(no subject)
Feb. 11th, 2008 12:00 amI think season five of The Wire is suffering for being only ten episodes. It really needs more space to breathe, to recover its identity as a many-layered, textured work. As narrative strands are being woven to a final, hopefully satisfying and suitable conclusion, every scene is forced to be an Important Conversation between plot-important characters.
What I really regret is seeing less of the minor players, especially on the drug side. I miss Bodie a lot, actually. The major players on the drug side of things (Marlo, Prop Joe, Omar) also carry most of the scenes, so characters like Wallace and the Chris and Snoop show are sidelined, as is the whole theme of minor players being crushed by the system. Plus, because they're new everyone in the newsroom is so reduceable to a cartoonish type. Also, I need more information on the Rawls gay thing. You don't have many episodes left, people! Also, my god am I feeling the McNulty hate this season.
Which is not to say it's bad, just that it disfavourably compares to the previous seasons. And of course, the first half of a season always needs to be reviewed in light of the end. It's still very enjoyable and powerful tv. And that conversation between Carver and Herc at the end of 5.04 was breathtaking.
What I really regret is seeing less of the minor players, especially on the drug side. I miss Bodie a lot, actually. The major players on the drug side of things (Marlo, Prop Joe, Omar) also carry most of the scenes, so characters like Wallace and the Chris and Snoop show are sidelined, as is the whole theme of minor players being crushed by the system. Plus, because they're new everyone in the newsroom is so reduceable to a cartoonish type. Also, I need more information on the Rawls gay thing. You don't have many episodes left, people! Also, my god am I feeling the McNulty hate this season.
Which is not to say it's bad, just that it disfavourably compares to the previous seasons. And of course, the first half of a season always needs to be reviewed in light of the end. It's still very enjoyable and powerful tv. And that conversation between Carver and Herc at the end of 5.04 was breathtaking.
