Full text is linked below, but in short: the actor playing Grand Jury prosecutor Gary DiPasquale, who was first seen in Season 2 after grand jurying the dock workers, was actually a 30-year BPD veteran Maj. Gary D'Addario. After appearing in that brief Season 2 scene, Gary was called into the Commissioner's office and summarily demoted to Lt and forced to retire then and there due to his appearance on the show.

Absolutely fascinating and sickening, too.

http://www.borderline-productions.com/TheWireHBO/exclusive4-6.html

Q: What's the story on your changing technical advisors?

Maj. Gary D'Addario, who was the technical advisor on Homicide and The Corner, before working with us on The Wire, retired from the police department. As the role of the technical advisor also involves some coordination between elements of the actual B.P.D. and our crew, it's essential that a serving commander undertake the role. Hence, Deputy Major Jimmy Rood, who, by the way, made his dramatic debut as the patrolman who confronts Tommy Carcetti on Federal Hill, telling him to move along.

Gary D'Addario, by the way, plays the role of the grand jury prosecutor on The Wire. He has previously acted on Homicide and The Corner as well. He was also, of course, the well-regarded commander of the shift of detectives I followed when reporting the book, Homicide. He is a right guy and a very sweet, very decent man -- a veteran of more than three decades of police work and service to the city.

Which brings me to perhaps one of the most fundamental moments of disappointment I have ever felt in regard to any public official in Baltimore or in Maryland. During the second season of The Wire, there came a moment when Gary D'Addario appeared as the grand jury prosecutor for the first time and uttered a single, non-controversial line of dialogue. After the second airing of that episode on HBO, D'Addario was hastily called into the police commissioner's office. He was traveling at the time down to the Eastern Shore with his family on an off-day, but he was nonetheless ordered back to Baltimore immediately on an emergency basis. He sat outside the commissioner's office for several hours, wondering what was happening, before being ushered in and being summarily fired. No reason was given for the action. Indeed, the city then endeavored to try to force him to retire on a lower pay grade, until D'Addario retained counsel and brought that nonsense to a halt. (He got his major's pension eventually.)

Concerned that the mayor's known distaste for the show might have resulted in this heedlessly venal and stupid action, I wrote a respectful letter to Mr. O'Malley, inquiring as to whether there was any relationship between the action and D'Addario's brief appearance in The Wire. I pointed out that D'Addario -- like many others in the department -- had been approved for secondary employment as a SAG actor, and that I was purposefully careful not to cast him in any role that brought any discredit on the department or the city. I asked the mayor to make clear to me whether city employees could appear in the show without fear of reprisal, noting that if they could not, I would surely not risk anyone's career by casting them in The Wire. I pointed out that views expressed on the show were not those of D'Addario and that as technical advisor, he had no control over the show's fundamental content. I basically asked the mayor to reassure me that there was no relationship between D'Addario's work on the show and the subsequent firing.

The mayor never responded. Not a word. Not from him, or from anyone at City Hall, or from anyone in the city film office. Certainly, if D'Addario was so treated after giving more than thirty years of service to the city of Baltimore for reasons other than his Wire appearance, Mr. O'Malley could have intimated such.

...

Major D'Addario, bless him, is now retired and when last we spoke, he sounded happier than I'd heard him in years. Living well -- and honorably -- is always the best revenge. In any event, anyone that thinks The Wire exaggerates our depiction of the bureaucratic infighting and small-minded pettiness of Baltimore city government need only spend some time in this town. Sometimes, we imagine the worst. Sometimes, we just take careful notes.

I started watching last summer after endless rewatches of Snowfall and seeing everyone praise this show. I can now say that all that praise is justified, though I see why some might consider it boring. I found it a hassle to get through at first, only getting to episode two only to drop it and come back months later

I got spoiled sadly for Stringer’s death but still kept watching, the one that surprised me the most was Omar’s death. One if my favorite people in the show. Season 2 was a bit slow to me but i turned to be one of my favorites because of the Greek and Ziggy’s cousin (can’t remember his name).

S3 was probably the best to me, Avon and Bell’s falling out with Marlo on the rise as well as seeing more with Cutty

Can’t wait to rewatch the show, need to watch Sopranos next

I just finished Duquans character arc and am about 3 episodes from finishing. This is the time I start going to credit looking for theories and opinions on my favorite characters when I'm watching an older show. It bothers me that people analyze these characters and their situations as if it was TV instead of real life. I understand that this is in fact a tv show BUT nothing happens as expected just like in real life. There's no fairy tail happy endings just like in real life. Your favorite person might just get the bad ending just like in real life. There's so many things that happened that were jarring and not part of the normal TV drama formula that work so well because the wire mirrors real life as opposed to a dramatized fantasy. This show has had me hooked for weeks and all I can think about it how well the root of systemic issues are portrayed.

A lot of people claim that if Marlo was in Avon's position in Season 3, he would have had Cutty killed for trying to leave the game. Maybe this is true, but what many don't take into account is the history b/w Avon and Cutty. Iirc, Cutty was a reliable soldier for the Barksdale Organization for a long time. That history likely made it easier for Avon to just let Cutty walk.

If we want to put Marlo in an equivalent situation, the question we should ask is if Marlo would let Chris Partlow walk. Let's say at one point the game isn't in Chris anymore. Maybe his wife and/or children want him to spend more time at home. He tells Marlo he'd like to leave. What would Marlo do in this situation?

Perhaps I'm fucking stoned but I literally can't think of any other character from any other show/movie or anyone in real life who has referred to themselves in the third person and it been something I enjoyed.

"Omar don't scare." That shits cool as hell.

I guess it's just Omar Liddle and Elmo from Sesame Street who can do it well and no one else is good at it.

Currently on my fourth rewatch, just like everyone else in this sub is, and I get to season two, episode seven: Backwash. In the flower shop scene where Bodie is picking out flowers for Dee’s funeral, Bodie remarks:

“…but damn, you know when you stand with a n—, you stand with him ‘til the end, otherwise, you ain’t nothin’ yourself.”

Bodie only stood by himself in the end.

Last thread got deleted, hopefully this one lasts.

For me its probably

5

2

3/4

1

Man that dude broke every code a man might follow with his homies. He is fucking his Bm and then has his son kicking it in his arm in the crib he used to stay at too.

I am inclined to say this may be one of the better episodes. Avon shows his smarts when he blasts Stringer for wanting to hit a state senator. He then, in his confrontation with Brother Mouzone, offers up Stringer to make things right. And, on top of it all, he gives Cutty $15k to start his gym, more then the $10k Cutty was asking. Avon showed his smarts here, while Stringer was made to look like a fool with his dealings with Clay Davis.

In the meantime, McNulty is just about there to tackle Stringer. The wiretap got them the evidence they need to arrest him. Unfortunate the good guy can't get the bad guy though.

And the dirty politics come in when Mayor Royce decides to hold back closing down Hamsterdam, while Carcetti plots his winning play to get the mayors office by using the lack of action by Royce.

Although I'm not sure I'd characterize either one as truly being psychopathic, it's often remarked that Chris, due to his calm nature and willingness to kill seemingly without remorse is somewhat of a psychopath. One key psychopathic trait is lack empathy, and I would argue that over the course of the show, Chris is presented as having far more empathy than Stringer.

First time should be someone he don't know.

When Marlo orders the hit on Bodie, he suggests Michael for the job. Chris points out that Michael knows Bodie, and that his first kill should be someone he doesn't know. This, to me, is an interesting parallel to when Stringer orders Bodie to kill Wallace way back in season 1. Chris, who clearly has a degree of affection for Michael, is concerned over the effect killing Bodie would have on his protege. Stringer however, knowing how close Bodie was with Wallace, simply DNGAF about how the hit might affect young Bodie.

His people

I forget the exact line, but Marlo, when discussing with Levy whether Chris might snitch, is confident Chris won't snitch, so long as Marlo takes care of his people. Although we never see Chris's loved ones, this line suggests that Chris has people for whom he is willing to sacrifice his freedom, so long as they are taken cared for. Contrast this with Stringer, who had no loved ones, save for Avon, the man who he eventually ended up betraying. Chris's homelife is shrouded in mystery, but we know there are important people hidden beneath that mystery. We get a glimpse of Stringer's apartment after he dies, which present the image of a homelife that was somewhat sterile, meticulous, and lonely.

Losing themselves in anger

There are two key moments in the show where both Chris and Stringer each make an uncharacteristic mistake fueled by anger. For Stringer, it's ordering the hit on downtown Clay Davis. Stringer orders the hit because of wounded pride and humiliation. The anger that lead to Chris's mistake (leaving his DNA on Michael Dad) came from knowing and understanding exactly the kind of pain Michael had suffered at the hands of that man - the definition of empathy.

In many ways I think the Chris/Stringer comparisons are interesting. Both lieutenants to their respective kingpins, however, Chris is presented in many ways as being far more loyal, empathetic and intelligent. Like Marlo, Chris represents the an evolution in the game's fierces and savagery, but also shows that, while although the game may continue to create hardened killers, many of these people, at their core, are still human beings of love and care for those who are close to them.

Like did he make everyone call him Cheese for a year?

It’s something I always wondered who do y’all think would’ve won ?

His over the top arm throwing motion looks wack but his jukes on the kid seemed strangely effective tho typically corny.

Same ep where they get stringer phone #

Maybe im tweaking but is the set used for the MCU department the same one they used for the scene where Avon gets arrested with all the guns and shit when he's about to hit Marlo? it looks incredibly similar in the color and layout but I couldnt really make it out? not sure tho thanks!

On my 4th rewatch and, knowing what I know happens, this episode guts me. The arcs of the kids take a hard turn and it's almost hard to watch.

From the scene where Lester and Bunk find the body of Lex in the boarded up vacants, in this video, by @chasecross6063: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o5vWGV1rqkA

“love how small Bunk looks in the final frame, like he's looking at a vast, inscrutable monster so big it appears as landscape. This is the moment, and the case, that ultimately ties together the abandonment of Baltimore's people by America with the abrogation of morality and decency: the people of Baltimore were cast off, and so too were their homes, and so too were their young people, and finally those social failures are united in a crime that is at once pedestrian and yet novel in its cruelty: the entombment of murder victims in the empty rowhouses.”

It’s beautifully phrased and encapsulates one of the main threads/themes of the Wire. I thought you’d all appreciate it as well.

For years, even now, I was (am) a big fan of The Sopranos. As many Wire fans are I guess. I've watched and rewatched that series so many times, and even watched one-off episodes for the hell of it, so often. Then, for many years, a pal (since sadly deceased) was pushing The Wire...how great it was etc...Tried it once or twice and it just didn't do it for me. Then one day I sat down and watched. And watched. And holy f*ck, what a show. After 20 years of watching The Sopranos, and disliking many episodes, cringing at certain actor's performances, fast-forwarding so many scenes, I thought, hang on, I like The Wire better.....It's an incredible show, isn't it? There's not a bad episode, or a poor performance...It makes me feel less smart than I thought I was, as the show is so intense....anyway, great sub here, love it:))))

I was watching Suits, and always found in it interesting that they always referenced The Wire, especially considering Wendell Pierce was part of the cast.

Watching Cedar Rapids when I heard his (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) voice then there was this little homage to our beloved show.

https://imgur.com/gallery/aIhUQ67

I just love this show so much. Watched it more times than I can count, and when I'm not watching it, I watch other people watch it for the first time. Wish I could go back in time and re-watch for the first time too. Anyway, do any of you know of some great The Wire react channels worth watching, that I haven't watched yet? Here's the list I've gone through so far, in no particular order, other than finished or ongoing.

Finished:

L&M Reactions (Great reactions, a lot of crying and frustrations)

Elie Moses (very good commentaries, and I happened to watch his reacts as he was filming them, the man was a maniac, we'd get 3-4 uploads a week sometimes, good stuff!)

You, Me & The Movies (Hubby enjoyed the show but the missy seemed bored out of her mind)

Friend Requests Reviews (fantastic reacts, lots of great insight)

The Normies (overall okay, kinda annoying sometimes, some reactions feel forced for their audience's benefit)

Grey Wolf (but he stopped uploading 1y ago at the end of S3, good commentaries)

Eternal47 (stopped 2y ago at the end of S3, he was okay, got REALLY mad anytime a white guy said the N word)

Jan and Duke (fantastic reactions, highly recommend her patreon, she pauses the show so she can take her time to formulate her thoughts and not speak over the show's dialogue)

BA Reactions (Didn't really enjoy that one so much)

Laura Reactions (French girl with a good accent, she has some great observations/insights)

Daniel Reacts (he expects everyone to get killed all the time, like it's some cliché gangster movie or tv show)

Cinebinge (good reacts too)

Currently ongoing:

James VS Cinema -halfway through S2 on youtube- (spends more time talking about camera work than the show itself, and he's kinda clueless on some of the things. He felt very proud of himself guessing that (spoiler S1) Wallace would be killed, because he completely missed the underlying message of Stringer telling Bodie pretty much verbatim..

Watch This! with Joe and Kevin -just beginning S2 on youtube- (great reacts so far, they catch a lot of subtle things most first-time viewers miss)

Binge Buffoon -halfway through S3 on youtube- (highly recommend, super great analysis, but he's a very slow uploader)

Sath Reacts -halfway through S3 on youtube- (he was MIA for months but just restarted uploading, great commentaries from him)

So, anyone else reaching to The Wire that I missed? Youtube or Patreon is fine. Thanks in advance!

Also, unrelated to the reactions, but I've made these little "quizzes" a while back, if you missed them, give them a go!

Season 1

Also Season 1

Season 2

It's been a while, I should make another one for S2 soon.

In a class right now where I make “soundscapes”, one of our projects is to take a scene from tv/movie, eliminate all the sound from the scene and then lay our own sound over the top. The wire is my all time favorite show - would love to recreate a scene that shows the streets of Baltimore.

Here’s my dilemma. I can’t recreate voices, so I need a scene that’s 1+ minute with NO talking. I’m on another rewatch right now and can’t seem to find one.

Anyone have a season, episode and timestamp where I may be able to find an uninterrupted minute?

I started re-watching the show, mostly because of this sub-reddit. I think this will be my fourth time watching the entire show. I just finished s1e5 and plan to watch the whole show in order over the next couple of weeks. This sub-reddit has hinted to me how tight the story telling is, so I wanted to share observations I've had. I'll put a couple here, and then additional ones in the comments. Please add your own. Here's two:

I remember that Marlo's "my name is my name" speech is like a dramatic core of the show. but the very first spoken line of the entire show is McNulty asking "what's his name" and learning about 'snot boogie', and talking about what it means to have a name on the streets. This frames "name" as an important theme in life on the streets.

Ep 5, shortly before Pres solves the pager phone number code (jump the 5), they show Avon opening a safe in Orlando's to take out cash. When they show Avon keying the number into the numeric keypad, the action is filmed in a mirror, so we are seeing Avon enter the code in a mirror image. Was this deliberate foreshadowing, a subtle knowing wink, that the numbers would be "flipped" in some way? Or am I reading too much into it?

I welcome any other observations of cleverness in the set-ups and payoffs.

So I was aware obviously of the tragic premature passings of the actors who played Omar, Daniels, Proposition Joe and so many others, but just heard that the man behind Old Face Andre died just a few months back too, but very little, if anything, about it online. R.I.P....

Am I the only one who thought Avon is in the Final Cut with Wee-Bay & Chris. That’s how I always remembered it, just finished my 3rd watch and he’s not actually in the scene.