McNulty continues to falsify evidence to generate a suspicion of serial killings, whilst Marlo continues his pursuit for control of Baltimore's drug supply.
This is another excellent episode with strong plot and character moments.
When I first watched season 5 of The Wire many years ago, McNulty's antics were a stretch of my willingness to suspend the disbelief. However, I now realise that I once felt the same when hearing about doctors and nurses using their positions to kill patients, pilots deliberately crashing passenger planes, and any number of endless political corruption scandals where positions of responsibility are abused by either self-serving or mentally disturbed individuals. I now find his behaviour a darkly funny and inventive storyline, that says to me, under the right circumstances, what is to prevent this from happening? I particularly like his interactions with the likes of Freamon, Jay, and Bunk.
What I struggled more to accept is the plausibility of Prop Joe unquestioningly helping Marlo obtain a certain asset, when a character written as tactically astute as Joe should, for me, put two and two together and figure out the angle. That being said, it does make for great drama.
The return of Omar would be a welcome one under different circumstances, but the portrayal of what might be drawing him back to Baltimore is a brutal and sadistic scene that involves more clever and manipulative writing. It makes the audience despise Marlo further and get thoroughly invested in Omar's wellbeing and forthcoming crusade.
There are several scenes of note that take place outside of Baltimore and say a lot about the associated characters.
All actors are on brilliant form, with Dominic West and S. Robert Morgan just about standing out for me.
As ever the cinematography, editing and art design are top drawer. The standout visual has to be Omar's face at the end.
For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.
This is another excellent episode with strong plot and character moments.
When I first watched season 5 of The Wire many years ago, McNulty's antics were a stretch of my willingness to suspend the disbelief. However, I now realise that I once felt the same when hearing about doctors and nurses using their positions to kill patients, pilots deliberately crashing passenger planes, and any number of endless political corruption scandals where positions of responsibility are abused by either self-serving or mentally disturbed individuals. I now find his behaviour a darkly funny and inventive storyline, that says to me, under the right circumstances, what is to prevent this from happening? I particularly like his interactions with the likes of Freamon, Jay, and Bunk.
What I struggled more to accept is the plausibility of Prop Joe unquestioningly helping Marlo obtain a certain asset, when a character written as tactically astute as Joe should, for me, put two and two together and figure out the angle. That being said, it does make for great drama.
The return of Omar would be a welcome one under different circumstances, but the portrayal of what might be drawing him back to Baltimore is a brutal and sadistic scene that involves more clever and manipulative writing. It makes the audience despise Marlo further and get thoroughly invested in Omar's wellbeing and forthcoming crusade.
There are several scenes of note that take place outside of Baltimore and say a lot about the associated characters.
All actors are on brilliant form, with Dominic West and S. Robert Morgan just about standing out for me.
As ever the cinematography, editing and art design are top drawer. The standout visual has to be Omar's face at the end.
For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.
