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The Wire Season 5 Episode 9

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9.5

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 2/24/08

"A lie ain't a side of a story. It's just a lie." - Terry Hanning

Baltimore's renewed police commitment brings fresh recruits to Daniels and McNulty, starting with Carver; facing a new political challenge, Carcetti is forced to make dangerous political deals. As the Pulitzer season winds down, Haynes approaches Templeton about his sources; Bunk returns a McNulty favor; little Kenard makes a big score; Dukie finds work; Fletcher continues his interview with Bubbles; Freamon presents his latest plan to a prosecutor; Sydnor uncovers the missing piece to a puzzle; and McNulty finally comes clean.

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FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

Yes, it is pivotal but contains, on one hand, completely expected turns of events and, on the other, a blown opportunity (unless...)

7.9

By logossun, Oct 16, 2011

It's been brewing and now McNulty is on the ropes, still not comprehending the massive proportions of the engine he managed to put into motion. The example of the veteran showing up at the Chronicle and the threat Mcnulty received from one of his "underlings" well illustrates the thin line keeping all who try to wrestle the system above the water - as opposed to big, open thieves like Clay Davis, who have learned to swim very well. Of course, all this was overshadowed by the death of Omar, which was, depending on the next few episodes, either handled very poorly or very well. On the one hand, if it was there just to reiterate that anything can happen at any point of the day to anyone on the streets, then it was completely wasted; Omar, along with McNulty, is the only iconic character on the show. His death should mean something, period. However, I'm smelling there is more to his death; whether in the way little Kenard gets handled, or even how Chris approaches the situation - if that happens, I will raise my score for this episode. In any case, now there is only one icon left, McNulty; if he doesn't get the Shakespearean treatment, I believe I'll ignore the last two seasons and be satisfied with Omar throwing away his guns at the end of season 3.moreless
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I originally rated this episode a "9.9" but after rewatching it several times, I had to raise it to a "10". And I just don't give 10's! If there has ever been a more entertaining, more affecting hour of entertainment produced anywhere, I musta missed it.moreless

10

By rockin01, Oct 03, 2011

I guess I am finally ready to post a review of this episode after drowning my sorrow at the passing of Omar in Honey Nut and milk for the past couple of weeks. The Wire has never been better or more poignant. Some of the highlight of this incredible episode for me were (in no particular order):

The walloping good scene between Beadie and McNulty. Girlfriend, ain't havin' NONE o' his BS, is she?

Bunk. Is. The. Man. Love his dogged work ethic, and his righteous indignation at the antics of Freamon and McNulty gets more intense and hilarious each week. Plus, brotha is the only one who seemed to really be saddened by Omar's passing.

There may be hope that Kima will not become the female McNulty after all. The "goodnight moon" scene at the end of the last ep had me misty-eyed, and man, was she p*ssed when she found out the Homeless Killer was a ruse. The scene where she confronts Lester and Sydnor was classic...they looked like two schoolboys caught watching porn by Mom. Kudos to Sydnor, though, for cracking Marlo's code. Who knew he'd be the new Prezbo?

Gus. Is. The. Man. I wanted to stand up and cheer when he put his foot down to the managing editor and sashayed out of the office. Templeton's days are numbered. And Fletcher looks like he may have a Pulitzer-worthy story on his hands.

Carcetti has become such a nakedly ambitious weasel...it's hard to watch him anymore. The scene where Clay Davis shakes him down for two seats on the Liquor Board is a classic...sheeeeeeiiiit! It took Lester's brazen bluff to wipe that sheeeeiit-eating grin off Davis' face.

Lol at Rawls' diatribe: "I'm all for a little kinky sh*t, but chewin on a homeless fella?".

Snoop and Chris' shock and dismay at learning the means of Omar's demise was priceless. And the tension between Michael and Snoop doesn't bode well for someone... God, I hate Marlo's arrogant azz!

Poot sighting! His advice to Dukie sucked, though. Dukie...a junk apprentice? That's a job?

Loved McNulty's uneasy reaction to the spot-on FBI profile. Thought the bit with the pompous FBI boss was a bit overdone, though.

Carver. Is. The. Man. (that sounds strangely familiar) It's great to see what a solid Police he has become. But I hate seeing him get mixed up in Jimmy's shenanigans.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to MKW's haunting performance in this episode. A shadow of himself, Omar prowling the streets like a wounded animal, bellowing out his endless and increasingly hollow-sounding challenges to Marlo is an indelible and heartbreaking image.

If the Wire keeps churning out episodes this brutally good, I'm gonna have to be sedated.moreless
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Building to a climax.

10

By lawgotham, Jan 30, 2011

I see...McNulty is the serial killer. Oh right...too funny how the FBI profile fit Jimmy to a tee. This episode was just another in this seasons (and Series) line of perfectly scripted (and executed) performances. This episode is about getting caught.

The clincher is Omar is dead. He let his guard down and got caught.Isn't it funny how we root for a bad guy to come out on top. I mean, we shouldn't root for a gun slingin' dope dealer, but Omar had a heart and he never killed for the sake of killin'. He just let his guard down a little too much.

Lester Freamon and his detective have figured out the clocks! Bravo! Just as we root for a bad guy who really isn't bad, we root for Lester, a good guy who happens to be doing something bad (well illegal really). Marlo will be caught.

Gus finally calls out Templeton and his unsubstantiated quotes. This storyline (while not many have enjoyed the newspaper tack) has been played well, Templeton has efectively been caught with his lies. Clay Davis while back in the political ring is intimidated by Lester with some evidence, which he threatens to show to a federal grand jury. Clay Davis is caught in a bind.

In other matters, Bunk is on the verge of breaking an old case while Kima refuses to be in on the overtime/serial killer scam.

Also of note, once again we see a character from the past revisited. Poot Carr is working in a Foot Locker sneaker store. And while it's more of a Baltimore thing, we see an Araber, the man with the horse and flat bed trailer. In David Simon's first show (and his book for that matter) "Homicide: Life on the Street", that series began with and revisited the case of Adena Watson...the main suspect being an Araber. This show is not fast paced, not a lot of car chases or gun battles like other crime dramas but the hour is so full of character background and detail, that it flys by, leaving us wanting more. For those who have just joined the show this season, go back to season 1 and start fresh, you won't be disappointed.moreless
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,m jjj

8.9

By jdizzle2710, Jul 27, 2010

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Jaw dropping episode. My chin is sore from hitting the ground so hard.

10

By Plonked, Feb 26, 2008

OMG! This episode really shocked me, OMAR IS DEAD! Im still trying to come to terms with it. I really wanted to see Marlo being the one killed by Omar. Will Kennard be walking around with an even bigger chip on his shoulder now? With the look on his face it looked like he was expecting the kill to feel different.

It was so funny when the FBI did the profile for McNulty and it turned out to McNulty. Seeing him squirm in his chair, he didnt know where to look. I was expecting Kima to say something like "Damn boy hes sounds like you" This episode for me was the best so far for this season and there is only two episodes left. I hope the plot keep going up and up and ends great.

McNulty is finally feeling the pinch of the homeless murders. He is starting to tell people the truth and a few are figuring it out. I dont think that Kima is going the dob him in. The look one Freaman's and Sydnor's face when Kima stormed in and told them that she wont be apart of it, was like the boys had been caught doing something naughty.

Another peice of the puzzle was put in place for the Marlo killings when Sydnor figured out that the seconds on the clock photos were a map page. Well done I say. I cant wait to see what the rest of the puzzle is.

Im still shaking my head over Omar's death. Another Baltimore Cowboy has fallen.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Seth Gilliam	Sgt. Ellis Carver
Dominic West	Det. James "Jimmy" McNulty
Clark Johnson	City Editor Augustus "Gus" Haynes
Aidan Gillen	Mayor Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti
Michael Kenneth Williams	Omar Little
Michael Kostroff	Maurice "Maury" Levy

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Megan Anderson	Jen Carcetti	Guest Star
Benay Berger	FBI Supervisor Amanda Reese	Guest Star
Joe Urla	Deputy US Attorney	Guest Star
Amy Ryan	Off. Beatrice "Beadie" Russell	Recurring Role
Tray Chaney	Malik "Poot" Carr	Recurring Role
Felicia Pearson	Felicia "Snoop" Pearson	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (5)
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- When Alma tells Gus about Omar's shooting, she describes him as a 34-year-old male, but the tag on his body bag at the end of the episode lists his D.O.B. as 8/15/1960, which would make him 47 at the time of this episode.
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- During the crime scene investigation of Omar's murder, Crutchfield says to Bunk "You should've let me give him the years, he would've been better off!"
  This is referring to an incident during season four when Chris attempted to frame Omar for shooting a delivery lady in Old Face Andre's store. Crutchfield was investigating and could have gotten a conviction except Bunk stepped in and pleaded with him not to.
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- On the way to Quantico, McNulty tells Greggs that Bunk once said "I'm no good for people, everyone around me," which is a reference to the end of the season one episode "Lessons."
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- The rapper Jim Jones, of The Diplomats, can be seen standing outside a corner store holding a large soda next to Chris and Snoop as they re being tailed by police from the Western District.
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- Bubbles' full name is finally revealed in this episode as Reginald Cousins.
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QUOTES (4)
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- McNulty: You miss what you had though?
  Kima: I still got too much dog in me to be settled like that.
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- Omar: You workin' a Stanfield corner, which means you workin' for a straight up punk! Ya' feel me? I'm out here in these streets every day, me and my lonesome, and where he at? Huh? A'yo, ya'll put it in his ear, Marlo Stanfield is not a man for this town, ya' digg?
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- Rawls: Bad news gentlemen, as we're actually gonna have to catch this motherfucker. Good news is that our Mayor finally needs a police department more than he needs a school system.
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- Rawls: I mean, I'm all for a little kinky shit every now and then, but chewin' on a homeless fella'?
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NOTES (2)
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- Music: "Stay" by Lady D; "Every Booty (Get On Down)" by Parliament; "Let This As Nothing Happened" by Choi Suk Jun; "You'll Never Find A Love Like Mine" by Lou Rawls; "A Bay Bay" by Hurricane Chris; "I'm Lookin' Over A Four Leaf Clover" by Coleman Hawkins
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- Although credited, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, Domenick Lombardozzi and Michael Kostroff do not appear in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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