Felicia Pearson*
Television The Wire
- Thread starter VanNistelrater
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Which is also her name in the Wire. Lazy writing.
Another plus for S5, I actually prefer Mike's arch over his one in S4. I agree with Plech (I can't be bothered to find the post, it's way back) but his transition from the yellow paint prank to full blown murder is too quick. There never seems quite enough of a reason for him to become an enforcer. It's only in S5 that he made sense to me, and his transition into Omar was pretty satisfactory I felt.
Another plus for S5, I actually prefer Mike's arch over his one in S4. I agree with Plech (I can't be bothered to find the post, it's way back) but his transition from the yellow paint prank to full blown murder is too quick. There never seems quite enough of a reason for him to become an enforcer. It's only in S5 that he made sense to me, and his transition into Omar was pretty satisfactory I felt.
I don't think that makes it lazy writing. When real people played a role they sometimes put their names in. Jay Landsman was an actual detective at BPD. He had some minor role but the character played by a different actor was influenced by the real dude.
I think the real Landsman played Ray Cole. When you watch with that knowledge you can see he's not a real actor. I've read the book and anyone who likes the series should. So much of it has gone into the show.
It was a jokey aside. I don't think it's lazy writing.
What do you find not believable or hasty about Mike's arch in season 4 Mockney? I think on the contrary it's pretty straightforward and believable: his love for Bug is built up throughout the first episodes, it shows he's really devoted to it and wants to protect him, and when Bug's father comes back into their lives, you understand that Mike hates him, that he was probably abused by him (this is never done with a heavy hand, it's just Mike's reaction to Bug's father, the way he can't look at him, the way he doesn't trust anyone who is 'too nice', just like Cutty...), and that he believes that to protect Bug, the only viable option is to join Marlo's crew. He actually at first thinks about other alternatives (social services notably, he asks Dukie about them), but with each of them he understands it will irremediably affect the relationship he has with Bug, most probably separating them for good. Which is why he finally decides to go to Chris, though you can see he's hating it from the very moment he walks into the court where Marlo hangs out.
Snoop was also involved in a drugs bust a year or two ago. She got a 7 year suspended sentence for that.
It's not that it's unbelievable per say, but I think the pacing is a bit off. There's no real reason why he needs to become a hitman at the point he does.
Or as Plech said.
Also, I don't see why Chris is so eager for him to become a protoge enforcer. There are plenty of people in the gangs (and indeed in the show) who don't drive around killing people and the ones that do usually aren't the smart ones. It's clear he doesn't like it, and is going to be a problem, and in S5 Snoop even says as much; "you were never one of us"...Then why all the fuss to make him into one? So we could have a dramatic end to his arch in S4?
I really really liked the subtle way they dealt with his abuse, but the fact he was built up as being this protector of the weak made it seem a bit off that he'd just turn into this ruthless killer by the end. If he was going to kill someone, he should've killed someone he knew or was angry with or been shown to loosen his morals earlier (IMO)...That's what I thought at the end of 4 at any rate.
But S5 establishing that he was going to turn into an Omar figure meant that he did sort of need to have killed someone, or be ok will killing in order to be, so that rescued it for me.
Tbf, Michael was the least interesting of the S4 boys for me. We all knew someone was going to end up in the gangs & probably kill someone from the get go, and from about episode 2 we knew it was probably going to be Michael. So the "troubled kid ends up in a life of crime" thing didn't really do it for me that much. It was the "coolest" arch, but much like Marlo, I found the characterisation a bit too easy and un-nuanced for The Wire's standards.
For me Namond and Randy were the best and most real characters of that run. Michael made his bones for me in S5.
Can I rock the boat and say the actor who portrays McNulty actually doesn't do a particularly convincing American accent? I know it's a passable attempt, but at times his Englishness comes out a lot more than it does with Idris Elba playing Stringer.
I don't think that's really rocking the boat too much. He also plays a pretty cartoon drunk.
Righto, I had the impression his accent was convincing a lot of people.
It's almost laughable when he says something like "Ahh that's horseshit"
He participates in a press conference about the homeless serial killings which I couldn't believe was the best take they had of the scene, his accent was coming undone all over the place.
The best bit is when he's pretending to be English. Head feck right there.
It convinced yours truly. I was shocked when I learned he was English. Even more shocked when I connected him with the guy in 300.
I really liked snoop. Shame she went back to her old ways after the show was finished.
Don't know if it's been posted but there was another show done by the makers of the wire, also set in Baltimore.
It was called the corner, I think. It was only 6 or so shows but has some of the same characters (or actors playing different characters). I don't think I watched them all so maybe have 1 left I watch.
It was called the corner, I think. It was only 6 or so shows but has some of the same characters (or actors playing different characters). I don't think I watched them all so maybe have 1 left I watch.
Yeah, I've watched it. It's only a mini-series kind of thing but it's still worth a watch. The actor who plays Lester Freamon is in it, playing a drug addict.
The big fat cop is in it too, as a scrap yard boss.
The book is a good read as well.
But I just don't get why you have this impression: it's very clear why he joins Marlo's crew, it's the return of Bug's dad that prompts this. He's incredibly frightened by what might happen to him with his dad around, it's particularly visible with the scene where Michael goes to pick up Bug, the teacher tells him a man picked him up earlier and said he was his dad, and Michael gets very frightened and sprints home, and when he gets there he wants to get Bug as far away from his dad as possible.
I agree with you that Michael is probably the least interesting of the four boys, it's quite early on obvious what his 'destiny' is going to be, whereas it's more surprising for Namond and Randy (I'm watching it with my girlfriend at the moment, and asked her how she thought the kids would turn out, around the middle of season 4, and she got it all wrong, except for Michael, more or less,
), and with more subtetly for Dukie (who's my favourite of the kids, I find his story extremely sad). But I just don't agree with the 'it's not understanble why he turns hitman at that point', I think it's pretty straightforward. As for Chris, I agree with you to a certain point, and had I answered yesterday, I would've completely agreed. But I watched episode 10 last night, where Chris and Snoop murder Bug's dad, and I don't know if you remember it, but they walk him into an alley, Chris starts asking him if he likes touching boys, etc. and then just goes mental on him, doesn't kill him like he's done for every other murder, he beats him to a pulp (which takes Snoop by surprise). I think the message is that Chris was probably also abused as a kid, and takes it out on Bug's dad, and takes Michael under his wing as a protégé as he sees himself in the kid (which probably explains their persistance). However, it doesn't really explain their will to enroll him at first, although that might be slightly tempered: they see him on the street, like his attitude, Chris makes a move, Michael turns them down, but I don't recall them especially insisting after that, it's Michael who in the end goes to see Marlo. But if I'm mistaken and Chris actually does go back to Michael a few times, maybe the underlying idea with the writers is that Chris, even before he understands Michael was abused by Bug's dad (that comes to light in episode 10, when they're shadowing Bug's dad, and Snoop kinda insists with Michael "daaaamn what did the guy do to you?"), feels a bond, and sees a bit of himself in Michael's attitude. But I don't recall Snoop and Chris insisting that much to get Michael to join the crew.
But I just don't get why you have this impression: it's very clear why he joins Marlo's crew, it's the return of Bug's dad that prompts this. He's incredibly frightened by what might happen to him with his dad around, it's particularly visible with the scene where Michael goes to pick up Bug, the teacher tells him a man picked him up earlier and said he was his dad, and Michael gets very frightened and sprints home, and when he gets there he wants to get Bug as far away from his dad as possible.
I agree with you that Michael is probably the least interesting of the four boys, it's quite early on obvious what his 'destiny' is going to be, whereas it's more surprising for Namond and Randy (I'm watching it with my girlfriend at the moment, and asked her how she thought the kids would turn out, around the middle of season 4, and she got it all wrong, except for Michael, more or less,
None of that explains why he suddenly turns into a ruthless killer. I understand why he gives into joining the crew, but that he becomes Chris' protoge assassin in very short space of time is what doesn't ring true for me. He's the moral one who's rejected even corner work until now. He suddenly jumps about 5 steps from "out of the game" to Luitenant Enforcer.
Yeah I do remember that, and assumed the same thing. The whole abuse angle was very well handled I thought. Especially how Michael he reacted to Cutty.
From what I remember Marlo approaches him after he turns down Chris, then Bodie asks him to work corners, then Chris approaches him with Snoop, then when he approaches Marlo, he becomes Chris's protoge...I'm not sure if there are others, but they insist more than they do with anyone else, an the general gist you're supposed to get is "people want him in the game cos he's smart and tough"
Now that's all cool, but it's the notion that he goes straight to being Chris protoge that bugs me. Why do they take him to the ambush on Omar in S5 for example? Surely they have other, more experienced Luitenants?
I've realised I've spent the last two pages criticising The Wire, which is insane.
Yeah to be honest I enjoy nitpicking about which elements are the best, favourite characters and favourite seasons with people on here who've seen it and love it, most of my time talking about The Wire is trying to convince my friends to watch it (hardly any of them have seen it!), so this is refreshing!
Ah right, I hadn't understood it like that. As I'm just at the point where Michael joined Chris and Snoop, I'll keep my eyes open sharply with that in mind, I hadn't really picked up on that the first time around, but my first viewing was me basically thinking "bloody hell this is brilliant, I love this, it can't get any better" every other episode with no critical sens whatsoever. I'm trying to be a bit more picky this time around.
Ah right, I hadn't understood it like that. As I'm just at the point where Michael joined Chris and Snoop, I'll keep my eyes open sharply with that in mind, I hadn't really picked up on that the first time around, but my first viewing was me basically thinking "bloody hell this is brilliant, I love this, it can't get any better" every other episode with no critical sens whatsoever. I'm trying to be a bit more picky this time around.
What did people expect Marlo to ask Micheal for in return, aside from doing a hit?
Spot on.
Started watching The Wire again. It's amazing how much stuff you forget. Although I know what happens generally, a lot of each episode is like watching it for the first time.
5 Episodes in so far, only another 45 to go!
5 Episodes in so far, only another 45 to go!
I'm thinking of starting to watch this. I have two seasons of this on DVD from a buddy but for some reason I keep on avoiding watching even one episode. I really can't stand cop/crime/investigation shows, anything like Law and Order, or CSI. I'm sure its much different, but I also have a feeling that I've heard so much about the show that it can't possibly live up to my expectations
Anyone not like this show, because I haven't found someone yet?
Anyone not like this show, because I haven't found someone yet?
Finally starting to watch it. Finished the first episode.
Ive met a couple of people who couldn't get into it, and to be fair it does take about 5 or 6 episodes to get a feel for it.
It's a slow burner, and there are plenty of characters to come to terms with.
It's well worth investing the time because it's a really well thought out and the characters have so much depth it's like you really know them.
Its so good I'm watching it twice, which I rarely ever do with tv programmes.
It's a slow burner, and there are plenty of characters to come to terms with.
It's well worth investing the time because it's a really well thought out and the characters have so much depth it's like you really know them.
Its so good I'm watching it twice, which I rarely ever do with tv programmes.
Watched first three episodes. This show is good, isn't it?
Also every episode is ending in a special way.
Also every episode is ending in a special way.
You'll be yammering like a mutha-fecking corner-boy! Biatch! 
You'll be yammering like a mutha-fecking corner-boy! Biatch!
Watching it for the first time is good, isn't it?
Discovering it is brilliant, but to be honest it's also really good to see it again, it has great re-watch value. You pick up on loads of little subtle things that you didn't necessarily see the first time around, and as you've already got the whole story in head, you can better see the logic of what the writers are doing, and how precise and meticulous their writing is.
Started this again myself last week, I'm about 6 eps in I think, and I agree entirely with RiP, the rewatch value is great.
Yeah it's just as good second time round. I picked up on stuff earlier than I did first time, like Cedric's past, it's hinted at so many times but I don't think I copped it until the FBI guy actually said it to Mc Nulty first time round.
Robert F. Chew, the actor who played Prop Joe, died last night.
Yeah, just heard about that.
Sad news, one of my favourite characters in the wire.
I just watched the episode last night (among others that I watched) where Prop Joe
Weird.
Sad news.
was killed by Chris and Marlo.
Sad news.
It's almost like watching something that you have never seen before, although you know the main themes and story lines, there is so much extra to pick up on.
Sad news, I thought he was quality in The Wire.
I bought the boxset yesterday. I'm really looking forward to watching it.