Creator:
David Simon
Cast:
Dominic West ………. Officer Jimmy McNulty
John Doman ………. William A. Rawls
Frankie R. Faison ………. Ervin Burrell
Aidan Gillen ………. Tommy Carcetti
Seth Gilliam ………. Ellis Carver
Domenick Lombardozzi ………. Thomas “Herc” Hauk
Deirdre Lovejoy ………. Rhonda Pearlman
Clarke Peters ………. Lester Freamon
Wendell Pierce ………. William “Bunk” Moreland
Lance Reddick ………. Cedric Daniels
Andre Royo ………. Bubbles
Sonja Sohn ………. Shakima “Kima” Greggs
Jim True-Frost ………. Roland “Prez” Pryzbylewski
Glynn Turman ………. Clarence Royce
Robert Wisdom ………. Howard “Bunny” Colvin
Reg E. Cathey ………. Norman Wilson
Chad L. Coleman ………. Dennis “Cutty” Wise
Jamie Hector ………. Marlo Stanfield
Michael K. Williams ………. Omar Little
Corey Parker Robinson ………. Leander Sydnor
J.D. Williams ………. Preston “Bodie” Brodus
Jermaine Crawford ………. Duquan “Dukie” Weems
Maestro Harrell ………. Randy Wagstaff
Julito McCullum ………. Namond Brice
Tristan Wilds ………. Michael Lee
Gbenga Akinnagbe ………. Chris Partlow
Felicia Pearson ………. Felicia “Snoop” Pearson
The Show
If you think that the best sitcoms occurred during the 1990s, you also have to believe that the most thoughtful and entertaining dramas have occurred in the early part of the 2000s. This decade has quickly become something of a “golden age” for thought-provoking and complex dramas. With so much action occurring on the screen at any given time in shows such as Lost, Heroes, and 24 to name a few, critics often wonder if shows are getting too complicated for viewers to follow? While network TV is slowing catching up with these kind of shows, cable channels such as HBO have been the frontrunners in complex television. While it has often been overshadowed by The Sopranos and other shows, The Wire has quietly built up a cult following and has widely become known as the “best show on television”. That was before the fourth season hit the air. The question here is can the fourth season live up to the hype and maintain the quality that the first three seasons started.
The Wire takes place in Baltimore, MD. It’s all about the fictional drug dealers, cops, junkies and politicians that live there. With the fall of the Barksdale drug organization at the end of the third season, young Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector) and his henchmen have easily taken over the drug trafficking in Baltimore’s west side. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), who once was on the front line of the drug war, and refuses promotions from Cedrick Daniels (Lance Reddick), now a major commanding the Western District. Meanwhile, Roland “Prez” Pryzbylewski (Jim True-Frost) has quit his job at the Baltimore Police Department to become a math teacher at a local middle school. As you might expect, the school system ends up being just as messed up as everything else in Baltimore.
What makes this series unique than other cop shows out there, is that we get two sides to every story. We not only get to see the drug war through the eyes of the police, but we also get to see it through the eyes of the people affected by drugs one way or another. This season they added another perspective with viewers getting to see what it is like to grow up in a world like this. You always assumed what it was like in the first three seasons, but here they finally show you. All of these different perspectives make the stories told on this show fresh and always entertaining.
Each season of The Wire focuses on a particular issue that all big urban cities have to deal with. The second season was about the plight of the American working class. The third season was more about political reform. The fourth season continues the political reform aspects from the third season, but this season is mainly about education problems in urban American cities. The fourth season looks at schools as a porous part of the community that are affected by problems outside of their boundaries. Education in a city like Baltimore doesn’t always come from just inside schools. In fact, most things that kids learn comes from outside like interaction with the drug dealers that some work for. After watching younger characters in interacting in this world, it’s easy to see how some of the adult characters on this show became as we know them now.
As a result of the education theme for this season, we get the introduction of some good young actors: Jermaine Crawford, Maestro Harrell, Julito McCullum, and Tristan Wilds. Like every other actor in this series, these kids are unknowns. That doesn’t stop them from portraying their roles excellently. Besides the kids, there are also two other notable additions to the cast. Gbenga Akinnagbe and Felicia Pearson play Chris Partlow and Snoop respectively. They are Marlo’s main henchman and henchwoman. Jamie Hector is great as the cold-hearted young drug lord, Marlo Stanfield, but he often gets upstaged in a terrifying way by Chris and Snoop during this season. They are real villains. All of these characters are perfect additions to an already solid cast.
The problems the plagued previous seasons of this show are still there. This series does demand the attention of its audience. There is a lot going on, but for the most part the storylines are slow to develop. You can’t necessarily jump into this season and understand everything that is happening on the screen. You really have to start at the beginning to understand everything, which probably turns some people off. However, once you do decide to jump in and give The Wire a chance, you won’t be able to stop watching. Whether it be with season four, which might be the best yet, or from the very beginning, this series is involving but still enthralling at the same time.
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – Boys of Summer
Four West Baltimore boys wrestle with what to do with the rest of their summer vacation as the new fall school year approaches. Bodie deals with his corner running slower than usual so he decides to take on a runner. Marlo believes he has finally solved the problem that Stringer could never figure out. Freamon, Greggs, and Sydnor go to Pearlman to see if she will issue City Hall subpoenas. Meanwhile, the mayoral race heats up as Mayor Royce and his primary challenger, Tommy Carcetti each hit campaign trail. Prez begins preparing for his new career in higher education, while McNulty ends up turning down a promotion.
Episode 2 – Soft Eyes
In the hopes of possibly saving her job, Pearlman and Freamon continue arguing over the subpoenas; as the election draws closer. Carcetti drops a bombshell on Royce during their televised debate; Herc makes a shocking discovery about the Mayor; Marlo decides to help the young kids in their preparation for school; Namond gets some advice from Wee-bey, his father; Bubbles decides to bring in an apprentice to help out his business; Cutty continues his two jobs: landscaping and boxing mentor.
Episode 3 – Home Rooms
“I love the first day, man. Everybody all friendly an’ shit.” – Namond Brice Prez is shocked by his students; Royce strikes back against Carcetti; Rawls begins to gut the major case unit from the inside; Colvin embarks on a new career.
Disc Two:
Episode 4 – Refugees
Freamon and Greggs move to Homicide, while Herc and Dozerman join Marimow in the lackluster Major Crimes Unit. Cutty gets a “custodial” job at Tilghman School picking up truants, but struggles to make progress while trying to mentor Michael. Bubbles works to get Sherrod back in school as an 8th grader. Burrell finds a way to sabotage the state-witness murder investigation before the election, impacting Greggs. Prez’s struggles as a teacher continue while Bodie finds himself working for a new company. Meanwhile, Colvin pitches his pilot program to the middle school and Carcetti meets with a constituency when he knows that they won’t support him regardless of what he says. Randy is faced with a dilemma after being busted for his candy scam and Proposition Joe plays Marlo in a high-stakes heist.
Episode 5 – Alliances
Commissioner Burrell loses Royce’s support; Chris Partlow tries to recruit Michael to become a soldier in Marlo’s unit; Dukie shows Randy and the boys that the missing are really dead; Odell Watkins drops his support for Royce and considers an offer from Councilman Carcetti.
Episode 6 – Margin of Error
Carcetti responds to a campaign smear. Randy is accused of a serious transgression. Colvin’s special class gets its first enlistees.
Episode 7 – Unto Others
Omar calls in a favor to the police; Carcetti gets advice from the ex-mayor and then Mayor Royce and his team; Cutty finds out why Spider has been avoiding him and explains to the rest of his boxers that it won’t happen again; Prez makes a break through with his students; Herc loses his camera; Greggs solves the Braddock case with soft eyes; Bubbles gets robbed repeatedly and searches for Sherrod; Namond begins to work a package and finds it hard to get suspended from school; Daniels catches Carcetti’s eye.
Disc Three:
Episode 8 – Corner Boys
Prez wants to teach off curriculum. Carcetti visits the Homicide Department and goes on ride-a-longs for drug busts. Colvin and Dr. Parneti’s class discuss the Corner Boy rules. Bunk convinces Holley to take another look at the Old Face Andre/Omar Little case. Herc and Dozerman begin shaking down Marlo and his crew as they try to have their surveillance camera returned. Chris Partlow and Snoop look to send the New York crew a message. Marlo asks Proposition Joe to look into Herc. Michael’s father comes home, while Namond recruits a lieutenant.
Episode 9 – Know Your Place
Herc and Dozerman search for Little Kevin; Omar gets out of jail; Carcetti has his first meeting with the City Council; Prez and the teachers begin “teaching the test”; Proposition Joe lets Marlo know Major Crimes is after him; Bubbles looks to Kima and Herc to help him out, and later delivers Little Kevin to him; Old Face Andre goes into hiding but Proposition Joe sells him out; Bug’s father gets in Michael’s face, causing him to takes his problems to Marlo; Daniels and Valchek get promoted; Omar and Renaldo monitor Marlo’s activities.
Episode 10 – Misgivings
Walker catches Donut boosting cars and teaches him a lesson; Police Commissioner Burrell gets some timely advice from Senator Clay Davis; Little Kevin has a talk with Marlo and soon regrets it; Herc ignores Bubbles call and also regrets it; the Area Superintendent questions the success of Colvin and Parenti’s project class; Senator Davis attempts to con Carcetti once again; Carver arrests Namond but keeps him out of “baby bookings”; Burrell has the police force “juke the stats” with street sweeps; Marlo puts the word out that Randy is a snitch; Elena views her ex-husband McNulty in a new light; Chris Partlow and Snoop target Bug’s father on Michael’s request.
Episode 11 – A New Day
Randy has trouble with his friends at school, while Carcetti faces a huge dilemma. Meanwhile, Omar visits Proposition Joe, while Freamon reveals a secret.
Disc Four:
Episode 12 – That’s Got His Own
While searching for the missing bodies, Freamon goes around the chain of command after being rebuked by Landsman. Carcetti finds that his promises of raises could be undermined by the school debt, forcing him to consider groveling before the Governor for money to pay it off. Colvin tries to keep his experimental class funded. Bubbles considers taking extreme measures to get rid of the man who continues to steal from him. Prez is concerned about Dukie’s academic promotion. Omar orchestrates another big sting while Namond and Cutty get a first-hand taste of the “new” Michael. Carver’s promise to look out for Randy ends up looking empty.
Episode 13 – Final Grades
Burrell tries to help Daniels. Bubbles’ big plan backfires and leaves him in big trouble. Colvin tries to find a solution for Namond while Omar makes new plans. McNulty tries to pay back his debt.
The Video:
The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. It is still disappointing that this show is not in widescreen format, but this is still an HBO show so the quality is excellent as is.
The Audio:
The audio included is available in English Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound, and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound. There is an option for English, Spanish, and French subtitles as well. No problems here either. Dialogue is easily heard and the music fits the show.
The Extras:
Audio Commentaries –
There are commentary tracks on six episodes of this season. They feature various members of the cast and crew of the show. David Simon (Creator) and Ed Burns (Producer) comment on the “Boys of Summer” episode. Kate Sanford (Editor), Karen Thorson (Producer), and Jim True-Frost (Actor) comment on the “Refugees” episode. Dan Attias (Director) and William F. Zorzi (Story Editor) comment on the “Margin of Error” episode. Robert Chew, Jermaine Crawford, Maestro Harrell, Julito McCullum, and Tristan Wilds (Actors) comment on the “A New Day” episode. Joe Chappelle (Director) and George Pelecanos (Writer) comment on the “That’s Got His Own” episode. David Simon (Creator) and Nina K. Noble (Executive Producer) comment on the “Final Grades” episode. There is more of a mix of cast and crew this time around, so that is a good thing. The one with the five young actors is especially entertaining to listen to. But overall they are all very insightful.
“It’s All Connected” Featurette –
This featurette runs 30 minutes and it basically discusses how this show is true to life. The stories and people featured in this show are based on real-life stories and real-life people in Baltimore, Maryland. Cast and crew of the show, along with real members of the Baltimore community, discuss the authenticity of the show and how the world of The Wire is connected to the real world. This is very interesting.
“The Game Is Real” Featurette –
This featurette also runs 30 minutes and it continues the topics discussed in the previous featurette while also diving into new topics. New topics here include the diverse African-American cast, the political element to the show, the war on drugs, and how this show is both entertainment and a social commentary of society today. Very intriguing.
Fans of the series will want to run out and get this. If you took my advice from the season three dvd review of this show, you probably have been waiting for this season for a LONG time and can’t wait to get your hands on this set. You won’t be disappointed with the quality of the show or the extras. If you are new to the show, it will be hard to start with this season. You can, however, do just that to get a taste of the show over an entire season. It really takes at least one season to fully appreciate this show. But the bottom line is this series is as real as you can get. Everyone should give it a chance. Once you do, it will quickly elevate towards the top of your “Top TV Shows” list.
The Wire: The Complete Fourth Season | |
