I’m curious about what other people think about McNulty character in relation to the greater themes of the show? In a show that’s about these deep social issues he is such enigma to me. Why does the show begin and end with this guy? Out of all the great characters and stories?

Is the point that the systems of Baltimore view themselves as something greater and smarter than what they are? Screwing over others on the way to help themselves through the lenses of helping others? And he is the same way?

Is it that Jimmy know his open and obvious flaws and does nothing to change? Just like Baltimore Although he does change for a time. so i feel it’s not that

Is it that Jimmy is great but deeply and possibly unchangeable as a reflection of America?

I really don’t understand him which makes me feel dumb but what love to hear why you guys think he is the closest thing to a main character (ofc the city is really the main character but he’s probably the closest)

What are you guy’s thoughts?

Om my first rewatch of the series and just now finished S4 E11 -the one where Bunk and Lester realize the bodies are stashed in the vacants.

I didn't realize it on the first watch through but they ran some smooth interrogation tactics on both Herc and Prez to find the bodies.

First with the classic good-cop bad-cop on Herc where Bunk flips out at him and Lester slides in to soft his ego. Herc is a "simple fuck" indeed

Second with Prez in the classroom after he refuses to give them more information because he cares for the kids. Lester makes a show of buttering up his ego as he pretends to leave and Bunk makes a hail mary play for sentimental nostalgia leading Prez to give them more info.

It was all done so well that I didn't even realize it in my first watch through. Damn good po-lice

So everyone in homicide is obsessed with clearances but according to the book a clearance isn’t a conviction. It’s just someone was arrested for the crime. Whether or not it leads to prison time is besides the point. If everyone’s so obsessed with clearances wouldn’t someone just arrest randos and let the case get thrown out?

Not sure if this is a hot-take these days, but it's one that stuck with me since back in the day reading Sepinwall how he's the least likeable of the bunch and it's supposedly bittersweet he's the only one with a 'good ending.'

However, after my latest rewatch one of the characters I felt most differently about after s4 was Namond Brice. I remember the first few times being quite upset that he out of the four boys ends up with the best situation despite being the biggest shitbird. He's definitely a spoiled bully and not a great kid, but I really think he shows the most growth over the season (perhaps due to Colvin's & Parenti's intervention and the "Special Class.") He's also the biggest victim of upbringing (although Randy may be the unluckiest kid alive).

I'm not here to say he's perfect, the way he treats Dukie (reflecting his own mother's actions) and his general demeanor is that of a troubled kid. Still, he is a kid and I think one of few characters in the show to reflect on themselves and make an accurate assessment. After Kenard steals his package and Michael confronts him and starts beating him Namond just runs away realizing he doesn't have it in him. The next day in a pathetic effort to reassert himself (and restore confidence) he bullies Dukie, Michael defends him, and he breaks down crying. There's a level of self-reflection and realization after this that few characters in the show ever experience which makes me glad for his outcome. He realizes he does not have it in him and does not want to be a corner-boy. Not even D'Angelo got there the way Namond did.

Again, I'm not saying Namond is a great kid. But he may have had the worst situation of the bunch all things considered. De'Londa Brice is one of the worst mothers in the history of fiction. Namond never had a chance of being anything more than a corpse or a convict. And he realized it. Yes, there's a degree of luck there that Bunny saw something in there and was able to evict him from his situation, but I was happy for him.

I guess the other hot-take that accompanies this is that I felt much less sympathy for Dukie this time. He was constantly bullied in middle-school, yet refused to ever try high school? Especially since his home situation fundamentally changed by the end of the season. He began living with Michael, had nice clothes, and had food/shower/etc to avoid most of the bullying. He gave up too easy after overcoming so much to warrant much sympathy, imo. He still could have tutored Bug and gone to HS. Not saying I don't feel for Dukie, but I remember being far more upset by his situation last time than this time.

Thoughts? Are these hot-takes on this sub?

If the series continued to season 6 it’s logical to assume Michael and Marlo would eventually cross paths. If so, hypothetically speaking, who wins?