The Wire 4x04 Reaction

the amount of marlo misunderstanding in this reaction is wild lol

ruoF owT

Thank you for sharing that.

TeaDrinker3000

(From “All the Pieces Matters: The Inside Story of The Wire”)—————————DARRELL BRITT-GIBSON (DARIUS “O-DOG” HILL): I’m in LA, and this lady comes up to me. I’m in a conversation, and she sort of politely interrupts the conversation and she says, “You’re on The Wire.” Then, within five minutes, she’s sobbing and she’s telling me this story of how she is a schoolteacher and how Season Four ripped her apart because she said, “I teach those kids.” She’s sobbing, and everybody is kind of looking at the conversation, and I embraced her. In that moment, I said, “Oh my God, this is bigger than television.”

Joe Gaspard

puss-i

Klein Santana

Randy Wagstaff (kid caught selling candy).......try to remember why that last name, Wagstaff, should sound familiar to you.

Klein Santana

Exactly! Police are the worst. So when are you going to adopt a serial killer rapist cannibal into your home? I can't really do it, money is tight...Moron.

Lil Don075

Me watching them discuss this show. "Well that's prescient. And that....and that too." The clairvoyance is really something.

Random Random

Wow, did not expect the comments to this reply to take this turn but here we are. I was just making an observation, I never meant to make it seem like I was criticizing the girls or condoning the police for doing what they do, I just wanted to share something I found interesting. Don't even understand how this comment went from this to a debate about the usefulness of the police ? Besides, watching The Wire and getting from it a pro-police view is kind of wild to me when the show makes a point in showing how the system and its perpetrators is too broken to be even fixed ?

Maximaxoumaxixou

f bodie

Lil Don075

They're hypocrites, it is what it is

Lil Don075

The Deuce was pretty good, and it had the welcome return of Larry Gillard Jr.

Mike Conlin

Thank you for mentioning this. It's a scene that will stick with me for the rest of my life and I'm not exaggerating. It tears your heart out knowing that this is happening everyday to countless children.

TeaDrinker3000

We're only on episode 4 and they're all really distraught lmao

M Salam

Really appreciate these reactions even when they can be emotionally draining. I'm happy to wait for them and don't expect every single aspect of the show to be covered. Don't want to get burnt out on it.

Mark M

@Jay Craig I'm sorry but there's no way I'd put Rawls in the same league as Burrell. Rawls has nowhere near the selfishness that Burrell has.

TeaDrinker3000

I'm a moron for not watching the full reaction. There's so much that happens in an hour that I truly don't want to miss any bit of the reaction. That and I would have loved to have joined the discussions as soon as they began. This is one of my favourite episodes of The Wire. The stuff with Michael is self-evidently heartbreaking, but the scene with Sherrod trying to answer 'questions' in the French Dictionary in his maths book has stuck with me ever since I watched the season for the first time. I've spoken before on how The Wire is so thoroughly detailed to the degree that every small moment can serve as a microcosm for the larger plotlines, themes and issues of the show. The utter hopelessness that we feel towards Sherrod in that scene will probably stick with me for the rest of my life when it comes to thinking of children being left behind. And it all still happens today, to countless children. It's so deflating to consider how many Sherrod's there are out there.

TeaDrinker3000

9:38 That... 'particular phrase' was in Mr. Robot too... It makes me wince everytime I hear it

TeaDrinker3000

Excellent review of the episode. It's disgusting how good you both are at this. 😆 You’re covering enough and you’re covering it well, don’t worry. I don't have much to add further to my post on the full reaction except to say the writer of this episode, Denis Lehane, has written a number of books which cover child sexual abuse as a theme.

Chidi.

@Adrienne Walker - I don't think it was evil but Donnelly certainly handled that situation badly for an experienced administrator. But, as we know, it progresses the story...

Chidi.

"We judge characters by how they conduct themselves" In and ideal world, sure, but TV shows are intrinsically manipulative and insanely effective when done right. Choices are made to show certain things and ignore others. I don't know if you're also watching HxH but in it there's a character (Chrollo) that genocided a whole peaceful village in the most savage ways possible for the sake of being evil. I think you agree that that's way more cruel than killing someone random person because it annoyed Marlo. The reaction the girls have to each character is dependent on how their respective shows present them. Why one character is presented in a negative light and the other in a more positive light is the purview of the TV show creators. If they had positive feelings towards Marlo the same way they have towards Chrollo (or vice-versa) then they would have been consistent with some principle. Because they don't, for me it's a testament of the skillful use of manipulation tactics both shows use.

Orr Malus

We judge characters by how they conduct themselves as much as the impact of their actions. Omar has a code and conscience, he's funny and fairly intelligent, and most importantly he's not cruel. Bodie kills Wallace and yet people still love him, so it's not about killing characters viewers care about - it's how and why. Marlo is cold and distant, but that's also reflected in his actions. Killing the security guard is pure cruelty. Nobody saw him get 'disrespected', and the guard said he wasn't 'stepping to', he was just trying to maintain some dignity in a job he hated. Delonda is cruel to children, even though she's not killing people that cruelty resonates.

Mark M

It's really funny how much y'all hate Marlo... Because if you ever watch the show called "Bosch" it's an amazing show 10 out of 10. The actor that plays Marlo, Jamie Hector is actually a detective, and a lovable character, the exact opposite of Marlo on "The Wire". Funny enough a lot of the same actors from "the wire" show up in "Bosch". It's like a reunion in a lot of episodes. Lance Reddick (detective Daniel's) is a big part of that show as well.

Jamal

Come on Aj, they're obviously more trouble than they're worth. Law enforcement and incarceration actually cause MORE violent crime, I think Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that. Name one person the police have truly helped? Abolish the police and free all violent criminals. Let the psychopaths roam!

Lil Don075

It's easy for people to criticise them from a living room when they're not the ones out there dealing with all this stuff.

Aj

“Omar ain’t no terrorist he’s just another nigga with a gun” underrated but one of my favorite quotes. Sure there’s cats in the hood who do more work than others but in reality there are several Omars

Thomas

Police are not needed. We should abolish all law enforcement and the military, tear down prisons and let violent criminals roam freely like space1999 suggested.

Lil Don075

I think this is overlooked. I am suspicious of police as much as anyone, but lets not overlook the mental strain on dealing with this type of work every day for years.

Farbod

She shows enough for me to be able to give her some leeway (So far - The clothes she prepares and sends for Duquan, the way that she so readily lends a hand to Sherrod and Bubbles), but I think the way she speaks to Randy in this ep is easily one of her worst moments. I don't think it's a bad thing for the people who run the school to take pride in trying to make it look presentable, nor in trying to hope to instill that kind of respect and pride in the building into the kids, but when she treats Randy so coldly it's hard not to see it as more of an act of displaying authority and control, in the same way that the police earlier would try to beat that reminder into the streets ("You do not get to win, shit birds, WE DO!"). There are too many indications both already and beyond this episode to me to say that Ms Donnelly is a pretty complex character when it comes to whether she is 'good' or 'bad', and I'd certainly give her more rope than people like Burrell and Rawls who are also top-down proponents of the broken system they are party to, but without anywhere near the sense of personal dismay/defeat, or in their cases any objection at all.

Jay Craig

Never heard of Treme. Definitely added to my watchlist.

ODIS

I may find it funny but my point stands. Objectively speaking Marlo is a far more moral character than Chrollo but the reason why people have a negative reaction to one and positive reaction to the other is because that's how the shows intend their viewers to react. You pointed out how Omar is no different and you're right. Did you notice how whenever Marlo talks casually to his friends he's not making eye contact with anyone? He's constantly finding things to stare out in the distance. The purpose of this is to create distance between the viewer and the character. Plus he's constantly fidgeting with something, he never stands still when he's in neutral mode. This creates anxiety for anyone watching. Then the only times he's making eye contact is when he turns or is about to turn violent. The purpose of this is to condition the viewer to feel afraid whenever he's staring at the screen. With Omar however it's the other way around. When he's making eye contact he's emotional, or honest, or cracking jokes. This creates trust. With Chrollo they achieve this by giving large eyes, making him very still, and (most importantly) washboard abs. Take these elements away and the girls will have an equal reaction to Chrollo as they have with Marlo.

Orr Malus

Treme is so, so good and criminally under appreciated.

Mike

I know you're joking, but it is interesting how various characters get sized up as "good humans" and "horrible humans," not just by LM but by every viewer. Omar is probably the most popular character, but he has done awful things and killed and hurt many people. Usually he doesn't hurt anybody that the viewer cares about so he gets a pass, but he easily could've shot somebody like Bodie in the knee or just killed him. Whereas somebody like Namond's mom, who has to be one of the most hated characters in the show, doesn't do anything close to that harmful- she is just a selfish, lazy, and cruel person.

Doug

Personally, I thought WOTC was decent but nothing compares to The Wire in that sense in my opinion.

ODIS

The only other David Simon show I’ve seen is Treme I strongly recommend it, mostly similar in tone to The Wire with a bit more focus on individual character drama. Sadly ends a little abruptly

space colon

That was some pretty lame behaviour. It's not even like it happened in a public setting where he might need to "defend his honour". Nobody knows exactly what happened and why except him.

prolifik5

@Doug If we're talking about the way she stridently defends the broken system she's working in, then I agree with everything you said. The Randy situation was something else entirely.

prolifik5

I think it is also time I watch WOTC. If I've watched The Wire 100 times I probably owe it to myself to check WOTC out.

Doug

And all over some fucking graffiti. I could kind of understand if we were dealing with a serious crime, but tags on walls mean exactly shit compared to the potential consequences of a kid in this environment being labelled a snitch.

prolifik5

I see Ms. Donnelly as just another victim of the way the system is set up. We see example after example of her trying to navigate the variety of huge challenges she faces operating this school, while being woefully short on funding and staff and beholden to ridiculous standards created by politicians. Could she have handled some things better? Certainly. But I can't blame her for finding shortcuts and workarounds when there is a perpetual shortage of resources that she has to deal with. From the first episode, it is clear that a lot of staff have left the school for greener pastures, and I feel like Ms. Donnelly genuinely wants to do the best job she can. I believe she deserves a bit more slack for not doing her job perfectly when contrasted with pretty much any cop or politician in the show. I don't think she could survive in that environment for years unless she became a bit jaded- if she had full compassion for every student she came across she would probably have a mental breakdown.

Doug

I need to see WOTC so bad 😩 Took your recommendation and gonna go see Bottoms this week, have heard nothing but good things

space colon

Omfg thank you for saying this, stupid entitled people really think poverty is a decision https://imgur.com/a/SbJfbUc

space colon

Don't know if it's been said before ; but David Simon actually wrote a book about his experience as a journalist that's called Baltimore (at least in my country) and he makes a point about saying that even cops that are used to seeing death and bodies have to kind of joke about it in order to cope with the trauma about it. If they see a dead body they don't even think about it as some people, it's just an object and they just joke about it because how else can you cope with it when you see that every day of your life ? So I think the detectives bullying Kima on her first days and even putting a note in one of the bodies' hands is spot on (at least it's spot on on how Simon describes it)

Maximaxoumaxixou

Felt so validating to hear them call him pathetic

space colon

Appreciate the ongoing Michael discussion being treated in a sensitive way All of the reactions from the boys are consistent with their background, we understand why each of them respond to rules (law) the way they do Randy responds to the world in a way that lots of kids in the foster system do. He’s seen that rules around him aren’t gonna serve his needs, they aren’t worth following unless it’s to please someone who has power over his life (like his Vice Principal this episode) Namond has always been around people who regularly disregard the law so it makes sense why he wouldn’t respect his teachers, he thinks they can’t offer him anything so he might as well spend class time acting out to get attention from other kids Duquan is an outsider in the most tragic ways possible. He’s bullied for being different in ways he can’t control. It makes sense why he would be sympathetic to the girl who attacked the other student. She’s also a suffering outsider who’s bullied for being different. He doesn’t fight the rules because he’s been beaten down and believes nothing will change The system fails all types of kids in different ways

space1999

Marlo: kills some guy because he feels like it. => "What a horrible human being!" Chrollo: tortures dozens of innocent children and gauges their eyes out before killing them because he feel like it. => "I don't know, I think there's more to his character. I bet the baby boy just has a sad backstory." This, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of washboard abs. 😂

Orr Malus

I think she’s become so jaded she can’t always see the kids as individuals anymore and isn’t gonna be as sensitive with them on a case to case basis

space colon

Not enough people really discuss how evil it was to threaten a foster kid like that.

Adrienne Walker

I dislike her attitude but like… I get why she is the way she is Like it feels to me that she’s just accepted the reality that things are as they are. She might have entered education as hopeful to help as Prez and just been worn down by all the horrors she saw

space colon

I just finished this season today cant wait for the rest of the reactions

Jonathan baez

Fun fact concerning the actor that played Marlo. They recently made another TV show called "We Own This City", and it was inspired by The Wire. Also takes place in Baltimore and many actors from this show appear there. Including Jamie Hector (Marlo). In that show, he plays a cop. So, kudos to the actor for being able to play on such opposite ends of the spectrum. Also Jon Bernthal is the main character in that show. (Carmy's brother Mike). :)

ODIS

Marlo is the literal human embodiment of the saying "It can always get worse", lol. I LOVE Lola's hatred of Marlo, it rivals my hatred for him, lol and she called him right out, He is pathetic. Killing a security guard just cuz he asked you to not steal is so horrible, like he really didn't need to do that but just did it because of his ego. But honestly I can't compliment LM enough for how perceptive they are. THIS is what happens when you view a piece of medium with such empathy and critical thinking skills. So many reactors CANNOT seem to do the same it's honestly such a shame but it makes you guys genuinely the best reactors out there. This show has never been afraid of bringing up rough topics, and I have loved it so much for doing that, even if I cry every episode.

Nyeisha Melvina Clark

The scene with Sherrod doing "homework" with his French dictionary and algebra textbook is one of the most brutal scenes in the show. I can't even imagine how uncomfortable it would be to stay in school three years ahead of where he left off when he can't even read. This season really shows how absurd it is whenever someone trots out the "pick themselves up by their bootstraps" arguments to shame people raised in difficult socioeconomic situations.

Doug

Beyond the usual suspects, Ms. Donnelly is lowkey one of the people I dislike most on this show.

prolifik5

Hands down, you two are the only reactor/commentators I really care to hear from 👏🏾. Looking forward to the discussion!

Damn can't watch right now. I guess I'll do a double feature tomorrow, The Wire x Hunter :)

HenryM

Just in time for dinner.

Jack SV