The Wire season 5 ep10

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So yesterday I watched the last ever episode of The Wire.

Spoilers for that behind cut



Like most people I guess I don't think season 5 quite reaches the heights of previous seasons, but it's still seriously good telly, and the last episode didn't disappoint. Even the stupid imaginary serial killer plot didn't seem so stupid when the chickens finally came home to roost.

Of course, it wasn't all hugs and puppies, but I wasn't expecting that. Just glad that some characters came out of it well - Pearlman and Daniels, Carver, Bunk, Sydnor, even Lester Freamon, despite his blotted copybook. Best of all, loved seeing Bubbles finally allowed upstairs to eat with his sister and family. His story was the most touching and uplifting of all the season 5 storylines. I'm also pleased that everyone on the street seemed to forget who Marlo was almost instantly, much to his shock, and pleased, too, (in a rather shamefaced way) that Slim Charles survived the series and got revenge for Prop Joe.

Bad stuff too, though, of course - Nerise as mayor and Valchek, of all people, as police commissioner. Next to him, I suspect, Burrell in retrospect will seem like a model of efficiency and probity (I always kind of liked Burrell actually). Scott Templeton getting his Pulitzer leaves a bad taste in the mouth too (meant to, I guess), and the fate of Dukie and Michael is horribly tragic.

I still think The Wire is the best TV show I've ever watched, season 4 in particular. Brilliant, brilliant stuff. And one of the things I like most about it, which has really hit home after how much I disliked the Being Human finale, is the lack of overt moralising. Hate that.

Isn't it nice when a TV show doesn't let you down at last knockings? Precious few of them manage it.

I now have to decide what to watch next. Whatever it is, no way it can compare.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Best of all, loved seeing Bubbles finally allowed upstairs to eat with his sister and family.

That may be THE most moving end to a character arc I've ever seen. Such a little scene, and so absolutely heartwarming. I bawled like a baby the first time I saw that.

Slim Charles survived the series and got revenge for Prop Joe

That scene is so good on so many levels. For once Cheese isn't a complete idiot and shows that he's learned something from what's happened over the last 5 years... and yet his Machiavelli rant gets cut off mid-sentence by a bullet. A lot of season 5 is about the show commenting on itself (much like media comments on society, thereby changing it); all the talk of "the DICKENSIAN aspect" in the newsroom, which is straight from every bad review ever written about The Wire. Much like viewers who only saw it as being a realistic show about cops and junkies, the journalists don't get that it's more than that, and Cheese doesn't either; yes, there ain't no nostalgia to this shit here, but there's more to it than just cynicism, these are real complex people building an entire society, some for the noblest and some for the basest of reasons. The Wire really is one of the greatest American novels of the last 10 years.

[shapinglight]

That may be THE most moving end to a character arc I've ever seen. Such a little scene, and so absolutely heartwarming. I bawled like a baby the first time I saw that.

It's very, very moving. I teared up in almost every scene Bubbles had in season 5. So, so well done - and that must have been such a hard role to play over the 5 seasons.

but there's more to it than just cynicism, these are real complex people building an entire society, some for the noblest and some for the basest of reasons.

Yes, there were reminders of that all season long, with the cameos from characters like Pres and Cutty, and most of all Bunny Colvin and Namond on one side, and on the other Randy, Herc and Maurice Levy (very bizarre partnership).

The Wire really is one of the greatest American novels of the last 10 years.

Yep, I feel privileged to have watched it.

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I watched the final episode but I remember being completely spellbound by it. I didn't know just how long the episode ran for so I kept thinking that the current scene must be the last one and if it ended there, everything would be perfect. Only the episode just carried on and then I'd think the next scene would be the last one and finishing it there would be perfect. This carried on for about the last 30 minutes with about 5 or so scenes. When it finally did finish, I was grinning like a big grinning thing at the endings for all the characters.

The only character I wished had a different ending was poor Omar (sp?). Fitting that a nobody kid got him in a shop robbery but sad - he was my favourite and I wanted him to outlive all the other gangsters. :(

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I know what you mean about Omar. I was very sad too, even though I knew his days were numbered the minute he smashed his leg (plus, I was spoilered). I suppose many of the characters who lived by violence died by it (Snoop's death was a shock to me, wasn't expecting that), but it didn't seem heavy-handed somehow. Ultimately, Omar was just another statistic.

Terrific character, though.

[thespikeofit.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. The Wire to me is the best TV show I've ever seen. The finale worked and I was terribly relieved that they did give hope (Bubbles) even as they set up heartbreak (Michael and Dukie). I also think in retrospect killing Omar was the only option for the character, he'd acquired such a myth about him - as soon as he came back to the street it felt like his days were numbered. The manner of his death was also perfect.

What I love about David Simon as a storyteller is he doesn't think he has all the answers. He presents his view but mostly avoids trying to show how it could all be solved. From what I've read he'd have a lot of sympathy for the ideas behind Hamsterdam yet they didn't try and hide the down side to it.

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The finale worked and I was terribly relieved that they did give hope (Bubbles) even as they set up heartbreak (Michael and Dukie).

Yes, I suppose in a way it was saying that, though individuals like Bubbles may triumph or be removed from the scene like Omar, the terrible cycle goes on. Dukie is the new Bubbles and Michael the new Omar. Very sad.

He presents his view but mostly avoids trying to show how it could all be solved. From what I've read he'd have a lot of sympathy for the ideas behind Hamsterdam yet they didn't try and hide the down side to it.

Yes, I thought that was absolutely masterful.

It's a wonderful show. I might give it a year's break, and then re-watch again from the beginning. I'm also really looking forward to watching Treme when I get the chance.

[thespikeofit.livejournal.com]

Yes, there was definitely a sense of 'the faces change, but the game stays the same' and while it felt sad it also felt true. If the boys from season 4 had all escaped then it would have been a little too good.

I am due a full rewatch but am putting it off until I feel I have a bit more time. Treme isn't quite in the same class for me though it may be that the story will work better seen in larger chunks than spread out in hour long episodes.

[shapinglight]

If the boys from season 4 had all escaped then it would have been a little too good.

It would. I suppose 1 out of 4 is perhaps the best that could be expected.

I've heard conflicting things about Treme, but I am looking forward to watching it when I get the chance.