Letters to the Editor
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So far so good
I am not a reporter or a media critic. I have never worked at a newspaper or in a newsroom. For me, The Wire's depiction of the workings at the Baltimore "Sun" don't seem pedestrian, unoriginal or stock. Yes, I saw Shattered Glass and I remember Jason Blair, but I am willing to go along with David Simon and his depiction of how failures at the "Sun" are another part of what went/is going wrong in Baltimore.
I thought there were some interesting parallels in this episode, Snoop and Chris describing the importance of a stake out before their "drive by" and Lester's stake out of the alley; McNulty's substance and sexual addictions and the share by the young woman at the NA meeting; maybe even Clay Davis pleading for help and being turned away and Marlo coming to Avon and being endorsed. The Wire has been about showing that there really is not much of a line between the good guys and the bad guys ("a man's got to have a code") but it seems like this season Simon wants us to understand that there will be no heroes.
I don't know what to think yet about what McNulty is up to. Does it make a difference that he seems to believe this is the way to bring attention to the problem? I need to see the episode again. And is it too soon to hope that Michael is starting to realize the limitations of his new crew and their violence and pettiness?
Also I love, love, love Clark Johnson and I am thrilled that he is back on TV.