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The Wire 5x08 Reaction

just no words.. at the end of the review we say that we’re gonna watch episode 9 and 10 together, we ended up only watching episode 9 because we couldnt stop crying after it long enough to film episode 10, so just a heads up so that you dont comment something about the finale

The Wire 5x08 Reaction

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Clark Johnson also directed several episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street; another gritty cop drama co-written by David Simon set in Baltimore. He played detective Meldrick Lewis, and as I recall, the opening and closing scenes of the series depicted his character walking through an alley looking for evidence.

Thomas Fahey

From the beginning children had always been Omar’s blind spot. Jimmy dropped out of school because he got Elena pregnant. No resentment there, I’m sure. Somewhat ironically Tom McCarthy, who plays Scott, wrote and directed Spotlight (2015) about the Boston Globe newspaper, for which he won an Academy Award.

Thomas Fahey

fyi Gus, the editor of the Baltimore Sun, is also a Director on the show. He directed the pilot episode and the season finale.

Klein Santana

Whilst we're waiting for the next Wire reaction to drop, here's vocoded Clay Davis. It was big on Vine, back in the day. https://youtu.be/oQaasxr3zWY?si=07zpVBJPcw_3T5Us

TeaDrinker3000

People who hate Kennard are weird. Namond could be redeemed but not Kennard?!? That sniveling POS Scott, an adult, was much worse than a misguided child.

Iamgreat Now

It's truly sad how some people sleep walk through their existence. @Wanda Did Everything Wrong. Kennard clearly saw what Omar looked like in season 3. That's why the kid imitating Omar from the "Omar gang " vs Barksdale stash house shootout was dressed just like.... duh; Omar. That's why multiple people have pointed out Kennard saw Omar in season 3. @Tea w/alcohol drinker 3000 proof HUH??!! Season 4 shows Dookie going to middle school. During which, he improves to the point where he is told he can advance to high-school. He reports to high school nervously, turns around outside the school without entering and doesn't return. The actor that played Dookie was shorter than Michael at the start of Season 4 and was taller than Michael by Season 5. Why would he still be so nervous about going to high-school. I understand the writers wanted to portray Dookie as a hopeless case but a brief mention of returning to school and a reason not to would have been a far more realistic plot. Never mentioning school as an option but rather a 15 yr old contemplating becoming a dental hygienist or exotic dancer was beyond dumb.

Iamgreat Now

@TeaDrinker3000 The sheer hilarity of your comment caused my drink to make an unexpected exit through my nose. Thanks for the laugh! :D

Robert H.

It's never directly mentioned in the show, but was confirmed by Simon that Cheese is indeed his father, and Prop Joe his great uncle .

Samus Prime

I'm sad these reactions are coming to an end!

Samus Prime

Omar's death bothers a lot of people, but I always thought it was perfect. Omar was always the show's most mythical figure - the only character who isn't beholden to any institution, who marches to the beat of his own drum, and gained an almost superhuman ability to survive and thrive where anyone else would have failed long ago. By killing him in such an undignified way, the writers bring him back down to earth. It's shocking and unexpected, but thematically satisfying.

Samus Prime

is supposed to be

V

Is hxh today ?

Ammar gayal

At least Poot has a steady job, the last of our boys from season 1 who lost everything but got out the game 🥲

space colon

Rewatching Season 5 in recent years, I've been struck by how completely deranged this dude is. Before I just thought of him as lazy, entitled, lying piece of shit, but now I'm genuinely of the view that he's mentally ill.

prolifik5

“See, the thing is, you only got to fuck up once. Be a little slow, be a little late, just once. And how you ain't gonna never be slow? Never be late?” Avon Barksdale Omar’s death always reminds me of that quote. If you stay in the game, you will always lose. It doesn’t matter if u think u r smart (like stringer), or play by the rules (like Bodie) or are careful (like Avon). You will end up dead, in prison or in a vegetative coma like Avon’s older brother.

Mahad Ali

The overall irony is so striking. Here's guy who's got such a big name in the streets, had a bounty on his head for years, messed up the operation of more than one large drug crew, and even openly calling out Marlo to come to him....to be taken out by some little kid and then overlooked by the press and even the coroner's office.

Craig Manning

May be an idea after you watched the last episode of the series. And before the discussion about the last last episode and the series as a whole. There is discussion on youtube with David Simon about the show in which some of the plot lines where only hinted in the show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaobhq_yP-U&t=2s For example and is confirmed in the discussion with David Simon Episode 4x13 https://youtu.be/vFxfyrUDZZs?t=1874 and this episode https://youtu.be/oo5iBvobl48?t=1886 Pay attention to Randy and Cheese Surname. In episode 4x13 Randy is called by his full name. It is not the first time the are mentioned. Happend in other episodes too.

aramaki

>the show never showed Dookie attempting to go to school >Cutty was a creep You have to be trolling. There's no way you misread the situation this severely.

TeaDrinker3000

Kennard probably HASNT ever seen Omar in the flesh up until last episode lol when and where would he have? Omar is just a well known name. And Kennard might have seen his gun battle in S3 from a distance. But how would he actually know him?? Dumbass 🙄

Wanda Did Nothing Wrong

Such a shocking death

BobJ

"Beadie walking out and not even listening as he tries to explain how he used to view himself as a hero. Really says more than words ever could." A moment that's mirrored when Chris stops listening to Michael when he tries to explain what he would do if he were Marlo.

Chidi.

Need a hug? ;-)

Chidi.

@cosmtron - Honestly, I wasn't happy about it nor about the identity of his killer as Omar was a favourite character and one who I though could exact *some* justice on Marlo and crew. But looking at the bigger picture, his death serves the story perfectly.

Chidi.

@TeaDrinker3000 - Same with Sherrod's death. It happens early in the episode and then as a viewer you just have to carry on. Prez killing the cop is another example. The show has a way of totally pulling your focus in the middle of episode. Lesser shows would set those moments up as cliffhangers at the end of the episode.

Chidi.

Yes, but I think Lola caught that moment anyway.

Chidi.

A few actors from the show have passed away since the show ended: - Michael K. Williams (Omar) - Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels) - Robert F. Chew (Prop Joe) - Al Brown (Stan Valchek) - Reg E. Cathey (Norman - Carcetti's political advisor) - Robert Hogan (Louis - Frank Sobotka's brother) Not to mention those who passed during the show's run: - Robert F. Colesberry (Detective Ray Cole) - Richard DeAngelis (Colonel Raymond Foerster) May they all rest in peace.

Chidi.

Fun fact: Kenard's actor stated on a podcast that he had to be consoled after shooting that scene with Omar because the effects felt so real. Michael K. Williams walked in and had to reassure him that we wasn't actually dead.

Zach

Lol you sound mad.

Aj

He ain't no Pez but Sydnor cracked the code and Lola knows his name, yay Sydnor

Karabo

Dookie's, story line in this season is asinine. He should be in school! The writers never mentioned that as an option, which is poor writing. He's living off of Michael and he has no dire financial burdens to force him to get a job. Just stupid. This, as well as other inconsistent plots throughout the series ( the Stringer/Clay Davis/ Levy relationship, Cutty not attempting to train Dookie but his creepy fixation in training Michael, the special needs low intelligence of Avon, the idiot who holds grenades while on parole and also who sold the introduction to the connect to Marlo for $100,000, a guy who makes 1 million a month without it and tried to kill him, Kennard wanting to play Omar in season 3 but acts like he's never seen him in the flesh in season 5 etc.) brings to light that The Wire is definitely NOT one of the best written shows in television history. A great reviting show, with great actors but not one of the best written series of all times in its totality. The West Wing, as an example, was better written IMO .

Iamgreat Now

Seeing Poot also made me emotional, and it was such a nice surprise. While being contrasted with how desperate Dukie's position is rapidly becoming. Dukie would have had better luck trying to get a job at a restaurant - they have a tendency to hire young teenagers (sometimes younger than they're legally supposed to, at least where I grew up). And you can bus tables at 15. Kima and Beadie's reactions to Jimmy here were very satisfying, especially Beadie walking out and not even listening as he tries to explain how he used to view himself as a hero. Really says more than words ever could. There's something particularly infuriating about how...self-righteous Scott is trying to be? Acting like being called out on his lie, or even Gus just lightly questioning him about it, is just soooo awful and undeserved. Like, how dare they accuse him of lying...even though he did. It'd be one thing if he seemed to feel guilty, but that indignation at even being questioned...yeah, he sucks. Oh, also loved the FBI profiling scene. It was honestly amazing to hear them tear Jimmy down like that without even knowing they were doing it. Very interested in seeing what you both think of the next two episodes.

cosmotron

He lies about EVERYTHING. Horrible

Karabo

The candles did him :(

Omar O

You can't do that. You can't talk about your episode 9 reaction in a way that makes me want to watch it right fucking now, but do it 4 days before I can watch it. That's illegal.

Jay Craig

The writers having the death happen 17 minutes in and then letting that sit in your mind for the rest of the episode was such a big risk and it paid off!

TeaDrinker3000

I’m honestly still processing how I feel about Omar’s death. I’ll comment again after watching the reaction, but yeah. Even after mulling it over for a few days I’m not sure how I feel. Which makes it effective in and of itself on one hand, since it’s clearly been sitting with me.

cosmotron

Really glad L&M called out how awful it is that Scott lied to the ex-marine. Really evil to call someone crazy who relived a horrible story for you.

Mark M

I just finished watching the full review. I'm in a similar situation to the girls where I feel as though it's just absolutely flown by. I'm already mourning the end of this reaction series. Even if there's a show in the future that the girls react to that I (somehow) like more than The Wire, there's never going to be a reaction series just like this. Lola mentioned in the review how she became much more angrier and sadder from season 4 onwards. It's quite fascinating to be able to watch the progression of the audience themselves through reaction channels. Seeing as we are coming up to end of the series, I again want to reiterate just how much I've loved being able to read all the stories and tidbits and opinions from the other commentors. I said it before on the last video but I don't think I can stress it enough, I read every single comment left on patron fro The Wire and try to read as many of the articles as I can too, I've gone back over some of from the earlier seasons (thanks Space!). I already consider myself very blessed just to have been able to see the girls react to the show in the first place. I remember literally saying "Holy shit!" out loud the day I checked my phone to see that The Wire had been added to the poll. The Wire, man. And mind you a few years back I had only seen season 1 which I absolutely adored and recommended to people, but I wasn't mature or politically aware enough to understand the show. A few months back I cleared season 2 and thought "okay, lightning striking twice, the next season will surely dip in quality." And of course it didn't, at which point I thought "Huh, the majority of episodes from this whole series are as solid as TV can get, I wonder what's next". And then season 4. Season fucking 4 of The Wire, man. The only season of television that will ever compare to the second half of the final season of Breaking Bad. And now to cap it all off you have an amazing final season which, though consisting of minor flaws, is still 10/10 television, and these next two episodes are my favourite episodes out of the entire show. I find it incredibly hard not to be hyperbolic when discussing The Wire, but I daresay there's no hyperbole to be had. Beyond television itself, it's one of the greatest pieces of contemporary media ever created. I won't wax lyrical on why that is at this point, we all know why. But I will say that since the reaction series started, it's just always in the back of my mind. I do sincerely believe it deserves to be spoken about in the same breath as 1984, Infinite Jest and To Kill A Mockingbird for its ability to operate as a reference point to so many aspects of the human condition itself. Despite Simon and Burns credentials as writers, I don't know much of it would have fared had it been relegated to the confines of text, however. The deliberate juxtaposition of the editing at times, the sounds and sights of Baltimore, it brings it to life in a very literal sense of not being able to look away. There are so many shots from the tragic moments of the show I won't be able to remove from my mind whereas I could were it a book. Likewise, neither 1 nor 10 documentaries on the subject matters adressed in the show can compare to having them all tied intrinsically through the characters and stories. I would consider The Wire to be a masterpiece of historical fiction. I'm so glad that it's DVD release gave it the audience it deserved, and that the word of mouth from its cult following gave it legs to begin with. There'll never be anything like it again. And it will always be relevant, coz there ain't a damn thing gonna change anytime soon...

TeaDrinker3000

You’ve seen episode 9 now which is another penultimate episode written by George Pelacanos - who wrote the deaths of Wallace, Frank Sobotka, Stringer, Bodie, and Sherrod. It’s superb - some consider it the best episode of the entire show. Can't wait to see how you react.

Chidi.

Another brilliant episode, another brilliant reaction. I’m genuinely going to miss you reacting to this show. RIP Omar. I saw his death coming and had a feeling Kenard would get him. It was so depressing seeing him killed. A) because he was one of my favourite characters; and B) because I wanted him to take down Marlo. I found it hard to stay focused after that moment. In case anybody wanted a recap - here’s the scene from Season 3 where we are introduced to Kenard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sky95nS8XtQ I haven’t written much about Scott - probably because I’ve come across too many people like that in my profession. Fucking liars whose mendacity and mediocrity isn’t a hurdle to achieve their ambition. The FBI profile of Jimmy’s killer was brilliant. I found that scene hilarious. 😆 Again, poor Dukie. His talents are wasted as a street vendor on a horse. You both looked so happy when they confirmed the match with Chris’s DNA. 😊😊 Just to clear up the ending as you may have slightly misinterpreted it: The medical examiner switched and corrected the tags on the bodies because he realised they were wrong based on race and age. This misidentification of Omar along with the fact his death receives no column inches in the newspaper is supposed to signify that outside of the streets he’s just another crime statistic, another dead body in a bag who can be mistaken for someone else, another man who died for nothing. Just two more episodes to watch with you lovely lot! 🥲

Chidi.

As you ladies are on the lookout for movies for reactions, the actor who plays Omar appears in a riveting movie about the 'based on a true story' Los Angeles crack-cocaine epidemic, titled "Kill The Messenger". The actor (Michael K. Williams) portrays ''Highway" Rick Ross, a young man who in his early 20s was L.A.'s biggest cocaine distributor. It also stars Jeremy Renner and some other well-known Hollywood actors.

Coach John

You 100% can work a part-time job here at 15. I am basically the same age as the Dukie character (in 08 obviously) and grew up in Bmore. If you have a work permit, you can definitely have a part-time job; I worked at the super market packing bags and collecting shopping carts when I was fifteen. The thing is though, I had parents who were able to talk to the managers and set me up and didn't need the money to survive at all; it was just pocket money so I wasn't reliant on Mom and Dad. It's an entirely different situation for a kid that's out on the street, walking into stores in scruffy clothes. trying to get a job with no adult helping him. He also isn't gonna get enough to actually support himself. It's basically impossible to get a full-time job when you are still school age.

mbds

Someone already pointed it out to them that he's Randy's father, yes.

TeaDrinker3000

Sorry if I’m late in this but did they catch Cheese’s last name?

Groucho Murx

I'm glad to hear that you're content with the way Omar died, I know you both really didn't want Marlo to be the one to kill him. I don't fully remember how I felt about it the first time because it's been over 10 years but I also remember being content, Omar didn't get killed by a child, he died to the street, the same street that has defined him for most of his life. I think Omar himself would've been fine with the way he went out. Also rereading the ep9 synopsis I understand why you couldn't stop crying haha.

Nina

Kenard and those kids were dousing the cat with lighter fluid, presumably to set it on fire. It's incredible how evil kids can be when they have nothing else to do. My dad told me a similar story about some cruel things he did out of boredom in his own childhood (in the UK). And yet my dad turned out to be a super empathetic man. Maybe Kenard could, in the right setting. Although I hate the character overall, and don't think that likely, it is clear that he's shocked by what he did, after shooting Omar. He's not *totally* cold-blooded. And a further point on Kenard killing Omar: in a way, Omar inspired Kenard to do that. Kenard was one of the kids "playing Omar" after that shootout that got Tosha (Tasha?) killed. It's clear that Kenard wanted the same kind of infamy, the same kind of respect and credibility. And taking down the one and only Omar... well, I can see how he would feel compelled, even excited to do that, to be the one that took down a legend. Doing something Marlo, technically his "higher up", and the guy currenlty "wearing the crown" couldn't do. So Omar partly inspired Kenard, and he also discounted Kenard. Because of Omar's code, he doesn't even pay attention to the kids torturing the cat. And after he enters the store, you hear the door open, and Omar looks over. We don't see it, but he's looking over and seeing Kenard. Seeing it's, in his earlier words when seeing Michael "just a kid", he turns back at the store owner. He wasn't on his guard around a kid because to him they're not in the game like that. And that's what got him killed. I guess being ignorant of the example he was setting to the kids in his community, and what the consequences of that would be, is what got him killed. Btw I'm not sure anyone has mentioned, but have you noticed Cheese "Wagstaff" has the same last name as Randy? I don't know if it's confirmed but there's the strong possibility that Cheese is Randy's absentee father.

Tom

Love that he could be so close with Snoop’s actress Makes sense why season 2 would have thrown him off when he was so happy to have an important unique black show

space colon

Kenard is a little psycho, torturing cats. Guy is a little Marlo. I don't normally hate kids, but he is definitely one.

Aj

Lola said she would not accept an outcome where Marlo killed Omar, but unfortunately that is pretty much what happened. Omar only came back to Baltimore because Marlo had Butchie killed. He was then injured by Marlo’s crew and ultimately killed by Kenard (who worked for Michael, who is part of Marlo’s crew). Kenard killed Omar to boost his own reputation but also undoubtedly because the word was out on the street that Marlo wanted him dead. In the end Omar barely left a scratch on Marlo. He only killed one of his minor crew members, Savino. The show also brutally showed that although his name “rang out on the street” that didn’t amount to anything in the end - he was killed by a kid, Bunk didn’t care, the newspaper opted to not report on his death, and the morgue even got his name tag mixed up. PS - Lola thought the medical examiner changed the name tag because he recognised Omar. That’s not what happened - He changed it because the tag on the white guy said African American male and also had the wrong age and cause-of-death (gunshot). Nobody beyond the street knew who Omar was 😕

David

I think Kenard was pouring lighter fluid on that cat presumably with the intention of setting it on fire. Honestly that makes me hate him more than killing Omar.

Damien Fenton

Man, nothing shows what a lunatic Scott is than him lying about drinking coffee instead of chocolate milk. I mean come on now.

prolifik5

Yeah he was the one exception lol. Everyone else has had their lips sealed since the beginning though so I wanted to give them a shout out.

TeaDrinker3000

One dude did try to spoil it in the last episode telling them to go back and pay close attention to the reaction of someone else in the scene where Omar accosted Michael… He was clearly hinting at Kenards reaction to Omar

David

Such a gut wrenching moment. I don't think ANYONE was prepared for it. I mean the writing was on the wall for Omar's death. BUT no one could have predicted exactly HOW he was going to die. I loved how for a while now you ladies had predicted that he would be killed in a random moment, you ladies were saying a random shootout but this was just as random as it can get, but it also just makes perfect sense. It also makes sense that it was Kennard, the kid who not that long ago was pretending to be Omar and play fighting with other kids is ultimately the kid that kills him. It's the true embodiment of what you put out there in the world can and will eventually come back on you. And now that the scene has happened I can finally talk about how ironic and horrible it is that when Prop Joe manipulated Omar to rob that poker game Marlo was apart of, he unknowingly signed the death warrants of himself, Omar, AND Butchie, the three men that were in the bar together talking about the poker game. It's crazy cuz at first watch that scene didn't feel like that big of a deal, but it lead to consequences neither men saw coming or us the audience for that matter. Just another great example of this shows tremendous writing and how like Lester says "All the pieces matter". Just two episodes left ladies. I didn't want this journey to end, but I am glad nonetheless that we have been through this together.

Nyeisha Melvina Clark

You could say a lot of characters embody the themes of The Wire, Omar (also Donut) is the physical embodiment of the show’s rebellious spirit He’s one of the glitches in the system of capitalism, he checks all the boxes of people who are victimized by the system (a poor gay black man born in 1970s Baltimore) He made his own rules, made sure he wasn’t anyone’s victim and felt awful whenever he victimized others It’s so fitting that he’s killed by Kennard of all people, someone who isn’t a leader or powerful or an oppressor within the system, a little boy at the mercy of the world (just like Omar was)

space colon

"The Wire is my favourite anime"

TeaDrinker3000

Not me having to jump from the full reaction to the review to see the conversation they had after THAT scene. 😅 Also, kudos to the patrons for not spoiling the girls on that moment, it's a particularly difficult spoiler to not reveal all things considered. Y'all have been great for not spoiling anything this whole series 👊

TeaDrinker3000

omar’s death is so jarring initially but once i connected it with his and bunk’s s3 conversation about what omar’s putting out into the world for kids to see, it comes very full circle. especially since kenard was one of the kids who literally said “i wanna be omar next” in 3x04 ( if i recall correctly)

Sebastian

Oh boy, we're here already. If Lola edited this one then she can't catch a break... I might have mentioned this before, but in case you didn't know, Omar's actor Michael K Williams, passed away in 2021 due to a fentanyl-laced heroin overdose. There's an article about his views on the war on drugs that I believe you'll find very interesting. https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2016/09/22/opinions/war-on-drugs-michael-k-williams/index.html RIP Mr. Williams

HenryM

What I like about his death is the fact that is so realistic in the sense is not like anime’s where the character gets a flashback or some generic sad music remembering his last moments but a simple quick shot in the head by the character you least expect. I know you girls love Omar’s character a lot but it was this ending or jail and I think this ending for him was quite fitting for his character.

Jack SV

That thumbnail says it all. Same reaction. Very same.

Chidi.


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