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September 19, 2004
"Adjourn your asses"
Stringer Bell's words indicating the end of the meeting of his drug distribution crew. Stringer has been taking too many business classes at the local CC and is now not only trying to run his drug business like a legitimate concern. He's also making his 19 year old thugs observe basic parliamentary procedure.
Tonight's episode was all over the place. McNulty still believes the wire tap they've been running for six months is just this close to giving up information that will bring down Proposition Joe and/or Stringer Bell. Lt. Daniels and some higher-ups think it's time to arrest who they can and move on. Red Rhonda, The Dirty DA, agrees. No magistrate is going to extend their wire-tap any longer with no results. Of course, this sets up McNulty to make an end-run around the chain of command and piss everyone off, although he'll wind up being right.
The murder rate in Baltimore is also way up and the city council is coming down hard on Commissioner Burrell and Deputy Commish Rawls. One of the city councilmen had previously tried to get Burrell to ask his subcommittee help when the mayor won't give him what he needs, but Burrell, a big fan of the chain of command, refused. Now he's getting his payback for refusing that help.
It looks like the murder rate plotline will revolve around Major "Bunny" Colvin who's set to retire in 6 months. He's got Herc and Carver working out of his district now, so I imagine he'll get tied in with Lt. Daniels' detail.
A couple of minor plotlines that might erupt later on: An old school gangster who just got released after 14 years was set up with a package to move to get himself back in the game. One of the young punks stole it from him and almost shot him. Bubbles and Johnny spent the whole episode trying to collect enough scrap metal to sell for cash so they could buy some dope. They didn't have enough after a gangsta stole their pants. Now they're desperate and if they don't get themselves killed, I'll be really surprised.
Not a whole lot of crim pro in this episode aside from the very thin probable cause they have for continuing the wire-tap. One of the lieutenants they have their eye on doesn't even talk on the phone. There is hope that Prop Joe's nephew, who says the word "cocaine" on the phone about every 10 minutes, will get promoted within the organization.
I feel a little out of the loop right now. I was able to jump into the second season without ever having seen an episode but anyone starting in on the 3rd season in the same way may have to be patient or try and catch old episodes as they run.
Posted by Half-Cocked at September 19, 2004 09:47 PM