-social-ceo-tim-o%E2%
80%99shaughnessy-and-producer-of-%
E2%80%9Cthe-wire%E2%80%
9D-david-simon-among-this-years-commencement-speakers/
[62] Duncan, Ian. "David Simon weighs in on NSA surveillance.
The Baltimore Sun. June 8, 2013. Retrieved on June 12,
2013.
[63] "We are shocked, shocked" (Archive) David Simon Blog.
June 7, 2013. Retrieved on June 12, 2013.
[64] David Simon (7 December 2013). David Simon: 'There
are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'. The
Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2013. See also: David
Simon on America as a Horror Show. Moyers & Company,
31 January 2014.
[65] Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2013: David Simon Some
People are More Equal than Others. On YouTube.
[66] Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker.
Retrieved 2007-10-14. Simons gift is in recognizing an
anecdote [...] for the found parable that it is stealing
life, as he once described it to me and knowing which
parts to steal.
[67] Vozzella.
January 6, 2008, Laura (2008-01-06).
Baltimore Sun. Fake newsroom, real anger. Articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
[68] Bowden, Mark (January 2008). The Angriest Man In Television. The Atlantic.
1.2.5
External links
25
Season 4 (2006)
Main article: The Wire (season 4)
Prequel shorts
Three short lm vignettes set prior to the series events were
lmed during the fth seasons production. They were made
available via HBO On Demand during broadcast of the nal
season, and included as extras on the complete series DVD
box set.
When Bunk Met McNulty
Young Omar
1.3.1
Series overview
1.3.2
Episodes
Season 1 (2002)
1.4
Season 2 (2003)
Main article: The Wire (season 2)
Season 3 (2004)
Main article: The Wire (season 3)
1.4.1
Industry awards
26
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
1.4.2
Critics polls
1.4.3
References
Chapter 2
Season 4 (2006)
2.1.1
Series overview
2.1.2
Episodes
Season 1 (2002)
Main article: The Wire (season 1)
2.1.3
References
2.1.4
External links
2.2
Season 3 (2004)
Main article: The Wire (season 3)
The rst season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 2, 2002, concluded on September 8, 2002, and contained 13 episodes.
27
28
It introduces the drug-dealing Barksdale organization and undertake a sting operation to wrap up the case. Detective
the police detail that is investigating them.
Kima Greggs is seriously injured in the operation, triggering
an overzealous response from the rest of the department.
The rst season aired Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern in the
This
causes the details targets to suspect that they are under
United States and was released on DVD as a ve-disc boxed
investigation.
set under the title of The Wire: The Complete First Season
on October 12, 2004 by HBO video.
2.2.1
Plot
An investigation into a large Baltimore based drug dealing is triggered when detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with judge Daniel Phelan following the acquittal of
D'Angelo Barksdale for murder after a key witness changes
her story. McNulty tells Phelan that the witness has probably been intimidated by members of a drug tracking empire run by D'Angelos uncle, Avon Barksdale, having recognized several faces at the trial, notably Avons second-in- 2.2.2 Production
command, Stringer Bell. He also tells Phelan that nobody is
investigating Barksdales criminal activity, which includes a Crew
signicant portion of the citys drug trade and several unsolved homicides.
David Simon is the series creator and head writer, show
Phelan takes issue with this and complains to senior Po- runner and executive producer. Alongside Simon, many of
lice Department gures, embarrassing them into creating a the creative team behind The Wire are alumni of Homicide
detail dedicated to investigating Barksdale. However, ow- and Emmy-winning miniseries The Corner. The Corner veting to the departments dysfunctionality, the investigation eran, Robert F. Colesberry, was also executive producer.
is intended as a faade to appease the judge. An interde- Colesberry is credited by the rest of the creative team as
partmental struggle between the more motivated ocers on having a large creative role for a producer, and Simon credthe detail and their superiors spans the whole season, with its him for achieving the shows realistic visual feel.[1] He
interference by the higher-ups often threatening to ruin the also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole.[2]
investigation. The details commander, Cedric Daniels, acts Colesberrys wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the
as mediator between the two opposing groups of police.
production sta.[3] A third producer on The Corner, Nina
for The
Meanwhile, the organized and cautious Barksdale gang is Kostro Noble, also stayed with the production sta
[3]
Wire
rounding
out
the
initial
four-person
team.
explored through characters at various levels within it. The
organization is antagonized by a stick-up crew led by Omar
Little, and the feud leads to several deaths. Throughout,
D'Angelo struggles with his conscience over his life of
crime and the people it aects.
Stories for the show are often co-written by Ed Burns, a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school teacher
who has worked with Simon on other projects including The
Corner.[3] The writing sta includes acclaimed crime ction
novelist George P. Pelecanos from Washington, D.C.[3][4]
Pelecanos has commented that he was attracted to the
project because of the opportunity to work with Simon.[5]
Sta writer Rafael Alvarez was a colleague of Simons from
The Sun and a Baltimore native with working experience
in the port area.[3][6] Another city native and independent
lmmaker, Joy Lusco Kecken, joined the writing sta and
served as the script coordinator.[3][7] David H. Melnick and
Shamit Choksey complete the writing sta.[3]
Cast
The major characters of the rst season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in
drug-related crime. The starring cast comprised characters
from both groups. The investigating detail was launched
by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic
West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems overshadowed his ability.[11][12][13] The detail was led
by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick) who faced
challenges balancing his career aspirations with his desire to
produce a good case.[11][14][15] Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn)
was a capable lead detective who faced jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of her job from her domestic partner.[11][16][17] Her investigative work was greatly
helped by her condential informant, a drug addict known
as Bubbles (Andre Royo).[11][18][19]
These investigators were overseen by two commanding
ocers more concerned with politics and their own careers than the case, Major William Rawls (John Doman) and Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie
Faison).[11][20][21][22][23] Assistant states attorney Rhonda
Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse and also had a casual relationship with one of the ocers.[11][24][25] In the homicide
division, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) was a gifted,
dry-witted detective partnered with McNulty.[11][26][27]
29
Freamon (Clarke Peters) and Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
(Jim True-Frost).[38][39][40] Sydnor was a rookie detective
with a reputation for solid undercover work.[41] Though
not initially important players in the operation, Freamon
proved a quietly capable investigator with a knack for noticing tiny but important details, and Prez, while a liability on the street, turned out to be a natural at his desk
job.[11][42][43] McNulty and Bunk served in a homicide unit
squad led by Sergeant Jay Landsman (Delaney Williams),
the jovial squad commander.[11][44][45] Peter Gerety had a
recurring role as Judge Phelan, the ocial who started the
case moving.[11]
There were also several recurring characters in the Barksdale Organization. Loyal Wee-Bey Brice (Hassan Johnson) was responsible for multiple homicides carried out on
Avons orders.[46][47] Working under D'Angelo were Poot
Carr (Tray Chaney),[48] Bodie Broadus (J.D. Williams),[49]
and Wallace (Michael B. Jordan), all street-level drug dealers. Wallace was an intelligent but nave youth trapped
in the drug trade, Bodie a violent and determined young
dealer, and Poot a lascivious young man happy to follow rather than lead.[11][50][51] Omar Little (Michael K.
Williams), a notorious Baltimore stick-up man robbing
drug dealers for a living, was a frequent thorn in the side
of the Barksdale clan.[11][52][53]
2.2.3
Reception
On the other side of the investigation was Avon Barksdale's drug empire. The driven, ruthless Barksdale (Wood
Harris) was aided by business-minded Stringer Bell (Idris
Elba).[11][28][29][30][31] Avons nephew D'Angelo Barksdale
(Larry Gilliard Jr.) ran some of his uncles territory, but
also possessed a guilty conscience.[11][32][33]
30
[18] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
Nomination for Outstanding New Program of the Year [19] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
2.2.4
Episodes
2.2.5
References
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved October 16,
2007.
[3] "The Wire season 1 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved October
14, 2007.
[4] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire". Salon.com.
[5] Birnbaum, Robert. Interview: George Pelecanos. Identity
Theory. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
[6] Goldman, Eric. IGN Exclusive Interview: The Wire 's
David Simon. IGN. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
[7] Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New
York: Pocket Books. p. 10.
[8] Todd Weiser (2002). New HBO series The Wire taps into
summer programming. The Michigan Daily.
[9] Jim Shelley (August 6, 2005). Call The Cops. London:
The Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
[32] Character prole - D'Angelo Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[11] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
[12] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[34] Cast & Crew - Seth Gilliam as Ellis Carver. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
HBO.
31
[60] David Simon (2004). Ask The Wire: David Simon. HBO.
[61] DVD Request of the Week. Entertainment Weekly. July
11, 2003.
[62] Episode guide - episode 01 The Target. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
[63] Episode guide - episode 02 The Detail. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[64] Episode guide - episode 03 The Buys. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[65] Episode guide - episode 04 Old Cases. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[66] Episode guide - episode 05 The Pager. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[67] Episode guide - episode 06 The Wire. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[68] Episode guide - episode 07 One Arrest. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
[69] Episode guide - episode 08 Lessons. HBO. 2004. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
[70] Episode guide - episode 09 Game Day. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
[71] Episode guide - episode 10 The Cost. HBO. 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2006.
[72] Episode guide - episode 11 The Hunt. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[73] Episode guide - episode 12 Cleaning Up. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2006.
[74] Episode guide - episode 13 Sentencing. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
2.2.6
External links
Ocial website
[56] Aaron Barnhart (2006). "'The Wire' aims higher: TVs nest
hour is back. Kansas City Star.
[57] Leslie Ryan (2003). Tapping The Wire; HBO Police Drama
Tops Television Weeks Semiannual Critics Poll List. Television Week.
2.3
The second season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 1, 2003, concluded on August 24, 2003, and contained 12 episodes. It
[59] Poniewozik, James (December 12, 2002). Top 10 Every- introduces the stevedores of the Baltimore port and an inthing 2002. TIME. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
ternational smuggling organization led by a gure known
[58] Robert David Sullivan (2002).
Phoenix.
Slow Hand.
Boston
32
only as "The Greek", while continuing to examine the drugdealing Barksdale Organization and the Baltimore Police
Department. While continuing the series central themes
of dysfunctional institutions and the societal eects of the
drug trade, the second season also explores the decline of
the American working class, and the hardship its members
endure during the transition from an industrial to a postindustrial society.
The second season aired Sundays at 9:00 pm in the United
States. The season was released on DVD as a ve disc boxed
set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Second Season
on January 5, 2005 by HBO Video.
2.3.1
Plot
crime ring and slowly work their way up the chain towards
The Greek, the mysterious man in charge. But Valchek,
upset that their focus has moved beyond Sobotka, gets the
FBI involved. The Greek has contacts inside the FBI and
starts severing his ties to Baltimore when he learns about
the investigation.
After a dispute over stolen goods turns violent, Sobotkas
son Ziggy is charged with the murder of one of the Greeks
underlings. Sobotka himself is arrested for smuggling; he
agrees to work with the detail to help his son, nally seeing
his actions as a mistake. However, the Greek learns about
this through the FBI and has Sobotka killed. The investigation ends with the fourteen homicides solved but the perpetrator already dead. Several drug dealers and mid-level
smuggling gures tied to the Greek are arrested, but he and
his second-in-command escape uncharged and unidentied.
The Major is pleased that Sobotka was arrested; the case is
seen as a success by the commanding ocers, but is viewed
as a failure by the detail.
Across town, the Barksdale organization continues its business under Stringer while Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale
serve prison time. D'Angelo decides to cut ties to his family
after his uncle organizes the deaths of several inmates and
blames it on a corrupt guard to shave time from his sentence.
Eventually Stringer covertly orders D'Angelo killed, faking
McNulty harbors a vendetta against his former commanders it as a suicide. Avon is unaware of Stringers duplicity and
for reassigning him to the marine unit, a job he'd feared be- mourns the loss of his nephew.
ing assigned and hates. When thirteen unidentied young Stringer also struggles with the loss of his drug suppliers and
women are found dead in a container at the docks, McNulty bad quality product. He again goes behind Avons back,
makes a spiteful eort to stick the murders within the juris- giving up half of Avons most prized territory, the towdiction of his former commander. Meanwhile, police Ma- ers, to the eastside Baltimore drug lord Proposition Joe in
jor Stan Valchek gets into a feud with Frank Sobotka, a exchange for a share of his supply. Avon, unaware of the
leader of the International Brotherhood of Stevedores, a c- arrangement, assumes that Joe and other dealers are moving
tional dockers union, over competing donations to their old into his territory simply because the Barksdale organization
neighborhood church. Valchek demands a detail to inves- has too few enforcers. He contracts a feared assassin named
tigate Sobotka. Cedric Daniels is interviewed, having been Brother Mouzone. Stringer deals with this by tricking his
praised by Prez, Major Valchecks son-in-law, and due to old adversary Omar into believing that Mouzone was rehis work on the Barksdale case. He is eventually selected to sponsible for the vicious killing of his partner in their feud
lead the detail assigned just to investigate Sobotka. Daniels in season one. Seeking revenge, Omar shoots Mouzone, but
is assured that when the investigation is successfully con- realizes Stringer has lied and calls 9-1-1. Mouzone recovcluded, he will move up to head a special case unit with ers and leaves Baltimore, and Stringer is free to continue his
personnel of his choosing.
business with Proposition Joe with new consent from Avon
Life for the blue-collar men of the port is increasingly hard
and work is scarce. As union leader, Sobotka has taken it
on himself to reinvigorate the port by convincing politicians
to support much-needed infrastructure initiatives. Lacking
the funds needed for this kind of inuence, Sobotka has become involved with a smuggling ring. Around him, his son
and nephew also turn to crime, as they have few other opportunities to earn money. It becomes clear to the Sobotka
detail that the dead girls are related to their investigation, as
they were in a container that was supposed to be smuggled
through the port. They again use wiretaps to inltrate the
Barksdale.
2.3.2
Cast
The second season continued to follow characters in the police and those involved with the Barksdale drug-dealing organization. The returning starring cast included Dominic
West as Ocer Jimmy McNulty,[1] whose insubordinate
tendencies and personal problems continued to overshadow
his ability.[2] Lance Reddick reprised his role as Lieutenant
33
Cedric Daniels, who was sidelined because of his placement 2.3.4 Awards and nominations
of case over career but used his political acumen to regain
some status.[3][4] Sonja Sohn played Kima Greggs, who had 20th TCA Awards
transferred to a desk job but could not resist the lure of a
good case.[5][6] Deirdre Lovejoy starred as assistant states
Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
attorney Rhonda Pearlman, the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse.[7][8]
Wood Harris and Larry Gilliard, Jr. reprised their roles as 2.3.5 References
newly incarcerated drug dealers Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale.[9][10][11][12] Idris Elba's character Stringer Bell took [1] Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
over the operations of the Barksdale Organization.[13][14]
Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who continued to indulge [2] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Rehis drug addiction and act as an occasional informant.[15][16]
trieved December 19, 2007.
The police were overseen by two commanding ocers
more concerned with politics and their own careers than
the case, Colonel William Rawls (John Doman) and Acting
Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie Faison).[17][18][19][20]
Wendell Pierce portrayed homicide detective Bunk Moreland, who became more involved with the core case.[21][22]
Previously recurring guest star Clarke Peters joined the
starring cast and his character, veteran detective Lester
Freamon, joined the homicide unit as Morelands new
partner.[23][24]
HBO.
[16] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
2.3.3
Episodes
34
[21] Cast & Crew - Wendell Pierce as William Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[22] Character prole - Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[23] Cast & Crew - Clarke Peters as Lester Freamon. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[24] Character prole - Lester Freamon. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[25] Cast & Crew - Paul Ben Victor as Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[26] Cast & Crew - Amy Ryan as Beatrice Beadie Russell.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[27] Cast & Crew - Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[28] Character prole - Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[29] Character prole - Beatrice Beadie Russell. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[30] Character prole - Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[31] Cast & Crew - Pablo Schreiber as Nick Sobotka. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[32] Character prole - Nick Sobotka. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[54] Episode guide - episode 22 stray rounds. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[35] Cast & Crew - Bill Raymond as The Greek. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[56] Episode guide - episode 24 bad dreams. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
2.3.6
External links
Ocial website
List of The Wire episodes at the Internet Movie
Database
List of The Wire season 2 episodes at TV.com
35
Recurring roles Many guest stars from the earlier seasons reprised their roles. On the side of the street
Proposition Joe (Robert F. Chew), the East Sides cautious drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the
Barksdale Organization.[45][46] His lieutenant Cheese
(Method Man) became involved in the Major Crimes Unit
investigation.[47][47] Brother Mouzone (Michael Potts) returns to Baltimore looking for revenge.[48] Hassan Johnson
reprises his role as incarcerated Barksdale enforcer WeeWood Harris reprised his role as incarcerated drug king- Bey Brice.[49][50] Tray Chaney continues to portray Barkspin Avon Barksdale.[13][14] Idris Elba's character Stringer dale crew chief Poot Carr.[51][52] Leo Fitzpatrick returns as
Bell continued to run the Barksdale Organization in Avons hapless drug addict Johnny Weeks.[53][54]
absence.[15][16] Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who con- Michael Hyatt and Shamyl Brown reprised their respectinued to indulge his drug addiction and act as an occasional tive roles as Brianna Barksdale and Donette with both
informant.[17][18]
characters dealing with the loss of D'Angelo BarksThe police were overseen by two commanding ocers dale.[55][56][57][58] Michael Kostro returned as the Barksmore concerned with politics and their own careers than the dales retainered defense attorney Maurice Levy.[59][60]
36
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. reprised his role as corrupt State Senator Clay Davis, who continued to be involved with Barksdale money.[61][62] Stringer continued to use Shamrock
(Richard Burton) to insulate himself from investigation.[63]
Background characters like Barksdale enforcers Tank and
Country also returned.[63] Omar Little's crew continued
to rob the Barksdale Organization and consisted of his
boyfriend Dante (Ernest Waddell), partners Tosha Mitchell
(Edwina Findley) and Kimmy (Kelli R. Brown), and advisor
Butchie (S. Robert Morgan).[63]
2.4.2
Episodes
HBO.
37
[35] Character prole - Leander Sydnor. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[14] Character prole - Avon Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[15] Cast & Crew - Idris Elba as Stringer Bell. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[17] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[18] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[41] Cast & Crew - Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[42] Cast & Crew - Paul Ben Victor as Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[23] Cast & Crew - Wendell Pierce as William Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[24] Character prole - Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[25] Cast & Crew - Seth Gilliam as Ellis Carver. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[48] Character prole - Brother Mouzone. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[51] Cast & Crew - Tray Chaney as Malik Poot Carr. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[52] Character prole - Malik Poot Carr. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[54] Character prole - Johnny. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[56] Character prole - Brianna Barksdale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
38
[58] Character prole - Donette. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[82] Character prole - Dennis Cutty Wise. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[84] Character prole - Clarence V. Royce. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[63] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 27,
2006.
[85] Character prole - Coleman Parker. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[87] Character prole - Theresa D'agostino. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[66] Cast & Crew - Ed Norris as Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[67] Character prole - Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[68] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 22,
2006.
[70] Character prole - Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[92] Cast & Crew - Gregory L. Williams as Michael Crutcheld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[95] Character prole - Caroline Massey. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[74] Character prole - Marlo Staneld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[97] Character prole - Kenneth Dozerman. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[78] Character prole - Felicia Snoop Pearson. HBO. 2008. [100] Episode guide - episode 28 Dead Soldiers. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
Retrieved August 7, 2006.
[101] Episode guide - episode 29 Amsterdam. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
[102] Episode guide - episode 30 Straight and True. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[103] Episode guide - episode 31 Homecoming. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[104] Episode guide - episode 32 Back Burners. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[105] Episode guide - episode 33 Moral Midgetry. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[106] Episode guide - episode 34 slapstick. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[107] Episode guide - episode 35 reformation. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
39
Crew
Playwright and television writer/producer Eric Overmyer
joined the crew of The Wire in the shows fourth season as a consulting producer and writer.[2] He had previously worked on Homicide. Overmyer was brought into
the full-time production sta to replace George Pelecanos
who scaled back his involvement to concentrate on his next
book and worked on the fourth season solely as a writer.[3]
Emmy-award winner, Homicide and The Corner writer and
college friend of Simon David Mills also joined the writing sta in the fourth season.[2] Regular writer Ed Burns
also became a producer on The Wire in the shows fourth
season.[2]
Cast
The Major Crimes Unit sees a shift in personnel this season. Kima Greggs, portrayed by Sonja Sohn,[10][11] and
Lester Freamon, portrayed by Clarke Peters,[12][13] transfer
to the Homicide Unit after the new lieutenant of the Major
Crimes Unit ends the wire and halts Freamons investigation
of the Barksdale money. Corey Parker-Robinson portrays
Detective Leander Sydnor, one of two detectives who remain in the Major Crimes Unit after the arrival of the new
lieutenant.[14] Domenick Lombardozzi returned as Thomas
Herc Hauk, a former member of the Major Crimes Unit
whose work on the mayors security detail earns him a promotion to sergeant and a transfer back to his old unit after
Freamon and Greggs departure.[15][16]
The fourth season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on September 10,
2006, concluded on December 10, 2006, and contained
13 episodes. It introduces Baltimores school system and
several middle school students while continuing to examine the remnants of the Barksdale Organization, the ascendant Staneld Organization, the Baltimore Police Department and politicians.
Wendell Pierce portrayed veteran homicide detective Bunk
[17][18]
Deirdre Lovejoy starred as assistant states
The fourth season aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm in the United Moreland.
attorney
Rhonda
Pearlman, the legal liaison between the
States. The season was released on DVD as a four disc
[19][20]
Andre Royo returned as
unit
and
the
courthouse.
boxed set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Fourth
Bubbles,
who
continued
to
indulge
his drug addiction and
[1]
Season on December 4, 2007 by HBO video.
act as an occasional informant.[21][22] Jim True-Frost portrayed Roland Prez Pryzbylewski,[23] a former member
of the Major Crimes Unit who has become a teacher in an
2.5.1 Production
inner city school after inadvertently killing a fellow ocer
40
in season three.
The fourth season also saw the return of two former starring
characters from the second season: Amy Ryan as Ocer
Beadie Russell, an ocer at the port and Jimmy McNultys
domestic partner, and Paul Ben-Victor as Spiros Vondas,
the second in command of the Greeks drug smuggling operation.
The shift of focus to the schools saw the introduction
of four young actors in major recurring roles this season, Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie Weems;[83]
Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagsta;[84] Julito McCullum as
Namond Brice;[85] and Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee.[86]
The characters are friends from a West Baltimore middle
school.[87][88][89][90] Other new characters from the school
included Tootsie Duvall as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly;[82] David Parenti (Dan DeLuca), a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland who works with Bunny
Colvin in the school to study potential violent oenders;[91]
Stacie Davis portrayed Miss Duquette, a doctoral student
who works with Parenti and Colvin; Aaron Bug Manigault
(Keenon Brice), Michael Lees younger brother; Kenard
(Thuliso Dingwall), one of the younger members of Namond Brices circle of friends;[92] and Richard Hidlebird as
Principal Claudell Withers.[93]
2.5.2
Reception
41
HBO.
[8] Cast & Crew - Seth Gilliam as Ellis Carver. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[9] Cast & Crew - Robert Wisdom as Howard Bunny
Colvin. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[10] Cast & Crew - Sonja Sohn as Shakima Kima Greggs.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[11] Character prole - Detective Shakima Kima Greggs.
HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[12] Cast & Crew - Clarke Peters as Lester Freamon. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[13] Character prole - Lester Freamon. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
2.5.3
Episodes
2.5.4
References
[21] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[22] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[23] Cast & Crew - Jim True-Frost as Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski. HBO. 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
[24] Cast & Crew - Frankie R. Faison as Ervin Burrell. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[25] Character prole - Ervin Burrell. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
December 19, 2007.
[5] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
42
[51] Cast & Crew - Tray Chaney as Malik Poot Carr. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[52] Character prole - Malik Poot Carr. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[54] Character prole - Brianna Barksdale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[33] Character prole - Marlo Staneld. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 14, 2006.
[37] Character prole - Avon Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[59] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 27,
2006.
[38] Cast & Crew - Idris Elba as Stringer Bell. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[62] Cast & Crew - Ed Norris as Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[63] Character prole - Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[64] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 22,
2006.
[66] Character prole - Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[69] Cast & Crew - Gregory L. Williams as Michael Crutcheld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[72] Character prole - Caroline Massey. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[73] Cast & Crew - Rick Otto as Kenneth Dozerman. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[74] Character prole - Kenneth Dozerman. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[75] Character prole - Coleman Parker. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[76] Cast & Crew - Brandy Burre as Theresa D'Agostino.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[77] Character prole - Theresa D'agostino. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[78] Cast & Crew - Frederick Strother as Odell Watkins. HBO.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
43
[79] Character prole - Odell Watkins. HBO. 2008. Retrieved [100] Episode guide - episode 42 Alliances. HBO. 2006. ReJanuary 15, 2008.
trieved October 9, 2006.
[80] Cast & Crew - Christopher Mann as Anthony Gray. HBO.
[101] Episode guide - episode 43 Margin of Error. HBO. 2006.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
Retrieved October 9, 2006.
[81] Character prole - Anthony Gray. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[102] Episode guide - episode 44 Unto Others. HBO. 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
[82] Character prole - Marla Daniels. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
July 22, 2006.
[83] Cast & Crew - Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie
Weems. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[103] Episode guide - episode 45 Corner Boys. HBO. 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
[84] Cast & Crew - Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagsta. HBO. [104] Episode guide - episode 46 Know Your Place. HBO. 2006.
Retrieved November 15, 2006.
2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[85] Cast & Crew - Julito McCullum as Namond Brice. HBO. [105] Episode guide - episode 47 Misgivings. HBO. 2006. Re2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
trieved March 29, 2007.
[86] Cast & Crew - Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee. HBO. 2008.
[106] Episode guide - episode 48 A New Day. HBO. 2006. ReRetrieved January 15, 2008.
trieved March 29, 2007.
[87] Character prole - Namond Brice. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[107] Episode guide - episode 49 Thats Got His Own. HBO.
[88] Character prole - Michael Lee. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[89] Character prole - Randy Wagsta. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[90] Character prole - Duquan Dukie Weems. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
2.5.5
External links
Ocial website
[92] Character prole Kenard. HBO. 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
44
2.6.1
Production
HBO announced on September 12, 2006 that it commissioned a fth and nal season consisting of 13 episodes,[1][2]
which was later reduced to ten.[3] On April 30, 2007, production for Season 5 ocially began. Filming wrapped
early in the morning of September 1, 2007 and the rst
episode aired on January 6, 2008.[4]
temporary slang.[5] Series creator David Simon further expanded on the thematic content of season ve in an interview with Fancast/Inside TV.[6] Critic David Zurawik saw
the unifying theme of the season as public and private
lies, particularly those perpetuated by the media and told
by Jimmy McNulty in protest against cutbacks in the police department.[7] TV Guide writer Matt Roush also saw
the central theme as lies and characterized it as deeply and
darkly ironic.[8]
Promotion
A preview for Season 5 of The Wire aired on HBO on October 28, 2007 and was later made available on YouTube.[9]
HBO sent critics the rst seven episodes on DVD in December 2007.[7][10][11]
HBOs On Demand and multiplatform marketing division
approached creator David Simon about producing exclusive on demand content and three short prequel clips were
produced that take place prior to the linear storyline of
the show.[12][13] The clips were made available via Amazon.com from December 5 and through HBOs on demand
service from December 15.[12][13] The rst video takes
place in 1962 and focuses on the school days of drug kingpin Proposition Joe; the second is set in 1985 and focuses
on Omar Little making an early robbery; the third video is
set in 2000 and shows the rst meeting of Jimmy McNulty
(played by Dominic West) and Bunk Moreland (Wendell
Pierce).[14] The clips aired after Season 5 episodes as they
premiered starting January 6, 2008.[15]
45
tor Clay Davis,[19] Michael Kostro as defense attorney
Maurice Levy, and Neal Hu as Mayoral chief of sta
Michael Steintorf.[19][20]
In addition to Johnson, joining the main cast in the journalism story line were Thomas McCarthy as morally challenged reporter[4] Scott Templeton[19] and Michelle Paress
as reporter Alma Gutierrez.[19]
Season 4 main cast members Frankie Faison, Jim TrueFrost, Robert Wisdom, and Chad L. Coleman, who
played Ervin Burrell, Roland Prez Pryzbylewski, Howard
Bunny Colvin and Dennis Cutty Wise, respectively, had
recurring but not starring roles in the season.
Other returning guest stars included Steve Earle as
drug counsellor Walon;[19] Anwan Glover as Slim
Charles;[19] Robert F. Chew as drug kingpin Proposition
Joe;[21] Method Man as drug lieutenant Melvin Cheese
Wagsta;[19] Felicia Pearson as the eponymous criminal
enforcer Felicia Snoop Pearson;[19] Chris Ashworth as
former enforcer for the Greeks Sergei Serge Malatov;
Wood Harris as fallen kingpin Avon Barksdale; Marlyne
Aack as city council president Nerese Campbell;[19][21]
and Amy Ryan as McNultys domestic partner Beadie
Russell.[19] The return of guest stars from past seasons was
described in reviews as a reward to loyal viewers.[8]
joining the starring cast to play Gus Haynes,[19] a city editor who tries to hold the line against dwindling coverage,
buyouts, and pseudo-news.[5] The New Yorker described
an early scene from the season where Haynes rants about a
reporter inserting a charred doll into scenes of res to eke
more sympathy from his readers.[5] Johnson also directed
the nal episode of the show.[4] In the episode Took,
Belzer made a cameo appearance as John Munch, the police
detective he has portrayed since 1993 on Homicide (1993
1999) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (19992013). New recurring guest stars included David Costabile, Sam
Freed, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Todd Scoeld, Kara Quick, and
The majority of the starring cast from the fourth season
Donald Neal.[21]
returned. On the police front, Dominic West returned as
Jimmy McNulty[19] with a larger storyline than the fourth Continuing the shows trend of using non-professional acseason;[20] John Doman as Deputy Commissioner William tors and real-life Baltimore gures,[7] several ex-Baltimore
Rawls;[19][21] Seth Gilliam as Western district Sergeant Ellis Sun reporters appeared in recurring roles.[5] Rebecca CorCarver;[19][21] Corey Parker Robinson as Major Case Unit bett, who was Simons former editor at the Baltimore Sun
detective Leander Sydnor;[19][21] Deirdre Lovejoy as pros- and now works at the New York Times, had a recurring
ecutor Rhonda Pearlman;[19][21] Clarke Peters as veteran role.[5] Writer and former political reporter William F.
Detective Lester Freamon;[19][21] Wendell Pierce as veteran Zorzi gained further screen time after his season 1 cameo.[5]
homicide Detective Bunk Moreland;[19][21] Lance Reddick Steve Luxenberg, the editor responsible for hiring Simon
as Colonel Cedric Daniels;[19][21] and Sonja Sohn as Detec- at The Sun, also had a role.[5] Simons wife Laura Lippman also appeared[5] as a reporter in an early scene alongtive Kima Greggs.[19][21]
side Michael Olesker, another former Sun reporter.[7] BalIn the political storyline, Aidan Gillen returned as amtimore attorney Billy Murphy appeared as a lawyer for corbitious Mayor Tommy Carcetti;[19][21] as well as Reg
rupt Senator Clay Davis, and former senator and current ra[19][21]
E. Cathey as political aide Norman Wilson;
and
dio host Larry Young conducted a ctional interview with
Domenick Lombardozzi as troubled defense investigator
the character.[7] Former police commissioner Ed Norris re[19]
Thomas Herc Hauk.
turned in his recurring role as a homicide detective with the
In the street, Jamie Hector returned as West-side drug king- same name.[7]
pin Marlo Staneld.[19][21] Also returning for the street storyline were Andre Royo as heroin addict Bubbles;[19][21]
and Michael K. Williams as underworld legend Omar Lit- Crew
tle.[19][21]
Former recurring characters who joined the main cast were
Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee,[19] Gbenga Akinnagbe as
Chris Partlow,[19] Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie
Weems,[19] Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as corrupt State Sena-
Creator David Simon continued to act as the shows executive producer and show runner.[5][21] Nina Kostro
Noble once again served as the shows other executive
producer.[21] Joe Chappelle reprised his co-executive pro-
46
2.6.3
Episodes
New star Clark Johnson also helmed the nal episode after
previously directing the pilot. Other returning directors for
the fth season included Ernest Dickerson, Anthony Hem- 2.6.4 References
ingway, Agnieszka Holland, Dan Attias, and Seith Mann.
Series star Dominic West made his directorial debut. Hus- [1] John M. Higgins (September 12, 2006). HBO Renews The
Wire". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
band and wife directing team Scott and Joy Kecken were
[19]
also rst time directors on the fth season.
[2] Meghan O'Rourke (2006). Behind The Wire". Slate.com.
2.6.2
Reception
[3] David Mills. Just to tease you fans of The Wire". Retrieved March 14, 2007.
[4] Wiltz, Teresa (September 3, 2007). Down to The Wire":
Its a Wrap for Gritty TV Series. Washington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
[5] Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker.
Retrieved October 14, 2007.
[6] One on One with David Simon. Retrieved November 2,
2007.
[7] David Zurawik (2007). Fact and ction, down to The
Wire". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[8] Urban Renewal for L&O and The Wire. TV Guide. 2007.
Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[9] Preview of The Wire Season 5. Retrieved November 2,
2007.
[10] Charlie McCollom (2007). ""The Wire returns. San Jose
Mercury News. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[11] Kevin Thompson (2007). Merry Christmas to me! The
Wire comes early!". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[12] Andrew Wallenstein (2007). HBOs Wire plugs in VOD
vignettes. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the
original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[13] Sean O'Neal (2007). HBO oers free Wire prequels.
A.V. Club. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
47
[14] Oscar Dahl (2007). HBO releases three prequel videos for
The Wire"". Buddy TV. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[15] HBO'S 'The Wire' Preps Back Stories: Three short lms
will precede launch of fth season in January.. EUR Web.
2007. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
2.6.5
External links
Ocial website
List of The Wire episodes at the Internet Movie
Database
List of The Wire season 5 episodes at TV.com
Chapter 3
Characters
3.1 List of The Wire characters
3.1.1
The Law
3.1.6
The Paper
3.1.2
Politicians
3.1.7
Starring cast
Characters in this section include the state and city ocials, 3.1.8 A to Z
both honest and corrupt, depicted in the series.
Contents
3.1.3
The Street
3.1.4
C
D
E
The Schools
G
48
49
Big Guy
Big Roy
Bond, Rupert
Bratton, Savino
Brice, De'Londa
Brice, Namond
Brown, Bobby
Brother Mouzone
Bubbles
Burrell, Ervin
Butchie
W
X
Y
Z
C
Campbell, Nerese
Cantrell, Walter
Carcetti, Jen
Carcetti, Thomas Tommy
A
Aimee
Carver, Ellis
Asher, Jimmy
Castor, Aaron
Cheryl
Chess
Bailey, John
Christeson
Baker, Brian
Cole, Ray
Barksdale, Avon
Colicchio, Anthony
Barksdale, Brianna
Barksdale, D'Angelo
Country
Barlow, Frank
Ben-Eleazer, Eton
Coxson, Nat
Bernard
Crutcheld, Michael
50
D
CHAPTER 3. CHARACTERS
G
Garrick, Lloyd Truck
D'Agostino, Theresa
Gerard
Daniels, Cedric
Gerry
Daniels, Marla
Ghost
Dante
Gray, Anthony
Dawson, Zenobia
The Greek
The Deacon
Dee-Dee
Gutierrez, Alma
Delores
Demper, Steven
DiBiago, Bruce
DiPasquale, Gary
Diggins, Claude
Donette
Hucklebuck
Donnie
Hungry Man
Donut
Donnelly, Marcia
I
Innes, Shardene
Dozerman, Kenneth
J
Jamal
Judkins, Crystal
Fitzhugh, Terrance Fitz
Justin
Fletcher, Mike
Foerster, Raymond
Frazier, Warren
Frazier, Randall
Freamon, Lester
K
Kenard
Kimmy
Klebanow, Thomas
Frog
Koutris, Kristos
Fruit
Krawczyk, Andy
51
N
La La
Nathan, Ilene
Lamar
Norris, Ed
Lambert
Landsman, Jay
O
O-Dog
Lee, Michael
Lee, Raylene
Levy, Maurice
Little Kevin
Parenti, David
Little Man
Parker, Coleman
Little, Omar
Partlow, Chris
Luxenberg, Steven
Pearlman, Rhonda
Pearson, Felicia Snoop
Perkins, Eunetta
Mahon, Patrick
Perry
Malatov, Sergei
Phelan, Daniel
Phelps, Tim
Manigault, Devar
Phil-Boy
Marimow, Charles
Polk, Augustus
Price, Damien Lavelle AKA Day Day
Massey, Caroline
Price, Je
Maui
McNulty, Elena
McNulty, Jimmy
McNulty, Michael
McNulty, Sean
Rawls, William
Reed, Bobby
Renaldo
Mello, Dennis
Reese, Amanda
Metcalf,"Monk
Rico
Mitchell, Tosha
Ronnie Mo
Moreland, Bunk
Royce, Clarence
52
S
CHAPTER 3. CHARACTERS
W
Sampson, Grace
Santangelo, Michael
Wagsta, Randy
Sapper
Wallace
Sherrod
Walker, Eddie
Slim Charles
Walon
Sobotka, Frank
Watkins, Odell
Sobotka, Joan
Weeks, Johnny
Sobotka, Louis
Sobotka, Nick
Whiting, James
Sobotka, Ziggy
Williams, Karim
Williamson, Kintel
Spry, Jay
Wilson, Norman
Squeak
Staneld, Marlo
Withers, Claudell
Sterling
Wright, Brandon
Sydnor, Leander
Y
Z
T
Tank
Taylor, Marvin
Templeton, Scott
Tilghman, Dwight
Torret
Twigg, Roger
Tyson, Darnell
U
V
Valchek, Stanislaus
Vinson
Vondopoulos, Spiros Vondas
Zorzi, Bill
3.1.9
References
Chapter 4
Police
4.1 Police of The Wire
54
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Unit. Valchek is well connected with the citys politicians, Ervin Burrell Main article: Ervin Burrell
and was promoted because of his political association with
Mayor Carcetti. Valchek is played by Al Brown.
Burrell is a by-the-book careerist ocer who reached the
level of Commissioner. Initially appointed as an Acting
Commissioner, Burrell negotiated for a permanent postBobby Reed
ing with the Royce administration. When Carcetti replaced
Royce he immediately began looking to depose Burrell. He
Played by: Tony D. Head
is eventually forced to resign in a scandal over manipulation
Appears in:
of crime statistics but receives a highly paid replacement
job in order to leave quietly. Burrell is played by Frankie
Season one: "The Buys"; "Lessons" (uncredited);
Faison.
"The Hunt" and "Cleaning Up".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and
"Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Misgivings" (uncredited)
Reed is a Major in the Baltimore Police Department and
commands the Internal Investigations Division. He is very
loyal to Ervin Burrells command often more emphasized in
protecting Burrells command status than rigorously investigating individual ocers. He often appears with discrediting evidence about ocers for Burrell to use as blackmail.
Raymond Foerster
Played by: Richard DeAngelis
Appears in:
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The
Buys"; "The Wire"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and
"Sentencing".
Season three: "Time After Time "; " All Due
Respect "; "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True";
"Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission Accomplished".
55
Asher is a lenient lieutenant who was handpicked to command the Major Crimes Unit by Lester Freamon with the
approval of Cedric Daniels. He normally lets the detectives do as they wish while working on his beach house in
Delaware. He was briey reassigned to a telephone unit
and replaced by Lieutenant Charles Marimow for purposes
of properly supervising the Major Crimes Unit under the
orders of Deputy Commissioner Rawls. With Daniels promotion to C.I.D. colonel, Asher is reinstalled as commander
of the unit again as Freamon feels he will eectively let the
detectives do what they need to make a case without interActor Richard DeAngelis died of cancer after lming ference from the commissioners oce.
scenes for the fourth season.[3]
Lester Freamon Main article: Lester Freamon
4.1.2
Current members
56
Dozerman is a plainclothes ocer in the Baltimore police department. In season three he worked narcotics in
Sergeant Ellis Carver's drug enforcement unit squad in the
Western District. He became friends with Herc and Carver
while working in the squad accompanying them in various
activities o duty. Dozerman was shot and injured in a buy
bust operation gone awry and decommissioned from duty
for the rest of the season. His attempted murder was the
catalyst for Major Colvin's Hamsterdam experiment as
Colvin wanted to reduce crime and not see any more of his
men get hurt. Dozermans service weapon was also stolen,
prompting Bunk Moreland to have to search for it. When
the weapon was found, it was returned to Dozerman at a
press conference.[2]
In season four, Dozerman transferred to the Major Crimes
Unit when his friend Herc transferred in, lling the gap left
by Greggs and Freamon leaving. Dozerman took part in
Lieutenant Charles Marimow's rst series of failed raids as
unit commander. Following these raids he helped Herc to
set up video surveillance of Marlo Staneld. Dozerman remained in the unit as an ally to both Herc and Leander Sydnor who mentored Dozerman on his investigative strategies.
All three detectives maintained a dislike for Marimows
caustic command style often fearing the repercussions that
he had threatened them with. Dozerman remained in the
unit following Marimows departure and Hercs suspension
under the new leadership of Lester Freamon.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Cedric Daniels Main article: Cedric Daniels
Daniels left the unit when he was promoted to Major, taking
the District Commander post in the Western.
Charles Marimow
Played by: Boris McGiver
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms", "Refugees",
"Alliances", "Corner Boys", "Misgivings", "Thats Got
His Own".
Marimow is a lieutenant in the Baltimore Police Department. He is installed as the commander of the Major
Crimes Unit by William Rawls based on his hostile reputation to properly supervise the units detectives and prevent them upsetting politicians after Lester Freamon issued
a series of subpoenas on them over suspicion of graft. Marimow renews the units focus on more obviously violent
drug dealers and closes down their wiretaps on Marlo Staneld. His caustic command style drives away Lester Freamon and Kima Greggs, the units best two detectives, leaving him with only Leander Sydnor and Caroline Massey.
His units stang problems are solved when Sergeant Herc
Hauk transfers back, bringing Ocer Dozerman with him.
Marimow
and Herc develop an immediate mutual dislike
In Season ve, Dozerman is still with Major Crimes workwhich
worsens
over their tenure.
ing with the detail on the row house serial murders. He still
meets his old Western district DEU buddies for drinks along Marimow is one of the most disliked commanders of the
with Herc. After Major Crimes is disbanded, Dozerman is Baltimore police department, as he has a reputation for besent to tactical division by Colonel Daniels.
ing a "Trojan Horse", "Virus", and a Unit Killer. It is
stated by Sgt. Jay Landsman that Marimow does not cast
o talent lightly. He heaves it away with great force. Marimow is also unafraid to threaten his subordinates careers
Jimmy McNulty Main article: Jimmy McNulty
as a means of punishing them for insubordination or similar deances. He prides himself on being a streetwise comMcNulty is a dedicated Baltimore police ocer with many
mander and having worked his way up through the ranks.
personal problems.
While Marimow has worked hard to earn his rank, his hostile command style has established his negative reputation
throughout the department.
Leander Sydnor Main article: Leander Sydnor
He believes it would be easy to topple Marlo Staneld, but
his rst series of raids fail, as he underestimates his targets.
Sydnor is a young, married detective in the Baltimore Ma- Marimow orders his men to take Staneld down, leading
jor Crimes Unit with a talent for investigative work and the Herc to break several rules by hiring a lip reader to spy on
stomach for drawn-out cases. Sydnor has been part of the Staneld, and using a video camera without a court order or
Major Crimes Unit throughout seasons one, three, and four Marimows approval. Marimow accurately suspects Herc
of the show.
of lying to him about the source of his information. Herc
also has Internal Investigations Division (IID) complaints
sent to the oce for attempted arrests based on misinforFormer members
mation. Marimow vows to Herc that he would be happy to
attend his execution at an IID trial if he could prove he
Command
was lying. Marimow leaves the Unit when Cedric Daniels
57
Thomas Herc Hauk Main article: Thomas Herc Polk was an aging detective from the property unit who
Hauk
worked briey in the Barksdale and Sobotka details. He
is often called Auggie by his partner Pat Mahon. He is
generally
regarded as a hump, since he has not made a
Herc was a capable narcotics detective but his tendency tosingle
case
in property crimes over their last ten years. He
wards brutality and acting without thinking held up his cais
also
an
alcoholic.
reer progression as a member of the Barksdale and Sobotka
details. To improve his chances of making sergeant he
transferred to the Mayors security detail. He returned to
the Major Crimes Unit as a newly promoted sergeant. Herc
is red from the department after an Internal Investigation
Division hearing.
Detail members
After his partner Mahon retired due to injury, Polk considers deliberately injuring himself to follow in his partners
footsteps. Unable to follow through on his plan, he becomes
despondent and goes on a drinking binge. He misses several
days work and nally shows up drunk at 9am. Lieutenant
Daniels tells him to take sick leave for his alcohol problem
or work wet. Polk opted for sick leave and is o until the
case is closed.
Patrick Mahon
Played by: Tom Quinn
58
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.1.3
Homicide unit
The Homicide Unit of the Baltimore City Police Department is responsible for the investigation of all unexplained
deaths that take place within Baltimore City. (They are
also responsible for investigating all police-related shootings, and, because the homicide unit is generally regarded
as containing the best detectives on the police force, they
are often given high-prole cases which are not necessarily
homicides.) A clearance rate of 50% or more for the year
is aimed for and the Unit is amongst the most demanding in
the Criminal Investigations Division. Sergeant Landsmans
squad is typically the focus of the show, though there is at
least one other squad (according to David Simons book,
59
discovery of the bodies being left all over the city by the
Staneld Organization. Crutcheld ended season four investigating murders at the hands of the Staneld Organization.
In season ve Crutcheld remains with Sergeant Jay Landsman's homicide squad. Crutcheld helps Bunk to manipulate a confession from DeShawn Williams. Crutcheld
buys Monell, another involved party, a McDonalds meal
and parades the boy in front of Bunks interrogation room to
lead Bunks suspect to believe his friend had turned against
him.[6][7] When departmental cut backs lead to withholding
of overtime Crutcheld secures part-time work as a security guard to replace his lost pay. Crutcheld is assigned
a triple homicide case and partnered with Detective Kima
Greggs. The victims are Junebug, his wife and bodyguard
and Crutcheld notes that the killing was a professional
hit.[8]
According to Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, there
was actually a caucasian detective in the Baltimore Police
Department homicide division named Michael Crutcheld.
Crutcheld is an African American detective in the homicide unit whose name is mentioned earlier in the series
but who does not appear on screen until season three. He
was the primary detective at the murder that took place in
Major Colvin's free zone and withheld the investigation
at Colvins request. Colvin then helped create a dunker
case having his suspect turned in after threatening the drug
dealers in the free zone.
60
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Daniels. Holley often works with Norris, Bunk, or Crutcheld and is one of the units more short tempered and physically intimidating detectives. He rst appeared with partner
Ed Norris and caught the case of the murder of Omar Littles boyfriend Brandon. They recognized a connection to
the recent murder of Omars crew member Bailey because
both corpses were found in Kevlar vests. They called in
their colleague Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale details
work secured a conviction for the murder against soldier
Wee-Bey Brice.
In season two Holley was briey seen investigating the murder of Frank Sobotka. In season three he is assigned to
investigate the murder of Tosha Mitchell and Tank and
later the shooting of Stringer Bell, both working with Bunk
Moreland. During this season, he was also seen called to
duty for other investigations as the citys homicide rate was
rapidly approaching 300 murders for the year.
In season four, Holley initially works as the secondary investigator on Norris case of a murdered states witness
named Braddock that becomes a red ball case. Later in
that investigation, he is replaced by Kima Greggs for political reasons. Holley and Crutcheld are then seen catching the case of a delivery woman murdered in the convenience store of Old Face Andre. They interview Andre who
quickly identies Omar Little as the killer in a photo array. When Omar is arrested he manages to convince Bunk
Moreland he is innocent and Bunk asks Crutcheld and
Holley to re-open the case. Crutcheld refused to entertain the idea[2] but Holley agrees that Andre was a possible
drug dealer and went with Bunk to the crime scene reluctantly. At the scene revisitation, Bunk viewed evidence conrming Omars innocence in the shooting as he stated that
Andres store was a drug stash house, Andres story made
no sense, and he most likely did the implication of Omar
for ripping of his stash. Holley and Bunk then reappeared
with a grand jury summons where at the courtroom, Holley
managed to intimidate Andre both physically and legally to
have him confess his role in lying about the murder. Holley
ends Season 4 assisting Crutcheld, Norris, and Bunk in
the investigations of murders caused by Marlo Stanelds
crew.[9]
Ed Norris
Played by: Ed Norris
Appears in:
Season one: "The Wire", "The Cost", "The
Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Stray Rounds"
Season three: "Time After Time", "All Due Respect" and "Dead Soldiers".
Season four: "Boys of Summer", "Soft Eyes",
"Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error",
"Unto Others", "A New Day" and "Final
Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less", "Transitions",
"React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect" (uncredited), "Took", and "30".
Norris is a homicide detective who has been in the unit
for 15 years since 1991 according to Season 4. Norris and his squad mate Vernon Holley rst appeared assigned to the case of the murder of Omar Littles boyfriend
Brandon. They recognized a connection to the recent murder of Omars crew member Bailey because both corpses
were found in Kevlar vests. They called in their colleague
Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale details work secured a
conviction for the murder against soldier Wee-Bey Brice.
Norris was also lead detective on the shooting of Wendell
Orlando Blocker and Kima Greggs this time working with
Detective Ray Cole. This case was also solved when WeeBey confessed to the shooting.
In season two he appeared briey when investigating the
shooting of a child by a stray bullet. In season three he attended the wake of his colleague Ray Cole. Norris remains
with the homicide unit in season four when he is the lead
investigator in the politically important murder of a states
61
Ray Cole was a somewhat inept member of Sergeant Landsmans homicide squad under the command of William
Rawls.
62
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
at the end of season one, although he did return in Season jokingly referring to them as humps and mopes. Mello
Five.
was once again given command of the Western district after
Daniels promotion to C.I.D. colonel at least until a new Major is given district command. Incidentally, the actor who
William Rawls Main article: William Rawls
plays Dennis Mello is a retired Baltimore detective named
Jay Landsman, and was the real-life basis for the character
Rawls was a Major in homicide promoted to Criminal In- of the same name in the show.
vestigations Division Colonel and then Deputy Commis- Mello appeared with Colvin during the accidental shooting
sioner of Operations. He was a ruthless and feared com- of a nine-year-old child going o of Colonel Rawls' commander of the unit who expected nothing less than unwa- mand to shake the district down for all known drug dealers
vering loyalty and competence from his detectives.
to get a murder suspect. Mello comments that it was too
4.1.4
Western District
bad a child had to die before locking all the drug dealers up
while Colvin questions what it is they are really doing.
He accompanied Colvin to comstat meetings. Mello was
aware of Colvins Hamsterdam free zone where he allowed drug dealing to go unpunished. Mello was worried,
but did not report Colvins actions to his superiors. Colvin
protected Mello following the discovery of Hamsterdam by
their superiors and after Colvins departure, Mello was temporarily promoted to Western District Commander. The
two remained friends.
In season four Mello returned to his post of administrative
lieutenant as Major Daniels was granted the district commander post. Mello worked closely with Daniels and the
two tried to convince Ocer McNulty to take a position
in their operations unit. Both rated his capabilities highly
but could not convince him to leave his position in patrol.
Daniels, however, remembering McNultys past insubordination, viewed McNultys position as a patrolman as a selfredeeming job and was more understanding of McNultys
desire to work as a patrolman. Mello was given command
of the Western district again when Daniels was promoted
to Criminal Investigations Division colonel. Mello continues to give charismatic roll call briengs including readying
his men for polling station duty and introducing the murder
warrant for Omar Little. When Commissioner Burrell tried
to reassert his command of the force by juking the stats,
the district commanders were told to increase the number
of arrests in their districts whether they be felonies or minor infractions. After seeing his ocers at work, he went to
Daniels to discuss the orders patrol had been given. Mello
was personally opposed to this statistical posturing claiming that while the troops were increasing the minor infraction arrests, they were locking up the neighborhood people
in the process. Claiming that half of his ocers felt the
same way, he then asked who they were doing this for as
the election was over. Daniels informed Mayor Carcetti
who then initiated a new order for the department to no
longer make arrests based on statistical quotas but rather
quality felonies, something Daniels had been lobbying for.
Mello then was later seen commanding the Western troops
to do the complicated (by Baltimore Police standards which
Mello jokingly states is uncomplicated only if ocers went
63
Season ve: "More With Less"; "Unconrmed
Reports"; "Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and
"30".
The character is named after a real-life Captain Dennis Bobby Brown is a Western District uniformed ocer. He
Mello, who was the Western District commander when Ed was the rst ocer on scene at the shooting of William
Gant. He was also at the Brandon Wright crime scene. DeBurns was an ocer.[14]
tective Jimmy McNulty later enlisted Brown to help watch
the home of Wallace. In season 3 when Major Colvin instiEllis Carver Main article: Ellis Carver
tutes the Hamsterdam initiative Brown is one of the ocers
freed up to be assigned to investigate complaints rather than
Sergeant Carver is SIC (Sergeant in Charge) of the Western perform radio car patrols and he solves a church burglary
District under Major Mello. At the end of the series Carver case.
is promoted to Lieutenant.
Brown was later present with Sergeant Ellis Carver to both
warn and arrest Namond Brice for selling drugs on a preindicted corner. In season ve Brown is livid about the withUniformed Patrolmen
holding of his overtime pay and is insubordinate in Carvers
rst roll-call brieng as Sergeant in charge. Brown is involved in a parking lot brawl with another ocer over the
Brian Baker
poor state of a vehicle he hands over.[7] [15] Later, Brown
is the rst ocer at a suspicious death that is investigated
Played by: Derek Horton
by Detective McNultythe death is later ruled natural as
Appears in
predicted by Brown and McNulty.[8] Browns character is
the same Baltimore police ocer also called Bob Brown,
played by the same featured in David Simons miniseries,
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due ReThe Corner. Bobby J. Brown is also featured in The Corner
spect"
as another ocer.
Season four: "Misgivings"; "A New Day" (uncredited).
Aaron Castor
Season ve: "Took" (uncredited)
Baker is a rookie patrolman assigned with Castor to the
Western District under the command of Bunny Colvin in
Season three. He and Castor are both forced by Colvin to
carry a compass until they can correctly identify the north
direction. In Season four, Baker teams with ocer Jimmy
McNulty to arrest two people for a string of felony church
burglaries. McNulty allows him credit for the arrest, later
concurring with Bunk Moreland that Baker could be good
police.
Bobby Brown
Played by: Bobby J. Brown
Appears in
Season one: "The Target" (uncredited); "The
Wire" (uncredited) and "The Cost" (uncredited).
Season three: "Middle Ground" (uncredited).
Season four: "Refugees"; "Know Your Place";
"Misgivings"; "A New Day" (uncredited).
64
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Michael Santangelo
Played by: Michael Salconi
Appears in
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The
Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest";
"Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Cleaning
Up" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission
Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Margin of Error"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day".
65
Appears in:
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due
Respect"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners";
"Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"
and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"; "Corner Boys"; "Know Your
Place"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day"; "Thats Got
His Own" and "Final Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less"; "Clarications";
"Late Editions"
Lloyd Truck Garrick is an African American narcotics
ocer in Sergeant Ellis Carver's squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department, often partnered
with fellow squad members Herc, Lambert and Colicchio.
Garrick was part of the operation that resulted in the shooting of Ocer Dozerman. Along with the rest of the squad
Garrick was involved in policing drug tolerant zones set up
by his district commander Howard Bunny Colvin without
the knowledge of his superiors. He was with Herc when
he phoned the paper to report Colvins actions and again
when he met with a reporter. In season 4, Truck appeared
briey at a useless lesson for Western police on counterterrorism and once assisting Herc and Carver.[2] In Season
5, Truck appears with the Western District ocers who are
frustrated by the lack of overtime pay due to city cutbacks.
During Detective Jimmy McNulty's homeless killer case,
McNulty has Western District Sergeant Ellis Carver detail
ocers to track Marlo Staneld's crew including ocers
Brown, Dozerman, and Truck.
66
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Former sta
Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Undertow"; "All Prologue"; "Duck and Cover";
"Storm Warnings" and "Port in a Storm".
Thomas Herc Hauk Main article: Thomas Herc Diggins is a Baltimore police department Marine Unit ofcer who partners Jimmy McNulty when he is assigned to
Hauk
the unit. He advises McNulty on how to make the best of
the situation, but McNulty hates the fumes. Diggins is forA former D.E.U. member who was a partner of Ellis giving of McNultys time away from the unit and shares his
Carver. He left the Western District to work on the Mayors own boat with Bunk Moreland and McNulty to pose as a
security detail.
shing craft when observing Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos. He has a noticeable Baltimore accent .
Jimmy McNulty Main article: Jimmy McNulty
Randall Frazier
McNulty was a former beat ocer who became a detective.
He returned to patrol in season 4 but after the death of an
informant, he rejoined the Homicide Unit.
4.1.5
Others
Walter Cantrell is a major and the Southern District commander. He is rst seen in season one where he is a
lieutenant and commands Roland Prez Pryzbylewski and Beadie Russell
Leander Sydnor. Lieutenant Cedric Daniels bargains with
Cantrell to have the highly competent Sydnor assigned to Main article: Beadie Russell
the Barksdale detail to compensate for taking the erratic
67
Russell is a port authority police ocer and a single mother unit arrest everyone in The Pit as he assumed them a suswho develops an interest in case work following a chance pect for being around that area. In Season 3, he appeared
discovery.
at the rank of Major commanding QRT and Tactical units
city wide no longer actively participating in the raids. He
helped plan and lead the raid to shut down Hamsterdam
Marvin Taylor
at the orders of Deputy Rawls. He was present with Rawls
nding the body of drug addict Johnny Weeks who was then
Played by: Barnett Lloyd
taken to the morgue in a squad car as a means of preventing the media from linking the death to the Hamsterdam
Appears in
experiment.
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"
4.1.6
Relatives
68
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Elena McNulty
Season one:
"Sentencing".
"The Wire";
"Lessons" and
Appears in:
Elena is angered by Jimmy due to catching him in bed with Michael Barnes McNulty
another woman. She uses her lawyer to try to destroy Jimmy
throughout the rst season as much as she can. She is also
Played by: Antonio Cordova
protective of her sons and worries that Jimmy is a danger Appears in:
ous inuence on them because of his drinking. When he exposes them to danger by having them tail the subject of his
Season one: "Old Cases"; "The Wire" and
investigation, Stringer Bell, she les for an emergency or"Lessons".
der to prevent him from seeing the boys. At the court hearing, the judge convinces them to work out arrangements
Season three:
"Time After Time";
between themselves.
"Hamsterdam"; "Straight and True" and
"Slapstick".
In season two Elena is seen at work as a realtor showing a
house to Nick Sobotka. Jimmy tries to initiate a reconcilSeason four: "Misgivings"
iation with Elena and considerably cleans up his drinking
Season ve: "React Quotes"
habits and behaviour. The two sleep together, but in the
morning Elena asks Jimmy to leave as she feels it would be
Michael is Elena and Jimmy McNulty's younger son. He
unfair on her sons for them to see him in the house.
lives with his mother and his brother Sean following his
In season three, Elena is established as seriously dating a parents separation but still sees his father. Michael plays
man named Dennis who appears at Orioles Baseball games soccer and Jimmy tries to attend his games. Jimmy teaches
in the front row wearing a suit and spending most of the his sons the front and follow technique and when he spotted
game talking on a cell phone. Jimmys partner Bunk More- Stringer Bell in a market he had them follow him. Michael
land suspects that Dennis is a downtown lawyer due to his and Sean managed to record Stringers number plate, which
appearance and mannerisms.
aided their fathers investigation. In a brief appearance in
In season four, Elena sees that Jimmy is becoming more the fourth season, he says he wants to be a video game destable as a patrolman and states to him that If I knew you signer.
were going to grow up to be a grown up... suggesting that
she wishes she was the one reaping the benets of this new
4.1.7 Actual BPD Ocers who have apJimmy McNulty.
peared
The following is a list of actual Baltimore Police Department ocers who have appeared on the show at some point.
Many of these ocers were either commanders of the department or featured ocers in the David Simons books of
The Corner and Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.
69
Other ocers mentioned
recurring character
The following is a list of other Baltimore Police DepartFormer Baltimore Police Department Major who was fea- ment ocers who have been mentioned on the show at some
tured homicide unit shift lieutenant in David Simons point. Many of these ocers were either commanders of
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. He appears recur- the department or featured ocers in the David Simons
ringly as a grand jury prosecutor named Gary DiPasquale. books of The Corner and Homicide: A Year on the Killing
Streets.
Leonard Hamm
Season ve: "Not for Attribution"
Former Baltimore Police Department Commissioner who
appears as a midnight shift homicide detective in Season 5.
Jay Landsman
Recurring character
Former Baltimore Police Department Commissioner who Vernon Holley recurring character of the same name
appears as a recurring character of the same name working
Former Baltimore Police Department homicide detective
as a homicide detective.
mentioned in David Simons Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets who spawned a character of the same name
played
by actor Brian Anthony Wilson throughout the seJimmy Rood
ries.
Season four: "Boys of Summer"
Roger Nolan Mentioned in :Season one: "The Target"
Baltimore Police Department C.I.D. Major who appears as
Former Baltimore Police Department Sergeant who was
a patrolman in Season 4 who encounters mayoral candidate
featured homicide unit sergeant in David Simons Homicide:
Tommy Carcetti.
A Year on the Killing Streets. Nolans name is mentioned as
the sergeant of another homicide unit in the department.
Donald Worden
Worden is a former Baltimore Police Department homicide
detective featured in David Simons Homicide: A Year on
the Killing Streets who appears as a midnight shift homicide
detective in season ve. He is also mentioned in episodes in
season one (The Pager), season three ("Slapstick"), and
season ve ("Not for Attribution").
70
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.1.8
References
4.2
Jimmy McNulty
4.2.1
Character storyline
[12]
[13]
[14]
McNulty grew up in the Lauraville neighborhood of Baltimore. His father was an employee for Bethlehem Steel beNeil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainfore being laid o in 1973. After a year of attending Loyola
ment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
College in Maryland, McNulty joined the Baltimore Police
Department
when his girlfriend Elena (whom he later marCharacter prole Detective Edward Norris. HBO. 2006.
ried)
became
pregnant. In his rst few years in the Police
Retrieved 2006-10-29.
Department he proved himself to be an eective patrolCharacter prole - Lieutenant Dennis Mello. HBO. 2004. man in the Western District under the command of Major
Retrieved 2006-07-22.
Colvin. After assisting Detective Ray Cole in solving a
homicide (Cole had arrested the wrong man), he was proKing, Jim (2006-12-04). 3rd Exclusive David Simon moted to detective and assigned to the homicide unit, where
Q&A. Borderline Productions. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
he was partnered with Bunk Moreland.
[18]
[19]
[20]
Season one
Before the start of the series, McNulty had noticed that drug
kingpin Avon Barksdale was expanding his organizations
Cast & Crew - Benjamin Busch as Anthony Colicchio. territory, and had successfully beaten several murder prosHBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
ecutions. McNulty was responsible for the formation of the
Barksdale detail following the trial of D'Angelo Barksdale,
Character prole - Anthony Colicchio. HBO. 2008. Re- who is found not guilty after a witness changes her story in
trieved 2008-01-24.
court. In the Judges chambers, McNulty is frank about his
observations and the lack of investigation so far, promptDan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
ing Judge Phelan to call Deputy Commissioner Ervin Bur5. Episode 4. HBO.
rell. McNultys commander, Major Rawls, is furious with
Vassar Alum Provides Marines-Eye View of Iraq War him for going around the chain of command. McNulty tells
through Photo Exhibit. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
Bunk that he hopes this investigation will lead to a case that
71
means something to him. Sergeant Jay Landsman asks McNulty what unit he would least like to be assigned to, and
McNulty says that he nds the diesel fumes in the Marine
Unit intolerable.
The detail succeeds in arresting Wee-Bey Brice for shooting Kima, Bird Hilton for murdering a states witness,
and both D'Angelo and Avon Barksdale. McNulty almost
convinces D'Angelo to testify against Avon but, ultimately,
D'Angelo takes a twenty-year sentence instead. When the
Barksdale investigation closes, Rawls reassigns McNulty to
the marine unit, having learned from Landsman that this is
precisely where McNulty does not want to go.
Season two
McNulty is bored at his new job in the Marine Unit, where
he is partnered with Claude Diggins. While on harbor patrol, he spots the body of a dead woman in the water. When
Rawls argues the case is not in his jurisdiction, McNulty,
seeking revenge, spends three hours poring over wind and
tide charts to prove the death occurred within city limits.
When Beadie Russell nds thirteen dead women in a shipping container on the Baltimore docks, initially determined
to be accidental deaths, McNulty again intervenes and, with
the help of the medical examiner, proves that the deaths
were not accidental: the air pipe to the container was deliberately closed o, and, with the help of a mining engineer,
they are able to determine when this happened and prove
that the ship was within the city limits at that time. The
case is given to Bunk and Freamon, much to their chagrin,
as they had spent the previous night celebrating with McNulty and lauding his revenge eorts against Rawls, never
anticipating that these dicult cases would end up getting
reassigned to them.
To make amends, McNulty promises to discover the identity of the girl found dead in the water, but is ultimately unable to do so. Bunk Moreland is also pressuring McNulty
to nd Omar, who is needed to testify against Bird. McNulty coerces Bubbles into tracking down the elusive stickup man, and Omar testies successfully.
McNulty signs an agreement that he will pay alimony, believing it to be unnecessary because he can still salvage his
marriage. He decides to give up alcohol and detective work,
two of the main reasons for the breakup of his marriage.
When Elena conrms the marriage is over, he grows despondent, and drinks more heavily than ever.
When Danielss unit is recreated to investigate Frank
Sobotka, a vengeful Rawls refuses to allow Daniels to have
McNulty. McNulty seems to accept this with good grace,
but tries to help the detail unocially. Daniels persuades
Rawls to let McNulty return to the unit by taking on the
murders of the fourteen women. McNultys rst assign-
72
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
73
the decedent to show bite marks and defensive wounds.[8]
When investigating the homeless killer, McNulty and detective Greggs travel to Quantico, Virginia for FBI assistance. McNulty realizes its a waste of time because he and
Freamon have provided the police department with false information on the killer. McNulty also realizes that he can no
longer falsify murders on real corpses as there is too large a
police presence, so he instead takes a mentally ill homeless
man o the streets of Baltimore and stages a photograph
of a murder to send to Scott Templeton of the Baltimore
Sun, claiming that the man will never be seen again, before taking him to a homeless shelter in Richmond, Virginia
with fake identication suggesting that he is from Cleveland,
Ohio, so that he cannot easily be found.
Furthermore, McNulty has been voicing the killer all along
giving the FBI the only means of tracking it. After doing the
voice analysis, the FBI provide McNulty and Greggs with
a psychological prole of the homeless killer, inadvertently
giving a near-perfect description of McNulty:
The suspect is most likely a white male in his late twenties to late thirties, who is not a college graduate, but feels
superior to those with advanced education, and is likely employed in a bureaucratic entity, possibly civil or public service. He has a problem with authority and a deep-seated
resentment for those that have impeded his progress professionally. The sexual nature of the killings is thought to
be a secondary motivation and the lack of DNA or saliva
in the bite marks suggests possible postmortem staging. He
may be struggling with lasting relationships and potentially
a high functioning alcoholic with alcohol being used as a
trigger in the crimes. The suspects apparent resentment of
the homeless may indicate a previous personal relationship
with a homeless person or the targeting may simply be an
opportunity for the killer to assert his superiority and intellectual prowess.
74
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
shelter and nds that the man he took there disappeared after a couple of days. He nds him elsewhere in the city and
drives him back to Baltimore. On the way back, McNulty
stops his car, gets out and looks at the city, leading to the
series-ending montage.
dition tape for the part was recorded with him as the sole
actor leaving spaces for the lines that would be spoken back
to him. The producers were amused by the tape and agreed
that they had to give him an audition.[16]
4.2.4
4.2.2
References
[12] James Norton (2005). The Wire vs. The Sopranos. Flak
magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
4.2.3
Origins
[13] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
The character was originally named Jimmy McArdle but 4.3 Kima Greggs
because no one liked the name, executive producer Robert
F. Colesberry suggested renaming him Jimmy McNulty (af- Detective Shakima Kima Greggs is a ctional character his maternal grandmother). Dominic Wests original au- ter on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja
75
Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated ocer and capable detective with some o-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she
has had problems involving indelity, alcohol, and relationships. Greggs played a key role in all of the shows main
cases.
76
Bubbles was arrested near the end of Sobotka case and
called on his connection to Greggs to get out of trouble. He
turned Greggs and McNulty onto investigating the link between East side drug kingpin Proposition Joe and their old
target Stringer Bell. Greggs and McNulty soon acquired
photos of the two meeting together.[1][2]
Season 3
Greggs continued working with Lieutenant Daniels when
the Major Case Unit was formed. The unit initially tried
to build a case against Proposition Joe. They found that
they made little progress through their wiretaps because
the key members of Joes organization did not talk on the
phone. The case broke down when the unit arrested Melvin
Cheese Wagsta on suspicion of murder when in reality
he was talking about shooting his pet dog over the wiretap.
With Proposition Joe aware of the wiretaps Daniels decided
the unit had to move on.
Greggs became something of a rogue element alongside
McNulty. The two pursued the Barksdale organization even
when the unit was supposed to be focused on Park Heights
drug dealer Kintel Williamson. Freamon became exasperated with Greggs lack of respect for Daniels. Greggs also
became dissatised with her personal life now that Cheryl
had her baby and began to cheat on her. Greggs went far
enough to admit that she only agreed on the baby as a means
of appeasing Cheryl. Eventually Greggs decided she had
made a mistake and the two reconciled.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
ical gures. Greggs was responsible for delivering the subpoena to campaign fundraiser Andy Krawczyk. Freamon
convinced the others that they would be protected from the
politicians because they were under close scrutiny at election time.
The unit focused on Marlo Staneld's organization now that
he had control of West Baltimore. They quickly gathered
probable cause for wiretaps on key Staneld lieutenants
Fruit and Monk Metcalf. Fruit was murdered but Bunk
Moreland from homicide faithfully delivered his cellphone
to the unit allowing them to establish more of the Staneld network. Greggs was responsible for surveillance of
a drug dealer supplied by Staneld, Old Face Andre. She
determined that his re-supply was delivered to a convenience store that he ran. The detail felt they were making progress when they recorded Marlo talking to Andre on
Monks phone. Greggs even recognised the sound of gunshots in the background and wondered why Marlo was taking shooting practice when they had been unable to tie him
to any drug murders.
Because of the subpoenas, Commissioner Ervin Burrell was
threatened by Mayor Clarence Royce for trying to charge
his campaign fundraisers weeks before the election. Deputy
Commissioner William Rawls suggested that the problem
be solved by giving the unit proper supervision and installed Lieutenant Charles Marimow as the new commander. Marimow ordered the unit to stop investigating the
Barksdale money trail and to close down their investigation
of Staneld. Marimow reasoned that they should be making
faster cases against street level dealers tied to violence. Dismayed at this change in direction Greggs decided to transfer out of the unit. She went to Major Daniels to ask for
a position in his district. Daniels insisted that Greggs was
too skilled an investigator for district work but oered to
help her move laterally. He secured Greggs a position in
the homicide unit by asking Rawls.
77
tions with McNulty.[12]
A major alliance in previous seasons, Greggs and Bubbles
do not come in contact with each other after Bubbles decided to pursue a full rehabilitation following the events of
season 4. No longer an informant, Bubbles achieves a full
rehabilitation and reconciles with his sister.
Season 5
Greggs is drafted into the reconstituted major crimes unit
by Lester Freamon. They spend a year investigating the
Staneld Organization and their potential links to the vacant
house murders. Greggs is frustrated when nancial problems at city hall lead to withholding of the departments
overtime pay. Eventually the major crimes unit is closed
down by Mayor Tommy Carcetti and Greggs is transferred
back into the homicide unit.[4][5]
Greggs is assigned as the primary investigator on a home in- [8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
vasion and triple homicide. The murder was committed by
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
Chris Partlow and Snoop and the victims were a drug dealer
named Junebug, his partner and his bodyguard. Junebugs [9] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
two children are witnesses to the crime. One child ed the
scene but Greggs nds the other still hiding in the closet. [10] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
She arranges for the child to be taken in by social services.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Greggs and her partner on the case Michael Crutcheld
[11] "The Wire episode guide - episode 58 Clarications. HBO.
recognize that the killings are professional in nature be2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
cause of the disabling of security cameras outside the house
and the pattern of the wounds.[6][7] Continuing budget con- [12] "The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30-". HBO. 2008.
Retrieved 2008-06-30.
straints mean that Crutcheld is quickly taken o the case
and Greggs is left to work alone.[8][9] Greggs visits the child
witness to try to get a statement but the child remains withdrawn. Greggs decides to try and reconnect with Cheryl and 4.4 Bunk Moreland
her son Elijah and arranges for him to stay overnight.[10]
After McNulty confessed to Greggs that he created the fake
serial killer, Greggs was stunned and angry about the deception and waste of resources.[11] She reported McNulty and
Freamon to Daniels, which led to the end of their careers in
the Police Department. At McNulty and Freamons 'wake'
commemorating the end of their police careers, Greggs arrives late and admits to them both that she blew the whistle.
McNulty says she did the right thing and shakes hands with
her before going home, and Freamon invites her into the bar
to drink with him and his former colleagues. Kima is last
seen on a homicide call with Bunk, enjoying lighthearted
conversation with him that echoed Bunks earlier conversa-
78
4.4.1
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Character storyline
impasse, and Bunk and Freamon come under heavy criticism from a frustrated Colonel Rawls for releasing the ship
Bunk attended Edmondson High School in West Baltimore, without getting statements.
where he played lacrosse. He lives in Randallstown, MD, a
Bunk also worries about the William Gant murder; states
predominantly African American suburb of Baltimore, with
attorney Ilene Nathan threatens to drop the charges if the
wife Nadine and three children. Bunk worked as a patrolpolice cannot nd key witness Omar Little. Bunk repeatman in Baltimores Southwestern District before becoming
edly reminds McNulty of this, and eventually McNulty nds
a homicide detective.
Omar with help from Bubbles. Omar testies, and Bird is
imprisoned for a maximum term.
Season 1
Later, Bunk and Russell return to the port in Philadelphia
Bunk serves as Jimmy McNulty's lone ally in the homicide
unit, informing him of its happenings while chiding him
for getting involved in the Barksdale case. He is also the
primary investigator for the murder of William Gant, who
testied against D'Angelo Barksdale. Omar Little informs
Bunk that the shooter is a Barksdale soldier called Bird, and
agrees to testify against him in court. Because of this, Bunk
persuades his colleague Detective Cole not to arrest Omar
for the murder of Stinkum. When Omar is at the police
station, Bunk discovers they went to the same high school,
beginning an ongoing association between the two.
and nd video evidence implicating Sergei, whose testimony leads to the solving of the Jane Doe murders, as well
as aiding the Major Case units investigation into Frank
Sobotka.
Season 3
Bunk is also one of the investigators of Stringer Bell's murder, during which Bunk uses the acronym BNBG - Big
Negro, Big Gun - to sum up witness Andy Krawczyk's
stereotypical description of the murderer.[2] Bunk realizes
Omar was the shooter but does not conclude the case. After the investigation, he tells McNulty the citys homicide
rate will probably reach 300 by New Years, noticing how
McNulty has slowed down on his consumption of alcohol.
79
Landsman points out that Bunk is simply changing the date
while submitting essentially the same report. Bunk angrily
asserts that he is forced to repeat his requests as he is still
waiting for the crime lab to process evidence on 14 of the
22 murders. Bunk nally gets a DNA match on Chris Partlow for an unrelated murder, but agrees to delay his case in
order to allow the Marlo Staneld wire tap to continue.
Freamon transfers back to Homicide, and the two are partnered again. Freamon manages to nd Lexs body and, in
the process, more than twenty other bodies, all of which
are linked to Marlo Staneld after Bunk gets key testimony
from Lexs mother.
Season 5
4.5
Lester Freamon
4.5.1
Bunk remains angry at McNulty and refocuses his attention on the vacant house murders. Bunk delivers a report Detective Lester Freamon is a veteran of the force who esto Landsman that is placed immediately into a desk drawer. tablished a reputation as what Bunk Moreland called natu-
80
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Season 2
81
ens his protgs Greggs and Sydnor, whom he claims will
be the victim of Freamons mistakes. Freamon agrees to
allow the wiretap to be disconnected, but refuses to work
under Marimow.
Out of respect for his shrewd investigative tactics, Rawls
transfers Freamon back into the Homicide Unit, where
Bunk has been investigating the murder of Staneld drug
dealer Fruit and the disappearance of suspect Curtis Lex
Anderson. They both recognize that Staneld likely had
Lex killed in retribution, but are unable to nd the body
anywhere. Freamon further observes that Staneld is not
tied to any murders since the Barksdale Gang War ended,
and begins to scour Baltimore for any trace of the bodies he
knows must be hidden somewhere.
Herc unwittingly provides Freamon with a key clue, a nail
gun he noticed when he pulled over Chris and Snoop.
Pryzbylewski, now a teacher, provides second-hand information through one of his students, Randy Wagsta, who
knows where Lex was killed. While checking abandoned
row houses in that immediate area, Freamon notices that
one of the doors was nailed in while the others were screwed
shut, and realizes that Lexs body must be in that house. He
further concludes that the Staneld Organization is leaving
bodies in row houses all over the City. With the nails identifying which houses are doubling as tombs, more than twenty
bodies are found.
82
Freamon heralds the Davis investigation as a career case
but is unable to let go of the work he has done on Staneld.
Freamon continues surveillance of Staneld in his own time
and is pleased to nd that Staneld is already dropping his
guard now that he is no longer under observation. Freamon
and McNulty meet with FBI agent Terrence Fitzhugh seeking federal support for a renewed Staneld investigation but
have no success.[6][7]
McNulty decides to secure funding for the Staneld investigation by creating the illusion of a serial killer to draw media attention to the police department. Bunk Moreland is
outraged that McNulty is interfering with crime scenes and
falsifying case notes as part of his plan and enlists Freamon
to talk sense into McNulty. McNulty has faked the strangulation of a homeless man who probably died of an overdose.
Bunks involving Freamon backres when Freamon decides
that McNulty hasn't gone far enough and suggests that he
should make it more media-friendly by sensationalizing the
killer.[8][9]
Sydnor uncovers evidence that Davis has lied on a mortgage
application and Freamon realizes it is signicant enough to
le federal charges. Rupert Bond decides not to le the new
charge as passing the case over to federal prosecutors would
cost him the opportunity to raise his political prole. Bond
has Pearlman hold a grand jury deposition for Davis and
stages a photo opportunity as Davis leaves the court house
to mark Davis as his target. Davis is acquitted following an
incredible performance on the witness stand. Lester tries
to get the U.S. Attorneys oce to prosecute Clay Davis for
lying on his mortgage application (information Bond did not
use in the failed city prosecution); while the oce declines
because Davis is now a hero in Baltimore, Lester uses the
information to blackmail Davis for information about a leak
at the courthouse.
McNulty and Freamon collaborate on raising the prole of
their fake serial killer, resulting in Freamon adding a sexual
motive and supplying a set of dentures to create bite marks
on the victims. They conduct actual canvassing among
the homeless as a cover. Freamon also recruits his old patrol partner Oscar Requer to look out for recently deceased
bodies of homeless men. They soon have their next fake
victim and McNulty mocks up the crime scene and mutilates the body to imply another murder.[10]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
out that the clock code is relaying location information for
face-to-face meetings. Lester uses the code to the bust a
re-supply for the New Day Coop members in which most
of the Staneld organization is arrested and a large quantity
of heroin is conscated.
Lester is upset that Jimmy McNulty told Kima about the
fake serial-killer plan. Kima informs Daniels of the hoax.
After Daniels and Pearlman look into it and discover the
illegal wiretap and realize how damaging it will be to the
Staneld case, they inform Mayor Carcetti. Lesters fate is
sealed along with McNultys. Pearlman tells them they will
not face jail but will never again be allowed to do real police work, instead being buried in back-room units where
nothing they do could ever be seen in a courtroom. Lester
laments the loss of tracking Marlos money trail, but takes
the retirement, makes peace with Kima, and is last seen in
the end-of-season montage putting together dollhouse furniture in the company of Shardene.
4.5.2
Critical response
4.5.3
References
[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
[3] Character prole - Detective Lester Freamon.
2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
HBO.
4.6. HERC
4.6 Herc
For other uses, see Herc (disambiguation).
Thomas Herc Hauk is a ctional character on the HBO
drama The Wire played by actor Domenick Lombardozzi.
The series introduces Herc as a detective in the Baltimore
Police Department's Narcotics Unit, begrudgingly detailed
to the initial Barksdale investigation. He is generally portrayed as encapsulating the failings of the contemporary
Baltimore police ocer: simple-minded, concerned with
petty street arrests and minor drug charges, and priding
himself and his colleagues on 'banging heads. He is also
partner and loyal friend to Ellis Carver, the two rarely being unpaired until later seasons. Following his promotion
to Sergeant, he is dismissed from the force, subsequently
nding employment as a private investigator for attorney and invariant legal advisor for drug organisations - Maurice
Levy.
83
tioned on the wiretap might leave them exposed. Some of
the money still goes missing when the bag rips in their trunk.
After Lieutenant Daniels confronts them about the missing
money, Carver begins to suspect Herc has stolen it, until it
is found in the spare-wheel well of the car. This also gets
both of them on the wrong side of Daniels, who assumes
they simply stole and then returned the money. Later, while
raiding a drug stash in Pimlico, Herc and Carver do steal
money for themselves.[1]
With little study, Herc takes and passes the sergeants exam,
placing 18 on the list of ranked, passing ocers. After celebrating he nds out that he will not in fact be promoted,
likely because of past brutality allegations (none of which
are conrmed, but all of which are true). Carver, however,
who ranks 37, is promoted to Sergeant after acting as a spy
in the detail on behalf of Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell.
Season 2
When the detail is disbanded, Herc moves back to Narcotics, investigating white East-Side dealers. Daniels
brings Herc into Major Valcheks detail investigating Frank
Season 1
Sobotka, recognizing Hercs stomach for the tedium of
Herc and Ellis Carver typically worked as a pair in Nar- surveillance work. At Hercs request, Daniels also brings
cotics, and both are intimidated by Kima Greggs' ability Carver back but refuses to recognize his promotion; Greggs
and annoyed at her superior attitude towards them. All remains lead detective for the detail.
three join the Barksdale detail headed by their shift Lieu- Herc is again partnered with Carver and the two investigate
tenant Cedric Daniels. Herc and Carver get into trouble drug dealing around the docks area. Herc plays the key unearly on in the investigation when, along with Detective dercover role, dealing with the mostly white drug dealers in
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski, they drunkenly charge into a the Polish docks neighborhood of Baltimore.
Barksdale-controlled housing project and harass a group of
The two use a high-priced listening device concealed within
youths. While there, Prez pistol whips one of the youths,
a tennis ball to gain information then, after the device is
blinding him in one eye and nearly inciting a riot. Herc
damaged, fabricate a condential informant named Fuzzy
is slightly injured during the incident when residents begin
Dunlop" (an inside joke between them referencing the tenthrowing bottles and ring at the ocers, but returns early
nis balls texture and manufacturer) and take payments
from his sick leave to take part in raids on Barksdales opmeant for the informant to cover its cost. Through their
eration.
surveillance, they are able to establish a link between
When young dealer Bodie Broadus punches detective Franks nephew and the drug trade.
Patrick Mahone during a raid, Herc, Carver and Greggs
Herc feels unappreciated, as he and Carver are constantly
punish him with a beating. When Bodie later escapes from
relied upon to do tedious leg work for the detail, even having
a juvenile detention center, Herc and Carver pursue and reto install an air conditioner in the home of a judge. After
arrest him; nding that he remains deant they give him anbeing left out in the rain waiting for a suspect who has alother beating. Even so, the three play pool together when
ready turned himself in, Herc convinces Carver they will
they nd themselves having to wait hours to hand Bodie
never be respected in Daniels unit, and they put in for a
over. Hercs character is also humanized somewhat when,
transfer.[2]
in a failed attempt to arrest Bodie at his grandmothers
house, he apologizes to her for his rough language and listens politely as she discusses Bodies troubled past.
Season 3
4.6.1
Biography
When Herc and Carver intercept the Barksdale crews profits for a day by tailing Wee-Bey Brice, Herc considers keep- Herc returns to Narcotics with Carver and works in the
ing some of the money, but Carver realizes that gures men- Western District under Major Colvin. Together they are re-
84
sponsible for running the districts Drug Enforcement Unit
and commanding a squad of dedicated narcotics police including ocers Kenneth Dozerman, Lloyd Truck Garrick, Lambert and Anthony Colicchio.
The DEU squad is responsible for policing Colvins unsanctioned free drug trade zone, nicknamed Hamsterdam.
Herc is critical of the Majors pet project and eventually
leaks details of the zones to the Baltimore Sun. When the
national media begins covering the story Hamsterdam is
soon shut down and Major Colvin is forced to retire as a
lieutenant.[3][4]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
leading him to arrest a church minister. Since the minister is African American and part of a politically inuential
coalition, Herc is accused of harassment and racial proling. The ministers apply pressure to newly elected Mayor
Tommy Carcetti, and Commissioner Burrell pushes the internal aairs division to look into Hercs wrongdoings with
an eye toward nding a palatable excuse for discharging
him. Herc is suspended with pay pending a full trial with
the I.I.D. division. One of the scenes in the season fadeout shows the I.I.D. board delivering the verdict; the phrase
'Conduct Unbecoming' can clearly be heard.
Season 5
Season 4
Herc is working the security detail for Mayor Clarence
Royce, when he stumbles across the mayor receiving fellatio
from his assistant in his oce. Major Stanislaus Valchek
advises Herc how to turn the mishap to his advantage and
quickly make rank. The Mayor quickly surmises Hercs
desire for promotion and demonstrates his willingness to
help Hercs career in exchange for his discretion. Royce
calls Burrell and demands that Herc be promoted to the
rst opening for sergeant. He receives the sergeants post in
the Major Crimes Unit under Lieutenant Charles Marimow,
but soon loses his rabbi when Royce loses the Democratic
mayoral primary. He and Marimow clash over methods,
and Herc shows no respect for his leadership abilities.
Herc takes a police camera to spy on Marlo Staneld without Marimow or a courts approval. Stanelds crew realize
they are being lmed and give fake information (prompting Herc to detain an innocent woman) and then steal the
camera. Herc attributes the fake information to the ctitious informant Fuzzy Dunlop. While attempting to retrieve the camera, Herc interviews Randy Wagsta, who
has knowledge about the murder of Lex, one of Boadie
Broaduss drug dealers. However, Herc later mistakenly reveals Randys cooperation to a conspirator to the murder,
Little Kevin; this information gets back to Staneld and results in Randy being labeled a snitch, eventually leading
to the injury of Randys foster mother and Randys placement in a group home. Still attempting to retrieve the camera, Herc pulls over Chris and Snoop and nds a nail gun
which ultimately proves to be an important clue for Lester
Freamon's investigation into the murders of Lex and Little
Kevin.
Greggs, now in Homicide and no longer in need of a drugs
informant, puts Bubbles in touch with Herc, who believes
he will be able to appease Marimow if he links Staneld to
a murder. Herc agrees to help Bubbles with his problems
if in return he helps Herc nd a witness to Fruits murder.
However, Herc repeatedly lets Bubbles down, and so, to get
back at Herc, Bubbles provides him with bad information,
Herc is now working as an investigator for defense attorney Maurice Levy, who has previously represented the
Barksdale Organization. Herc is able to provide Levy with
information from his contacts inside the Baltimore Police
Department, including Ellis Carver,[5] but he is irritated
when Levy takes on Marlo Staneld as a client. Herc meets
Carver for drinks and admits feelings of remorse for some
of his actions as a police ocer.[6] He attempts to redeem
himself by making a note of Stanelds condential phone
number from Levys Rolodex and handing it to Carver (who
then passes it on to Lester Freamon).
In the nal episode, however, Herc tells Levy that a wiretap has probably been used in the Staneld investigation a
wiretap which Levy realizes must be illegal. This tip allows
Levy to keep Marlo Staneld out of prison. A grateful Levy
tells Herc he has done well and invites him to dinner at his
home, as Herc is now mishpochah (Hebrew for family).
Herc congratulates Carver on his promotion to lieutenant.
He is last seen in the end-of-season montage at the bar buying drinks for his former colleagues.
4.6.2
Production
4.6.3
Reception
4.6.4
References
85
code-breaking and paper-trail skills, he is never truly comfortable as a police ocer. By contrast, he later becomes a
dedicated and capable teacher.
Season one
86
the FBI agents present during the incident would arm that
Prez hit Valchek only after the latter had shoved and cursed
at him. Valchek agrees that Prez can return to the detail
following a written letter of apology and two months of
working the midnight shift as a narcotics detective in his
district.[1]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
that if he is lying their friendship is over. Prez drives o
disappointed but not surprised when he sees Dukie is using
the money to support his newly developed drug addiction.
4.7.2
Origins
Season four
Prez starts a new career as a math teacher at Edward Tilghman Middle School. As a teacher, he becomes attached to
the students in his classroom, even going as far as to assist neglected student Duquan Dukie Weems with laundry and food that his family does not provide for him (they
are known to sell his possessions for drug money). After
Randy admits to knowing about Lexs murder, Prez passes
the information on to Bunk. He later nds out that Randy
has been labelled a snitch after Herc mishandles an interview with Randy and is disappointed with his friends at the
precinct. Later, Prez discovers that Dukie is no longer attending middle school and is working on the corner. Prez
sees through the school systems aws, but adapts well, and
becomes a dedicated teacher who enjoys helping his students advance through class.
4.8.1
Biography
Season 1
87
tigating Frank Sobotka, telling Carver that since he had
been caught going outside the chain of command before,
it was unlikely that he would try something similar again.
Daniels only condition was that Carver would not be treated
as a sergeant in the detail, as he felt that Carver had not
earned his promotion and would instead report to Detective
Greggs. Carver was again partnered with Herc and the two
investigated drug dealing around the docks area. They fabricated a condential informant, actually using a listening
device, and took payments meant for the informant to cover
the cost. However, they did establish a link between Nick
Sobotka and drug trade near the docks.
Season 2
88
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.8.2
Reception
4.8.3
References
89
member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.
4.9.1
Biography
Season one
Sydnor was assigned to the Barksdale detail from the Auto
Theft Department after Lieutenant Daniels requested Sydnors commanding ocer, Lt. Cantrell, give him his best
detective to balance out having to take his worst the
erratic Detective Pryzbylewski. Once in the detail, he
was partnered with Detective Lester Freamon and the pair
looked into the Barksdale organisations paper trail. Sydnor
also performed valuable undercover work, making handto-hand buys to build evidence, alongside Detective Kima
Greggs and her informant Bubbles. Sydnors initial attempt
to disguise himself as a junkie was not credible he still
looked too clean and middle-class so Bubbles helped him
correct the disguise, recommending subtle but important
changes such as not wearing his wedding band (you're married to the needle, boy) and walking on empty drug vials so
that the shards stuck in the soles of his shoes. Sydnor was
also responsible for identifying Avon Barksdale at the annual West-Side versus East-Side basketball game. He later
told Freamon, who had become something of a mentor to
the young detective, that the Barksdale investigation was
the best police work he had ever done.
Season three
[2] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
Sydnor returned to working in his old district after the dissolution of the Barksdale detail. When Daniels established
a permanent Major Case Unit he was allowed to choose his
own detectives and encouraged Sydnor to transfer in. Sydnor took up the oer and again worked on investigating the
Barksdale organization.[1]
Season four
In Season four, the Major Case Unit was investigating
Marlo Staneld in addition to the Barksdale money trail.
With Cedric Daniels promoted to Major, Lester Freamon
was the de facto commander of the unit, having been allowed to hand-pick their shift lieutenant Jimmy Asher, a
soon-to-retire ocer who took an entirely hands-o approach to the units investigations. When the money trail
led investigation to major political gures, Sydnor worried about the potential damage to his career; nonetheless,
he personally delivered a subpoena for nancial records to
State Senator Clayton Clay Davis.[2]
90
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.10
Beadie Russell
Season ve
ous. She took the job because she needed the pay to support
her two young children after her husband abandoned them;
before her appointment, she worked collecting tolls, though
it didn't represent a decent income. Russells parents often help her with the kids. She found the job unchallenging
and spent most of her time patrolling the docks and checking shipping manifests. She developed a friendly working
relationship with many of the stevedores, including Frank
Sobotka, though she was kept out of the loop regarding major criminal activities within the stevedores union because
of the Port Authoritys lack of manpower.
91
mal goods to test the waters, Russell inadvertently tips the
investigations hand by having her colleagues in the port authority stop it. Frank later checks with other port ocers
who tell him she is still working with the detail, contrary to
what she previously told him, and conrming his suspicions
that he is being investigated. Despite these mis-steps, Russell gains the respect of the ocers in the Sobotka detail.
At the end of their investigation, when the focus shifts past
Sobotka, Russell is entrusted with following Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos to a key meeting with The Greek. She
comes through, delivering the location of the meeting, and
enables the surveillance crew to get a photograph of Vondas
and his lawyer. The detail loses Vondas trail.
92
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Season 5
By the rst episode of season 5, Jimmy McNulty is lying
about late nights at work to cover his drinking and womanizing. Despite leaving him briey, the two are reconciled by
the end of the season: she is last seen sitting with McNulty
on her doorstep watching the moon, with her head on his
shoulder.
4.10.2
References
4.11.1
Biography
Season 1
Daniels was a narcotics lieutenant in season one and shift
commander for Detectives Kima Greggs, Ellis Carver and
Thomas Herc Hauk. Daniels commanding ocer was
Major Raymond Foerster.
When Detective McNulty prompted Judge Phelan to start
asking questions about the Barksdale drug dealing organization, Major Foerster came to Daniels for more information. He wasn't able to oer much as the narcotics division
were unaware of Barksdale. He had Greggs write a report
and, soon after, Daniels was given command of the Barksdale Detail. He nominated Greggs as lead detective and
described her as the best he had to Foerster. He met with
Deputy Commissioner Burrell who told him the case should
be made with buy busts in a fast, straightforward investigation.
Daniels discussed his new assignment with his ambitious Herc and Carver continued to be problematic for Daniels.
wife, Marla. They worried that it might slow his progression
93
pleasantries with a newly minted major, a position that he
had been on the fast track for. However, he has won the
respect of his unit for a dedication to their cases, which surpasses that of their other commanding ocers.
Season 2
Daniels was reassigned to the evidence division following
the dissolution of the Barksdale detail. He was given the
post as punishment for defying Burrell, despite the investigation producing several arrests. Trapped in what seemed
to be a dead-end job, Daniels planned to leave the department and become a lawyer.
He was given a second chance when Major Valchek insisted (on Prezs recommendation) that Daniels be given
command of a special detail he had requested to investigate union leader Frank Sobotka. Daniels realized Valchek
had asked for him personally in exchange for oering Burrell political support and used this fact to leverage several promises from Burrell. Daniels stood his ground even
though Burrell had the DEA le on Danielss unexplained
income. Daniels later conded to his wife that Burrell
knew, conrming that the allegations against Daniels were
correct. Daniels insisted on picking his own detectives this
time and forced Burrell to agree that if the investigation
was successful then Daniels would become commander of
a permanent unit.
94
The investigation progressed and the detail linked Sobotkas
union to a smuggling operation run by a mysterious gure
called The Greek, Sobotkas nephew Nick was proven to
be involved in drug dealing and Sobtokas son Ziggy was
arrested for a homicide during the investigation. Ziggy
killed George Double G Glekas in a warehouse involved
in the Greeks smuggling. Danielss detail was not informed
of Ziggys arrest and this gave The Greeks time to clear
out the warehouse. Valchek became disillusioned with
Daniels when he learned that the focus was shifting away
from Sobotka onto The Greek and he involved the FBI.
Valchek insulted the detail and Prez in a heated meeting
and Daniels was forced to once again defend Prez after
he punched Valchek. Daniels quickly collected statements
from all the ocers and agents present and successfully
convinced Valchek it would be best to accept an apology
from Prez.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
her dissatisfaction at his failure to progress in the Police
Department. He found that her attempt to enter politics after their separation further hindered his climb through the
ranks, as she was running in opposition to a close ally of the
mayors. Nonetheless, he continued to support her through
her political career, attending functions in uniform and acting the part of a devoted husband. After his separation
from his wife, Daniels briey was living in the detail oce,
then, after moving into a bachelor apartment, started a relationship with Rhonda Pearlman. Cedric remained skeptical
about making the relationship between him and Pearlman
public as he is still appearing as Marlas husband in order to
help promote her bid for city council. Daniels claims that it
will look bad for Marlas political career for him to be seen
separated from her with a white woman.
Throughout the season, he was commended several times
throughout the department due to his good police work.
He was commended by Stanislaus Valchek, Deputy Rawls,
Major Colvin, and even Commissioner Burrell amongst
other commanding ocers. This, however, was not enough
for Daniels, whose promotion to major was supposedly delayed due to his wifes political conicts. Daniels also felt
that Burrell was purposefully holding him back due to past
incidents. Daniels became even more angered when the
Major Case targets were changed courtesy of McNulty,
who went around the chain of command to retarget Stringer
Bell and Avon Barksdale. This earned McNulty Danielss
wrath as he then told McNulty to nd another unit to work in
following the arrest of Bell. At the end of season three, Bell
died but Barksdale was arrested courtesy of Major Colvin,
who was then forced to retire from the department due to
his Hamsterdam experiment. Following Barksdales arrest, he was nally promoted to major when the fallout over
Colvins Hamsterdam zone caused the Mayor to throw his
support behind Marla. Daniels was hence given the Western
District which was previously commanded by Colvin.[2][3]
95
Daniels realized that on a personal level, McNulty was bet- in the Eastern Districts Drug Enforcement Unit to prevent
ter o in patrol.
Daniels from getting his chair as commissioner.
Kima Greggs meets with Daniels to discuss a transfer after Lieutenant Charlie Marimow takes over major crimes.
Daniels suggest a move to homicide, and successfully meets
with Deputy Commissioner William Rawls to facilitate the
transfer.
After nding out that his student Randy Wagsta knows information about Curtis Lex Andersons murder, Roland
Prez Pryzbylewski (now a schoolteacher) meets with
Daniels. Daniels suggests Ellis Carver as the person Prez
should consult about the matter. Daniels questions Prezs
interest and Prez tells him he cares about Randy because he
is one of his students.
Following the mayoral election, Daniels attends a COMSTAT meeting chaired by Commissioner Ervin Burrell and
Deputy Rawls. He tells his commanders that the homicide
rate has dropped while other felony rates have risen. Primary victor Carcetti arrives to observe the meeting, later
discussing the possibility of removing Burrell from commissioner, and possibly replacing him. However, he is
warned that he would not be able to due to racial issues.
In the meeting, Carcetti observes that Daniels is more interested in quality felony arrests than statistical reductions
on crime.
Carcetti next encounters Daniels while riding along with
some Baltimore police ocers who are called to a shooting. Daniels is the duty ocer and is procient in controlling the crime scene. Carcetti is impressed and learns from
his accompanying ocers that Daniels is more respected
than most other commanding ocers in the department.
Carcetti invites Daniels to lunch and oers him a promotion
to Colonel commanding the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) under Rawls. Daniels was ocially promoted at
the same ceremony as Major Stanislaus Valchek. Commissioner Burrell, becoming suspicious of the recent change of
rank in the department, starts wondering about his future.
Burrell is especially worried about Danielss promotion because he realizes Mayor Carcetti wants to re him but needs
an African American replacement in a majority-black city
like Baltimore to do so. As Daniels suddenly rose in rank
in going from Shift Lieutenant to CID colonel in just over
one year, earned the mayors favor through his policing
strategies, and is African-American, Burrell sees Daniels
as Carcettis in-house choice of replacement. State Senator
Clay Davis and Burrell are both wary of Daniels and convince the city council president Nerese Campbell that he
is not a good candidate for police commissioner. They tell
Campbell that he cares more about serving Carcetti than the
citys African American community and that he is less the
saint he pretends to be. This implies that Burrell is willing
to revisit the excessive income charges from Danielss days
Season 5
Daniels is outraged when Mayor Tommy Carcetti decides
to close the major crimes unit due to budgetary problems
after over a year of investigative work into the vacant house
murders, the Staneld Organization and corruption linked
to Senator Clay Davis. He discusses it with his domestic partner, Assistant States Attorney Rhonda Pearlman,
and they approach States Attorney Rupert Bond together.
Bond and Daniels arrange a meeting with Carcetti to appeal
the decision but Carcetti has little time for them. Bond is
able to convince Carcetti to allow a two-man detail for the
Davis case. Daniels is outraged that the corruption charge
has been given priority over the murders, saying So one
thieving politician trumps 22 dead bodies. Good to know.
Daniels reluctantly reassigns Kima Greggs and Jimmy McNulty to homicide and keeps Lester Freamon and Leander
Sydnor for the Davis detail.[5][6]
Carcetti nally accrues the political capital he needs to
re Commissioner Ervin Burrell when Burrell delivers false
crime statistics to Carcetti. Carcetti plans to re Burrell and
temporarily promote Rawls to acting commissioner with
Daniels serving as Deputy Commissioner of Operations to
prepare him to take over as commissioner. Carcetti leaks
the story to The Baltimore Sun to gauge reaction to Daniels.
The story runs with a quote invented by Scott Templeton
and attributed to a city hall source. The quote falsely implicates Daniels in causing Burrells departure.[7][8]
Daniels discusses the story with Pearlman and while she is
ecstatic he is concerned about Templetons quote. Daniels
meets with his ex-wife Marla to discuss Burrells potential
reaction to the story. They are both worried that Burrell will
reveal evidence of corruption from Danielss past. Marla
96
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
suggests that Burrell will use what he knows about Daniels [8] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
to try to retain his position as commissioner. Marla suggests
that Daniels approach Burrell and promise not to take the
commissioner post. Daniels thinks that Burrell might not [9] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
have any more than assets investigations but Marla reminds
him that his past has already cost their marriage, which was [10] Clark Johhnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season
a high enough price, and that rumor will be enough to pre5. Episode 10. HBO.
vent him from becoming commissioner.[7][8]
Daniels approaches Burrell to plead his innocence but is met
with the silent treatment. City Council President Nerese 4.12 William Rawls
Campbell convinces Burrell to leave quietly in exchange for
a comfortable replacement position. Carcetti holds a press
William A. Bill Rawls is a ctional character on the
conference to announce the promotions.[9]
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over
During the nal episode Daniels is promoted to Commis- the course of The Wire, Rawls ascends through the higher
sioner after the homeless killings and the case of the mur- ranks of the Baltimore Police Department, eventually beders in the abandoned houses is solved. However, after re- coming Deputy Commissioner of Operations and, at the
fusing to juke the stats and Campbells threats of reveal- end of Season 5, Superintendent of the Maryland State Poing Burrells dossier, he resigns from the force. His last act lice. His career pre-occupation is often portrayed as detrias police commissioner is to confer a set of promotions, in- mental to both eective law enforcement and those under
cluding that of Ellis Carver to Lieutenant. In the nal ash- his command; seen, for example, in his repeated attempts
forward montage, Daniels is shown practicing as a criminal to renegotiate his responsibility for case-work.
defense lawyer before Pearlman as a newly commissioned
When Rawls is promoted to Deputy Commissioner, he is
judge.[10]
put in charge of the weekly ComStat meetings. During
these meetings, he often berates and chastises his Majors
when they make mistakes or are unable to control crime
4.11.2 Production
rate in their respective jurisdictions. He proves to be a
no-nonsense leader, although his tough demeanor is usuCasting
ally aided by his obstinance and crude wit, typically downLance Reddick was cast in the role after auditioning for speaking and dismissing suggestions he nds unsuitable.
the parts of Bunk Moreland and Bubbles. He was told Little is disclosed of Rawls personal life aside from alluthat they were looking for a name to ll the Daniels role. sions to his closet homosexuality and his (only spoken-of)
Reddick has described the character as serious, intense and wife and children.
committed.[4]
4.12.1
4.11.3
Biography
References
Season 1
[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
[3] Character prole - Lieutenant Cedric Daniels.
2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
HBO.
Rawls was a Major and commanding ocer of the Homicide unit in Season 1. He is a careerist, concerned only
with maintaining the case clearance record of his unit, and
is extremely demanding of his detectives. He was enraged
when Detective Jimmy McNulty went around him to Judge
Phelan to encourage further investigation of the Barksdale
organization. He confronted McNulty about his insubordination and told him that McNulty had his attention. At the
request for manpower and instruction of Deputy Burrell,
Rawls sent McNulty and Santangelo to the Barksdale detail
as they were two detectives he no longer wanted (Burrell did
not want to see good police work in the case, so he told the
unit commanders to dump their squads of detectives that
were either useless or unwanted). Santangelo was apparently not meeting his clearance quotas and was then used
97
Season 2
Rawls was promoted to colonel, partly on the basis of McNultys work on the Barksdale case, but his former detective
remained a thorn in his side. When McNulty came across
a body on marine patrol, Rawls managed to convince another department that the case belonged to them. McNulty
used wind and tide charts to prove that the death occurred
in Rawls jurisdiction. When thirteen dead women were
found in a cargo container at the ports, Rawls again tried
Season 3
Rawls was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Operations when Burrell became Commissioner.[2] They preside
over weekly COMSTAT meetings with their district commanders. Rawls is ruthless in his pursuit of complete accountability and awareness from his subordinates. As Commissioner, Burrell would write the orders from the Mayors
oce, and Rawls as Deputy for operations would then ensure that these orders were enforced. Rawls responsibility
in the COMSTAT meetings was to interrogate individual
commanders about their performance while Burrell would
then make a decision as to what needed to be done by the
commander in order that they could remain in their post.
While Rawls berated several Shift Commanders over the
season, he commended Lieutenant Daniels on a number of
occasions as the type of commander he saw as both dedicated and competent. When Daniels was reassigned to target Stringer Bell, Rawls claimed that it was Cedric Daniels
to the rescue.
In a scene which takes place in a gay bar, Rawls is shown
briey in the background. He is out of uniform and holding
a drink. He has a smile on his face and appears to be at
ease in the environment, suggesting that Rawls is probably
gay.[3] However in the rst episode of season one he has a
photograph on his desk with his wife and daughter suggesting he might be closeted.
98
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
During the shutdown of Hamsterdam, Rawls personally orders the mobilization of the Quick Response Team (QRT)
and drives into the thick of it with his car radio playing
Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, an obvious homage
to the infamous scene from Apocalypse Now, subsequently
acknowledged in the DVD commentary for the episode.
This goes against Colvins wish that no mass arrests would
take place and also denies Daniels a QRT unit for the takedown of the Barksdale organization.
Season 5
Rawls continues to serve as Deputy Commissioner for Operations and begins to work amiably with Commissioner
Ervin Burrell again. Mayor Tommy Carcetti puts the department under severe strain by cutting their funding and
failing to deliver on his promises to initiate change. Rawls
has to deal with extremely low morale amongst all ocers
and is still expected to deliver a reduction in the crime rate
by Carcetti.[5][6] Rawls and Burrell continue to manipulate
their statistics.[7][8] The altered statistics are discovered by
Carcetti giving him the political ammunition he has been
waiting for to re Burrell. Carcetti plans to move Rawls to
acting commissioner while he prepares Cedric Daniels to
take over the post permanently.[9][10] The transitions in the
police department were ocially announced at a press conference attended by Carcetti, Burrell, Rawls and Daniels.[11]
In the series nale, Rawls is seen being sworn in as the
Superintendent of the Maryland State Police as a reward for
his loyalty to Carcetti and his allowing Valchek to become
4.12.2
Origins
4.12.3
References
99
4.13.1
Biography
[3] Ed Bianchi (2004-11-28). "Reformation". The Wire. Season 3. Episode 10. HBO.
Season 1
[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
The ambitious Deputy Commissioner Burrell plans to ascend to Commissioner, a post held by Warren Frazier
[5] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. throughout the second season. Burrells primary responsibility is to ensure that Fraziers directives are obeyed
Season 5. Episode 1. HBO.
throughout the department. He consistently shows more in[6] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. terest in making good headlines rather than good cases.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
Burrell next orders the detail to perform an undercover operation, which ends in disaster and result in the shooting of
Detective Kima Greggs. The high-prole shooting prompts
more involvement from Frazier, who, along with Burrell,
try to project the image of a strong department to the public by seizing a large amount of narcotics. In retaliation
for the shooting, Burrell insists that Daniels detail raid the
100
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Season 4
Burrell continued as police Commissioner and remained a
key member of Mayor Clarence Royce's inner circle. Royce
was outraged when the major crimes unit served subpoenas
against key political gures without his knowledge. After
a dressing down from the Mayor, Burrell promised to prevent any more surprises from his department. Burrell then
asked Deputy Commissioner William Rawls if Detective
Jimmy McNulty was responsible for this given his previous
acts of insubordination, but Rawls suggested Lester Freamon was behind the subpoenas as McNulty had left the unit.
Rawls recommended controlling the subpoenas by proper
supervision of the unit which involved removing the lenient
Lieutenant Jimmy Asher and replacing him with a hostile
and caustic commander named Lieutenant Charles Marimow.
101
the veteran primary investigator, Ed Norris, and replace
him with Kima Greggs, now a rookie homicide detective.
This proved to be a mistake as the change of investigators
was leaked to the press. Mayor Royce then summoned Burrell and Deputy Commissioner Rawls criticizing Burrell for
the problems within his department that allowed the leak.
Royce angrily dismissed Burrell only to keep Deputy Rawls
after the discussion. Royce admired Rawls loyal subordination to the chain of command and claimed that he would
not forget Rawls clearing these incidents up implying that
Burrell would lose his commissioners post following the
election. Royce however lost to Tommy Carcetti in the
democratic primary election and Burrell managed to keep
his commissioners post.
Once Carcetti was elected he asked Burrell to resign as commissioner. Burrell refused and told Carcetti that he would
have to re him and that if he leaves, he will not go quietly.
Carcetti at the same time could not re Burrell without having ready an African American replacement due to political
reasons. Finding a replacement was further complicated by
a lack of ranking African American ocers in the department besides Burrell. There was only one African American Deputy Commissioner named Hawthorne who was 70
years old and no African American ocers over the rank
of Colonel. The next highest ranking African Americans in
the department were Majors and Shift Lieutenants most of
whom such as Major Bobby Reed were loyal to Burrell and
his method of policing. Carcetti decided to strip Burrell of
his power as commissioner and give all decision making up
to Deputy Commissioner Rawls while leaving Burrell as a
gurehead for the press and ministers.
Burrell was concerned when Carcetti ordered the promotion of Cedric Daniels to Colonel and Criminal Investigations Division commander. Burrell viewed Daniels as
being nothing more than Mayor Carcettis Boy and was
afraid that Carcetti planned to make Daniels his replacement. With Daniels promotion from Major to Colonel after only a short time as Major, Burrells future in the department appeared to be less and less certain.[2][3]
102
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Season 5
[6] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
Burrell continues to serve as Commissioner more than a
year into Carcettis term, and is forced to deal with massive
spending cuts despite the Mayors promises that the BPD [7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
would receive more funding. Morale in the department is
extremely low as Burrell cuts operating funds as instructed.
However, he successfully convinces Carcetti to lift the cap [8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
on secondary employment in order to bolster morale.[4][5]
Meanwhile, Clay Davis faces a corruption investigation by
[9] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
the Major Crimes Unit (MCU), and appeals to Burrell for
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
protection. Burrell is unable to do so, as Daniels commands
both the CID and the MCU and enjoys a direct connection
[10] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
to Carcetti. Davis angrily threatens Burrell.[6][7]
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Carcetti is leaked a copy of statistics showing an increase in crime by Deputy Commissioner for Administration Stanislaus Valchek. Valchek hopes to usurp Burrells
4.14 Stanislaus Valchek
position as commissioner but Carcetti decides that he will
have to accept rising crime given the funding cuts he has
imposed. However, Burrell delivers altered statistics to Stanislaus Stan Valchek is a ctional character on the
the Mayor despite Carcettis insistence on clean numbers. HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Al Brown.
Carcetti nally has the political capital he needs to re Burrell and leaks a story about a potential shake up in the police department to the papers. Burrell is devastated when 4.14.1 Biography
he reads the story, which relates that Carcetti will promote
Rawls to acting commissioner temporarily while Daniels is Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Southgroomed for the job with a short posting as Deputy Com- eastern district, home to many of the remaining white ethmissioner (Carcetti does not think Valchek is suitable).[8][9] nic neighborhoods in Baltimore. A politician more than
Burrell plans to expose Daniels history of corruption but is a policeman, he is well-connected and is on good terms
talked into leaving quietly by city council president Nerese with various Democratic organizations close to City Hall,
Campbell. Campbell uses the promise of a lucrative re- most notably the politically inuential developer Andrew
placement position to mollify Burrell. Burrell agrees to at- Krawczyk. In Season 4 Tommy Carcetti suggests that
tend a press conference with Carcetti and to allow the tran- Valchek was named commander of the Southeastern Police
sitions in the department to go ahead in order to secure his District because it is a position reserved for either Greek
new job. In a humanizing moment when facing his depar- American or Polish American commanders in the departture, Burrell revealed his bitterness at having to accommo- ment. His political savvy led to a quick and easy rise
date interference and schizophrenic policy making from the through the ranks, despite being disliked by commanding
Mayors oce throughout his career. He warned Rawls that ocers such as Commissioner Ervin Burrell and Deputy
Commissioner William Rawls. Valchek is Roland Prez
he could expect the same treatment.[10]
Pryzbylewski's father-in-law.
4.13.2
References
Season 1
[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
[2] Character prole - Acting Police Commissioner Ervin Burrel. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
[3] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
103
sonally making the arrest of Sobotka, and held him in the
union oces until he could be publicly dragged out in front
of the press. Sobotka was ultimately killed, but the surveillance van was still being shipped around the world.[1] Although Valchek harbored great animosity towards Sobotka
during the whole season, after Sobotkas death he whispers
Spoczywaj w pokoju (Polish for rest in peace.)
Season 3
Valchek set up a meeting between acting Commissioner
Burrell and Tommy Carcetti, a city councilman from
Valcheks district, knowing that Carcetti was setting up
deals behind the back of Mayor Clarence Royce.
When the Mayor pressured the department to lower the
crime rates, Valchek claimed he would put more foot patrols
in his districts housing projects, use more of his ex squads,
request more overtime and cheat the stats if he needed to
(turning burglaries into larcenies, and downgrading assault
charges amongst other things) in order to reduce the crime
in the southeastern district. In the midst, Valchek was surprised and amused to hear remarks made by Bunny Colvin,
the Western District commander, who stood up to Deputy
Rawls questioning how to juke the stats with regard to
dead bodies. When talking with the other commanders,
Valchek also overheard Colvin suggesting drug legalization
(ostensibly as a joke) to decrease the felonies in his district.
104
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Deputy Commissioner of Administration as a reward for [3] Character prole - Major Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved 2006-07-22.
his loyalty, but described him as a hack and asks Rawls
to keep him from doing any damage. At the promotion ceremony, Valcheks wife and daughter are present while Prez
is conspicuously absent. As departmental power shifted,
and Carcetti began plotting to oust Burrell, Valchek pointed 4.15 Jay Landsman (The Wire)
out to Deputy Commissioner Rawls that newly promoted
Colonel Daniels was more likely to be the next Police Commissioner than Rawls, if only because Daniels is African Jay Landsman is a ctional character on the HBO drama
The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.
American.[3]
Season 5
4.15.1
Valchek is shown early in the season leaking the departments real police statistics over the increased crime rate
to Mayor Tommy Carcetti. He urges that both Burrell and
Rawls should be red for two straight quarters yielding a
4% increase in violent crime. He also suggests that Carcetti
should promote him to Acting Commissioner at least until
Cedric Daniels or another African American is named to
the permanent post. Carcetti and assistant Norman Wilson
both agree that Valchek is unt to deal with the city council
president and ministers alliance, even on an acting basis,
but keep the statistics nonetheless. It is later revealed that
Valchek is a prime source for Baltimore Sun reporter Roger
Twigg.
Unable to take disciplinary action for a crime increase due
to the departments lack of funding, Carcetti decides he will
give Burrell a free pass assuming honest statistics are delivered. When Burrell delivers juked stats showing no increase or decrease in the crime rate, he is unaware of the
crime stats Valchek has leaked to the Mayor. With the clean
and juked statistics in his possession, Carcetti has ammunition to re Burrell and leaks a story to the Baltimore Sun
with Cedric Daniels' photograph in an eort to appease the
citys African American voters about the consideration for
a change of Police Commissioner.
In the series nale, Cedric Daniels is named commissioner
but resigns to prevent an FBI case against him from going
public. Valchek is then promoted to the position of Police
Commissioner (with a full ve-year term) by new mayor
Nerese Campbell. Valchek is not well regarded for his police work throughout the department as mentioned by Detective Leandor Sydnor who speaks with Judge Daniel Phelan about a case and how the current police commissioner
doesn't have an idea of what police work is.
Biography
Policing method
Landsmans role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who rarely participates in investigative work. Landsman generally acts in the best interests
of his subordinates especially those who give him the necessary clearances (closed cases). As a supervisor, Landsman acts on behalf of the wishes of his superior ocers
even though in some cases, he does not necessarily agree
with specic commands. Examples of this are when he is
ordered to have Bunk Moreland nd a hospitalized detectives missing rearm in Season 3 and when a dead states
witness becomes an electoral issue in Season 4. Throughout the series, he is shown as a commander attempting to
strike a balance between loyalty to subordinates and superiors, most often favoring the latter. Landsman has only
been called to solve a few murders on his own as a supervisor. He is generally respectful of criminal suspects with the
exception of his participation in the beating of Bird. Landsman is generally jovial and provides a degree of comic relief
in the series. He also possesses a shrewd understanding of
the subtle politics in the chain of command, almost always
successfully acting in self-preservation and self-promotion
without making many enemies. He states that clearly to
McNulty, during the rst episode of season 2, by saying its
all about self-preservation and it is too bad that McNulty
never learned that. Overall, under Landsmans supervision,
the homicide unit ends up often clearing many of the more
challenging "whodunit" homicides occurring in Baltimore
city proving him to be an eective sergeant within the department. However, he can be mildly bullying and tends to
derive his good humor from schadenfreude though he is not
generally malicious.
4.14.2
References
105
Season 1
tangelo and McNulty out of the unit because they had displeased him by working with the Barksdale detail. Lester
Landsman is a squad sergeant in the homicide division of Freamon returned to homicide after a thirteen-year (and
the Baltimore police department. His commanding o- four month) absence and joined Landsmans squad.
cer was originally William Rawls. Landsmans squad conWhen Rawls was forced to take on the multiple homicide
sists of several of the shows characters - in season one it
case of fourteen unidentied dead women, he entrusted it to
comprised Detectives Jimmy McNulty, Bunk Moreland,
Landsman. Landsman gave the case to Freamon and Bunk
Michael Santangelo, Ray Cole, Ed Norris and Vernon Holtelling them they were his best detectives. When his detecley. Landsman nds the misfortune of the cops in his unit a
tives started working with Cedric Daniels on the Sobotka
constant source of amusement but is also protective of them
detail, Landsman saw the potential to ooad the responsiat times. He is loyal to Rawls and also doggedly pursues the
bility of the case but Daniels initially refused.
high case clearance rates that Rawls aims for but is realistic
Landsman was responsible for the interrogation of Chester
about the capabilities of his detectives.
Ziggy Sobotka after he killed George Double G Glekas.
When McNulty went around the chain of command and
Although Ziggy quickly confessed, Landsman failed to inincurred Rawlss wrath by being detailed to another unit
form Daniels specialized detail about the murder in time
Landsman appeared unsympathetic. He insisted that Mcfor them to become involved. Daniels was irate with LandsNultys work looking at old homicide cases for the detail
man for his lack of forethought when it allowed his targets
be put to his advantage to make up for losing a detective.
to dispose of evidence at the Glekas crime scene.
To this end, he insisted that McNulty look into the Deirdre
Kresson murder case; McNulty was reluctant because the
case appeared unrelated. Landsman was sure a link would Season 3
be found and his intuition later proved correct. However,
Landsman did argue McNultys case with Rawls and man- Landsman appeared as a commanding detective of homiaged to get Rawls to agree that McNulty could return to cide again this season mainly associated with nding the
homicide with a clean slate if the investigation was wrapped service weapon of Ocer Dozerman, whose gun was stolen
up quickly. Despite Landsmans best eorts McNulty re- in a failed undercover buy. He had Bunk Moreland look
mained out of favor with Rawls because he refused to end for the gun, pressuring him intensely until Bunk wrote a
ten-page report stating how unproductive the investigation
the case he was working on prematurely.
became. Bunk claimed that he had more important things
Landsman always maintained a black and twisted humor
to do as he was a murder investigator and the citys homiabout the work of his squad. When Rawls gave Deteccide rate was rising, and Landsman appeared to give Bunk
tive Santangelo an ultimatum of clearing a whodunit case
his blessing to work murders instead. Landsman delivers
by days end Landsman recommended him a psychic. He
the eulogy at the Detectives Wake held for Ray Cole after
claimed that the woman, Madame LaRue, was especially
his sudden death.
gifted in matters of death investigation. Santangelo took
this advice by burying a doll in a grave awaking later that Landsman later appeared following the death of ocer
night to be given evidence in the murder that had occurred. Derrick Waggoner, a black plainclothes ocer accidentally
When Sanny saw that he had been given information re- killed by Detective Pryzbylewski, who had mistaken him
garding an open homicide, he thanked Landsman who then for a criminal. Landsman was personally angry at the death,
told him that the Gypsy routine was a joke and that it had referring to it as a clusterfuck as the ocer murdered
was a six-and-a-half year veteran who was 16th on the curbeen Bunk and McNulty who saved his career.[1]
rent sergeants list with two commendations while Prez was
Landsmans squad handled the case of the killing of
known for his incompetence and still in the department all
Wendell Orlando Blocker and wounding of detective
due to his father-in-law Stan Valchek, the Southeastern disKima Greggs and he was personally involved in the investitrict commander.
gation.
Season 2
Season 4
106
Landsmans squad is boosted by the return of Lester Freamon and the addition of Kima Greggs when a new unit commander drives them out of the major case unit. Landsman
and his detectives constantly tease Greggs when she rst
joins the unit. Political pressure forces Landsman to assign
Greggs, instead of Norris, to the witness murder. When this
information is leaked to the press, Landsman attends a press
conference with Greggs and Norris to diuse the story by
claiming that they were working it together. Greggs feels
used by her superiors and this creates friction between her
and Landsman. Landsman is forced to intercede in the investigation a second time when Norris threatens to break
the case on the eve of the election. Rawls tells him whatever the outcome of the case, one of the candidates will be
put out and it is better to leave it pending until after the
election. Landsman is told to reassign Greggs and Norris to
polling station duty for the day to prevent progress in their
investigation.[2]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.15.2
Origins
Season 5
After Jimmy McNulty is forced out of the police department, Landsman delivers a speech at the wake in McNultys
honor. He cites his insubordination and personality aws
but also says McNulty is the best detective he has ever had
and is sorry for losing him. He fakes breaking out in tears
at the end.
Chapter 5
Law enforcement
5.1 Law enforcement characters of
The Wire
Law enforcement is an integral part of the HBO drama series The Wire. The show has numerous characters in this
eld and their roles range from those enforcing the law at
street level up to those setting laws city wide. The Baltimore City Police Department has been explored in detail
from street level characters to the upper echelons of command. The show has also examined those setting laws in city
politics and touched upon the FBI, the correctional system
and the family of police ocers.
Reports";
Appears in
107
108
Reports";
Reese is a Baltimore division FBI supervisor and the superior of Fitz. She often works with Lieutenant Daniels,
supplying him with resources and running joint cases. She
is approached with the Barksdale case to discuss pursuing
a corruption angle, but Daniels decided that is not the direction he wanted. Her team also work alongside Daniels
detail investigating union corruption in the Baltimore ports.
Her goal during the investigation was getting the union decertied unless they changed their leadership wholesale.
5.1.3
Court house
Rupert Bond
Played by: Dion Graham
109
Season one: "The Hunt" and Sentencing".
Season two: "Undertow" and All Prologue".
Season three: "Dead Soldiers" (uncredited)
Season four: "Unto Others"; "Corner Boys" (uncredited).
Rhonda Pearlman
Main article: Rhonda Pearlman
Assistant Maryland States Attorney Pearlman has been the
legal system liaison for all the major investigations on the
show.
Daniel Phelan
Played by: Peter Gerety
Appears in:
Ilene Nathan
Played by: Susan Rome
Appears in:
110
5.1.5
Prison sta
Appears in season two: "Collateral Damage" (uncredited); "Hot Shots" and "Hard Cases".
Tilghman was a corrections ocer at Maryland Correctional Institute who was secretly involved in the prison drug
trade. He harassed prisoner Wee-Bey Brice after WeeBey confessed to the murder of one of his relatives. Fellow prisoner Avon Barksdale tried to negotiate a truce but
Tilghman refused, so Avon had Stringer Bell locate his drug
supplier. Bell paid the supplier, Butchie, to give Tilghman
tainted heroin, leading to the deaths of several inmates. An
investigation was launched and Avon informed on Tilghman in exchange for an early parole hearing. When prison
sta searched Tilghmans car, they found evidence which
Shamrock had subtly planted to corroborate Avons story,
and Tilghman was arrested.
111
5.2
Rhonda Pearlman
5.2.1
Biography
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
As a leading Assistant States Attorney in the narcotics division, Pearlman has been a guiding legal presence through
Character prole - Daniel Phelan. HBO. 2008. Retrieved all of the wiretap details investigations. A tough prosecutor and a stickler for process, Pearlmans grasp of the nu2008-02-12.
ance of surveillance law and the legalities of complex caseCharacter prole - Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary Di- work proves invaluable to the investigations of Barksdale,
Pasquale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
Sobotka and Staneld. One of the most morally upright
gures on the show, she is ambitious nonetheless, and ofDavid Simon, Ed Burns (2003-06-29). "Undertow". The
ten worries about the political implications of the casework.
Wire. Season 2. Episode 5. HBO.
As the seasons progress, she becomes more obsessed with
"The Wire episode guide - episode 18 Undertow. HBO. her own success and willing to cut legal and moral corners
in order to advance her own career. She once had a soft
2004. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
spot for Jimmy McNulty, leading to an on-again-o-again
Agnieszka Holand (2004-11-05). "Corner Boys". The Wire. aair that was eventually discovered by McNultys wife Season 4. Episode 08. HBO.
and ultimately contributed to the breakup of the marriage.
Although McNulty was honest enough to give Pearlman no
Episode guide - episode 45 Corner Boys. HBO. 2006. Re- hint of a future together, he would occasionally show up
trieved 2006-11-01.
drunk on her doorstep. This ended when her relationship
with Daniels began.
Ernest Dickerson (2004-12-10). "Final Grades". The Wire.
Season 4. Episode 13. HBO.
Pearlman was the ASA heading the Narcotics Cases in Season 1, assisting Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' detail in prosecuting the Barksdale Organization, a violent drug crew
whom Detective Jimmy McNulty suspected of beating the
"The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
Baltimore Polices homicide unit out of 10 murders. She
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
appears telling Daniels to make lemonade with the lack
Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5. of quality police he has been given and appears as the liaison between the detail and judge Daniel Phelan on legal
Episode 10. HBO.
matters. She approves the units level of exhaustion of
"The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30". HBO. 2008. conventional means a requirement to have a wiretap auRetrieved 2008-03-10.
thorized helping them make a case against Avon Barksdale. Throughout the season, she has a sexual relationship
"The Wire season 1 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10- with McNulty. When Detective Lester Freamon begins fol14.
lowing the Barksdale Organizarions money trail, several
developers and politicians are implicated and Pearlmans
"The Wire season 2 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10boss, Steven Demper, becomes interested in the case. As
14.
the States Attorney for Baltimore City Demper is more
Simon, David (2006) [1991]. Homicide: A Year on the interested in his elected position than quality prosecutions
Killing Streets. New York: Owl Books. pp. hoto insert sec- and threatens her job. When Barksdales nephew D'Angelo
is arrested for drug possession, she and McNulty try to
tion.
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
Season 1
112
Season 5
After more than a year of investigation, the Major Crimes
Unit has failed to bring a case against Marlo Staneld for
the vacant house murders. Pearlman is dismayed when the
investigation, and the unit, are shut down because of funding issues. The unit has also been building a corruption
case against Senator Clay Davis, which is also jeopardized.
Along with her domestic partner Cedric Daniels, she appeals to States Attorney Rupert Bond to discuss the problem with Mayor Tommy Carcetti. Despite their eorts, the
Staneld investigation is still closed down but Pearlman is
allowed to keep detectives Leander Sydnor and Lester Freamon to prepare the Davis case.[1][2]
After Maurice Levy becomes aware that the wiretap against
Marlo is illegal, Pearlman oers him a deal: Staneld goes
free but retires permanently from the drug trade. Otherwise, she threatens to use the wiretap in court, reminding
Levy that his sentence for illegally purchasing court documents and failure to report the wiretap will be longer than
hers.
Pearlman works with the detectives to prepare the case.[3][4]
She then begins a series of witness depositions with the
Grand Jury. Her witnesses include Senator Davis driver
Damien Lavelle Price.[5][6] Freamon and Sydnor uncover
new evidence that would justify a federal prosecution of
Davis. Pearlman presents their ndings to Bond but he
113
elects to keep the case local and ignore the potential for Season 1
additional charges. Bond instructs Pearlman to stage a deposition for Davis himself and in order to mark Davis as
In the pilot episode, "The Target", Levy represented Avons
his target stages a photo opportunity for reporters as Davis
nephew D'Angelo Barksdale at the Pooh Blanchard murder
leaves the courthouse.[7]
trial and successfully returned a not guilty verdict. Levys
Pearlman is thrilled when her partner Cedric Daniels is case was strengthened when Nakeesha Lyles, a key witness,
touted by the papers as a potential replacement for Com- changed her story and refused to identify Barksdale in court.
missioner Burrell. Daniels is concerned that his his- The next time D'Angelo was arrested, Levy rebuked him
tory of corruption might surface, but does not conde in for writing a letter of condolence at McNulty and Bunk's
Pearlman.[5][6] Daniels fears are allayed when Burrell ac- urging to the family of a murdered witness. He was able
cepts a deal to leave quietly and Pearlman attends a press to get the charges dropped against young Barksdale dealer
conference at which Daniels promotion is announced.[7] In Bodie Broadus in juvenile court, claiming to the judge that
the end-of-season montage, she is shown on the bench wear- the work was part of his rms pro bono outreach program.
ing judges robes and recusing herself from a case in which Levy also advised Stringer Bell and Avon on how to protect
Daniels is a defense attorney.
themselves when they suspected they were being investigated. His assertion that they should tie up any loose ends,
particularly those not bound by ties of loyalty to them, led
5.2.2 References
to the death of Nakeesha Lyles.
When Barksdale front owner Orlando was arrested for attempting to purchase drugs, Levy visited him in prison and
instructed him to sign papers removing his name from the
"The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. liquor license of his club. Levy later represented BarksHBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
dale soldier Savino when he was arrested following a failed
undercover operation, in the course of which Orlando and
Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". Detective Greggs were shot. Levy was able to limit Savinos
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
charge to a 3-year plea bargain for an attempt to supply fake
narcotics,
as he was not directly implicated in the shooting.
"The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed ReLater,
Levy
was instrumental in damage-control when the
ports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Barksdale organization was struck by multiple arrests. He
Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". ensured that D'Angelo was not kept in police protection, alThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
lowing his mother to convince him not to testify against the
Barksdale organization.
[3]
[4]
[5]
Season 2
5.3.1
Biography
114
Season 3
After Stringer is duped by Senator Clay Davis, Levy chastises him, saying that he was aware of Daviss reputation
for taking contributions without exerting any actual inuence. Levy continued to defend Avon and most of his organization when a second wiretap investigation led to a mass
prosecution. Avon was returned to prison. Levy also represented Poot Carr, who received a four-year sentence.
Season 4
Levy is seen briey in season four, representing Anthony
Wardell in the high-prole Braddock murder case. He allowed his client to undergo a polygraph test because he was
convinced of his innocence on the charge.[1][2]
Season 5
Levy hires ex-police ocer Thomas Herc Hauk as an
investigator. Levy encourages Herc to use the rms expense account to pay for ocers tabs, in exchange for
information.[3][4] After being introduced to Marlo Staneld
by Proposition Joe, Levy counsels Staneld on money laundering.[5] Levy later suspects (on the basis of information
provided by Herc) that Marlos arrest is due to an illegal
wiretap and sees an opportunity to get the charges against
Marlos organization dropped. Levy however faces legal
problems of his own when Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary DiPasquale admits to Detective Lester Freamon that he has
been selling copies of court documents and search warrants
to Levy to be used to tip o various drug dealers. Realizing
that Levy is legally vulnerable, but also aware that the evidence against the Staneld Organization is compromised,
ASA Rhonda Pearlman negotiates the charges against Stanelds crew: it is agreed that Marlo will not face criminal
charges if he retires permanently from the drug trade, Levy
will not be prosecuted, the States Attorneys oce will not
be charged with allowing an illegal wiretap, Chris Partlow
will plead to life without parole for the vacant murders, and
the remaining Staneld Lieutenants will plead to possession
charges. Levy is last seen in the nal episode of season
ve, socializing with Marlo Staneld at a downtown evening
event and introducing him to dierent businessmen.[6][7]
5.3.2
and Levy is shown using Yiddish words (for instance, saying Herc was mishpoceh, meaning family and describing Clay Davis as a goni, or thief) praising his wifes
brisket, criticizing McNulty for dragging me from the
Levy family preserve on a Friday night, etc.[9] Some writers have suggested that the character reects some antisemitic stereotypes.[10][11][12] Keith Kahn-Harris, for example, writes that Levys crookedness, his cynical exploitation of the drug trade and his seduction of Herc all recall
common negative stereotypes of Jews as sinister, venal and
secretive.[9] David Simon, who is himself Jewish, has explained and justied the characterization as authentic:[13]
Why did we make this guy Jewish? Because
when I was covering the drug trade for 13 years
for the Sun, most of the major drug lawyers were
Jewish. Some of them are now disbarred and others are not but came pretty close. Anyone who is
anyone in law enforcement in Baltimore knows
the three or four guys Maury Levy is patterned
on.
If I have people from every other tribe in Baltimore portrayed negatively, everyone is maligned
in some way, how can I not do that to the Jewish
guy? How can I pull that punch? At that point
I'm just being hypocritical. Here are good people from my own tribe who say how can you do
that, and my answer is how can I not?
Rhonda Pearlman, one of a handful of generally positive
characters in the show, is also Jewish, and Kahn-Harris
argues that Jay Landsman, a somewhat sympathetic character, is Jewish as well.[9][13] However, Kahn-Harris writes
that Their Jewishness is not referred to as explicitly as
Levys is and it is not treated as a signicant source of either
characters strengths and weaknesses.[9]
5.3.3
References
115
Chapter 6
Street-level characters
6.1 Street-level characters of The
Wire
6.1.2
Omars crew
6.1.3
Staneld organization
6.1.4
6.1.5
West Side
Avon Barksdale
117
Monk is a lieutenant in the Staneld organization, and the
third most recognized leader of the Staneld Organization.
Felicia Snoop Pearson
Main article: Snoop (The Wire)
Snoop is a chief enforcer in the Staneld Organization, she
is a mid-way gangster and she is always seen with Chris
Partlow.
Bodie was a dealer who came of age working for Avon Fruit
Barksdale. After the Barksdale organization dissolves, he
Played by: Brandon Fobbs
is briey independent (supplied by the New Day Co-Op)
until Marlo forces him to join his crew. He is shot by O
Appears in:
Dog after being seen having a conversation with McNulty,
because Marlo suspects he may be a snitch.
Season three: "Time after Time"; "All Due
Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Hamsterdam";
"Homecoming"; "Reformation" and "Mission
Poot Carr
Accomplished".
Main article: Poot Carr
6.1.6
East Side
118
Proposition Joe Stewart
Main article: Proposition Joe
Joseph Proposition Joe Stewart is an Eastside drug kingpin who supplies much of Baltimore through his direct connection to The Greeks smuggling organization. He is murdered and replaced as leader of New Day Co-op by Marlo
Staneld.
Calvin Cheese Wagsta
Main article: Cheese Wagsta
119
the land. However, they are oering to pay Hendrix more Ghost
than his club is worth and to sell him better council owned
Played by: Mike D. Anderson
property elsewhere so that he will net a million dollars for
moving. The paper exposes a history of campaign dona Appears in:
tions from Rick and people using the address of his club including several to city council president Nerese Campbell
Season three: "Straight and True" (uncredited);
who is sponsoring the property deal.
"Slapstick" (uncredited).
Hendrix continues his involvement with the Co-Op and
Season four: "Final Grades" (uncredited).
brags in a meeting about his property deal with his friend
Season
ve:
"More
With
Less"
Hungry Man - drawing the ire of Staneld.
(uncredited)"Transitions" (uncredited) and
After Stanelds arrest and sale of the connection to the
"The Dickensian Aspect"(uncredited)
Greeks, Hendrix, along with Slim Charles, is seen, in the
series nale, meeting with Spiros Vondas and discussing the
new business arrangement for importing the drugs into Bal- Ghost is an East side drug kingpin and Co-Op member.
He is part of the quorum that confronts Proposition Joe
timore
Stewart following Omar Little's robbery of the Co-Op.[7]
In the fth season Ghost receives Baltimore County territory to compensate for territory lost in the gentrication of
Hungry Man
East Baltimore. Ghost continues to attend Co-Op meetings
Played by: Duane Chandler Rawlings
throughout the fth season.
Appears in:
George Double G Glekas
Season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited) and
"Final Grades".
Season ve:
"Transitions".
"More
With
Less"
and
6.1.7
Others
Bubbles
Main article: Bubbles (The Wire)
Bubbles is a heroin addict with a vast knowledge of the
streets of Baltimore. He becomes an informant after a
120
121
Cutty Wise when he is released after a long prison sen Appears in:
tence. Initially he tries to encourage Cutty to enroll in a
GED program, but Cutty is not interested in this idea. The
Season one: "The Wire"
deacon then helps Cutty to open a community boxing gym.
Season two: "Stray Rounds" (uncredited)
He puts Cutty in touch with State Delegate Odell Watkins
Season three: "Middle Ground" (uncredited)
through the politically inuential Reverend Frank Reid to
help with obtaining the necessary permits for the gym. He
Season ve: "More with Less"
also helps Cutty to get a paying job working as a school custodian at Edward Tilghman Middle, where Grace teaches Hucklebuck is a drug addict and friend to Bubbles and
the eighth grade.
Johnny. He often assists them on their capers to make
The Deacon is also friends with Howard Bunny Colvin. money for drugs. He is a part of Johnnys copper house
When Colvin was Western District police commander the robbery scam in season 1. Hucklebuck continues to live on
Deacon often served as his conscience. Colvin started three the street when Bubbles is in recovery in season 5.
drug tolerant zones in his district and the deacon was dismayed at the poor conditions addicts faced in these areas
Lamar
and convinced Colvin to involve public health academics
in providing services for the addicts now he had gathered
Played by: DeAndre McCullough
them into an easy to reach area. Colvin was forced to re Appears in:
tire because of his actions and the deacon found him a new
job working with a sociologist in studying the prevention of
repeat violent oender behavior.
Season two: "Storm Warnings" (uncredited);
"Bad Dreams" (uncredited) and "Port in a Storm"
In his youth Melvin Williams, the actor who plays the Dea(uncredited).
con, was a real-life drug kingpin who was arrested by series
writer Ed Burns in 1984 when the latter was a Baltimore
city police ocer.[9] Creator David Simon was responsible
for covering the arrest for The Baltimore Sun at the time.[10]
Williams received a 34-year sentence for his crimes and
much of the evidence against him came from a wiretap investigation like the one featured in the rst season of the
show.[10]
Dee-Dee
Played by: Genevieve Hudson-Price
Appears in
She is played by Genevieve Hudson-Price, the daughter of on August 1, 2012, in the Woodlawn section of Baltimore
County.[15]
author Richard Price, who writes for the show.
Hucklebuck
Played by: Gil Deeble
Raylene Lee
Played by: Shamika Cotton
122
Appears in:
Season four: "Refugees", "Corner Boys",
"Misgivings", "A New Day" (uncredited) and
"Thats Got His Own"
Season ve: "Transitions" and "The Dickensian
Aspect"
he provide him with receipts. Freamon gave Bernard prewiretapped phones that eventually brought down the Barksdale organization. When the investigation was closed with
the arrest of Avon Barksdale, Bernard and Squeak were also
brought in. Bernard joked that he could not wait to go to
jail to get away from Squeak.
Sherrod
Season four:
"Soft Eyes"; "Refugees";
"Alliances"; "Unto Others"; "A New Day";
"Thats Got His Own".
123
see Walon again in the projects looking after his drug addicted nephew. Bubbles conversations with Walon help
him realise that he wants to get clean. When he makes a
serious attempt, Walon gives him advice on keeping clean,
which Bubbles is unable to stick with. Years later, when
Bubbles is locked in a medical rehab facility, Walon visits
him to again help him with his sobriety and grief. In season
ve he acts as Bubbles sponsor, pushing him to be more
open about his struggles and the death of Sherrod.
Walon is played by singer/songwriter and recovering heroin
addict Steve Earle.[17] Earle also performs the theme song
for Season 5, and his track I Feel Alright is featured in
the montage at the end of Season 2.
Johnny Weeks
Main article: Johnny Weeks
Walon
124
Bubbles to become a police informant but Johnny disap- [10] Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker.
Retrieved 2007-10-14.
proves and takes no part in it except when arrested by police.
[11] Agnieszka Holland (2004-11-14). "Moral Midgetry". The
After getting out of prison he joins back up with the Barks- [19] David Simon (2005). The Wire The Target commentary
dale crew as muscle, but cannot complete a task he was astrack (DVD). HBO.
signed. Instead, he leaves the criminal world and starts up
a boxing center in an attempt to reach out to local street
youths. He is later wounded trying to talk Michael Lee out 6.2 Omar Little
of a life of crime. He reappears in Season 5 to briey train
Dukie as well as to give him advice on how to deal with
See also: Omar Little and associates
people that give him trouble.
Omar Devone Little is a ctional character on the HBO
drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar
is a notorious Baltimore stick-up man, frequently robbing
Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07street-level drug dealers. Omar has several unique charac27.
teristics that are likely responsible for his popularity with
David Simon Answers Fans Questions. HBO.com. Re- viewers, including: his strict personal morality, whereby
trieved 2009-08-30.
he both refrains from harming innocents and from using
profanity (which also ensures his independence from most
David Simon, Ed Burns (2003-06-08). "Collateral Damother street-level players); his characteristic face scar and
age". The Wire. Season 2. Episode 2. HBO.
use of a shotgun; his homosexuality and privately tender naDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (2003-08-17). "Bad ture, held in obvious (and subversive) contrast from typical
Dreams". The Wire. Season 2. Episode 11. HBO.
notions of masculinity attached to violent criminals; and his
use of haunting whistling as presage to his robberies. CenBrook Yeaton imdb prole
tral throughout Omars trajectory is his steady descent into
Episode guide - episode 40 Home Rooms. HBO. 2006. intractable conict with both the Barksdale and Staneld orRetrieved 2006-09-25.
ganizations, in both cases initiated by his robberies. Omar
is also noted for his close relationships with his partners, and
"The Wire episode guide - episode 50 Final Grades. HBO.
with his guardian and ad hoc banker Butchie. The charac2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
ter is based on Baltimore area robber and hitman Donnie
Character prole - Brother Mouzone. HBO. 2004. Re- Andrews.[1]
6.1.8
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
References
trieved 2006-09-16.
[9] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
125
6.2.2
Season two
126
leads Omar to rededicate himself to war with the Barksdales, though Kimmy opts out. Avon, outraged at Stringer,
forces the men responsible for the attack to buy Omars
grandmother a new hat.
Meanwhile, Brother Mouzone captures Dante, and forces
him to reveal Omars hiding place. Dante gives in, in contrast with Brandon, who never cracked. Mouzone suggests
an alliance against Stringer. Together, Omar and Mouzone
ambush Stringer during a meeting with Andy Krawczyk
and murder him. Brother Mouzone sets Dante free and returns to New York, while Omar is tasked with disposing of
Mouzones gun, as well as the shotgun that killed Stringer.
Both weapons are later thrown into the harbor. Omar is
shown to be suspicious of the severity of Dantes injuries
and his release by Mouzone is the last time he is seen; it is
implied that Omar left him for giving him up so easily.
6.2.4
County (calling in the favor from Ilene Nathan), Bunk manages to prove that Old Face Andre had lied. The charge
against Omar is dropped and Bunk transports him out of
Harford County with a warning: no more murders of anyone. Bunk threatens to bring up the unsolved murders at
Omars hands that he knew about, such as Stringer Bell,
Stinkum Artis, or Tosha if Omar was caught killing anyone else.
Omar learns that Marlo had framed him and was the one he
had robbed at the card game. Omar demands that Proposition Joe help him rob Marlo, and Joe agrees to alert Omar
when Joes soldier Cheese was dropping o Marlos package. Omar orchestrates an elaborate and successful hijacking of Joes entire shipment of heroin as it enters port. As
he had no wish to sell drugs on the street, he sells the heroin
back to Proposition Joe. Although the heist makes Omar a
lot of money, it has all of the drug kingpins ready to put a
contract on his head.
Season four
Omar feels dissatised with how easy work has become after the collapse of the Barksdale organization and worries
that pursuing easy thefts would make him soft, (How you
expect to run with the wolves come night when you spend
all day sparring with the puppies) so he and new boyfriend
Renaldo pull a robbery of one of Marlo Staneld's dealers,
Old Face Andre, who runs a westside corner convenience
store that was actually a drug front. At Proposition Joe's
suggestion, they rob a poker game, not knowing that Marlo
Staneld was one of the men at the game. While committing the robbery, Omar makes a point to take a large
ring from Marlo, who had earlier taken the same ring from
Old Face Andre as a debt for money owed. Though Marlo
vows revenge, his right-hand man Chris Partlow convinces
him to take a subtler approach. Chris shoots an innocent
woman during a staged robbery at Old Face Andres store
and instructs Andre to call the police and falsely implicate
Omar as the culprit. Omar is subsequently jailed. During
the arrest, he is robbed by Ocer Eddie Walker, who takes
the ring that Omar had stolen from Marlo. Before Omar
is taken away in a police van, he is questioned by Ocer
Jimmy McNulty, who thought it out of character for Omar
to have murdered an ordinary citizen not involved in the
drug trade. While imprisoned in Baltimore Citys Central
Booking, Omar is recognized by other inmates he'd previously robbed, a number of whom want to kill him for the
bounty that had been placed on his head. In retaliation for
an attempt on his life, he brutally stabs an adversary in the
rectum as a means of warning the other inmates not to attack him.
6.2.5
Season ve
127
sure to some of the foreshadowing in Season 3, as Kenard a single audition. Williams has stated that he pursued the
was the young boy Bunk witnessed imitating Omar at the role because he felt it would make him stand out from other
Barksdale stash house shootout.
African Americans from Brooklyn with acting talent because of its contradictory nature.[5]
6.2.6
Legacy
128
questioned as a little too strange.[13] The Baltimore City Pa- [14] McCabe, Bret; Smith, Van (2005-01-02). Down to the
wire: Top 10 reasons not to cancel the wire.. citypaper.com.
per named the character one of their top ten reasons not to
Baltimore city paper. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
cancel the show and called him arguably the shows single
[14]
greatest achievement. Little appeared in Comcast's list
of TVs Most Intriguing Characters, with the website stat- [15] TVs Most Intriguing Characters. Comcast. Retrieved
2014-03-08.
ing that no character is more enigmatic and shocking than
[15]
Omar.
[16] J. Patrick Coolican (2008). Obama goes gloves o, head-
6.3.1
Depiction
Season one
Bubbles was rst seen as a homeless addict and best friend
and mentor to Johnny Weeks. The two run a scam creating
counterfeit money using a photocopier and coee staining.
Bubbles successfully uses the money to purchase drugs from
a crew of dealers working for the Barksdale organization.
However when the money is passed on to the crew boss it
is recognized as fake. The next time they try the scam, a
nervous Johnny is unsuccessful. He is stopped and severely
beaten by the Barksdale drug dealers, after which he ends
up in hospital.
Bubbles oers to inform on the Barksdale gang for Detective Kima Greggs, to get some measure of revenge for
Johnnys beating. Bubbles knowledge of the street proves
invaluable to Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' unit as they investi[12] Robert Bianco (2004-05-26). 10 Reasons we still love TV.
gate the Barksdale organization. He helps identify the crew
USA Today. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
members who run the Barksdale pit and those who work in
[13] Chris Barsanti (2004). The Wire - The Complete First Sea- the high-rise towers. When Omar Little robs the Barksdale
son. Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
stash, Bubbles is present, and gives the license plate number
[11] The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood, p.283
129
of Omars van to Greggs, which helps the detail track down Season four
the stick-up man.
After nearly being killed while trying to steal drugs, he tries In season four, Bubbles shares an abandoned garage with
to get o drugs, but reverts to his old habits when Greggs is teenaged Sherrod, peddling small goods from a shopping
shot: he pages Greggs after she had promised to help him cart to support themselves. Sherrod had trouble with the
stay clean, not realizing that she is hospitalized with a life- math involved and asked Bubbles to help re-enroll him in
threatening injury after a buy-and-bust went bad. As the school. Sherrod never makes it to school, however, and afpolice seek murder suspects, Bubbles is mistaken as a sus- ter a brief fall-out with Bubbles he returns to help him sell
pect and brutally beaten by Detective Vernon Holley in the goods from the shopping carts. In Sherrods absence, howinterrogation room until Sergeant Jay Landsman and other ever, Bubbles has become the daily victim of another street
ocers restrain Holley, calling in Jimmy McNulty to clear addict, who constantly robs him and beats him up. To stop
this daily assault, Bubbles concocts a hot shot of heroin
things up.
and sodium cyanide that he supposes the vagrant will steal
from him and then consume. However, Sherrod uses the
tainted drugs while Bubbles sleeps and Bubbles awakes to
nd that Sherrod has died. Consumed by guilt and grief,
Bubbles goes to the police and confesses his actions, before
Season two
unsuccessfully attempting suicide in the Homicide Interrogation room. Sergeant Jay Landsman sees that the death
McNulty recruits Bubbles to nd Omar Little, whom Bunk was unintentional and decides out of sympathy to send Bubneeds as a witness in the William Gant murder. Bub- bles to a state psychiatric facility rather than charge him
bles grudgingly agrees, and in a nervous encounter with a with murder.[2]
shotgun-wielding Omar, delivers McNultys message. At
the end of season two, he is arrested by Ocer Santangelo
while trying to steal needles and morphine from an ambu- Season ve
lance; in exchange for his release, he tips o Greggs and
McNulty to the new alliance between Proposition Joe and When the fth season begins Bubbles has been clean for
Stringer Bell.
more than a year. He is living in his sisters basement and
selling The Baltimore Sun to make money. His Narcotics
Anonymous sponsor is Walon.[1][3] Walon encourages Bubbles to open up about Sherrods death in meetings but Bubbles is not ready to take that step. Walon suggests that BubSeason three
bles should nd an outlet elsewhere and Bubbles begins volunteering at a local Catholic Worker soup kitchen called
Season three sees Bubbles assist the major case unit once Viva House.[4][5] Eventually Bubbles comes to terms with
again. Bubbles was a former associate of Squeak, then his role in Sherrods death and has his life story published
Bernards girlfriend. Bubbles put them in touch with an un- in an article in the Baltimore Sun. In his nal scene of the sedercover Lester Freamon, allowing the units plan to wire ries, he is seen being brought back into his sisters life when
tap the phones to proceed. During this time Bubbles con- she allows him upstairs from the basement to have dinner
tinued cooperation with the police began to create a rift be- with her and her child.
tween Bubbles and Johnny, who encouraged Bubbles to end A key allegiance in previous seasons, his and Greggs, is no
his career as an informant eventually Bubbles left Johnny longer presented in any way after Bubbles rehabilitates, esto fend for himself.
pecially after Greggs is unable to ultimately help him. The
As the investigation progresses Bubbles begins to supplement the income he was earning as an informant by collecting discarded cell phones and t-shirts to sell out of a
shopping cart; upon discovering Major Howard Bunny
Colvin's Hamsterdam zones he expands his inventory to
suit the needs of the dealers and addicts there. While in
Hamsterdam, Bubbles also comes back into contact with
Johnny and, upon recognizing that his friends health was
failing due to drug abuse, encourages him to leave his
fears are realized at the end of the season, when Johnny is
found dead from an overdose.
6.3.2
Origin
130
him twice, shortly before Possums death from AIDS, in- 6.4.1 Biography
tending to write an article about him. He ended up turning
it into an obituary.[7]
Season three
6.3.3
Trivia
6.3.4
References
131
Wise connects with sergeant Ellis Carver through his efforts to encourage children away from drug dealing through
sports, and the two develop a mutual respect. He has
some success with local children, particularly when the
Barksdale-Staneld turf war temporarily closes down much
of the drug trade in the area. In particular, one young dealer
named Justin has talent and works hard to improve as a
boxer. However, the turf war comes to a sudden end when
Avon is arrested, and Cutty nds his gym quickly deserted
as the children return to work. Cutty continues his eorts
at personal reform despite this setback.
George Pelecanos is given credit with creating the character of Dennis Wise, based on unused notes from his novel
Drama City, about a man getting out of prison after almost
two decades. The idea reected the reform theme of the
third season, so the character was added. David Simons
books Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and The Corner (written with Ed Burns) both mention the real Dennis
Wise. He is described as one of the two most infamous
contract killers active in Baltimore during the late 1970s
- Vernon Collins being the other. Police were frustrated
by the fact that no witnesses could be found against either
man. Neither Wise nor Collins would break under intense
police questioning, refusing to say anything other than to
request a lawyer. Dennis Wise was eventually sentenced to
life in prison in 1979 for a contract killing. He earned his
bachelors degree in Psychology while in prison. In 1999,
Maryland Correctional ocials transferred Wise to an Arizona prison in Yuma because he was allegedly leading an
inuential prison gang. Wise wrote a novel called The Wolf
Trap while in prison.
Season four
In season four Wises gym is thriving and he has taken on
a number of other trainers to work with the kids. Justin
returns to training and begins to compete in local boxing
matches. Wise receives a great deal of attention from the
women of the neighborhood, including the mothers of some
of his trainees, who are, it is suggested, jumping at the opportunity to meet a decent and paternal man in a community in which many men have been absent, corrupted, killed,
or incarcerated. He has become adept at controlling the
boys who use the gym and earning their respect, although
he jeopardizes his position with some of them as a result of
his womanizing. He is also having some success in his work
as a landscaper having acquired a working knowledge of the
Spanish spoken by most of his colleagues. The crew chief is
so impressed with Wise that he oers to make him a partner
in the business and put him in charge of a second crew, but
Wise declines so that he can focus on the gym. Wise begins
to take an interest in training a boy named Michael Lee who
he believes is a natural boxer. Michael rebus Wises rst
oer of coaching. Later on, Wise is shot in the leg while
trying to convince Michael to leave the corner life. While in
hospital, Wise is instrumental in getting Namond Brice o
the streets by arranging Howard Colvin to have a sitdown
with Namonds father, Wee-Bey.[1]
Season ve
In season ve, Wise is briey shown when Michael Lee,
looking out for his friend Duquan Dukie Weems, drops
him o to train with Cutty. Cutty watches Dukie ght and,
seeing his ineptitude as a boxer, tells him that he has other
6.4.2
6.4.3
Origins
References
[1] Character prole - Dennis Cutty Wise. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
6.5
Stringer Bell
This article is about the character from The Wire. For the
musician, see Dramatis.
Russell Stringer Bell is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba.
Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's secondin-command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale
Organization during Avons imprisonment. Bell attends
economics classes at Baltimore City Community College
and maintains a personal library, including a copy of Adam
Smith's The Wealth of Nations. He attempts to legitimize
the Barksdale Organization and insulate himself from direct criminality through money laundering and investments
in housing development, aided through his buying of inuence from politicians.
132
6.5.1
Biography
insists on phone discipline, telling D'Angelos crew to remove nearby payphones and walk longer distances to other
Stringer was born September 17, 1969, and grew up in the phones instead.
West Baltimore projects alongside childhood friends Avon
When its time for Avon to clean house, Stringer orders
Barksdale and Wee-Bey Brice.
the murder of Wallace, who had been a key witness in the
killing of Omars boyfriend. Stringer tries to nd out about
Wallaces whereabouts from D'Angelo, but D'Angelo reSeason one
alizes his friend is in danger and only tells Stringer that
Stringer is rst seen attending the trial of Avons nephew and Wallace left the business. Stringer turns to Bodie Broadus,
lieutenant, D'Angelo Barksdale, for the murder of rival drug D'Angelos second in the pit operation and learns that Waldealer Pooh Blanchard. Avon has tasked Stringer with lace has returned to working for D'Angelo. Stringer asks
ensuring that D'Angelo is acquitted. To this end, Stringer Bodie to murder Wallace. He also has the witness he bribed
has enforcers Roland Wee-Bey Brice, Anton Stinkum in D'Angelos trial, Nakeesha Lyles, killed.
Artis, and Savino intimidate and bribe witnesses over the
course of the trial. When D'Angelo is released, Avon has
Stringer demote him to running the operation in the low-rise
projects known as the pit.
133
Season three
134
tions, threatening to use his connections to cut o the Barksdale organizations connections and supply of drugs from
New York. In an eort to avoid a war with Mouzone, Avon
reluctantly tells him Stringers whereabouts.
6.5.4
References
Criminal organization
Main article: Barksdale Organization
135
Avon received his narcotics supply through a connection to a
Dominican organization in New York and had several other
options for suppliers in surrounding cities. The main supply of narcotics was separated from the rest of the organization and held in a house in Pimlico where it could be cut
and divided into smaller stashes for distribution among
the Barksdale towers. Once inside the towers, these smaller
packages were moved from room to room on a regular basis, to avoid the scrutiny of police and stick-up men such as
Omar Little.
Avons main oce was one of his front organizations, a
strip club named Orlandos. It was here, behind a locked
and heavily guarded door, that the drug money was counted
and secured before being sent on to its ultimate destination.
Avon usually conducted his business in this oce, rarely
venturing onto the street. The clubs legal owner, Orlando
Blocker, was kept away from the drugs in order to maintain
the fronts appearance of legitimacy for the city.
The organization laundered its prots through various
fronts, including a funeral parlor, Orlandos, and a property
developing company named B&B. It also invested in property, never actually using either Avon or Stringers names
on ocial papers. It also made campaign contributions
and later bribesto Senator Clay Davis, ostensibly for assistance with development contracts.
Season one
Avons errant nephew and lieutenant D'Angelo had murdered someone in public, so Avon had Stringer pay a
witness, Nakeesha Lyles, to change her story in court.
D'Angelo was acquitted, but Avon chastised him for costing the organization time and money, and demoted him
from the 221 Tower into The Pit to replace Ronnie Mo,
who had recently been promoted to his own tower. Avon
also arranged for Bird Hilton to murder a second witness,
William Gant, whom he had been unable to intimidate or
bribe. The body was left on display outside the 221 Tower,
to send a message to people who might consider testifying.
D'Angelo was shaken by the murder and began to have second thoughts about his life, but Avon persuaded him to remain loyal to the family.
Avon was angered when The Pits stash was robbed by legendary Baltimore stick-up man Omar Little, and he placed a
heavy bounty on Omar and his crew (nearly doubling it upon
realizing Omar was homosexual). Wee-Bey killed Bailey,
a member of Omars crew. Omars lover Brandon was captured and tortured by Stringer, Wee-Bey, Bird and Stinkum.
In response, Omar killed Stinkum and wounded Wee-Bey,
culminating with a failed assassination attempt on Avon outside of Orlandos. Wee-Bey managed to save Avon at the
last minute.
136
The Pit was also subject to raids which seized a second resupply of narcotics and arrested a carrier Kevin Johnston
and a dealer Robert Browning. The police also seized an
entire days prots from Wee-Bey, totalling $22,000. They
also briey seized a payment on its way to State Senator
Davis but were forced to return it because of his political
inuence. The robbery and police activity combined raised
suspicion that there was a leak in the pit, and an increasingly
paranoid Avon ordered D'Angelo to remove the pay phones
(which had indeed been wiretapped).
Barksdales front man Orlando had been trying to take part
in the drug trade, and Avon felt obliged to beat him, warning him that the only reason he was front man was because
he was clean. Orlando persisted in trying to go into the
business for himself, and was arrested by an undercover
state police ocer. Avon promptly has his name removed
from the clubs license. Orlando agreed to aid the police
in their investigation, and Avon sent Wee-Bey, Little Man
and Savino to kill him. The job was complicated when they
found a woman accompanying Orlando and Little Man panicked and shot her. Avon quickly learned that the woman
was Detective Greggs.
137
for the information. Despite being the one ultimately responsible for the crime, he is due to be out of jail within a
year. D'Angelo grows more distant from Avon, refusing to
take part in the scheme, and seeming depressed, even turning to drug use. Without Avons knowledge, Stringer has
D'Angelo killed in a fake suicide.
Because Avons arrest was closely followed by the arrest
of one of their suppliers, the New York-based Dominicans were suspicious that Avon might have named them
to receive a lighter sentence, and the business relationship
was brought to an end. Avon recommended secondary
sources to Stringer but was unable to secure anything much
better. Stringer tells Avon that Proposition Joe has offered to provide his high-quality heroin in exchange for letting Joes men work on some of Avons prime territory.
Avon quickly dismissed the idea, reminding Stringer how
hard they worked to seize the territory in the rst place.
However, Stringer eventually decides to allow Proposition
Joe to move in despite Avons order. Not knowing that
Stringer had agreed to the arrangnment behind his back,
Avon contracted the feared Brother Mouzone to defend his
turf. Stringer responds by tricking Omar into believing that
Mouzone tortured and killed his former boyfriend Brandon. Omar shoots Mouzone, but lets him live after realizing things didn't add up. Mouzone returns to New York
to recover from his wound and Avon reluctantly agrees to
Proposition Joes proposal.
The Barksdale Organization (season three)
138
stacle to Stringers business aims, Stringer contacts Major
Colvin and reveals the location of Avons weapons safehouse. Meanwhile, Brother Mouzone returns to Baltimore
and confronts Avon about Stringers attempt to engineer a
conict between Mouzone and Omar. Mouzone threatens
to use his connections to cut o the Barksdale organizations
supply of drugs from New York and destroy Avons credibility. In an eort to avoid a war with Mouzone, Avon reluctantly provides Mouzone with information about Stringers
whereabouts as a result of their seemingly irreconcilable
philosophical dierences in how to run the organization,
and Mouzone (along with Omar) kills Stringer. Avon privately admits to Slim Charles that, contrary to rumors that
Stringer fell at the hands of Stanelds crew, Stringer actually died because of some other shit. Depressed, Avon
concedes that he has come around to Stringers point of view
and is tired of beeng over a couple fuckin' corners. Slim
retorts that they are already in a war, and even if the premise
for it is false, they must still ght on it.
6.6.2
Origins
Marlo Staneld arranged a meeting with former Greek soldier Sergei Malatov at the Jessup Correctional Facility in the [5]
hopes of contacting The Greeks and Spiros Vondas. When
[6] Glenny, Misha (2008-09-13). David Simon: Mean streets.
he arrived, Marlo was surprised to nd Avon on the other
The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2010-04-26.
side of the prison glass. Avon revealed that he was still a
man with a formidable reputation in the prison, and that [7] Last Word: Nathan Bodie Barksdale and Kenny Jackson
tell their versions of Baltimores street life in The Baltimore
Sergei had approached him once he began receiving direct
Chronicles: Legends of the Unwired | Baltimore City Papayments from Marlo in order to get on Sergeis visiting list.
per. Citypaper.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
Avon explained that he had intuited Marlos plan of using
Sergei to contact Vondas. Avon stated that he agreed, philosophically, with Marlos plan to get around Proposition Joe
& the other Eastsiders and cut them out of the supply con- 6.7 Marlo Staneld
nection (this could also be due to Joes past dealings with
Stringer behind Avons back). Avon playfully espoused Marlo Black Staneld is a ctional character on the
love for Westsiders and stated that he was prepared to let HBO television drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie
139
the violence of their business in order to avoid police attention. Staneld listened to Stringer without comment, and
shortly after Stringer left, he warned Partlow to prepare for
war.
Lieutenant Daniels major case unit became aware of Staneld when he met with Stringer, although initially they assumed he was working for the Barksdale organization like
many other crews in the West side. The unit went to the
homicide division to learn more about Staneld and found
that he had been investigated for a murder. The police had
built a case against him using a key witness who was murdered before the case went to trial. The investigating detective, Vernon Holley, believed that Staneld killed the witness and goes on to describe Staneld as the spawn of the
devil. When a failed Barksdale assault on a Staneld corner
6.7.1 Character background and plot rela- resulted in the deaths of two Barksdale soldiers, the police
tions
realized Stanelds crew was independent of the Barksdale
organization, and that the two gangs were at war.
Marlo Black Stanelds background prior to his drug empire is largely unexplored. He was a previous suspect in The assault had been triggered by the parole of Avon Barksan unsolved case for Homicide Detective Vernon Holley; dale who took a more confrontational approach to the turf
Holley believed it was Marlo who killed his only witness as war than Stringer. Staneld believed that the failed assault
well as the original victims, yet no evidence could be traced showed a lack of strength in the Barksdale organization and
back to him. The Barksdale Organization already had all discussed this with Chris Partlow and his advisor Vinson.
the prime territory on the westside in the form of the public Avon then orders a second attack which results in one of
housing towers and Avon showed little interest to the street Stanelds drug dealers being killed. Staneld feigns retreat
corners. Marlos established rule and reputation is only no- then organizes retaliatory attacks against Barksdale territiced by the returning Barksdale dealers and soldiers when tory. His soldier Snoop killed Barksdale soldier Rico in
the towers are demolished and Avon wishes to return to their a drive-by. Avon responded by hiring a woman named
roots, escalating an all-out war over the best territory of the Devonne to seduce Staneld and lure him to a meeting.
Though Staneld has sex with Devonne, he grows suspiwestside.
cious of her. Before their next arrainged meeting, he has
Chris and Snoop surveil the location. Chris spots a vehicle
responding to Devonnes presence and correctly deduced
Season three
that the meeting was a setup. Chris has his driver drive
Marlo Staneld was introduced in season three as an up- up to the vehicle and lets o a shot gun blast through a side
and-coming drug player who controlled many corners in window. This wounds Avon and kills another Barksdale solWest Baltimore. Staneld and his primary enforcer Chris dier. Staneld and Chris later track Devonne to her home
Partlow waged war with the Barksdale crew over this ter- and Staneld murder her personally as she was leaving one
ritory. His ambition was full control of the drug trade in night. Avon responds by ordering two more attacks, killing
three more Staneld underlings.
West Baltimore.
At the end of season three, Avon is arrested for parole violation, weapons charges and conspiracy. Staneld and Chris
attended his sentencing hearing. Avon acknowledged Stan-
140
eld, thus conceding that the crown had been passed.[1][2]
Season four
Staneld begins season four in control of all the best territory in Western Baltimore. He ruthlessly protects his territory through his enforcers, Chris Partlow and Snoop. When
murders are committed on Stanelds behalf, they hide the
bodies in vacant buildings. When one of Stanelds crew
chiefs, Fruit, is killed by a dealer from Bodie Broadus' independent crew, he is quick to order the death of the dealer
responsible.
Season ve
141
Partlow marshalls his people to search for Omar but he
eludes them and remains a thorn in the Staneld Organizations side. Omar then robs a money pick-up and wounds
a Staneld soldier.[15][16] Omar also robs a Staneld stash
house, where he kills an enforcer named Manny and later
kills Savino Bratton.[17][18] Omar calls for Staneld to face
him in the streets and attacks his reputation at every opportunity but Partlow prevents this information from reaching Staneld. Omar is ultimately killed by a young drug
dealer named Kenard whom Staneld does not know.[13][14]
Omars possessions include a list of Staneld personnel
which is passed to Detective Freamon and allows him to
make the connection between Staneld and Cheese.[13][14]
142
ght. The boys are armed with a knife and a gun but Staneld singlehandedly drives them o. Stanelds arm is cut in
the scue and he is left alone on the corner, smiling.[21][22]
6.7.2
Analysis
6.7.3
In the mid-1980s, Timmirror Staneld was a major Baltimore drug tracker. In 1986, Staneld was 25 and ran a
gang which included over fty members; the Staneld gang
controlled South Baltimores Westport area and West Baltimores Murphy Homes housing project.[26] The gang committed multiple murders and drew the attention of authorities, who were able to persuade fteen witnesses to testify;
the core of the gang was convicted.[27] This real life criminal
forms the basis of the characters origins while emphasizing
the rise in brutality from the American heroin trade of the
1970s to the crack cocaine trade of the 1980s.
[16] "The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian Aspect. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
[17] Dominic West (2008-02-17). "Took". The Wire. Season 5.
Episode 7. HBO.
[18] "The Wire episode guide - episode 57 Took. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved 2008-02-29.
[19] Joe Chappelle (2008-03-02). "Late Editions". The Wire.
Season 5. Episode 9. HBO.
[20] "The Wire episode guide - episode 59 Late Editions. HBO.
2008. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
[21] Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5.
Episode 10. HBO.
6.7.4
References
143
Season three
6.8.1
Biography
Season one
Joe rst appears at an annual basketball game, the Eastside
Projects team versus the Westside Projects. Joe plays on
Avon Barksdale's pride, goading him into doubling their
wager on the outcome, then bringing in a ringer at the
last minute to win the game. That same day, he is visited
by stick-up-man Omar Little, who gives Joe some of the
Barksdale Organization's stolen narcotics in exchange for
Barksdales pager number. Omar uses the information in
an unsuccessful attempt on Barksdales life but Joes role
in Omars attack is never revealed to Barksdale. Joe later
serves as a neutral go-between, organizing a meeting between Barksdales business partner Stringer Bell and Omar
to discuss a truce.
Season two
In season two, Joes role is expanded, and it is revealed that
Joe relies on the Greeks smuggling ring to supply him with
heroin through the Baltimore ports. Joe says that he still
has to source his cocaine from New York as the Greeks
only deal in heroin. Joe accommodates Nick Sobotka at the
request of Sergei Serge Malatov to resolve a dispute over
Joe insulates himself against police investigation by maintaining a strict policy of only meeting face to face. His
nephew Drac is targeted as a potential inroad for an
investigation by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' major crimes
unit, due to his propensity to talk business over the phone.
Daniels unit arrests Joes lieutenant Lavelle Mann in an undercover bust operation, hoping that Drac would be promoted to replace him. However Joe chooses someone more
reliable, thwarting the units eorts inadvertently. Daniels
tips his hand when he arrests Cheese, believing that he had
him on tape discussing a murder. Cheese realizes that the
tape is of him talking about shooting his pet dog, and the
police are forced to release him. He reports the incident
to Joe who, now forewarned about the investigation, passes
the information on to Stringer Bell. The unit moves their investigation away from Joe and onto the more violent Kintel
Williamson when they fail to make further progress.
Joe extends the sharing of his supply to many other
drug dealers in Baltimore, forming the New Day Co-Op
with Bell, Ricardo Fat-Face Rick Hendrix and Kintell
Williamson, among others. He supplies all of these drug
dealers with his package, and they receive a discount for
the bulk buying; they also agree to avoid bringing unnecessary police attention by limiting violence. As a result,
Williamson stops killing people, and the police begin investigating a brewing turf war between Avon Barksdale and
144
Joe and the rest of the Co-Op object to the police attention the war creates, as it interferes with their business. Joe
meets with Stanelds advisor Vinson to try to negotiate a
settlement, but Staneld is unwilling to back out of the war,
believing that Barksdale is weak. Joe gives Bell an ultimatum - end the war or he will be thrown out of the CoOp. The ultimatum is defused when Bell is murdered, and
Barksdale is arrested, leaving Joe with complete control of
the Co-Op.[1]
Season ve
Season four
The fth season opens over a year later. Joes advice has
allowed Marlo Staneld to successfully avoid prosecution
despite an ongoing major case unit investigation. Joe nds
that he is losing territory in the redevelopment and gentrication of Eastern Baltimore and proposes a division of new
territory in Baltimore County to compensate the East side
drug dealers. Staneld objects and then sows the seed of
dissent in Joes organization by suggesting that Joe should
allow Joes lieutenants to manage the new territory.[3][4]
6.8.2
Production
145
6.9.1
Biography
146
tenant Eton on the waterfront of Baltimore. The detail then way. Marlo quickly cleaned his cash, and dropped o the
surveilled his home and followed him to meetings at hotel fresh money at the diner, telling Vondas man that he didn't
rooms and the diner where he met with associates.
mean for there to be any misunderstanding.
The Greek ordered Vondas to shut down the smuggling temporarily and replaced all of his personnels telephones. The
Greek withdrew from their meeting place at the cafe and
began meeting Vondas in hotel rooms.
When the detail began rounding up the members of the
Greeks smuggling ring, they held o on Vondas as they
felt he could lead them to the Greek. When Sobotka was
arrested Vondas suggested that they could broker his loyalty by having a witness against Ziggy change his story. He
put the proposition to Frank through Nick. Frank had already agreed to testify against the Greeks crew, but decided
to meet with them for Ziggys sake. The Greek learned of
Franks agreement through his inside man at the FBI, agent
Koutris, and had Vondas murder Frank.
Following the murder Vondas left the country under a fake
Croatian passport with the Greek, using the alias Kirko
Skaddeng. Before Vondas left he met with Proposition Joe
to assure him that the Greeks operation would continue to
supply him using new personnel after a short break to avoid
the investigation.
147
in quietly at the counter. Nick Sobotka, upon seeing The operation going he bought further protection from Agent
Greek identify himself, was amazed that the shadowy g- Koutris by betraying a load of Colombian cocaine, giving
ure had been in plain sight the entire time.
him time to destroy incriminating evidence in the wareDespite his calm demeanor, The Greek is cunning and ruth- house and Glekas store.
less, and only interested in facts that make him more money.
Series creator David Simon has said that The Greek is an
embodiment of raw unencumbered capitalism.[2] Anyone
interfering in this process is eliminated immediately, and
he prefers to leave victims headless and handless to hinder
identication.
The Greeks smuggling operation includes importing sex
trade workers, illicit drugs, stolen goods and chemicals for
drug processing. He bribes union stevedores to move containers through the Baltimore port for him and uses his
muscle, Sergei Serge Malatov, to run containers back
and forth from the port to his warehouse, a front managed by Double G Glekas. The Greek supplies the major drug dealers in East Baltimore with pure heroin, using Eton Ben-Eleazer to move his drugs. His chief client
is Proposition Joe, but he is also aliated with smaller
drug dealing organizations like those run by White Mike
McArdle. His sex trade interests in Baltimore include a
brothel run by a madam named Ilona Petrovitch, bringing
in girls from eastern Europe. He manages to avoid prosecution for his crimes because an FBI counter-terrorism agent
named Kristos Koutris tips him o if a criminal investigation gets too close. It is suggested he and Vondas may serve
as federal informants.
6.10.1
Biography
Season two
The Greek began to draw police attention in Baltimore
when his contact at the docks, Frank Sobotka, became the
target of an investigation. At the same time a container of
thirteen dead young women intended for the sex trade was
discovered at the docks, triggering a high-prole homicide
investigation. The container belonged to The Greek and the
girls were killed by a crewman on board the vessel that had
delivered them. The ships crew had been paying the girls
for sex and when one of the girls refused, she was killed.
The crewman responsible dumped her overboard and collapsed the air pipe to kill the remaining women. The Greek
had Sergei track the crewman down, interrogated him personally, and had Vondas kill him.
The Greek recognized that the investigation was too extensive to stop and made plans to leave, sending Vondas
to assure Proposition Joe that supply of drugs would continue albeit with new faces. He attempted to buy Sobotkas
silence with promised legal aid for his son, but when he
learned from Koutris that Frank was planning to turn informant he had the union man killed. Although Franks
nephew Nick Sobotka was able to identify The Greek in
a photo and Sergei was pressured to give up the location of
his hotel suite, Vondas and The Greek had already boarded
a ight to Chicago. Aware that The Greek and Vondas were
gone, the police left the investigation behind and moved on
to the drug dealers he supplied.
Seasons four and ve
The Greek continued to supply Proposition Joe Stewart,
who formed an organization with other drug dealers called
the New Day Co-Op to provide The Greeks product to
them in exchange for reduced violence and sharing of territory. When Omar Little steals an entire shipment of heroin
from The Greeks men as it is being delivered to Stewarts people, Marlo Staneld demands a meeting with Spiros
Vondas Vondopoulos in order to allay his fears that Stewart was responsible.[3][4] Once Staneld is satised, he waits
for the Major Crimes Units investigation into his activities
to cease and then moves to establish a direct relationship
with Vondas and The Greek. After getting in communication with Vondas through former soldier Sergei,[5][6] Marlo
eventually sells himself as Joes replacement by convincing
The Greek that he requires an insurance policy in the form
of a replacement for Proposition Joe, in the event that anything should happen to him. Realizing that Staneld will
move against Stewart regardless of his approval, The Greek
accepts Marlos proposal to act as an insurance policy,
knowing that it will mean Joes death.[7][8]
After Stewarts murder, Staneld meets with Vondas to initiate their new business relationship.[9][10] Stanelds tenure
proves short lived when he is forced into retirement by an
investigation, and the other Co-Op members purchase the
connection from Staneld. In the closing scenes of the series nale, Slim Charles and Fat-Face Rick take over meeting with Vondas while The Greek listens quietly in the
As the investigation continued the police were able to link background.[11][12]
Eton and Sergei to the drug smuggling operation. When
police began tracking containers as they left the port, The
Greek and Vondas began to close down the operation tem- 6.10.2 References
porarily by dumping their cell phones and stealing clean
containers. Persuading Sobotka to keep the smuggling [1] Character prole - The Greek. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
148
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Season four
6.11.1
Character storyline
Season three
Partlow is a key player in the turf war with the Barksdale
organization and is always looking out for Stanelds safety.
He often meets with Marlo and his adviser Vinson to discuss their strategy. Partlows cautious observation revealed
Partlow continues to be Marlos key adviser. He tries to dissuade Marlo from playing at a high stakes card game where
he is losing a considerable amount of money. When the
game is robbed by Omar Little, Marlo asks Partlow for his
advice on how best to deal with Omar. Partlow suggests
a more subtle approach than simply placing a bounty on
Omar. They plan to stage a robbery of their associate Old
Face Andre and blame the robbery on Omar, having Andre
identify him. Partlow carries out the robbery himself and
kills a delivery woman and beats Andre to lend credence to
their scenario.
Marlo entrusts Partlow with cultivating new prospect
Michael Lee. Michael is a middle school child who Marlo
believes would make a good soldier. Partlow is responsible
for intimidating Lexs crew chief Bodie Broadus into giving up his corner, since Marlo has seen that he has turned
it into a protable location. Partlow forces Bodie to accept
Marlos package, which is inferior to the high quality heroin
he had been purchasing from Proposition Joe Stewart. He
asks Bodie about Michael, having noticed that he worked
with him for a time. Partlow tracks Michael to his home and
149
to kill Junebug (a rival who may have been spreading rumors about Staneld), attack Webster Franklins territory,
as he had refused the Staneld package and to lure Omar
Little out of retirement. Partlow has already arranged for
Staneld to visit Malatov at MCI Jessup.[6][7]
Partlow and Snoop are twice pulled over by detectives during the season. The rst time, they were confronted by
Herc, who had been following them, but Partlow was able
to hide their rearms in a hidden compartment. Herc discovers their nail gun and lime in the back of the vehicle,
but takes little notice. Once they are released, Partlow disposes of the nail gun. The second time, they are confronted
by Kima and Bunk. Snoop again hides their rearms, but
Kima discovers the compartment. Chris and Snoop are arrested but later released, as the police can tie neither the
weapons nor the vehicle to either of them. Eventually, the
police are able to demonstrate not only that Chris (and thus
Marlo) are responsible for the chain of disappearances in
West Baltimore, but also that they have been disposing of
the bodies in row houses all over town.[3]
150
6.11.2
References
[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
[9] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[10] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
6.12
6.12.1
Season three
6.12.2
Season four
Snoop is shown a year later as an adept enforcer and signicantly recognized as part of the trusted inner circle of
Marlo. She and Chris are assigned most of the hits that
Marlo initiates, with Snoop assisting Chris in many mur[4] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. ders by way of luring the victim to a secluded area and
Season 5. Episode 1. HBO.
by helping to organize the method of concealment. She is
[5] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. never shown as the actual murderer. The pair dispose of the
bodies by depositing them in abandoned buildings, covering
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
them with quicklime and tarps, and boarding up the build[6] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". ings again. When they re-board the doors, they use a nail
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
gun that Snoop purchased in the rst scene of the season.
[3] Character prole - Chris Partlow. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
2006-09-15.
151
6.12.5
Reception
Several critics have praised Pearsons performance as especially frightening.[4][5][6][7] Writer Stephen King called the
character perhaps the most terrifying female villain to ever
appear in a television series.[6]
Among the people Chris and Snoop murder are Lex Anderson, Little Kevin, Old Face Andre, several New York
drug dealers, and a security guard who talked back to Marlo.
6.12.6 References
Tired of always concealing her crimes, Snoop tries to keep
the guards badge as a souvenir, but Chris throws the badge [1] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07away. The pair were also responsible for intimidating Bodie
27.
Broadus into accepting Marlos drug supply and for recruiting middle school child Michael Lee into their organization. [2] Character prole - Snoop. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 200609-15.
They also train the next generation of soldiers for Stanelds
organization, including O-Dog. At the end of the season, [3] HBO series The Wires Snoop Pearson. Danaroc.com.
its revealed that she is either a lesbian, or bisexual when
2006. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
Bunk says to her, I'm thinking about some pussy, and she
[4] Ken Tucker (2006). 5 Reasons to Live. Entertainment
replies, Me too.
Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
6.12.3
Season ve
6.12.4
Production
Origins
Snoops name is seen for the rst time, very briey, in a season three episode, written on a post-it note and being pinned
up to the board. Her name is also pinned on the board in the
rst episode of season 4 "Boys of Summer". Her name and
picture is up on the details board under Chris Partlow as Felicia Pearson AKA SNOOP. Her name can once again be
seen briey early in the season 5 episode "Transitions", as
well as in Randy Wagstas police le in "The Dickensian
Aspect".[2] Snoop is the actresss nickname in real life.[3]
[5] Michael Endelman (2006). ""Wire education. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
[6] Stephen King (2006). Setting O a 'Wire' Alarm. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
[7] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
6.13
Wee-Bey Brice
6.13.1
Character storyline
152
Season one
Season three
Wee-Bey is Barksdales main soldier. When Avon is cleaning up any possible trail of evidence leading back to him,
Wee-Bey kills a witness who had previously been bought
o. Wee-Bey gets involved in two dierent gun ghts
with legendary stick-up man Omar Little, after torturing
and killing Omars partner, accomplice and lover Brandon.
Their rst encounter ends with Wee-Bey being shot in the
leg, but he later defends Avon against Omar, shooting him
in the shoulder and forcing him to retreat.
Wee-Bey was also linked to the body of a dancer from Orlandos strip club, a Barksdale front company. Although not
responsible for her death, he slept with her the evening before and showed little concern after she died from a drug
overdose. His callous disposal of her body leads another
stripper to give information to the police.
Wee-Beys eventual downfall comes when he and Little
Man kill Orlando, who was working as a police informant.
During the killing, Little Man shoots Detective Greggs, who
was working undercover. Wee-Bey was horried to learn
that the second shooting victim was an undercover cop.
Stringer orders Wee-Bey to kill Little Man, stating that he is
unreliable as a soldier, and ee town; D'Angelo Barksdale is
responsible for driving Wee-Bey to Philadelphia (and taking care of his sh). When D'Angelo is arrested soon after, he gives the police information concerning Wee-Beys
whereabouts and his murder of Deirdre Kresson, a former
girlfriend of Avons. Later, through a combination of the
active wiretap and phone records, the police are able to determine Wee-Beys exact location. Baltimore and Philadelphia police arrest Wee-Bey by activating his car alarm, luring him out of his residence unarmed. Once in custody,
and guaranteed a life sentence for his involvement in the
shooting of a police ocer, Wee-Bey confesses to numerous murders, including several he did not commit (with the
aim of protecting other people in the Barksdale Organization); in return he asks for a pit beef sandwich with extra
horseradish.
Season two
Wee-Bey is imprisoned with Avon, serving life without parole. He keeps articial sh in his cell and enjoys a relatively easy life under Barksdales protection. A correctional
ocer named Dwight Tilghman harasses him because he
confessed to murdering a relative of Tilghmans. Wee-Bey
complains to Avon, and the problem is swiftly dealt with.
Later on, after D'Angelos supposed suicide, Wee-Bey reassures Avon that D'Angelos death was not his fault.
Season four
Wee-Beys teenaged son becomes involved with the drug
trade, getting a job with his old colleague Bodie Broadus.
Namond is also responsible for his sh. When Brianna
Barksdale cuts o the monthly payments that the Barksdale
organization had been making to the Brices, Namond is further pressured into dealing, mainly by his mother De'Londa.
Howard Bunny Colvin takes a liking to Namond after
meeting him in a special program for troubled youth that
Colvin helped supervise. Seeing potential in the boy, Colvin
approaches Wee-Bey and asks his permission to take Namond into his home. Colvin tells Wee-Bey that the changing face of the drug trade and Namonds capabilities in other
areas make him better suited to a life o the streets. Though
initially reluctant, Wee Bey agrees that Colvins oer gives
Namond the best chance of escaping the drug trade and
making something of himself. Acknowledging that anything would be preferable to a life as a soldier, Wee-Bey
orders De'Londa to allow Colvin to assume guardianship of
Namond, implicitly threatening her when she appears reluctant to let Namond go.
Season ve
Wee-Bey is briey seen during the end-of-season montage
conversing amicably with Chris Partlow in the courtyard of
the Maryland State prison.
6.13.2
6.13.3
References
[1] HBO
[2] http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/857/857.F2d.210.
88-5503.88-5502.html
6.14.1
Biography
153
o with fake dollar bills. In a later conversation in which
D'Angelo tries to emphasize decent treatment of the customers, Bodie is unsympathetic; this is perhaps because
of his mothers addiction-fueled negligence while she was
still alive. In telling his troubled past to Detective Thomas
Herc Hauk, Bodies grandmother says that when she took
him in, he was only four, but even then, I knew he was angry. Later, Bodie punched Detective Mahon while being
searched. Bodie received a beating for this, from Detectives
Hauk, Greggs and Carver. He was arrested, but almost immediately after arriving at a juvenile detention facility, he
walked out and stole a car, and was soon back in Baltimore
dealing again. He became a personal target of Herc and
Carver, who picked him up in the pit and gave him a second beating. However, while waiting for prisoner transfer,
they softened towards him over a game of pool. The Barksdale Organizations lawyer, Maurice Levy, soon convinced
a judge to release Bodie. Herc and Carver were incredulous
at this, but when they realized he had legitimately beaten the
charges against him (thanks to Levy), they relented.
Later, Bodie was tasked by Stringer Bell to murder his erstwhile friend Wallace after Avon Barksdale decided to eliminate anyone who might talk to the police. Bodies willingness to carry out the hit further impressed Stringer. He
gathered Poot with little hesitation to aid him in his job.
During the lead up to the hit, Bodie was the more condent
of the two; however, when they cornered a fearful Wallace,
who pleaded with his friends, Bodie showed much hesitation. Only after Poot told him to nish it did he pull the
trigger. Although Bodie red the initial shot, he found it difcult to follow through and kill Wallace as he saw his friend
dying in agony. Poot took the gun and nished Wallace o
for both of them, and Bodie left the room soon after. After
the arrest of his one-time mentor and crew chief D'Angelo,
Bodies leadership skills shone and he stepped into the position by gathering The Pits members to physically force
away a rival drug gang.
Season one
Season two
Bodie often displayed a quick, violent temper; he insti- When an independent crew of dealers moved in on the
gated the severe beating of drug addict Johnny Weeks af- Barksdales territory, Bodies violent outburst led the other
ter getting angry at Wallace for letting the group get ripped crew to start a gunght which resulted in the accidental
154
death of a child. After failing to adequately dispose of
the guns, Bodie was picked up and interrogated by detectives Ed Norris and Ray Cole in connection with the crime.
They attempted to blu a confession out of him, but he saw
through their trick and was released.
Stringer was unhappy with him, and ordered him to welcome Proposition Joe Stewart's dealers to the towers, because Joe was providing high-quality product. He and the
other West Siders started friendly competition to entice
buyers away from Joes nephew, Cheese. Bodie was pleased
when Brother Mouzone drove away the East Side dealers,
but worried about the quality of the product that would be
available to his crew without Proposition Joes help.
Season three
6.14.2
References
155
sues a legitimate profession. He has the distinction, along
with Wee-Bey Brice, Omar Little, Bubbles and Proposition
Joe, of being the only characters in the drug trade to appear
in every season.
Of the seventeen front-line Barksdale Organization gang
members to feature in Season One to Season Three, twelve
die during the course of the show and three more are imprisoned with long sentences. Poot in many ways is the sole
survivor, and the foil to the heavy casualties suered particularly by Barksdales organization. This is despite the fact
that he survives being shot at three times, more times than
any other character except Omar Little. He distinguishes
himself from the other remaining survivor, Slim Charles,
as the only one able to move away from drug trade after the
organizations collapse.
6.15.1
Biography
Season one
In season one Poot works in the low rise projects territory
called the pit under D'Angelo Barksdale, and is friends
with fellow dealers Bodie and Wallace. He has a very active
sex life, and at one point the police detail investigating the
Barksdale Organization listens in on him having phone sex
with a girlfriend. He is depicted as being a contemporary
of Bodie and Wallace, making him about sixteen when the
show starts.
Poot is trapped in the stash house with other members of
his crew when it is robbed by Omar. Although he doesn't
get hurt, Poot is terried enough to vomit when Omar
leaves. He and Wallace spot Brandon, Omars boyfriend
and accomplice in the heist. Wallace reports the sighting
to D'Angelo, even though Poot doesn't believe anyone will
come. Stringer Bell arrives soon afterwards with a trio of
enforcers. Poot is not as aected as Wallace by the body of
Brandon being displayed in their neighborhood as a warning to Omar. The trauma drives Wallace to stop working for
the organization. Poot tries to get him to return to work, but
he is unsuccessful. Poot follows Wallace and realizes he has
turned to drugs to escape his problems. He covers for Wallace with D'Angelo for some time but eventually tells him
the truth.
Poots close friendship with Wallace is evident as he stays
in constant touch with Wallace after the police move Wallace away to the country. Wallace tells Poot he has chosen
to move to live with relatives. During the lead up to the
hit, Poots closer friendship with Wallace made him the less
condent of the two; however, when they cornered a fearful Wallace, who pleaded with his friends, Bodie showed
much more hesitation. Only after Poot urged him to nish
it did he pull the trigger. Although Bodie red the initial
156
shot, Poot took the gun from him and nished Wallace o
himself, wanting to free his friend from his suering. After
the arrest of his one-time mentor and crew chief D'Angelo,
Poots willingness to continue to serve the Barksdale Organization was shown when he stepped into the position by
helping Bodie physically force away a rival drug gang. In
the closing scenes of Season One, Poot is seen running the
Pit, notably repeating some of the earlier lessons taught to
him by D'Angelo to the crew currently working for him.
Season two
In season two Poot is rewarded with a promotion to
D'Angelos old position in charge of drug dealing in the
pit. However, he has diculty controlling his subordinates
and struggles with the poor quality product available to the
crew. He is signicant enough to the organization to attend
Stringers strategy meetings at a funeral home. He continues to work with Bodie who is now in control of his own
tower and overseeing the pit. Bodie and Poot become embroiled in a turf dispute with an independent crew that leads
to a reght, in which Bodie, Poot and Puddin ght o six
attackers. A child is killed by a stray bullet.
Season three
In season three the Barksdale organization is forced out of
its prime territory by the citys demolition of the public
housing towers - in the cold open of the season premiere,
Poot expresses his sadness at the loss of the towers, revealing that he lost his virginity in one of the buildings. It is
during this sequence that Bodie reveals Poots given name
to be Malik Carr. Poot remains in charge of his own crew
now working on a street corner. The Barksdale organization becomes embroiled in a turf war with the rival Staneld
crew. Barksdale enforcer Slim Charles assures Poot that he
will be safe to keep selling narcotics and provides him with
more muscle as protection. Poot narrowly escapes being
shot in a drive-by on his corner carried out by Staneld soldier Snoop, which kills Barksdale soldier Rico. At the close
of season three, Poot is arrested alongside Avon Barksdale
and others, implicated in drug dealing by a police wiretap.
Season four
6.15.2
References
6.16
D'Angelo Barksdale
157
day, the police raid. (Their information is slightly outdated,
and they raid a now abandoned stash house, but Detective
Lester Freamon nds D'Angelos pager number on a wall.)
Stringer chastises D'Angelo for his sloppiness, and Avon
places a bounty on Omars crew. Wallace and Poot identify
Omars boyfriend, Brandon, in an arcade; D'Angelo relays
the message to Stringer, who has Brandon captured, tortured and killed. Wallace becomes haunted by his role in
the death of Brandon.
Relating to Wallaces aversion to the violence of their trade,
D'Angelo develops a friendship with Wallace. When Wallace wants to leave the business after seeing the mutilated
body of Brandon, D'Angelo is supportive and gives him
money. Stringer begins asking after Wallace; D'Angelo
senses that the boy is in trouble and asks Avon to leave
him alone, reassuring him that Wallace is no danger to the
organization. When Wallace returns and asks for his old
job back, D'Angelo tries to get him to leave, but is unable to save him. Wallace is killed at Bells orders, though
D'Angelo remains unaware that Bodie and Poot killed him.
Based indirectly on information Shardene provided to the
police (The microphone inside the club which listened to
Avon), D'Angelo is arrested while running drugs from New
York, and again interrogated. McNulty tells him Wallace is
dead. D'Angelo remembers the trick from before that got
him writing a letter to the ctional kids of Mr. Gant and
doesn't believe him at rst. Stringer Bell comes to talk to
him and refuses to answer the question wheres Wallace?"
Stringer warns D'Angelo to shut his mouth which conrms
in D'Angelos mind what had happened. He grows angry
and tells Stringer he doesn't want to use the family lawyer,
permanently driving a wedge in their already fractured relationship. D'Angelo is furious at the murder of Wallace and
briey turns states witness against the Organization. He
tells them where Wee-Bey has ed to after shooting a police ocer, and oers numerous details of his uncles organization. However, a visit from his mother convinces him
of his duty to his family, and he backs out of the deal. Due
to his refusal to cooperate, he is sentenced to a maximum
of 20 years in prison. While serving his sentence, he says
the best he can hope for is 10 years before a possibility for
parole.
Season two
158
hes not an addict, but does not tell D'Angelo of the plan.
Had D'Angelo not taken his uncles advice he could easily
have died himself. At least one of the inmates D'Angelo
was friendly with accepted doses of the tainted drugs. After ve prisoners die and eight more are in the inrmary,
Avon informs on Tilghman in exchange for an earlier parole board hearing and a recommendation for release by the
investigators. D'Angelo refuses to take part in the plan and,
disgusted by his uncles immorality, declares that he wants
nothing more to do with his family.
6.17
Cheese Wagsta
6.16.3
Other
159
been talking literally about killing an animal, he was re- 6.18 Wallace (The Wire)
leased and promptly told Proposition Joe about the wiretap,
after which his gang changed their communication strate- Wallace is a ctional character on the HBO drama The
gies to thwart further investigation.[2]
Wire, played by actor Michael B. Jordan. Wallace is a 16year-old drug dealer for the Barksdale Organization, who
works in the low-rise projects crew known as The Pit with
his friends and fellow dealers Bodie and Poot. When inSeason four
formation he provides leads to the brutal death of Brandon
Wright, the boyfriend of stick-up artist Omar Little, WalIn season four, Cheese remained a trusted member of
lace feels guilty and tries to leave the drug trade. He informs
Proposition Joes inner circle. He acted as the go-between,
on the Barksdale Organization to the police, and as a result
supplying Joes drugs to the various other Baltimore dealers
is killed by Bodie and Poot under orders by drug kingpin
in the Co-op, including Marlo Staneld, and also picked up
Stringer Bell.
the drug deliveries from agents of The Greek. Omar Little tracked Cheese from Proposition Joes oce to one of
these delivery sites during a major drop and stole the entire
Baltimore heroin supply. When Omar sold the drugs back 6.18.1 Biography
to Joe, Cheese seemed more angry than Joe himself.
Wallace is a 16-year-old drug dealer in the Barksdale crews
low rise projects organization (called The Pit). He serves
with Poot and Bodie Broadus under D'Angelo Barksdale
Season ve
through the entirety of season one. He shows the signs of
a half-nished education he can identify famous peoIn season ve, Cheese assists Marlo Staneld in his eorts ple on currency better than the rest of his crew (including
to control the entire Baltimore drug trade, acting as an infor- D'Angelo, who objects when Wallace correctly points out
mant to Marlo. In exchange for a $50,000 reward for infor- that Alexander Hamilton was never president), but somemation leading to the whereabouts of Omar Little, Cheese times struggles with the math involved with drug dealing.
identies Butchie as someone who knows where Omar is He also takes responsibility for numerous younger kids in
hiding. When Butchie is tortured and murdered by Chris the projects, housing them in a squatters apartment, packand Snoop, Joe immediately suspects Cheese is Marlos in- ing their lunches, seeing them o to school and helping
formant. Fearing Omar might believe he is responsible, them with their homework. He betrays his age when he
Prop Joe prepares to go into hiding. Cheese informs Marlo is found playing with toys while supposed to be on lookout
of Proposition Joes whereabouts after Joe is no longer of duty.
use to Marlo. Marlo rewards Cheese with a top spot in his After Omar Little robs the pit crews stash of drugs, Wallace
organization after eectively dissolving the New Day Co- spots his accomplice Brandon playing pinball and calls this
Op. In the series nale, Cheese and the rest of the co-op information in. Stringer Bell grabs Brandon and tortures
meet to discuss how the group should move forward after him to death. His body is left on display, coincidentally
Marlo is forced out of the drug trade. Waving a pistol in an- outside of Wallaces home. Wallace receives a quarter of
other dealers face, Cheese makes a speech about how Joe the $2000 bounty on Brandons head, but is so sickened by
and Marlo have had their time, but before he can declare the event that he decides he wants out of the game. He
it is his turn, Slim Charles shoots him in the head uncere- approaches D'Angelo and tells him he wants to go back to
moniously and without warning. When another dealer asks school. D'Angelo gives him his blessing and some cash.
Charles why he killed Cheese, Charles replies, That was Poot discovers that Wallace has spent the money on drugs
for Joe. His is the nal onscreen death in the series.
and is spending most of his time at home getting high.
Wallace is picked up by the police and agrees to cooperate
with the Barksdale detail, revealing Stringers involvement
in the killing of Omars boyfriend Brandon. In order to keep
6.17.2 References
him safe until the trial, Wallace is sent to live with his grandmother in rural Cambridge. After detective Kima Greggs
[1] "'The Wire': David Simon schools USC. The Los Angeles is shot in an undercover operation, the detail becomes so
Times
preoccupied with her condition that Wallace is temporarily forgotten. Bored with life away from Baltimore, he re[2] Character prole - Calvin Cheese Wagsta. HBO. turns to the low-rise projects and asks to get involved in the
2004. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
trade again. Stringer Bell becomes suspicious of Wallaces
160
return. D'Angelo tries to reassure Stringer of Wallaces loyalty, but Stringer is not convinced and assigns Bodie to kill
Wallace. Cornered at gunpoint by Poot and Bodie, Wallace
begs for mercy, reminding Bodie of their friendship. Bodie
rst taunts, then hesitates, unable to bring himself to pull the
trigger. Poot urges him on and Bodie nally shoots Wallace,
only to leave him severely wounded and slowly dying. Poot
takes the gun and nishes him o.
D'Angelo is outraged when he learns of Wallaces death. It
is one of the main factors that leads D'Angelo to want to
leave the game himself, and it drives a permanent wedge
between him and Stringer. In season three McNulty nds
the crime scene photo from Wallaces murder and he and
Roland Pryzbylewski share a look.
6.18.3
References
6.18.2
[4] Barshad, Amos (2009-01-07). ""The Wire Premiere: Wallace Lives, and Rawls Cuts a Rug. New York. Retrieved
2009-05-04.
[5] Ventre, Michael (2004-11-13). On The Wire, sometimes
the bad guys win. MSNBC. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
Chapter 7
Docks
7.1 Characters from the docks of
The Wire
but hides her visits from his parents. Joan is aghast when
the police serve warrants and search her home looking for
Nick and nd drugs and cash.
7.1.1
Sobotka family
Louis is Frank Sobotka's elder brother and Nick's father. Louis was forced to retire early from his trade as a
shipwright. He spends his days hypothetically gambling on
horses (he never places any money on his bets) and drinking at Delores' bar. He refuses to get involved in the familys
smuggling operation. When a warrant is put on Nick for his
drug involvement Louis convinces him to turn himself in.
Nick Sobotka
Frank Sobotka was a respected longshoremen's local union Main article: Nick Sobotka
leader who became involved with an organized crime smuggling operation in order to nance a political campaign to
Louis and Joans son and Franks nephew, Nick is a wellsustain the docks.
liked young stevedore with extensive family connections to
the Baltimore port and links to the criminal underworld.
Joan Sobotka
Played by: Elisabeth Noone
Ziggy Sobotka
Joan is Louis wife and the two live with their grown son,
Nick. Joan bemoans her familys drinking habits and tries
to encourage Nick to get as much work as possible at the
port. She refuses to make breakfast for him if he is not up
in time for work. Nick often has his girlfriend Aimee to stay
161
162
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
7.1.2
Dock workers
He was released on bail later the same day. Franks response was to have Horseface steal a surveillance van from
The dock workers are all members of the Baltimore Union Valcheks district parking lot; Ott helped to load the van into
of the International Brotherhood of Stevedores. They a container to be shipped around the country.
are also hated by Southeastern District commander Stan
Ott was set to take over from Frank as treasurer when the
Valchek who views them as nothing more than dishonornext election came around, per the Stevedores arrangeable thieves stealing anything that comes into the port.
ment that the position swap between a Polish and AfricanAmerican after each term. Ott was supported by his friend
Nat Coxson, president of another local union. Ott realized
Nat Coxson
that Frank planned to run again and was angry that he was
not honoring the agreement. When Frank was murdered,
Played by: Luray Cooper
Ott withdrew his candidacy as a show of unity against the
Appears in
federal governments attempt to break up the union.
Season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"; "Undertow"; "All Prologue";
"Backwash"; "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings";
and "Port in a Storm".
Season 5: "The Dickensian Aspect"
Nat is a bald-headed African-American stevedore who is a
union president and is dubious of Frank Sobotka's political
maneuvering. Nat is a rm believer that the unions should
focus on repairing the disused grain pier before it is bought
by property developers. He opposes Franks eorts to have
the canal dredged as he believes that this is a goal beyond
their reach. Nat is concerned about Franks surge in income
and spending on campaign contributions and hiring a lobbyist. He questions Frank about the source of the funds and
when Frank refuses to answer Nat cautions him about the
risks of showing so much money.
163
Chess
Played by: J. Valenteen Gregg
Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Duck and
Cover"; "All Prologue" (uncredited) and "Port in a
Storm" (uncredited).
Chess is a large, senior, African-American stevedore who
is often seen drinking at Delores bar. He questions Frank
Sobotka about the source of his political capital at a union
meeting.
La La
Played by: Kelvin Davis
Appears in season 2: "Ebb Tide" (uncredited);
"Backwash"; "Duck and Cover"; "Stray Rounds" and
"Port in a Storm".
7.1.3
The Greeks
164
7.1.4
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
Others
Aimee
Played by: Kristin Proctor
7.2
7.1.5
References
Frank Sobotka
Biography
165
7.2.2
Miscellaneous
7.3
Nick Sobotka
Nickolas Andrew Nick Sobotka is a ctional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Pablo
Schreiber. Nick is cousin to Ziggy Sobotka, the wayward
and rebellious son to his uncle Frank Sobotka.
7.3.1
Plot details
Season 2
Nick is a dockworker, and works for his uncle Frank
Sobotka, the secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores. He often has to keep his cousin,
Franks son Ziggy out of trouble, to whom he shows considerable patience. Nick is much more cautious and levelheaded than Ziggy, a fact his uncle appreciates. He is involved in his uncles smuggling operation and often serves
as Franks go-between in meetings with Spiros Vondas
Vondopoulos. He would meet with Vondas at the diner
which serves as the Greeks oce. Vondas would give
him the serial numbers of the cargo containers The Greek
was bringing into the port, and Nick would convey this information to his uncle.
Nick has a girlfriend, Aimee, with whom he has a daughter,
Ashley. They want to move in together, but they are unable
to aord a place of their own; Nick lives with his parents
and when she spends the night with him, she has to hide
from them. Though Nick very much wants to settle down
with her, his lack of steady income lead to tensions between
them.
Since Nick is one of the younger stevedores, seniority prevents him from getting enough work at the docks. Des-
166
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
perate for cash, he and Ziggy stole a trailer full of cameras, which they sold to the Greeks front man, Glekas.
This brought Nick to the attention of Vondas, who asked
him if he could procure large quantities of certain chemicals. Ziggy was immediately interested, but Nick was more
conscientious, fearing that the chemicals would be used to
make bombs. After some research on the internet, he discovered that they would be used to process drugs and he
agreed to the deal.
tered federal witness protection. The last scene of the second season focuses on him looking at the decaying shipping
shoreline from behind a chain-link fence. After shedding
a few tears, he walks away on a sidewalk leading uphill.
The scene symbolized the seasons main theme, the death
of blue-collar work in American industry.[1]
Ziggy is into drug dealing and invites Nick to join in, but
at rst Nick angrily refuses. Later, when Ziggys ineptitude
nearly cost him his life at the hands of Proposition Joe's
nephew Cheese, Nick asked Vondas to intervene. Vondas
sent Sergei Serge Malatov, who forced Cheese to back o
at gunpoint. Sergei then helped Nick negotiate a settlement
with Prop Joe himself.
Season 5
References
7.4
Ziggy Sobotka
Eventually a warrant was issued for Nicks arrest. The police raided his parents house shortly after Ziggys arrest.
Though Nick was not home, his parents were aghast when Chester Karol Ziggy Sobotka is a ctional characthe police found Nicks stash of drugs and cash in the base- ter on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor James
Ransone. Though his father Frank Sobotka was a wellment.
respected stevedore union leader, Ziggys often reckless and
Later that day Vondas approached Nick with an oer to
juvenile behavior gained him little respect among other
help Ziggy, in exchange for his and Franks silence. The
members of the union and The Greek's crime organization.
young Sobotka eagerly conveyed the oer to his uncle.
Frank told Nick he would go see the Greek alone. Just before the meeting, the Greek learned from his FBI mole that 7.4.1 Biography
Frank had oered to testify against him, so he had the elder Sobotka killed. A grieving Nick turned himself in to the Ziggy is Frank Sobotka's son and Nick's cousin. Ziggy was
police, agreeing to become a witness against the Greek and a dock worker in his fathers stevedores union, but he was
his gang. As his uncle had, he refused to incriminate mem- also involved in criminal activity. Like most of the port
bers of his union. When Danielss detail interrogated him workers, Ziggy frequented Delores' bar, where he amused
he identied the Greek in a photograph, giving the detail its the other customers with his drunken antics. He was known
rst picture of its main target.
for publicly exposing himself. His work on the docks was
At the end of season two, Nick, Aimee and Ashley en- often poor and his father would regularly re him and then
reinstate him. Due to his lack of seniority, Ziggy received
167
he was not able to pay by the end of the week. Nick and
La La, a friend from the union, visited Cheese on Ziggys
behalf hoping to bargain the value of the car that Cheese
had taken against Ziggys debt. They found that Cheese had
burned the car and was now asking for more money but willing to give Ziggy a little more time. Ziggy was distraught
when he heard this news.
Nick went to the Greeks to ask for help with the problem.
He found that they were the suppliers of Proposition Joes
entire operation and were able to negotiate with him directly. Nick attended a sit-down with Joe on Ziggys behalf.
Because of their association with the Greeks, Joe agreed to
give Ziggy compensation for the car minus the original debt
he owed.
168
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
7.4.2
Origins
The actor who portrays Ziggy, James Ransone, is a Baltimore native and has described the character as representative of the diculties people face just trying to get by in
Baltimore. The characters creators have deemed him the
angry prince of goofs.[2]
7.5
Sergei Malatov
7.5.1
Biography
Malatov is a trusted lieutenant in The Greek's import business. When vodka, appliances, electronics, drugs or Eastern
Bloc women destined to be sex workers arrive in Baltimore,
Sergei ensures the cargo is delivered to The Greeks associates in the city. He mentions that he has spent four years in
prison in Ukraine, and that American prisons are nowhere
near as harsh.
Season two
Sergei is supposed to collect thirteen prostitutes hidden in
a cargo container from the docks, but when he does not receive the all-clear signal from The Greeks accomplice on
the ship which delivered the women, he abandons the container on the waterfront. The Greek later learns that the
girls were killed, and Sergei is sent to the Philadelphia port
(the ships next destination) to nd the crewman. He inltrates the port and captures the crewman. When The Greek
and Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos arrive, the crewman tells
them everything about how the girls were killed, and Spiros
murders him. Sergei is charged with disposing of the body
and The Greek instructs him to make sure there is no face
or ngerprints. The body is later found and identied by a
tattoo.
7.5.2
References
169
Chapter 8
Politicians
8.1 Politicians of The Wire
Odell Watkins
Played by: Frederick Strother
The following are politicians, family members, and assistants administrating the politics of Baltimore on The Wire.
8.1.1
Appears in:
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick"; "Middle
Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Clay Davis
Season ve:
"Unconrmed Reports",
Clay Davis is a corrupt State Senator who is an important
"Transitions"
Democratic fundraiser. Baltimore mayors therefore try to
stay on his good side.
State Delegate Odell Watkins is a longtime major Baltimore
political gure and a wheelchair user. Watkins is a member of the inuential State Appropriations Committee
Damien Lavelle Price
with strong voter inuence and is known as a kingmaker.
Watkins is also the moral voice of authority within Balti Played by: Donnell Rawlings
more politicians as he has full support of the religious leaders, looks to address the concerns of the citizens in an ethical and representable way, and is most critical of politicians
Appears in:
prone to bribes and corruption.
Season one: "One Arrest" and "Lessons".
Season ve: "Not for Attribution" and "Took".
8.1.2
Current
Nerese Campbell
Played by: Marlyne Aack
Appears in:
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Margin of
Error"; "Know Your Place"; "Misgivings"; and
"Thats Got His Own"
Season ve: "More With Less"; "Unconrmed
Reports"; "Transitions"; "React Quotes";
"Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and "30".
Nerese Campbell is the Democratic president of the Baltimore City council. She is the only member of Clarence
Royce's campaign ticket to win election to their respective
171
position.[2] Campbell rst appeared drawing the attention of
the Mayors security detail ocers. Campbell is the leading
voice of opposition to Mayor Tommy Carcettis plan to re
Commissioner Ervin Burrell claiming that a good portion of
her constituency would be against this action. She is close to
the ministers and politicians from Clarence Royces era and
frequently uses that inuence as leverage against Carcetti.
She admits to Carcetti that a gentlemans agreement had
been in place under Royce whereby she would become the
next mayor at the end of his tenure and that resentment over
having been passed over for the oce is the source of much
of her hostility to his policies. In turn, Carcetti alerts her
that she may become mayor by default if he decides to run
for governor in 2008. When issues pertaining to the city
school system arise, Campbell suggests that Carcetti go to
Marylands Republican governor to beg for the money to
solve the $54 million decit that the district is running.
In the fth season, Campbell is seen to inuence and intimidate several key gures in politics and the police department. When Clay Davis threatens to incriminate other
politicians of the Royce administration when he feels illsupported during his trial, it is Campbell who convinces him
that it is more advantageous for him to go quietly. Otherwise, he would return from prison and have nowhere to
hang his hat in Baltimore. She advises him to follow exCommissioner Burrell's example, who has been promoted
to a more lucrative job after leaving quietly when Mayor
Carcetti red him over falsied crime statistics. Burrell
had threatened Campbell to leak an FBI le about Cedric
Daniels, Carcettis candidate for new Commissioner, if the
mayor red him. Campbell retains the le and threatens
Daniels in the last episode of season 5 to reveal it, if he
doesn't comply with the mayors orders to falsify the crime
statistics. In the nal montage of the series nale, it is
revealed that Campbell becomes the Mayor of Baltimore
after Tommy Carcetti leaves to become the Governor of
Maryland.
Campbell bears similarities to former Baltimore mayor
Sheila Dixon, who was the city council president and became mayor following Martin O'Malley's 2006 election as
governor.[3]
Marla Daniels
Played by: Maria Broom
Appears in:
172
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
Season one: "The Detail"; "One Arrest";
"Lessons" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Backwash"
and "Port in a Storm".
Season three:
"Time After Time";
"Hamsterdam"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and
"Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Home Rooms", "Refugees"
Season ve: "Not for Attribution", and "30".
Gerry
Played by: Karen Vicks
Appears in season four: "Boys of Summer" (uncredited); "Soft Eyes" (uncredited); "Refugees"; "Margin
of Error"; "Unto Others"; .
Jerilee Bennett[5] was a key member of Tommy Carcettis
campaign sta in the Mayoral election race. She helps to
decide campaign strategy along with Norman Wilson and
Theresa D'Agostino. She becomes a senior staer in the
Carcetti administration.
with 24% of the vote or with 28%, the latter of which would
do far more good to Grays career and political credibility
as well as help Carcetti win the election by taking valuable
votes away from Royce. Gray acquiesces, and his public
criticism of Royce is integral to Carcettis eventual victory
in the mayoral race. Grays last appearances in the show
were attending church with his wife on the eve of the election, and voting in the election itself.[6]
173
fake Steintorf negotiates with William Rawls, Daniels,
Bond, and Rhonda Pearlman to ensure that a thorough
cover-up is put into eect. Rawls and Pearlman are rewarded for their co-operation with new posts. After the
crisis is dealt with Steintorf renews pressure on Daniels to
produce a drop in crime and order him to falsify statistics.
When Daniels refuses Steintorf approaches Campbell and
convinces her that Daniels will remain problematic when
she replaces Carcetti as Mayor. Campbell intervenes and
forces Daniels to step down and Steintorf receives his required statistics from his replacement, Stanislaus Valchek.
At the close of the series Steintorfs machinations ensure
that Carcetti becomes Governor.[31][32]
Norman Wilson Main article: Norman Wilson
Wilson is a former journalist, professional Democratic political operative and deputy manager of Tommy Carcetti's
campaign in the mayoral race. He becomes Carcettis
deputy chief of sta after he is elected.
Former
Eunetta Perkins
Played by: Unknown
Appears in:
Season three: "Mission Accomplished"
Season four: "Refugees"; "Alliances"
Eunetta was the City Councilwoman from the 11th District
of Baltimore. According to a commentary track, it was a
running joke on the show that Perkins was never present at
City Council meetings. Despite this, Mayor Royce sticks
with her, due to her loyalty. Eventually, Royce agrees to
support her opponent, Marla Daniels. Royce is seen supporting both candidates causing Odell Watkins to throw
his support to Tommy Carcetti taking Daniels with him.
Perkins remains on the ticket keeping the race tight, but
ultimately loses the position to Marla Daniels.
174
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
"Back Burners"; "Reformation"; "Middle
Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Home Rooms"; "Refugees"; "Alliances"; "Unto
Others" and "Final Grades".
later meet with Carcetti and his chief of sta Norman Wilson to amiably discuss the transfer of power. Parker is last
seen discussing future prospects with Wilson, planning to
either lead another campaign for Royce in a dierent oce
or, barring that, a new buck.[33]
Clarence Royce Main article: Clarence Royce
Royce was the mayor of Baltimore, but Carcetti beat him
in a primary upset.
8.1.3
Campaign sta
Theresa D'Agostino
Played by: Brandy Burre
Appears in:
Season three: "Hamsterdam"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners"; "Moral
Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"; "Middle
Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Home Rooms"; "Refugees"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"
Terry D'Agostino is a Washington-based political consultant and campaign xer. She grew up in Baltimore and
graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law
at the same time as councilman Tommy Carcetti. In season three, Carcetti aggressively pursues D'Agostino to work
as his campaign manager for his planned run for Mayor of
Baltimore. She is reluctant to work for a white candidate in
a predominantly African American city, but Carcetti convinces her he is worth taking a chance on. Once on board,
D'Agostino was quick to plan a strategy for the campaign.
Carcetti suggested they use his colleague Anthony Gray,
who was also planning to run, to split the African American voter base. D'Agostino meets Detective Jimmy McNulty at a school open house for his sons and they quickly
become involved in a strictly sexual relationship. The relationship quickly sours after McNulty reveals his lack of
culture and education: his lack of a college degree and,
even worse, his indierence about politics over a rare dinner date. It then ends abruptly after D'Agostino meets him
under the pretense of wanting to start back up again: McNulty leaves when he realizes that she is pressing him for
information about Bunny Colvin and Hamsterdam to help
with Carcettis campaign.
8.1.4
Fund-raisers
Andy Krawczyk
Played by: Michael Willis
Appears in:
Season two: "Collateral Damage" (uncredited)
and "Port in a Storm" (uncredited).
Season three: "Hamsterdam"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Moral Midgetry";
"Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Soft Eyes"; "Refugees"; "A New
Day"; "Thats Got His Own".
Season ve: "The Dickensian Aspect"; and "30
".
175
a regular xture at Royces fundraising poker games, where
players deliberately lose (to get around campaign nance
laws). Detective Kima Greggs personally serves Krawczyk,
who does not seem particularly worried by this, with a subpoena for nancial records, as part of Lester Freamon's investigation into the Barksdale money trail. He is shown in
seasons four and ve in scenes showing his political inuence and trying to get in the new administration. In one
of the mayors meetings he is also revealed to be president
of the school board, and takes no responsibility for the systems debt. There is some suggestive dialogue in the scene
that hints he may be involved in the defrauding of the school
budget.
Michael Willis was previously a recurring character on
David Simons previous show, Homicide: Life on the Street,
playing a corrupt deceitful lawyer.
8.1.5
Relatives
Jen Carcetti
Played by: Megan Anderson
Appears in:
Season three: "Dead Soldiers"; "Homecoming";
"Back
Burners";
"Moral
Midgetry";
"Reformation" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Margin of Error"; Final Grades.
Season ve: "The Dickensian Aspect" (uncredited); "Clarications"; and "30".
Jen Carcetti is the wife of councilman Tommy Carcetti.
They have two children, a son and a daughter. Jen supports
Tommys political ambitions and is seemingly unaware of
his indelity.[35]
176
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
[13] HBO Re-Hangs 'Wire' in January. Zap 2 It. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
8.2
Tommy Carcetti
[18] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
8.2.1
Biography
Season 3
177
dence restored, Carcetti hits the campaign trail with renewed vigor, receiving assistance from black state delegate
Odell Watkins. Carcetti convinces Watkins, who has had a
falling out with Royce, to join his campaign. With his alliance with Watkins, Carcetti defeats Royce in a close but
decisive Democratic primary election. In a city with a 9 to
1 Democratic advantage, Carcetti easily defeated a Republican named Crawford in the general election, winning with
81% of the vote.[1]
With Carcettis encouragement, Gray starts his own campaign for mayor. Realizing that Grays campaign would split
the African American voter base in the election, D'Agostino
advises Carcetti that enhancing Grays chances of success
would in turn improve Carcettis. Carcetti dislikes the idea
of abusing his friends trust, but follows D'Agostinos strat- As mayor-elect, Carcetti immediately makes changes beegy nonetheless.
fore his inauguration. After discussions with city ocials,
After the BPD learns about Hamsterdam Major he decides to replace Burrell as the commissioner of the
Howard Bunny Colvin's drug-tolerant zones in West Bal- BPD, planning to attract outside candidates while asking
timore Royce refuses to allow the department to im- Burrell to resign. Burrell quickly realizes what is happenmediately shut them down, leading Burrell to suspect that ing and rallies support from City Council President Nerese
Royce is making a play against the police. Burrell decides Campbell, corrupt State Senator Clay Davis, and a group
to leak the information to Carcetti as a means of attack- of inuential black ministers. Burrell orders an increase in
ing Royce. At D'Agostinos suggestion, Carcetti approaches arrests at Davis suggestion, hoping to prove that the BPD is
Colvin and tours the area, seeing that Hamsterdam has had functioning well under his leadership. A frustrated Carcetti
the positive impact of isolating the drug trade from the rest restricts Burrells authority and insists that he clear his orders through Deputy Commissioner William Rawls.
of Colvins district.
Together with Gray, Carcetti uses Hamsterdam against
Royce on the campaign trail. At the next city council meeting, Carcetti implicitly blames Royce for the Hamsterdam
debacle in an impassioned speech. Through this, Gray realizes that Carcetti is running for Mayor without his knowledge or input. After Carcetti publicly launches his campaign, Gray ends both their alliance and their friendship.
Carcettis speech relies heavily on war rhetoric, including
words such as weapons and arsenal, which clashes with
Colvins view that such perspectives have made the War on
Drugs unwinnable.
Season 4
Major Cedric Daniels, a politically neutral African American district commander, impresses Carcetti with his interest in securing quality felony arrests instead of statistically
based reductions in crime. Carcetti oers Major Daniels
a promotion to the Criminal Investigations Division and
an automatic promotion to the rank of colonel. Through
Daniels, Carcetti learns of Burrells arrest hike and consequently orders the BPD to reform its approach by prioritizing quality felony cases over statistical quotas.
Carcettis plans for the BPD are derailed when he learns
that Baltimores schools face a $54 million budget decit.
Carcetti and Wilson travel to Annapolis in order to convince
the governor to bail out the schools. The governor does on
the a condition that Carcetti face public humiliation by publicly admitting to eliciting his aid. Carcetti rejects the oer,
as it would be damaging to his own planned campaign for
governor; Wilson is left disappointed at Carcettis decision
to put his ambition ahead of the needs of the city. Carcetti
claims that he would be in a better place to help the city
schools as governor.
178
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
Season 5
governor of Maryland. Campbell, as the city council president, succeeds him as mayor for the remainder of his term.
Rawls and Valchek are promoted to superintendent of the
Carcettis decision to reject the governors bailout leaves Maryland State Police and Commissioner of the Baltimore
him with intractable budget problems. He is forced to cut Police Department, respectively.
spending in other areas in order to plug the school budget decit and is unable to keep his promises to reform the
BPD. Despite the problems facing the city, Carcetti remains 8.2.2 Critical response
focused on running for governor two years into his term.
Carcetti meets with Burrell and Rawls to discuss the BPDs Was there any Baltimorean ... who didn't think Carcetti
problems, becoming concerned with crime statistics despite bore an undeniable resemblance to O'Malley?
his prior decision to discourage stat-based policing. Morale
David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun[9]
in the BPD is at a low because Carcetti is withholding payment of overtime. The commissioners convince Carcetti to
lift a cap on secondary employment for ocers in order to Entertainment Weekly named Carcetti one of the ve most
interesting characters in season four.[10]
improve their morale.
Carcettis new chief of sta, Michael Steintorf, replaces
Wilson as his primary advisor. Carcetti faces criticism from
Wilson but still seeks his counsel. Meanwhile, he meets
with the U.S. Attorney to discuss federal assistance in the
vacant murders case. The U.S. Attorney, a Republican, desires federal handling of a corruption investigation against
Davis. Carcetti refuses to allow Bond to make the case federal because he is worried it will be used to discredit Baltimores Democratic Party.[2][3]
Carcetti, intent on running for governor, alienates Watkins
with his lack of attention to the city. Carcetti considers the
prospect of being replaced by either Bond or Campbell, the
latter of whom has become tainted by a corruption scandal. Carcetti also tries to nd an issue to use against the
governor.[4][5] Rawls leaks BPD statistics to Carcetti showing a rising crime rate. When Burrell delivers manipulated
statistics to Carcetti, the mayor nally has the political ammunition needed to have him red. Carcetti plans to replace Burrell with Daniels, but is worried that he will not
be accepted by Campbell and the ministers. He plans to
temporarily promote Rawls to acting commissioner while
Daniels prepares for the role as Deputy Commissioner of
Operations. Carcetti leaks news of the plan to the press via
Wilson to test the waters.[6][7]
Carcetti oers favors to Campbell and the ministers to accept his plans for the department. Carcetti grants Campbell
permission for the demolition of the McCullough homes, a
housing project that is adjacent to Andy Krawczyk's latest
building development. Campbell convinces Burrell to leave
oce quietly by promising him a lucrative replacement position. Carcetti reluctantly accepts the deal when Campbell hints that Burrell has knowledge of corrupt activity in
Daniels past, but Carcetti remains unaware of the specics.
Carcetti ocially announces his plans for the BPD at a press
conference.[8]
In the end of series montage, it is shown that Carcettis political machinations have succeeded and he has been elected
8.2.3
Character inspiration
8.2.4
References
179
however, soon sense that Carcetti will use the citys rising
crime rate to attack the Mayor.
180
veloper Andy Krawczyk. Royce retains state senator Clay
Davis as his deputy campaign chairman. Royce is given
more reason to be displeased with Burrell when these key
political guress records are subpoenaed by the police departments major case unit.[1] Davis in particular is outraged
and visits Royce personally to tell him that he never asks
where his money comes from suggesting that it is potentially
corrupt coming out of West Baltimore in a large amount.
He warns Royce though to protect him if he wants funding
for the campaign to come from Davis. Royce then displays
this anger to Burrell who then assures that there will be no
more surprises within his department.
Royce has an adulterous relationship with a female assistant. He is caught receiving oral sex in his oce by one of
his security detail, Thomas Herc Hauk. He later checks
with Parker to see who Hercs friends are in the department
and considers having him reassigned. Royce then talks with
Herc, asking his career goals in the department and why he
chose the mayors detail. Herc claims he did it to move
up on the sergeants list, and Royce then immediate calls
Burrell to have him promoted. (Major Valchek spoke with
Herc about the oral sex incident and predicted the promotion would occur in the way that it had).
Royces campaign receives its rst major setback in the debates. Carcetti drops a bombshell on Royce when he uses
news of a recently murdered states witness in an answer
taking the opportunity to accuse Royce of ignoring his request for witness protection in Baltimore - Royce is unaware
of the killing and unable to respond adequately. Royces
campaign then goes downhill as Carcetti has now grasped a
sizeable amount of Black voters.[2]
Royce gets more angered when Commissioner Burrell
fails to successfully downplay the witness investigation
and promises to re Burrell at Parkers request following
an election victory. Furthermore, Royce is criticized by
Delegate Watkins who is instrumental in keeping Royce eye
to eye with the city council members. Watkins is angered
by Royces support of both Marla Daniels and her opponent Eunetta Perkins who he promised to drop from his
ticket. Furthermore, Watkins believes that Royce is more
interested in appeasing the developers who have funded his
campaign and the large sums of money that Royce has been
illegally collecting on the side. Watkins also believes that
Royce has disregarded the citys black community stating
that he is hiding behind Marcus Garvey campaign posters to
win their vote. Watkins then breaks with Royce after claiming that he is immoral and unable to keep his promises. The
security detail to Royce notices this and informs Deputy
Rawls who believes that Tommy Carcetti can do better
things for their police department. Carcetti gets Watkins
support and with Watkins support, Royce loses the election. He appears to have taken his loss in stride, though;
following his defeat, he and Carcetti reconcile amicably.
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
Season 5
Royce appears in season 5 speaking at a rally in support of
Clay Davis, who is facing a grand jury investigation.
8.3.2
181
of Sta Norman Wilson. Royce also relies heavily on West
Baltimore State Senator Clay Davis who when properly positioned is an instrumental player in gaining the necessary
votes from specically needed people. Davis loyalty however is circumstant to bribery and those who protect him
from criminal investigations.
Relationship with Voters
Following Royces introduction in Season 3, city voters are
angered by the rise in crime and other negative attributes
from Royces oce. Royce appeases the voters through
criticizing and threatening to demote his subordinates such
as Burrell to make the city look better. Royce is actually
more concerned about creating a good image amongst city
voters temporarily as a means of winning the election and is
not as concerned about having his oce create good permanent changes that occur based on the voters actual needs.
To win against Tommy Carcetti and Tony Gray, Royce plays
the race card in the election in Season 4 relying on Baltimores black majority to vote for him. Royces oce gures
that with their funding, Carcettis race, black ag campaign
colors, and Marcus Garvey posters that Royce appears as
the best candidate amongst black voters. Odell Watkins
however sees through Royces scheme pointing out that his
interest in the voters safety is not as high as his interest
in the property developers security causing him to move
his support to Tommy Carcetti which becomes the turning
point during re-election.
Relationship with Family
Royce is shown to be married in Season 4 but is caught
in an adulterous aair with a female secretary by Ocer
Thomas Herc Hauk. After establishing Hercs loyalty,
Royce grants him a promotion and keeps his aair secret.
Royces wife appears accompanying him to church on the
Sunday before the election.
8.3.3
References
8.4
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton Clay Davis is a ctional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah
182
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
taking the money and doing nothing in return. Stringer, furious, tells Slim Charles that he wants him to assassinate
Davis, but Barksdale warns him that murdering a public
gure will bring too much unwanted attention from the auDavis was known for his idiosyncratic profanity, often when thorities.
confronted with bad news, comically elongating the word
"shit" as sheeeeee-it.[1]
Season 4
Davis acts as Mayor Clarence Royce's deputy campaign
chairman, and is a key fundraiser in his re-election campaign. When Detective Leander Sydnor serves a subpoena
These are summaries of events depicted in Davis career in for Daviss nancial records as part of the major crimes
each season of the television show:
units ongoing investigation into the Barksdale organizations nances, the senator is outraged. In retaliation, he
goes to Royce and threatens to cut o the campaigns fundSeason 1
ing unless Royce interferes with the subpoenas.
8.4.1
Storylines
The day before the mayoral primary, Davis approaches candidate Tommy Carcetti, oering to hold o on bringing out
the vote for Royce in exchange for a $20,000 payment. On
Election Day, Davis campaigns for the mayor as if his offer to Carcetti had not taken place. After Carcetti defeats
Royce, Davis explains that Royce gave more money, pointing out that he could easily have eeced Carcetti for even
more.
Davis strikes a deal with the City Council President Nerese
Campbell, oering a $25,000 jump in salary to a replacement commissioner in an attempt to appear as if Carcetti
is an ally while believing the amount insucient to attract
any serious candidate. Davis is especially motivated to help
Burrell when he learns that the most likely replacement is
Daniels, whom he regards as too uncontrollable. Davis opposes Danielss potential appointment based on his attitude
regarding Price. He realizes that Daniels may continue investigations into Daviss alleged money laundering. Davis
convinces Campbell and Burrell that Daniels is more interested in serving Mayor Carcetti and is unwilling to be of use
to the citys black community. To keep Daniels from being
promoted, Davis agrees with Burrells plans to present information regarding illegal activities from Danielss past.[2]
Season 5
Davis becomes a target of prosecution for Baltimore City
States Attorney Rupert Bond following the major crimes
unit investigation. Detectives Lester Freamon and Leander
Sydnor are assigned to the States Attorneys unit to lead the
investigation at Bonds behest following the rest of the units
reassignment.[3][4]
Davis approaches Burrell and demands his support against
the investigation. Burrell explains that he could not intervene with Carcetti and the new States Attorney. Davis reminds Burrell that he helped to negotiate a pay raise on Bur-
183
Mannerisms
The character is well known for his elongation of the word
shit, pronouncing it as sheee-it. This mannerism originated with Whitlocks uncle, from whom he picked up the
habit himself. It was featured in the 2002 lm 25th Hour,
after Spike Lee encouraged him to use it. When Whitlock
received his rst script for The Wire it was already written into the part.[11] He is also known to speak dierently
depending on his company, indicative of his manipulative
and untrustworthy nature: He freely speaks in black vernacular when among blacks, but adjusts his speech to sound
whiter when dealing with his (largely) white business partners.
8.4.3
References
8.4.2
Origins
Production
In an essay in the ocial series guide The Wire: Truth Be 8.4.4 External links
Told, William Zorzi implies that Davis is patterned on former Maryland State Senator Larry Young.[10]
Clay Davis at the Internet Movie Database
184
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
8.5.1
Biography
Eventually, Carcetti wins the gubernatorial election and becomes governor with the machinations of Steintorf, and
Wilson is a professional political operative. He was preNormans future with Carcetti is left ambiguous.
viously a night editor at The Baltimore Sun and was much
loved by his reporters. He has a professional, savvy and
honest presence.[2] He grew up in Catonsville, a southwest- 8.5.2 Production
ern Baltimore County suburb of Baltimore.
Season four
The character rst appeared in the shows fourth season premiere "Boys of Summer"[9][10] and Cathey is part of the
starring cast for the fourth and fth seasons.[1]
Chapter 9
School
9.1 School system of The Wire
Appears in
Season 4: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Home Room"; "Refugees"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"; "Unto Others"; "Know Your
Place"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day"; "Thats Got
His Own"
The school system of The Wire is a ctional education system in the city of Baltimore depicted in the HBO drama series The Wire. The fourth season of the show introduced an
examination of the Baltimore city school system and many
new characters including pupils, sta and education board
employees.
9.1.1
Administration
Season 5: "30".
Marcia Donnelly is the Assistant Principal of Edward
J. Tilghman Middle School. She is a disciplinary, nononsense person whom the students have learned to obey. A
veteran administrator, Mrs. Donnelly has become used to
the chaotic environment of the school, but she often feels
frustrated with the diculty of keeping order among the
children and retaining teachers from year to year. Donnelly
is world-weary to the point where she sees an in-school stabbing victim being HIV-negative as a silver lining. She performs sweeps of the school grounds looking for concealed
weapons on a regular basis.
Donnelly employs Dennis Cutty Wise ostensibly as a
custodian to perform the duties of a truant ocer. By
forcing truants to attend one day in September and another
in October, the school secures more funding. Cutty eventually returns to her to resign the post because he expected
to be doing something more rewarding. She works with
Howard Bunny Colvin in setting up an initiative to separate students into two groups to improve discipline. She
urges Colvin to protect Principal Withers from the consequences of dividing the students, because he has gone out on
a limb to support the initiative. She selects the students for
the program with input from her colleague Grace Sampson.
Donnelly meets with Bubbles and allows his young assistant Sherrod to enroll in the school. She insists that Sherrod is socially promoted to the eighth grade because of his
age. She tells Bubbles that he cannot be allowed to return
to the last grade he attended because of the diculties it
would present regarding classroom discipline and funding.
She is supportive of impoverished student Duquan Dukie
Weems and sends clothes home for him via his classmate
185
186
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Crystal Judkins.
Donnelly convinces eighth grade student Randy Wagsta to
become an informant against other students by threatening
to call his foster mother when he is caught with a fake hall
pass. When Randy is later involved as a lookout in a possible rape on school grounds Donnelly is forced to suspend
him. He tells her that he knows about a murder to try and
convince her not to call his foster mother and Donnelly is
forced to hand him over to the police department.
Donnelly has a relationship based on mutual respect with
the Principal, Claudell Withers. He allows her to handle
the operational aspects of running the school while he deals
David Parenti played by Dan DeLuca
more with external interests like the education board and
the parents. Donnelly tries to protect the school from being taken over by the state by focusing on improving per Appears in season 4: "Home Room"; "Refugees";
formance in state assessments. She insists on her teachers
"Alliances"; "Margin of Error" (uncredited); "Unto
sticking to core subjects and is against deviations from the
Others"; "Misgivings" and "Final Grades".
curriculum. She tries to guide trainee teacher Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski into following this strategy.[1]
Dr. David Parenti is a professor of sociology at the
University of Maryland with a special interest in repeat violent oenders.[2] He receives a grant from the university
Miss Duquette
for a pilot study aimed at reducing this behavior. He plans
to target 18-21 year olds as this is the age group when the
Played by: Stacie Davis
behavior is most commonly exhibited.
Appears in
Season 4: "Unto Others"; "Corner Boys"; "Know
Your Place"; "Misgivings; "A New Day"; "Thats
Got His Own"; "Final Grades"
Miss Duquette is a Doctoral student who assists Dr. Parenti and Bunny Colvin in teaching the corner kids special class. A social sciences and psychology student, she
uses several psychological techniques to get the children
to describe themselves and how they feel about their roles
in life. As a rookie teacher from an educated and nonBaltimore City raised background, she is initially disrespected by many of the students especially the classes two
female students Chandra and Zenobia but she eventually
manages to manipulate the children into articulating their
problems and talk about how or why they should improve
themselves. When school ocials decide to pull the plug
on the program, she assists Colvin and Parenti in protesting
the programs end claiming that the students have actually
made progress in the class as human beings. The program
is nonetheless shutdown.
David Parenti
Played by: Dan DeLuca
187
and asks a responsible student, Crystal Judkins, to phone
for an ambulance.
Grace works with Howard Bunny Colvin to establish separate classes for two groups of eighth graders that he terms
corner kids and stoop kids. By separating the probMain article: Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
lem corner kids from classes he hopes that he can address
their specic needs and give the other students more time
Prez is an ex-detective who showed great aptitude for to learn. Grace helps him to identify children who might
surveillance and wiretap cases but struggled to maintain his be considered corner kids. She suggests Namond Brice.
composure in the eld. He has embarked on a new career She works alongside Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly
as a middle school math teacher.
to select another nine students for the class.
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
Grace sees Cutty once more when he is working as a custodian bringing truanting children into the school. This time
both of them are content to leave their relationship in the
past.
Appears in
Grace Sampson
Claudell Withers
Students
188
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Namond Brice
Main article: Namond Brice
Namond Brice is a tough-talking eighth-grade student who
struggles to follow in the footsteps of his father, Wee-Bey.
Aaron Bug Manigault
Played by: Keenon Brice
Appears in
Season four: "Refugees", "Corner Boys", "Know
Your Place", "Final Grades"
Season ve: "More with Less" (uncredited), "Not
for Attribution", "React Quotes", "Clarications"
Bug is Michael Lee's younger half-brother. Michael shows
concern in taking care of Bug; he helps Bug with schoolwork and has Dukie look after Bug. When Michael gets in
trouble with the Staneld Organization, he leaves Bug with
his Aunt in Howard County.
Zenobia Dawson
Played by: Taylor King
Appears in season four: "Alliances", "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Unto Others", "Misgivings", "A
New Day" (uncredited), "Thats Got His Own" and
"Final Grades".
Zenobia is a student at Edward Tilghman middle school
who often disrupts classes, in particular she is disruptive
in Mr. Prezbos math class. She is one of the children
selected for the special class by Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly. By the end of the season Zenobia is one of
the three students that makes the most progress through the
corner boys class. When she returns to her regular class
she is attentive and doesn't cause any disturbances.
Donut
Played by: Nathan Corbett
189
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Corner Boys",
"Know Your Place", "Misgivings" (uncredited), "A
New Day" and "Final Grades".
Karim is a student at Edward Tilghman middle school who
hopes to become an NBA basketball player and sports an
Albert is a small, yet boisterous eighth grade student at afro. He is in Roland Prez Pryzbylewskis math class with
Edward Tilghman middle school who often uses profane his former friends Randy Wagsta and Namond Brice.
language and disrupts classes. He is one of the children
selected for the special class by Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly. He shows some improvement in the special 9.1.3 References
class under Howard Bunny Colvin. It is revealed that his
mother dies on the couch of their home and no one comes [1] Character prole Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly.
HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
for days to get her.
Darnell Tyson
Played by: Davone Cooper
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Corner Boys",
"Know Your Place", "Misgivings", "A New Day" (uncredited), "Thats Got His Own".
Retrieved
190
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Dennis Mello stated that they waited too long to make the
arrests they had while Colvin begins to question what it is
Howard Bunny Colvin is a ctional character on the they are really doing on their job.
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Robert Wisdom.
Colvin is a wise and able Major in the Western District,
alienated from the Baltimore Police Department and po- Season three
litical systems concern with criminal statistics and careerclimbing, to the consistent detriment of substantive case- In season three, Colvin was nearing retirement and decided
work and the over-preoccupation with crude 'rip and run' to make a last eort to have a real impact on the commutactics: that is, petty drug charges on low-level players. He nity he had been policing for thirty years. He recognized
often expresses nostalgia for policing in earlier decades, that much of his time and resources were spent on policparticularly for the way in which ocers amiably inte- ing addicts and low level dealers, which never seemed to
grated into and supported communities; something he holds improve the situation in his district and left little time for
in sharp distinction with the contemporary 'drug war', in real police work. All of Baltimores district Majors were
which neighborhoods are treated like 'occupied territory'. under extreme pressure from the mayors oce to reduce
Close to retirement, he secretly breaks chain-of-command the citys violent crime rate in preparation for the mayoral
and re-assigns his resources to create 'Hamsterdam', three primary campaign. After Commissioner Ervin Burrell rezones within his district where drug dealing is pressured to lieved Major Taylor of his post as the Eastern district comnon-violently conglomerate in exchange for informal legal mander for his poor performance, every other major besanction. Colvin also concentrates policing in these areas gan juking their stats to make crime rates appear to drop.
and attracts important ground-level social services, such as Colvin refused to do this, and his stats honestly reected
needle and condom distribution. Despite unprecedented a 2% rise in felonies. He was quickly berated for this by
statistical gains, Colvin meets reprimand, demotion (and Deputy Rawls and his command post was threatened by
thus lowered pension) and retirement, later to become a Commissioner Burrell who claimed I don't care how many
eld researcher alongside academic Dr. David Parenti in years you have on this job, if the felony rates don't fall, you
Baltimore city schools. In this role, Colvin falls into the most certainly will.
guardianship of Namond Brice.
Colvin wondered if there was a way for drugs to be made
safe for low-level users to take them without facing punishment; comparing the citys drug problems to the illegal
public consumption of alcohol, which was circumvented
9.2.1 Character storyline
when people began keeping their beer in a paper bag. AfColvin joined the Baltimore Police Department around ter the attempted murder of Ocer Dozerman, Colvin 1973 (according to Season 3, he had 30 years on) pa- nally decided that he would independently set up three free
trolling his home neighborhood in the departments West- zones in his district where addicts and dealers were alern District; one of his early posts was at Pensey and Fre- lowed to conduct their business under supervision but withmont. Over his tenure, he advanced to the rank of District out interference. This would move the drug trade into a
Commander (Major) in the Western District. Colvins phi- controlled, uninhabited area to protect the rest of his dislosophy of policing involved protecting the community he trict. Colvin did not seek the permission or approval of
served by making quality arrests through the use of trusted any of his superiors before implementing his plan, and iginformants on his foot post. As a commander he insisted nored the concerns of his subordinates Lieutenant Dennis
that his men learn their sense of direction, their foot post, Mello and DEU Sergeant Ellis Carver, who were charged
and urged them to focus on doing real police work. Toward by Colvin with ensuring no violence took place within the
the end of his career, he began seeing the war on drugs as free zones. One of these areas became known as Haman ineective waste of time and resources in his district that sterdam, after Amsterdam's liberal drug laws. Because
his retirement was imminent and he was guaranteed a mabrought about too many unnecessary deaths.
jors pension, Colvin believed he would be free from any
consequences should his plan be discovered. Although his
Season two
project initially drew suspicion from the districts dealers,
he convinced them to move their trade by brutally cracking
Colvin was rst seen as a Major and commander of the down on any drug dealing outside of the free zones. LegalWestern district in season two.[1] He attended the scene of izing drugs in Hamsterdam allowed him to reassign police
the accidental shooting of a child during a drug turf war and resources to solving quality felony cases elsewhere. After
was appalled at the senselessness of the killing. When or- implementing the Hamsterdam plan for ve weeks, Colvin
dered to crack down on the area, his second in command delivered a cumulative 14% reduction in the felony rate, un-
191
Season four
As season four began, Colvin was supplementing his (diminished) pension by working as head of security for a
downtown hotel. Colvin became disillusioned with the post
when the hotel manager refused to let him arrest a wealthy
client who had assaulted a prostitute in his hotel room. He
left the job soon afterwards.
realizes that Namond was never t for the corners and will
only end up being killed or in jail if he remains in his current household. Colvin then talks with Wee-Bey Brice, Namonds incarcerated father, explaining Namond could have
a life outside of West Baltimore given the proper support
from Colvin and his wife. After thinking it over, Wee-Bey
tells Namonds mother to send him to live with Colvin as
he wants him to have a future. Namond is seen to be living
with Colvin and his wife at the conclusion of season four.[3]
Season ve
Colvin appears briey, late in the season ("Late Editions")
with a gray and white goatee, attending Namonds high
school competitive debate. He looks displeased when
Mayor Carcetti visits the event, using it to burnish his political image. Outside the debate, Carcetti approaches Colvin
and apologizes for being unable to support the Hamsterdam
experiment from the third season, saying no politician could
run with the idea politically, even though Carcetti hinted in
season three that he supported Colvins initiative. Colvin
refuses to shake Carcettis extended hand, and says nothing
about his education plans which were similarly ignored by
Carcettis city hall in season four.
192
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Season ve
Michael continues to work with the Staneld Organization
more than a year later and still reports to Chris Partlow.
His crew has changed somewhat and while Duquan Dukie
Weems and Kenard remain, Michael also now has Spider
and a young dealer named Marcus working for him. The
other dealers do not respect Dukie and do not respond to
him. Michael decides to withdraw Dukie and pay him to
look after Bug instead. He promotes Spider to act as his
second.[2][3]
193
strength to do a brutal murder like that himself and asks
who did the murder. Michael refuses to tell him anything.
Along with Chris, Snoop, and O-dog, he participated in the
botched ambush on Omar Little in Monks apartment. He
was frightened when Omar approached him on sending a
message to Staneld, fearing that he might recognize him
from the apartment that night. With Omar in the streets terrorizing Marlos corners, and Marlo doing little in response,
Michael begins to question his boss erce reputation. This
begins to cause a rift between him and the higher ups in the
organization.
When Marlo, Chris, Cheese and Monk are all arrested due
to the investigation, Monk suspects Michael of being an informant. Although neither Marlo or Chris believe Michael
to be a snitch, Marlo reluctantly orders Snoop to kill him,
not wanting to take the risk of leaving Michael on the
streets. Snoop attempts to set Michael up, by telling him
a local drug dealer is responsible for the bust. Suspicious,
Michael follows Snoop and discovers that it is indeed a setup. Before Snoop has the chance to kill Michael, he draws
his gun on her, and tells her he gured out the plot by following Chriss earlier advice to show up to a job early. He asks
what has he done to be killed. Snoop replies that they think
hes been talking to the police. Michael denies the claim,
but Snoop tells him that hes too isolated and asks too many
questions to ever be considered a true member of their crew.
Michael shoots her in the head and leaves Snoop in the car
dead. Michael rushes home, and in a panic, tells Duquan
and Bug to pack their things. On the run from Marlos crew,
the three are forced to split up. Michael leaves a tearful Bug
at his aunts house in the suburbs. Duquan chooses to stay
with the junk man he has been working for. Michael bids
farewell to his friend and drives o, and goes into hiding.
Michael eventually returns as a stick-up artist, and with a
partner robs Vinson in his rim shop, shooting him in the
knee with a shotgun. His actions parallel those of Omar
Little.
References
194
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
math class. Chiquan is attacked with a boxcutter by a female classmate whom she bullied earlier in the season. The
girl injures Chiquan and is then disarmed by Mrs. Samp[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. son. Dukie approaches the disarmed girl as she sits on the
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
oor in a state of shock. He gives her his repaired electric
fan.
[6] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
9.4.1
Series
Season 4
Dukie faces bullying and beatings from a rival gang of
boys, from whom his friends ercely protect him. Following Dukie receiving a beating, his friends plan a retaliation.
Dukie takes part but the plan backres and some of his
friends are caught and beaten. Namond rewards his eorts
with an ice cream at Michaels urging.
195
lum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa
Brice and is a middle school student during season 4.[1] He
is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagsta and often
bullies Duquan Dukie Weems. Namond lives with his
mother and the two are well looked after by money from
the Barksdale drug dealing organization that his father was
a part of. Wee-Bey is serving consecutive life sentences for
multiple homicides committed on behalf of the Barksdales,
having even confessed to crimes he did not commit. Grateful because Wee-Bey shielded the rest of the organization
by taking the prison sentence on himself, the Barksdales
provide for Namond and De'Londa. Even after the organization is shattered by the incarceration of Avon Barksdale,
his sister Brianna Barksdale continues to pay them. This
steady income means that Namond is much better o than
his peers.
9.5.1
Character storyline
Season 4
196
Namond swaps the job with Michael so that his friend can
make money for a time, irritating Bodie who points out that
his corner is not social services. Despite her threats and
Namond giving up his job De'Londa buys him new clothes
for school.
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
cuing Namond from a beating. His young dealers are not
impressed with his second choice of territory and their trade
slows down.
Namond begins to enjoy the Special Class when the teacher
gives him a chance to talk about his ambitions and his views
on what makes a successful corner boy. Namond says he
believes that he will be dead in ten years time but still claims
to have the ambition of becoming a kingpin in the drug
trade. He also reveals something of a motive for his disruptive behaviour when he tells the class that he does not
believe he should obey the rules when there are so many
examples of others proting from wrongdoing - he states
steroids, liquor, cigarettes and Enron as examples.
197
Season 5
A year later, Namond is excelling academically, participating in a citywide school debate, as the Colvins look on with
pride. He has apparently escaped the dangerous streets of
West Baltimore, unlike Michael, Duquan and Randy.
9.5.2
Critical response
198
about Lexs murder. Prez intervenes and approaches Cedric
Daniels to protect Randy from the system. Daniels puts
Randy in the care of Sergeant Ellis Carver. Carver interviews Randy to nd out what he knows and then returns
him to his foster mother, reassuring her that Randy is not a
bad kid.
Suspended Randy then accompanies Miss Anna to the
polling station on election day. While he waits for her he
picks up a days work delivering campaign material. He recruits Dukie, Donut and Little Kenard to help him. Donut
steals a car so that they can travel around more easily despite Randys hesitation. Randy loses his workers when they
learn that he was paid up front and decide to take their share
of the money without completing the job. Randy carries on
the work alone.
Carver turns Randy over to his old partner Thomas Herc
Hauk because he is desperate for information about the
Staneld organization. Herc misjudges Randy and believes
he is lying about not actually seeing Lexs murder. He pressures Randy to admit that he was there with little success.
Herc believes that Randy is useless and allows him to return
home. Later, while interviewing Little Kevin, Herc lets slip
that he learned about Lexs murder from Randy.
Ti eventually drops the rape allegation and Randys suspension is lifted. He returns to school to nd his math
class transformed - Prez is teaching the class probability
through dice and card games and a new computer has been
set up. His friend Michael is suspicious of his time away
from school and subtly warns Randy against getting involved
as an informant for either the police or the teachers.[2]
From Little Kevin, the conversation between the police and
Randy soon leaks out to the streets and Marlos crew. Although the penalty for informing to police is usually death,
Marlo declines to order a hit on the grounds that Randy
poses no further threat to him. Instead, he instructs Chris
and Snoop to spread the word that Randy has been speaking to the police and he is labeled as a snitch in the streets.
Randy is walking with Michael and Duquan when he is confronted at school by a group of students who want to ght
him for being a snitch. Although Michael protects Randy
and ghts the kids o, Randy is beaten badly. Word soon
gets back to Carver that Randy is in trouble around school
and in his neighborhood and puts a police car on lookout at
Randys house promising Randy that hes going to take care
of everything. People looking to hurt Randy notice the car
and make a false police call from a nearby telephone booth
to get them to leave the scene. With the cops gone, molotov
cocktails are thrown into the house - burning it down, hospitalizing Miss Anna, and leaving Randy without a guardian.
Carver tries his hardest to help Randy nd another foster
parent but to no avail. He asks if he can become Randys
foster parent but is told that the vetting process would take
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
months and, in the end, might not be successful. Randy ends
up going back to a group home. There Randy still hasn't
escaped his snitch title and ends up getting into ghts with
the other older, hostile kids in the home.
Season ve
A year later, Bunk revisits the Lex murder and attempts to
question Randy. Randy (noticeably taller and more muscular), having lost his childlike innocence, is unresponsive
to Bunk and storms o pushing another kid in the group
home down for being in his way. Clearly, Prezs fear of
Randy being chewed up by the system is realized.
9.6.2
Critical response
9.6.3
References
[1] "'The Wire': David Simon schools USC. The Los Angeles
Times
[2] Character prole - Randy Wagsta. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
[3] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
Chapter 10
Journalists
10.1 Journalists of The Wire
Thomas Klebanow
Played by: David Costabile
Augustus Haynes
Appears in:
Augustus Gus Haynes is the city desk editor for the paper
and is a principled but unrened presence in the newsroom.
Haynes is played by Clark Johnson.[3]
James Whiting
Played by: Sam Freed
Appears in:
200
with the responsibility for cutbacks and buyouts by Whit- Jay Spry
ing. He comes across as vain and lacking character strength,
Played by: Donald Neal
but he has a good sense of the bottom line and the potential of a story to draw readers.[5] Klebanow chairs the daily
Appears in
budget meetings and decides how much space to allocate to
[6]
each story. Klebanow is based on former Baltimore Sun
Season ve: "More With Less;" "Unconrmed
managing editor Bill Marimow, whom series creator David
[7]
Reports;" "Transitions;" "The Dickensian AsSimon despises.
pect" (uncredited); "Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and "30.
Tim Phelps
Played by: Thomas J. McCarthy
Appears in:
Season ve: "More With Less", "Unconrmed
Reports", "Transitions" (uncredited), "React
Quotes", and "30.
Tim Phelps is the editor of the papers State Desk. He is He is named after Jay Spry, the rewrite man during David
[9]
pressured by cuts to sta and funding. Phelps is particularly Simons tenure at the Baltimore Sun.
displeased to be beaten to a story by the Daily Record.[8]
Phelps is a smoker and often spends time on the loading
10.1.2 Reporters
dock with his colleagues Gus Haynes, Roger Twigg and Je
Price.[6]
Alma Gutierrez
He is named after Timothy Phelps, the state editor during
David Simons tenure at the Baltimore Sun.[9]
Main article: Alma Gutierrez
Phelps is played by actor Thomas J. McCarthy. Another
journalist character named Scott Templeton is played by a Alma Gutierrez is an eager and talented young reporter.
dierent Thomas McCarthy.[6] In the David Simon-written Gutierrez is played by Michelle Paress.[12]
Homicide: Life On The Street episode Wus On First,
Thomas J. McCarthy played a Baltimore Sun editor who has
come from Philadelphia obsessed with winning Pulitzers, Scott Templeton
not unlike Whiting or Klebanow.
Main article: Scott Templeton
Steven Luxenberg
Played by: Robert Poletick
Appears in:
Season ve: "More With Less", "Not for Attribution" (uncredited), "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Clarications", "Late Editions",
and "30.
Steven Luxenberg is the editor of the metro section and
oversees other editors including Rebecca on Regional Affairs, Phelps on State Desk and Gus Haynes on City Desk.
Luxenberg is a hands-on editor and likes to watch his writers as they work. His section lost its transportation reporter
in the last round of buyouts.[6][10]
He is named after real-life former Baltimore Sun editor Je Price is the city hall reporter for the metro desk. He
Steve Luxenberg.[2]
has covered the beat since before Tommy Carcetti became
201
Fletcher visits Bubbles in various settings: the soup kitchen
where he volunteers, an NA meeting, and while selling
newspapers.
After getting his permission, Fletcher publishes an article
about Bubbles. The article was favorably received by both
Haynes and Bubbles.[19] Fletcher is promoted to city desk
editor after Haynes is demoted. The quality and depth
of Fletchers article about Bubbles is in contrast to what
David Simon says is a major theme of the season: The
Sun misses the important stories about the city.[20] Fletcher
may be based on former Baltimore Sun reporter Michael A.
Fletcher, now at The Washington Post.
Roger Twigg
Played by: Bruce Kirkpatrick
Appears in:
Season ve: "More With Less", "Unconrmed
Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions"
Roger Twigg is a veteran police reporter for the City
Desk.[21] He has been working at The Baltimore Sun for
twenty years.[21] Twigg has heard enough tall tales to see a
newspapermans joke coming long before the punchline and
his humble attitude and wealth of police department sources
often enable him to get the truth on a story.[21] Twigg often
smokes with editors Tim Phelps and Gus Haynes. Haynes
dispatched Twigg to report on a rowhouse re that Haynes
spots from the Newsroom window.[6] He left the Sun after
accepting a buyout, depriving the Sun of its most senior police reporter, and leaving Alma Gutierrez in the position of
senior cop reporter.
10.1.3
References
202
Season 5
Haynes often smokes on the loading dock of the building
with fellow veterans police reporter Roger Twigg,[2] court
reporter Bill Zorzi[3] and State Desk Editor Tim Phelps.[4]
Haynes reports to Metro Desk Editor Steven Luxenberg[5]
and is required to manage a team of journalists including
city hall reporter Je Price,[6] general assignments reporters
Scott Templeton[7] and Mike Fletcher, [8] Twigg and Alma
Gutierrez[9] on the police beat, ornery veteran Bill Zorzi
and rewrite man Jay Spry,[10] among others. Haynes is responsible for editing the stories his reporters submit, keeping them on deadline and in organizing the submissions for
daily budget meeting with managing editor Thomas Klebanow.[11] The budget meeting determines how much space
each story is allocated and Haynes often calls for budget
lines (short summaries of stories) from his sta so he can
present them in the meeting. Haynes is also working with
executive editor James Whiting on a prospective series of
articles about the city school system.[12]
Haynes is upset at continuing cutbacks at the paper causing the closure of foreign bureaus and the loss of veteran
[19] Clark Johnson. "30-". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 10. reporters and their institutional memory. He is outspoken
about the loss of their transportation reporter when The Sun
HBO.
is beaten to a story about city bus cutbacks by the Daily
[20] Alan Sepinwall. The Wire: David Simon Q & A. Blogger. Record. He clashes with Whiting when the executive editor
Retrieved 2008-07-02.
suppresses a story about the University of Maryland fail[21] Character prole - Roger Twigg. HBO. 2008. Retrieved ing to meet its desegregation goals. Whiting refuses to run
the story because he is friends with the Dean of Journalism,
2008-01-07.
who assures him that the universitys reputation is improving amongst black faculty and students.[13][14]
10.2.1
Character depiction
Haynes helps to identify and generate stories, including dispatching Twigg to report on a row house re and noticing a
zoning issue in a set of city council minutes that indicates a
political scandal. While checking the minutes from a meeting Price has attended, Haynes notices the name of known
drug dealer Ricardo Fatface Rick Hendrix, who owns a
strip club that is being relocated by the council. Haynes discerns that the city will lose a substantial amount of money on
the deal, to the benet of the drug dealer. He has reporters
investigate and links the property exchange to campaign
contributions from Hendrix to city council president Nerese
Campbell. Haynes is even able to manipulate Campbell into
revealing that there are further campaign donations that he
has not recognized. When Klebanow congratulates Haynes
on the story, he gives full credit to Price. Haynes rewards
his team by taking them out for drinks.[13][14]
203
Haynes is angry when Executive Editor James Whiting announces another round of buy outs and the closure of several foreign bureaus (including Beijing and Jerusalem) and
questions why their funding is being cut when the newspaper remains protable. Haynes is further disappointed
when his friend and fellow veteran Twigg is manipulated
10.2.2 References
into accepting a buy out. Haynes himself is told by Whiting
and Klebanow that he is essential in managing the transi[1] Character prole - City Editor Augustus Gus Haynes.
tions in the newsroom.[17][18]
HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008.
Norman Wilson, an ex-colleague and current advisor to
Mayor Tommy Carcetti, leaks a story to Haynes about the
Mayors plans for the police department. Carcetti is going
to force commissioner Ervin Burrell to resign and eventually replace him with colonel Cedric Daniels. Haynes offers the story to Templeton but reassigns it to Twigg when
Twigg demonstrates in depth knowledge of Daniels background. Haynes assigns Templeton to gather react quotes
Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[2] Character prole - Roger Twigg. HBO. 2008. Archived
from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-0107.
[3] Character prole - Bill Zorzi. HBO. 2008. Archived from
the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[4] Character prole - State Editor Tim Phelps. HBO. 2008.
204
10.3
Scott Templeton
10.3.1
Biography
Templeton is a young reporter who allows his extreme ambition to lead him to falsify stories. He has previously
worked at the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas City Star. Tem[8] Character prole - Mike Fletcher. HBO. 2008. Archived pleton sees his current job as a general assignment reporter
from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01- at The Baltimore Sun as a stepping stone to The Washington
07.
Post or New York Times. His prose is reective of his personality and is often overwrought and exaggerated. Tem[9] Character prole - Alma Gutierrez. HBO. 2008. Archived pletons style is welcomed by Managing Editor Thomas Klefrom the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01banow and Executive Editor James Whiting.[1]
07.
Season 5
205
who suers from PTSD after an IED hit his patrol unit in
Iraq. However, Templeton also claims in the same episode
to have checked on a fraud case, and Haynes later nds out
his explanation for the story doesn't check out. The vet later
comes in and says Templeton lied about his story as well,
from saying they were in a Black Hawk Down-level reght to saying they had coee instead of chocolate milk.
Haynes goes to the Walter Reed Center in D.C. and talks to
a wounded veteran who backs up the interviewed vet, saying
hes not a liar. Templeton continues to fabricate information for the fake serial-killer plan that McNulty hatches, and
the detective quickly realizes Scott is a fabulist. However,
in the end Haynes and Gutierrez both receive demotions
for questioning Templetons work, while he wins a Pulitzer
Prize for his reporting on the homeless in Baltimore.
10.3.2
Origins
[5] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[6] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[8] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
206
mishap, but her colleague Mike Fletcher tells her the piece
was cut because of the area where the victims are from.[2][3]
Gutierrez is worried when buy-outs are announced to cut
costs at the paper, but ultimately has more opportunities
as veteran crime beat reporter Roger Twigg accepts a buyout.[2][3]
10.4.2
10.4.1
Biography
Production
Season 5
Gutierrez submits a story about a re in a row house and
is embarrassed in front of the whole newsroom by her editor Gus Haynes and copy editor Jay Spry, who take her to
task over her use of the word evacuate. Gutierrez is also assigned by Haynes to get a reaction quote from drug dealer
Ricardo Fat-Face Rick Hendrix after the editor notices a
lucrative real estate deal between Hendrix and the city council. Gutierrez is sent to Hendrixs strip club Desperado and
comes back with a strong quote. She receives a contributing
line in the story for her eorts. Her colleague Scott Templeton is disparaging about the credit she received and the
credentials of the paper as a whole but Gutierrez remains
upbeat.[4][5]
Gutierrez usually covers the police beat and is excited when
she reports on a home invasion and triple homicide.[6][7] She
awakes early the next day to look at her story in print, but is
disappointed to nd that it has been edited down and buried
within the paper. Haynes tells her that it was a bureaucratic
Chapter 11
Miscellany
11.1 And All the Pieces Matter
And All the Pieces Matter - Five Years of Music from The
Wire is a soundtrack album for the HBO television show
The Wire, that was released on January 8, 2008.
11.1.1
Track listing
11.1.2
Personnel
11.1.3
References
11.1.4
External links
Chapter 12
208
12.1. TEXT
209
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OrphanBot, Seduisant, Davecampbell, IrisKawling, Wikipedical, Ceoil, Lanford, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Gobonobo, Guat6, Beetstra, Tawkerbot2, ShelfSkewed, Cracker017, Cydebot, MC10, Paulkeller, Jack O'Lantern, Travelbird, Otto4711, Flowerkiller1692, Opark 77, JohnInDC,
TonyTheTiger, J-Party, DanDud88, Edelmand, Skomorokh, Lawikitejana, Tullyano7, BillDeanCarter, Waacstats, KConWiki, C-sonic, RoyBatty42, Zipzipzip, Athene cunicularia, 97198, Plasticup, Nikthestunned, Malik Shabazz, L.A.Nutti, David Umpteen, C.J. Grin, Broadbot,
Herm720, Dvanvliet, Brandon97, 4wajzkd02, CutOTies, Prestonmag, Reservoirhill, OKBot, Kumioko (renamed), Dillard421, Henry Merrivale, ReeseronnieL, All Hallows Wraith, Xavexgoem, Jeanenawhitney, Nymf, Goalieman36, 7&6=thirteen, Jo to po-1, Jerseyjack21, Aquatech, Hunter Kahn, Asabovesobellow, Addbot, Sebseb81, LaaknorBot, RTG, Semidash, SpBot, RobSchop, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Dodgerblue777,
Juggler2005, Citizenryan, AnomieBOT, Sstrnod, JohnFromPinckney, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts, The Interior, Prezbo, GrapedApe, TheBearPaw, RjwilmsiBot, MShabazz, Twix1875, CennoxX, NathanielTheBold, H3llBot, Jazbit, Kellyselden, Kall, DASHBotAV, ClueBot
NG, Thomas Thoren, William.wlizlo, Jows136, Horsepal, Bernie44, Calvesblood, Helpful Pixie Bot, Maria camila, BattyBot, RichardMills65,
Bkat004, Makecat-bot, TheAngryLampshade, VIAFbot, Anakronik, Slowends, Sawdust Restaurant, Michealscott69 and Anonymous: 110
List of The Wire writers and directors Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Wire_episodes?oldid=642823437 Contributors: Ed
g2s, Bwmodular, Robbot, Andrew Levine, Asparagus, David Gerard, MarkSweep, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Circeus, Verdlanco, Cristan, Angr,
Sfufan2005, Thebogusman, Markkawika, Darkday, Feydey, MZMcBride, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Jared Preston, The Rambling Man, Peregrine
Fisher, ThunderPeel2001, Msp, SmackBot, IronDuke, Bluebot, Alan smithee, Ned Scott, Homerandanders, Quadparty, Matthew, Jdpeck2147,
Conradege, Warhol13, Radagast83, Ohconfucius, Chris 42, JeW, Westin, Mattbr, Cew118, Peteb16, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Milton Stanley, 17Drew, TTN, East718, TobinMoatt, J0nnyH, Minderbinder, Malik Shabazz, Timotab, L.A.Nutti, Saber girl08, TravelingCat,
NapHit, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, WikHead, MystBot, Addbot, Chamal N, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Downloadmeh, Grapesoda22, F,
Omgilikebob, Mhiji, JohnGormleyJG, Rayna Jaymes and Anonymous: 46
List of awards and nominations received by The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20awards%20and%
20nominations%20received%20by%20The%20Wire?oldid=626941530 Contributors: Causa sui, Mysdaao, Rjwilmsi, Opark 77, Bradley0110,
Addbot, Erik9bot, ScottMHoward, Velcro Christmas Tree, GobBluthGambitDeadpool, H3llBot, Furryatp666, Jjlynnf and Anonymous: 8
List of The Wire episodes Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20The%20Wire%20episodes?oldid=642823437 Contributors: Ed
g2s, Bwmodular, Robbot, Andrew Levine, Asparagus, David Gerard, MarkSweep, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Circeus, Verdlanco, Cristan, Angr,
Sfufan2005, Thebogusman, Markkawika, Darkday, Feydey, MZMcBride, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Jared Preston, The Rambling Man, Peregrine
Fisher, ThunderPeel2001, Msp, SmackBot, IronDuke, Bluebot, Alan smithee, Ned Scott, Homerandanders, Quadparty, Matthew, Jdpeck2147,
Conradege, Warhol13, Radagast83, Ohconfucius, Chris 42, JeW, Westin, Mattbr, Cew118, Peteb16, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Milton Stanley, 17Drew, TTN, East718, TobinMoatt, J0nnyH, Minderbinder, Malik Shabazz, Timotab, L.A.Nutti, Saber girl08, TravelingCat,
NapHit, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, WikHead, MystBot, Addbot, Chamal N, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Downloadmeh, Grapesoda22, F,
Omgilikebob, Mhiji, JohnGormleyJG, Rayna Jaymes and Anonymous: 46
The Wire (season 1) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%201)?oldid=643082687 Contributors: Tpbradbury,
Oneiros, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Dodiad, UDScott, Abu-Dun, Jeremy Butler, SmackBot, Ohconfucius, Fuzzy510, TheFarix, Opark 77,
Cancun771, TonyTheTiger, TAnthony, InspectorTiger, L.A.Nutti, Helenalex, JhsBot, Belariad, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Muro Bot,
Sarilox, Hunter Kahn, Addbot, Labatarde, Lynch1445, AnomieBOT, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Laaaaaaaaawl, Leftsideend, Grapesoda22,
RjwilmsiBot, Jalmenus, John Cline, Rocketrod1960, Gus Haynes, Anto33, StewieBaby05, Iamd3nis, Hugh520, Acpurdy and Anonymous: 25
The Wire (season 2) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%202)?oldid=638147013 Contributors: Edward, Geeklizzard, Oneiros, SS451, Kbir1, Redfarmer, Dodiad, Sdornan, Tommyt, Wisekwai, Lord Jim, SmackBot, The monkeyhate, Coyau, Folding Chair,
Ohconfucius, TheFarix, CWY2190, Tjc519, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, ABCxyz, L.A.Nutti, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Meisterkoch,
Muro Bot, Sarilox, Addbot, Lynch1445, Yobot, Lukeowens, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Grapesoda22, Jalmenus, StewieBaby05, Iamd3nis,
Acpurdy and Anonymous: 25
The Wire (season 3) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%203)?oldid=643076069 Contributors: Grant65, Oneiros,
AxelFendersson, Dystopos, Geschichte, Redfarmer, Astanhope, Freepablo, Lord Jim, SmackBot, Hydrogen Iodide, Alan smithee, JesseRafe, Ohconfucius, SubSeven, TheFarix, Johnhamlin, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, WWB, Samuel Webster, East718, Katharineamy, Secleinteer,
L.A.Nutti, Dick Shane, Matthewedwards, CutOTies, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, Sarilox, Bus2Beezlebub, Wolfer68, LucyLocket481, Lemmey,
210
Addbot, JBsupreme, LemmeyBOT, Tassedethe, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, RalphytheBohemian, Lackett, Xeworlebi, Mitchellrc, Grapesoda22, GTGeek88, Wikipelli, Jargoness, Pyro721, Anto33, StewieBaby05, Seal Boxer, Acpurdy and Anonymous: 29
The Wire (season 4) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%204)?oldid=638147063 Contributors: Palfrey, Chowbok, David Schaich, Redfarmer, Crosbiesmith, Woohookitty, Joebeone, Lord Jim, Jeisenberg, SmackBot, Chris the speller, ArtVandelay13,
Ohconfucius, UKER, TheFarix, Courcelles, Xep, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, L.A.Nutti, BauerJack4413, Anna Lincoln, GirasoleDE, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Sarilox, WikHead, Tool2Die4, Addbot, Tassedethe, Lynch1445, Luckas-bot, Chrisxero, AnomieBOT, SchrutedIt08,
Drovethrughosts, Bigweeboy, Xeworlebi, Grapesoda22, RjwilmsiBot, H3llBot, Pyro721, Mark Arsten, StewieBaby05, Storewideclare, Acpurdy
and Anonymous: 40
The Wire (season 5) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%205)?oldid=642242384 Contributors: Ed g2s, AaronSw,
Andrew Levine, Mailer diablo, Redfarmer, Woohookitty, Daniel Case, Dodiad, Jweiss11, Jbc2k052, JeStickney, Tinoynk, Sundevilesq,
Stephenb, Jogers, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Daysleeper47, Alan smithee, Woodyteegra, Jdpeck2147, Lucid Smog, Ohconfucius, Esrever, Ser
Amantio di Nicolao, Bigkhrisdogg, SubSeven, TheFarix, Iridescent, SoCalAlum, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, ABCxyz, WWB, Pejorative.majeure,
MegX, Hookahmasta, Danigro89, L.A.Nutti, WOSlinker, Extremelyemotional, GirasoleDE, Matthewedwards, Fratrep, ImageRemovalBot,
Drunkenpeter99, ClueBot, Jeday1, 718 Bot, Beamjockey, Tokelazor, Sarilox, DumZiBoT, Jposey3, LucyLocket481, Addbot, Namond br,
Lightbot, BlackMarlin, DemocraticLuntz, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, The Ink Daddy!, LucienBOT, M2545, Grapesoda22, RjwilmsiBot,
ZroBot, NathanielTheBold, H3llBot, Pyro721, Cornell92, CherryX, StewieBaby05, Jonjon889933, Acpurdy, Mo39752 and Anonymous: 61
List of The Wire characters Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20The%20Wire%20characters?oldid=641963006 Contributors:
SeanO, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, DocWatson42, Mboverload, MarkSweep, Jokestress, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Mike Rosoft, Twinxor, Ahkond,
Arthur Holland, Dodiad, Burgher, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Sundevilesq, Dkkicks, Wisekwai, Epolk, Awiseman, Thiseye, Rmky87, Patmaher,
Pegship, Teiladnam, Gorilla Jones, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Lhajbox, Kintetsubualo, Nscheey, Chris the speller, Ryecatcher773, Conradege, Davecampbell, Marcus Brute, Maliklockett, John, Andrewjnyc, Secretaria, DruP55, SEF23a, CmdrObot, Rawling, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Jack O'Lantern, Opark 77, Flash191, Commasense, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Nick Number, Captain Crawdad, KrakatoaKatie, ABCxyz,
Canadian-Bacon, Jimmarci, Scribbler357, GurchBot, East718, Magioladitis, Canjth, Buckshot06, Wabernat, Jaypea99, Minderbinder, Wikipda,
P4k, Mr0grady, Secleinteer, Blaine236, Quaggy, Biggie500, ReformedEditor, Hersfold, Luisg604, SupaVillian, GirasoleDE, CutOTies, DragonBot, Hunter Kahn, Addbot, Lynch1445, Yobot, Drovethrughosts, FrescoBot, Snap Wilson, Jazzlvraz, WildBot, -MatM-, Dexbot, Ranze,
Epicgenius, DiscantX and Anonymous: 134
Police of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=633767718 Contributors: AaronSw, Meelar,
ShakataGaNai, Digamma, C1k3, Pablo X, Causa sui, Drbreznjev, Dodiad, Plrk, Liface, Mandarax, BD2412, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Antoin, Bachrach44, Dogcow, EEMIV, Mrblondnyc, Bristle-krs, SmackBot, Illuminattile, Daysleeper47, Chris the speller, Alan smithee,
Djln, Goldenboy, Jsabrown, Rrburke, Conradege, LanternLight, Esrever, Succubus MacAstaroth, Twas Now, GiantSnowman, ShelfSkewed,
Cydebot, Peripitus, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, JustAGal, East718, Wormcast, Edward321, GringoDeMaio, Akirchner, Mvphillips22,
Sparksp, BierHerr, Je G., Buttonwillow mckittrick, Chrishepner, Yaksar, Jimthing, CutOTies, Fratrep, JohnnyMrNinja, Meisterkoch, Mild
Bill Hiccup, Anapazapa, PMDrive1061, DumZiBoT, Wolfer68, Kwanyin8, Mr. IP, Hunter Kahn, KevinGTempleton, Tide rolls, Lynch1445,
Dodgerblue777, LilHelpa, Courierofdeath, Stuckand, Full-date unlinking bot, Skakkle, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Smartiger, GoingBatty, Thrilway, Thewikiuser1986, H3llBot, Inka 888, VictorGuardian250505, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, Snotbot, Vibhijain, Jpw5x4, Anentiresleeve,
Arcandam, Khazar2, Ranze, RockStarRei, Theeny and Anonymous: 114
Jimmy McNulty Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy%20McNulty?oldid=637914696 Contributors: Paul A, Norwikian, Tpbradbury,
AaronSw, Altenmann, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Saucemaster, Am088, DragonySixtyseven, Qjuad, An Siarach, Arthur Holland, Theoban, Nsaa, Magister Mathematicae, Cuchullain, Rjwilmsi, The wub, JeStickney, CJLL Wright, Jersey Devil, RussBot, Mrblondnyc,
SmackBot, Chris the speller, Djln, Lilengine, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Jwillbur, Rrburke, Conradege, DMacks, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark
77, BetacommandBot, Epbr123, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Luna Santin, Swpb, Joe Bradshaw, Jessicapierce, JaGa, Alexz1, GKR, BierHerr, Geeky
Randy, L.A.Nutti, Dickens10, Monsieur david, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Bob1202, Macg118, Bilsonius, SimonKSK, Anticipation of a
New Lovers Arrival, The, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Oldy nsw, South Bay, Drovethrughosts, Kingoftheinterweb, Jabrona, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro,
Riverside09, -MatM-, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, Dexbot, Mogism, I am present here, Bananaear1, Kinfoll1993 and Anonymous: 118
Kima Greggs Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kima%20Greggs?oldid=641605987 Contributors: Norwikian, AaronSw, Ellsworth, Firsfron, Rjwilmsi, Docether, Jersey Devil, Tommyt, Gaius Cornelius, Rmky87, Zythe, Mrblondnyc, Illuminattile, Daysleeper47, Sdalmonte, Djln,
Conradege, Black mariah, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, Fmanjoo, Skomorokh, Magioladitis, Appraiser,
Lmallory, AlexiusHoratius, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, Yobot, Fortitude mountain, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts,
Jabrona, Riverside09, -MatM- and Anonymous: 44
Bunk Moreland Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunk%20Moreland?oldid=624936587 Contributors: Paul A, AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
David Gerard, Rich Farmbrough, Magister Mathematicae, Nlsanand, The wub, Sceptre, Mrblondnyc, Bdve, SmackBot, Djln, John Reaves,
Conradege, Sansbras, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, BetacommandBot, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, SimonBillenness, Jessicapierce,
Tomgreeny, Saukenprince, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Brenont, CutOTies, TimidObserver, Naerii, Zero no Kamen, Yobot, Citation
bot, RalphytheBohemian, Fcmartins, Crotchety Old Man, Fortdj33, Gbmontgo and Anonymous: 47
Lester Freamon Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester%20Freamon?oldid=635703033 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David
Gerard, Halda, Bkonrad, Chowbok, Arthur Holland, Galaxiaad, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, Grafen, Rmky87, Chris the speller, Djln, Slakr, Kcchia80,
SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, QuiteUnusual, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, Mr0grady, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Ark2120, Iohannes Animosus, Arkind, Lightbot, Yobot, Devastatindesmond, RjwilmsiBot, Gus Haynes,
Dexbot, Mogism, Ias28 and Anonymous: 47
Herc Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herc?oldid=645078840 Contributors: Paul A, Norwikian, AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Gamaliel, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Tommyt, Pigman, Gaius Cornelius, Closedmouth, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, M
c, Daysleeper47, Chris the speller, Djln, Elagatis, Gameboy4192, Conradege, Macphisto12, Autonova, Phoenixrod, Porterhse, SoCalAlum,
Cydebot, Treybien, Hebrides, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Geracudd, Tjg16c, MichaelMaggs, Kitty Davis, Magioladitis, Fitnr, SimonBillenness,
BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Karaboom, CutOTies, Fratrep, Kafka Liz, Uarent, Steepbn, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Drovethrughosts,
Jabrona, FrescoBot, Acbistro, Gus Haynes, Yu & You and Anonymous: 54
12.1. TEXT
211
212
Omar Little Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar%20Little?oldid=642468613 Contributors: Edward, Lquilter, John K, Stefan Khn,
Norwikian, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Phil5329, Castaa, Kelp, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Deicas, Bobo192, Alansohn, Dsuriano, Bellhalla, Robert K S, Dodiad, Bbatsell, Thebogusman, Brendanconway, Mandarax, Nlsanand, Rjwilmsi, JubalHarshaw, JeStickney, Imnotminkus, Guanxi, Tommyt, NawlinWiki, Rmky87, Mikeblas, EEMIV, Cerejota, Sarefo, Mister Six, Revcbl, Fram, Mrblondnyc, Bdve, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Hux, Gilliam, Chris the speller, Dschroder, Ted87, John Reaves, Seduisant, Davecampbell, Nakon,
Nishkid64, Chris 42, Succubus MacAstaroth, Es330td, Keith-264, JForget, CmdrObot, Jayunderscorezero, Xanderer, Nighend, SoCalAlum,
Cydebot, Treybien, Ian-John, Opark 77, JamesAM, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, RobotG, Majorly, Luna Santin, ABCxyz, Golgofrinchian, East718,
VoABot II, Wabernat, Mike Searson, DerHexer, Edward321, FisherQueen, GODZOFTHUNDER, JanetRenard, Antarctica moon, Secleinteer, RJASE1, BierHerr, Coolug, L.A.Nutti, Miles Blues, Galdemway, Hawknyc, Valkyryn, Tp23154, Prometevsberg, Cor87, MadFerOasis6,
CutOTies, Fratrep, Iknowyourider, Pinkadelica, ClueBot, Halo2playa91, Auntof6, Mehals, Tnxman307, Thingg, Travisjeery, Sacowlick,
AgnosticPreachersKid, AuntFlo, Uarent, Dec8ur, Kbdankbot, Afellowonnitejest, Addbot, Nobody25, Amyracecar007, Tassedethe, Lightbot,
Donthedon8675, Thread Stealer, Yobot, Mdw0, AnomieBOT, LaLaBand, Boris Badinov44, Drovethrughosts, The Ink Daddy!, Half biscuit,
Prezbo, I dream of horses, DReifGalaxyM31, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Orioles982, Satteld, Dewritech, Racerx11, Tommy2010, ZroBot, Inka
888, CavendishCubed, Soe7, Emayohtee, Gus Haynes, Petrb, ClueBot NG, LeemanBros, Kamaaluddin, Helpful Pixie Bot, BG19bot, Dexbot,
Chris.bellmer.rip, Mmacage622, I am One of Many, Grandtheftauto1988, Petebachant, Wgillespie and Anonymous: 296
Bubbles (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=635861368 Contributors: AaronSw, Postdlf,
Caknuck, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Qjuad, Arthur Holland, Holdek, Polar, Rjwilmsi, JeStickney, EEMIV, Mrblondnyc,
SmackBot, McGeddon, The monkeyhate, Ted87, Davecampbell, Drinibot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ABCxyz, GurchBot, Uncle Dick,
Dehbach, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Knight7se7en, Yaksar, CutOTies, Lecreuset87, Gonzonoir, Ohfabulicious, BlonddudeGoneDark, Yobot, EnDowns, Rkhwaja, Machetemirage, NeilK, TheSoundAndTheFury, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, LeemanBros, Bernie44, Widr, Lilysky88, Mogism,
Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 72
Dennis Cutty Wise Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis%20%22Cutty%22%20Wise?oldid=641664561 Contributors: Edward, Finlay McWalter, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Bailey, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Cacophony, Floyd-out, Grifter84, Tommyt, Antoin,
Gram123, Mister Six, Toodiesel, Gregmce, Alan smithee, Ted87, Muboshgu, Pepperjack, Conradege, ArtVandelay13, Succubus MacAstaroth,
CmdrObot, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Coumarin, Mentisto, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, Jaypea99, Bonadea, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Dick Shane, CutOTies, ClueBot, Wolfer68, Good Olfactory, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Fortitude mountain, Sophus Bie, E0steven,
Rogarabit2, Bef6262, SNAAAAKE!!, Nsteel, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 39
Stringer Bell Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringer%20Bell?oldid=640679155 Contributors: Edward, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar,
David Gerard, Phil5329, Ich, Ukexpat, Ninebelow, BD2412, JeStickney, Jersey Devil, Rmky87, Rhain, Mister Six, Bdve, SmackBot, Ted87,
Muboshgu, Conradege, Esrever, ChrisCork, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, Jakerake, Tjg16c, Nadaismo, ABCxyz, WWB, Carlosgara, Magioladitis, Wax Tablet, Strikehold, Augchen, LittleOldMe old, Cometstyles, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, Mjbmitch,
JD554, BunnyColvin, CutOTies, Superbeecat, SBDave, Lecreuset87, Rividian, Dubmill, Hunter Kahn, Yobot, Washburnmav, Rjanag, Fortitude mountain, AdjustShift, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts, Perfectmile8, Jabrona, Scoutstr295, Djrhoads1258, Turian, Machetemirage, Sophy26,
Tess178, Gob Lofa, JayBeeEye, Tommi.1988, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 84
Avon Barksdale Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon%20Barksdale?oldid=642576687 Contributors: Edward, Lquilter, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, AlistairMcMillan, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Maqsarian, Causa sui, Firsfron, Sin-man, Josh Parris, JeStickney,
Ian Pitchford, EEMIV, Aoa8212, Bdve, Ted87, Muboshgu, Conradege, Iridescent, Zackp, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, JonnyTanna, Tjg16c, DanDud88, Captain Crawdad, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, McCullarMichael, Tripalis, Cocytus, Trusilver, Secleinteer, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Guldenat, Valkyryn, Tumadoireacht, Biscuittin, Mr.RandomKnowledge, Mjbmitch, CutOTies,
Faradayplank, Escape Orbit, Mild Bill Hiccup, Lecreuset87, WlReik, Dance With The Devil, Andyshades82, Good Olfactory, Hunter Kahn,
Wfberan, Dawgdahunter, Lightbot, Bonitammmm, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Ajh16, Joetheduded, AnomieBOT, Locobot, 3NE, Jabrona, Carpenter aka, Djrhoads1258, 15thWardWestBank, RjwilmsiBot, DASHBot, Tagtool, NathanielTheBold, Ryan.germany, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG,
Absconded Northerner, The Determinator, SNDLLN, Khazar2, Dexbot, Mogism, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 96
Marlo Staneld Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlo%20Stanfield?oldid=643128691 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Phil5329, Halda, Oneiros, Discospinster, Arthur Holland, C1k3, 96T, Tabletop, Yamamoto Ichiro, JeStickney, EEMIV, Eleemosynary, Bdve, SmackBot, Scott Donaldson, Boris Barowski, M c, Kintetsubualo, UnkleFester, Alan smithee, Ted87,
Conradege, Fuzzy510, Joseph Solis in Australia, Leopheard, Jayunderscorezero, MaxEnt, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy,
Tjg16c, ABCxyz, Darrenhusted, Swpb, Froid, Snorz, Slmcdee, Fhtagn, Saukenprince, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Huevos Mcgringo, FrankRizzo2006, CutOTies, Jpj681, Fratrep, ArmsAloftinAberdeen, LesIsMore9o9, Lot49a, Wfberan, Dawgdahunter, Download,
Lynch1445, Yobot, The Apokalips, LeCreuset05, AnomieBOT, Royote, Itsthejonnyboy, Drovethrughosts, Liebs2010, Wikipelli, Kamitch, ClueBot NG, Anentiresleeve, Causeandedit, CoolestGeekEver, MidnightRequestLine, JustusAnkka, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 102
Proposition Joe Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposition%20Joe?oldid=637609864 Contributors: Edward, Qjuad, Bellhalla, Dodiad,
JeStickney, Yhelothur, Wavelength, Tommyt, Kintetsubualo, Daysleeper47, Ted87, Conradege, ArtVandelay13, Marcus Brute, Fuzzy510,
Keithh, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, WWB, MelForbes, Wabernat, Anildash, MultipleTom, LoganRage,
BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Sean D Martin, JetLover, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Iknowyourider, ClueBot, Auntof6, Pimlico73, LesIsMore9o9,
Ouze, Hunter Kahn, BrianDaubach10, SpellingBot, Lynch1445, Htews, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, JakobvS, TheBearPaw, Bernie44, Daniel Davino,
AMU10, Grandtheftauto1988, Brown skin99ski and Anonymous: 64
Spiros Vondas Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiros%20Vondas?oldid=595850127 Contributors: AaronSw, Xanzzibar, MarkSweep,
Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Woohookitty, JeStickney, Rmky87, DeadEyeArrow, Jeisenberg, SmackBot, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless
Larry, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Steven Walling, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Director, CutOTies, SolarWind, Lecreuset87, WlReik, Periptero, Yobot, Baku&tblisi, BG19bot, Rjcripe, Grandtheftauto1988, Tlauri, Elaqueate and Anonymous: 32
The Greek Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Greek?oldid=592085566 Contributors: Ciphergoth, AaronSw, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, DocWatson42, Jossi, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Alvis, Dodiad, Cuchullain, JeStickney, Jersey Devil, Nick, Rmky87, Closedmouth,
Aoa8212, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, The monkeyhate, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless Larry, Marcus Brute, Cydebot, Marqueed, Treybien,
12.1. TEXT
213
Fuzzibloke, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Propaniac, Nickpheas, Steven Walling, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Fratrep, ImageRemovalBot, Xavexgoem, Solar-Wind, 718 Bot, Lecreuset87, Uarent, Andyshades82, Periptero, Sulmues, Lynch1445, Yobot, Bunnyhop11,
Eric-Wester, Fortitude mountain, Bsjdkdkl, Dewritech, Begnome, SNDLLN, Grandtheftauto1988, Hicalibre009 and Anonymous: 56
Chris Partlow Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris%20Partlow?oldid=624247863 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar,
Debivort, Tommyt, Grafen, Mrblondnyc, Conradege, Robosh, WordsAmp, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, JustAGal, Geeky Randy,
Droll Sobriquet, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, CutOTies, Fratrep, Iknowyourider, Rurik16, Alekz.k, Ohfabulicious, Andyshades82, Good Olfactory,
Mr. IP, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Acbistro, John of Reading, Gus Haynes, Dr Scorp, Grandtheftauto1988, Soxboy222 and Anonymous: 51
Felicia Snoop Pearson Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_(The_Wire)?oldid=635107576 Contributors: William Avery, SatyrTN,
Xanzzibar, Jhfrontz, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Sherool, Tommyt, Grafen, Mrblondnyc, Ted87, Esrever, IronGargoyle, SubSeven,
H3G3M0N, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Turkeyphant, JustAGal, Desoda, TAnthony, Geniac, GringoDeMaio, CommonsDelinker, Lowerarchy, GrahamHardy, Geeky Randy, Pkulak, CutOTies, ImageRemovalBot, ClueBot, Trivialist, Excirial, Dvdfever, WlReik, AuntFlo,
Xp54321, Namond br, Vishnava, Tassedethe, Treyonna712, HCRockstar, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, The Apokalips, S h i v a (Visnu), Orlando235,
Drovethrughosts, PigFlu Oink, Sheemstar, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Jimmythecreep86, Unreal7, ClueBot NG, Absconded Northerner, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 63
Wee-Bey Brice Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wee-Bey%20Brice?oldid=625433781 Contributors: Palfrey, AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, Phil5329, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, TerraFrost, Gary, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, Nicander, Ytcracker, Rmky87, Closedmouth, SmackBot, Ted87, Conradege, Copysan, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, SkonesMickLoud, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Captain Crawdad, Mdriver1981,
ABCxyz, Darklilac, Pixelface, Jimmarci, Fhtagn, Cometstyles, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Yaksar, CutOTies, ClueBot, EoGuy,
Spark240, Good Olfactory, BrianDaubach10, KevinGTempleton, A malivia, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Meishern, PigFlu Oink, Gus Haynes,
Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 82
Bodie Broadus Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodie%20Broadus?oldid=640901128 Contributors: William Avery, Palfrey, Andrew
Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Ahkond, Galaxiaad, Dismas, RHaworth, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Jersey Devil,
Mister Six, UltimatePyro, Ted87, Chris 42, Fuzzy510, Jasontrek, Gm-ishi Ashi Gurum, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, BishopOcelot, Commasense, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Coumarin, Captain Crawdad, AntiVandalBot, Thebaron8181, ABCxyz, Yaoming7511, Magioladitis, Appraiser, McCullarMichael, Dre07, Cmsjustin, Emeraude, Sandomingors, Xiua1.1, Mr0grady, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
CutOTies, Cp424, ClueBot, Scottyb76, Raheem West, Hunter Kahn, UnkoDisaster, A malivia, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, The Apokalips, DrilBot,
John of Reading, Peash, Mepeter, Frietjes, Hrvyklly, MidnightRequestLine, Grandtheftauto1988, Atuckii, Palojimo23 and Anonymous: 133
Poot Carr Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poot_(The_Wire)?oldid=637744754 Contributors: Chinju, Academic Challenger, Andrew
Levine, Xanzzibar, Mike Rosoft, Ahkond, 96T, Velella, Firsfron, Realsupergirl, NawlinWiki, Wknight94, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Ted87,
Muboshgu, Eggman64, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Fuzzibloke, Opark 77, Tjg16c, DanDud88, ABCxyz, Monkeyangst, Shu99, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Denisarona, Zodiacsage, Excirial, Wolfer68, Hunter Kahn, CanadianLinuxUser, A malivia, Yobot, The Apokalips,
Eugene-elgato, Acbistro, ClueBot NG, 01cosmo, Grandtheftauto1988, Deselby12 and Anonymous: 47
D'Angelo Barksdale Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D'Angelo%20Barksdale?oldid=643248003 Contributors: Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Rjwilmsi, JeStickney, SaschaTeske, EEMIV, Ted87, ArtVandelay13, Joseph Solis in Australia, Vanished user
k9iuw4roilaldkj, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, KylieTastic, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
DoorsAjar, CutOTies, Nusumareta, ImageRemovalBot, Puchiko, Lockwood Like, XLinkBot, Good Olfactory, Hunter Kahn, A malivia, EQuizative, RjwilmsiBot, ClueBot NG, Bernie44, Celticsfan177, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 50
Cheese Wagsta Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese%20Wagstaff?oldid=643556495 Contributors: AaronSw, Xanzzibar, Ahkond,
Arthur Holland, C1k3, Jweiss11, Tommyt, Sandstein, Closedmouth, Ted87, LoonyPandora, Powelldinho, Porterhse, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark
77, JustAGal, J.delanoy, Feedback, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Iknowyourider, Creamy3, Versus22, Derricktsmith, WikiGuy86,
Yobot, AnomieBOT, Itain'tsobad, Machetemirage, ClueBot NG, SNAAAAKE!!, Mimi663, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 42
Wallace (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=637745042 Contributors: Edward, Xanzzibar,
Rich Farmbrough, JeremyA, Tommyt, RussBot, Mrblondnyc, Ted87, Cydebot, Treybien, Geracudd, Geeky Randy, Racro 16, Hunter Kahn,
Yobot, Arsvita734, 2012ZaHaas, Inka 888, -MatM-, M.fergus89, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 32
Characters from the docks of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters%20from%20the%20docks%20of%20The%
20Wire?oldid=633199075 Contributors: John K, Meelar, Robert K S, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Swfong, Cydebot, Opark 77, Alaibot, ThatGuamGuy, Nick Number, Pennywisepeter, J.delanoy, Belovedfreak, Secleinteer, Malc82, Meisterkoch, Tide rolls, PigFlu Oink, John of Reading,
-MatM-, VictorGuardian250505, Ranze, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 24
Frank Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%20Sobotka?oldid=635673854 Contributors: Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Ich,
Valve, Geschichte, Gary, Thebogusman, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Tommyt, SaschaTeske, Bobak, Rmky87, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless
Larry, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, Jackmass, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Solar-Wind, Jprw, Lynch1445, Yobot, LilHelpa,
Drovethrughosts, Keri, Mogism, Grandtheftauto1988, Bkrimmel17 and Anonymous: 34
Nick Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick%20Sobotka?oldid=580005721 Contributors: Andrew Levine, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Rmky87, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Conradege, Cordless Larry, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, Kerotan, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, CutOTies, Solar-Wind, Brendankm, Lynch1445, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Josephus37, Prezbo, ClueBot NG, RGloucester, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 31
Ziggy Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy%20Sobotka?oldid=635472661 Contributors: Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, Michael
Devore, MarkSweep, Prashanthns, JeStickney, Bgwhite, Rmky87, Mister Six, DRahier, Conradege, Cordless Larry, Senseitaco, Mreleganza,
Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, DanDud88, Anildash, Emeraude, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Conormtl, CutOTies, ClueBot, Solar-Wind,
Good Olfactory, Barsoomian, Yobot, Citation bot, Fouroftwo, Grandtheftauto1988, Hicalibre009 and Anonymous: 29
Sergei Malatov Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei%20Malatov?oldid=611188844 Contributors: Ciphergoth, Xanzzibar, Arthur Holland, Faboba, Rjwilmsi, Erielhonan, Sandstein, SmackBot, Twp, Jayunderscorezero, Cydebot, Treybien, Feedback, WlReik, Good Olfactory,
Drpickem, Yobot, Illegitimate Barrister, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 15
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12.2. IMAGES
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12.2 Images
File:Ambox_important.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: Own work, based o of Image:Ambox scales.svg Original artist: Dsmurat (talk contribs)
File:Barksdale1.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Barksdale1.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Own
work Original artist: Andyshades82
File:Barksdale2.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Barksdale2.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Own
work Original artist: Andyshades82
File:Barksdale3.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Barksdale3.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Own
work Original artist: Andyshades82
File:Blank_television_set.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Blank_television_set.svg License: CC-BY-SA3.0 Contributors: en:Image:Aus tv.png (among others) Original artist: Traced by User:Stannered
File:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist:
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File:DavidSimon2007-crop.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/DavidSimon2007-crop.jpg License: CC BYSA 2.0 Contributors: http://flickr.com/photos/stutefish/399607994/ Original artist: Lori Matsumoto (stutesh on ickr)
File:Edit-clear.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg License: Public domain Contributors: The Tango!
Desktop Project. Original artist:
The people from the Tango! project. And according to the meta-data in the le, specically: Andreas Nilsson, and Jakub Steiner (although
minimally).
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Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
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File:P_vip.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/P_vip.svg License: PD Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
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File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0 Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:Star_empty.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Star_empty.svg License: CC BY-SA 2.5 Contributors:
Made with Inkscape from Stars615.svg <a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stars615.svg' class='image'><img
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wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Stars615.svg/192px-Stars615.svg.png 2x' data-le-width='640' data-le-height='110' /></a>. Original artist:
This vector image was created with Inkscape by Conti from the original images by RedHotHeat, and then manually edited.
File:Star_full.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Star_full.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Made
with Inkscape from Image:Stars615.svg. Original artist: User:Conti from the original images by User:RedHotHeat
File:Symbol_book_class2.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Symbol_book_class2.svg License: CC BY-SA
2.5 Contributors: Mad by Lokal_Prol by combining: Original artist: Lokal_Prol
File:The-wire-season-5-dvd.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/The-wire-season-5-dvd.jpg License: Fair use Contributors:
DVDActive.com Original artist: ?
File:TheWire21alt.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/TheWire21alt.jpg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
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