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The Wire Season 2 Episode 12

Port in a Storm

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9.3

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 8/24/03

"Business. Always business." - The Greek

Sobotka's woes are finally submerged; Fitzhugh realizes his messages weren't reaching their intended target; Nick trades information about The Greek for a soft place to fall with the Feds.

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

A stunningly emotional season finale, capping off an entertaining second season. The only reason I didn't rate it more highly is this season's plotline, which I feel departed from the show's most interesting characters and settings.moreless

9.0

By rockin01, May 13, 2011

Don't get me wrong- I liked this season a lot; I just didn't LOVE it the way I did the first season. The Sobotka/Greek storyline was an ill-advised departure from this show's bread and butter: the gritty, street-level war between the cops and dealers so grippingly depicted in S1.

That being said, I thought that the finale was incredible. RIP, Frank- ultimately a decent guy paying the price for dancing with the devil. Ditto, Ziggy and Nicky. I really didn't like the fact that Spiros and the Greek got away, and I hope that isn't an indication that the writers plan to bring them back. This story works best for me when it sticks with the mean streets of Baltimore. And it looks like S3 is headed back there...moreless
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The End Has No End

10

By Ishmaelbbc, Dec 23, 2010

Can you wish for a better season finale? When you talk about "The Wire", there is usually not much room left for improvement, because every episode is so perfectly written, directed and acted that you can only be amazed how uniquely good this show is.

Now, with the case coming to an end (and again, not a really satisfying or happy end), Simon, Burns, Colesberry and the rest of their team do all they can to conclude all of the plotlines that can be concluded and some matters open enough for both imagination and continuation. The setup for the next case is already layed down, as the team will probably target Stringer and Avon again.

All of the characters get their final treatment, as they always get at least some treatment in every episode. That is one of the many and most amazing things about this show. How it manages to introduce dozens of characters and succeeds in staying focused on every single one of them. Sometimes it's just a small scene, sometimes it's a whole storyline, but no one is completely forgotten. Which is, at least, if he's still somehow connected to some of the main plots. And the fine thing is, that everybody is connected.

Just look at the way the whole Barksdale case from last season functioned as a isolated subplot to this season's main plot, just be connected to it in the end to serve as a starting point for the next season. It's genius!

This show just over and over again makes me want to cry, simply and honestly just because it is so good. Just that: good. There always surprises, it never disappoints, it never goes for the obvious but only for the good. Look at Daniels' face when he listens to Valchek. Listen to Bunk and the rest of the team getting all excited when they see the port tape. Just see how obviously Stringer's face tells us that he has lost his connection to Avon and is completely helpless.

There are so many, various small perfect details that succeed in making the show as brilliant as it is. I watch and have watched many, many shows, but "The Wire" surpasses all of them by lengths. It knows what it wants to do and it just does it right.

It has to be love.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Wendell Pierce	Det. William "Bunk" Moreland
Paul Ben-Victor	Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos
Wood Harris	Avon Barksdale
John Doman	Col. William A. Rawls
Amy Ryan	Off. Beatrice "Beadie" Russell
Lance Reddick	Lt. Cedric Daniels

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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William L. Thomas		Guest Star
Tommy Hahn	Agt. Salmond	Guest Star
Kevin McKelvy		Guest Star
Robert F. Colesberry	Det. Ray Cole	Recurring Role
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	State Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis	Recurring Role
Kristin Proctor	Aimee	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (5)
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- Bubbles: Boy named Cheese. Him and the other Eastsiders moved into the Terrace, took over a couple towers from Stringer Bell's boys. Then some crazy-ass bowtie nigga came in and chased his ass home.
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- Jay Landsman: And that's just headless and handless in the middle-Atlantic region. If you wanna go nationwide, you're gonna be up over four dozen. What can I tell you, kiddo? We are policing a culture in moral decline.
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- Daniels: I'll tell you the truth Major. Everyone who saw the punch wrote on it. And they've all got Prez throwing the punch, no question. They've also got you addressing a subordinate officer as uh, what was it? A shit-bird?
  Valchek: Fuck you. This is the Baltimore Police Department, not the Rollin' Park Ladies Tea.
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- Vondas: He knows my name, but my name is not my name. And you... to them you're only "The Greek."
  The Greek: And, of course, I'm not even Greek.
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- Nick: Seniority sucks.
  La La: If you ain't a senior.
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NOTES (2)
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- Although credited, Chris Bauer does not have a speaking role in this episode.
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- Music: "Feel Alright" by Steve Earle; "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Joan Jett
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- During the cold opening, a member of the Stevedores port crew is wearing a South Park t-shirt. The graphic is of a dead Kenny with the characters Stan and Kyle beside him saying the catchphrase "Oh my God, you killed Kenny!" and "You Bastards!" The graphic depicted on the t-shirt mirrors the murder of Frank Sobotka.
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