“But if this everchanging world in which you live in / makes
you give in and cry…”
If we allow
for some odd meta-turning whereby a character of a show were allowed to watch
that same show and choose his favorite episode, I think “Straight and True”
might be Stringer’s favorite. Stringer, a student of economics, would love just
how damned rational everyone is in this episode. Economics tells us that, under
the right circumstances, people’s own rational self-interest will maximize
utility (actually, it’s reach a Pareto optimal solution, but forget that for
now). Important to this is cooperation, the creation of institutions that will
benefit all and that all contribute to. It’s why Stringer dreams of creating
the New Day Co-op: less violence and more money for all.
Mr. Bell
could not have predicted, however, that one of his biggest restraints, the
police, would also act in such a cooperative spirit. They want less crime:
Stringer, Bodie et al. want to deal drugs. Therefore, we have Bunny’s
officially established territory of “Hamsterdam.” Libertarian paradise, as it
is: legal drugs, and free-market competition. It feels odd (I don’t think we’ve
seen Johnny as out of sorts as he is here, in spite of the fact that he’s
normally on heroin), but it may work. We begin to see its flaws, the
unaccounted for occupied homes, but nonetheless its worth a shot to Major
Colvin…AS IT SHOULD BE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE USA cough cough.
Jimmy
McNulty would probably be a big fan of this episode as well. He gets to sleep
with a beautiful woman (“Wait, we have an attractive, straight, smart female
character on the political side of things, but we don’t want any romantic
entanglements,” asked a hypothetical David Simon. “…Well, something McNulty’s
kids something something school meeting something sex”), and gets back on Stringer’s
tail (yeah, yeah “tail”). Of course, he only sees Omar meeting with Marlo: he
doesn’t see the seeds sown for a new war between the two men. Marlo and Chris
Partlow (his right-hand man) are mostly ciphers at this point, but they’re
clearly malicious ciphers, and episodes this untragic are usually just prologue
to future ones of a different nature.
But this is a happy episode, so let the
rejoicing continue. Bubbles realizes he can “do” better by working with the
cops. It’s nice to see him rid himself, at least partially of unlucky Johnny,
the character who easily wins the “Holy Crap, he’s not dead” award each time I
see him. It’s also nice to see Avon released, given his own apartment, his own
car, and generally being more active than in the past. Avon is a great
character, much more than the gangster half of the Bell/Barksdale combo, but he
needs to roam free to do it. He’s the definition of “street-smart,” calling out
the two idiot soldiers for getting high at the club and remaining wary of Clay
Davis etc.’s overtures. Welcome home, Avon, but stay weary. As Brianna reminds
him, the real stuff comes tomorrow.
“I had such fucking hopes for us” – McNulty
Observation and What-Have-You’s
n
Prop Joe’s fade looks awesome. Stringer Bell’s
tuxedo looks foolish. Just sayin.
n
“The Wire” learned something well in the casting
department: when in doubt about an intimidating character, always, always opt
for facial scars. It worked for Omar, and it sure as shit works for Marlo too.
n
Clay Davis: says “shiiiiiiiiiit” a whole lot
less than you remember he does, for better or for worse.
n
The biggest perk of being a drug dealer is that
they sure now how to find you women when you get out of prison. First Cutty,
now Avon. The great thing about it is that it seems like the scene is going to
just highlight Stringer’s detachment from the game…and then the escorts come
in.
n
Yes, “Live and Let Die” uses “in” three times in
one sentence.
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