“The Western District Way”
In 2002, HBO aired The Wire and it’s since become the barometer for making a quality TV show. It has become so influential, claims of it being the “best TV show ever made” can maybe only be rivalled by the behemoth that is The Sopranos.
Today we look at FilmGoblin’s Top Ten scenes from The Wire.
If it’s not in the Top Ten, let us know in the comments below if we’ve missed something obvious.
So, is it a scene with the Barksdale Crew, the Special Investigations Unit, down at the docks and with the Greeks, City Hall, Hamsterdam, the eighth graders of Tilghman Middle School or the reporters of the Baltimore Sun?
Oh, and there was Snotboogie, too!
10. “Fuck”
How to effectively pull off a scene in which two homicide detectives solve a murder by only uttering different variations of the word fuck.
9. “Damn… You Ain’t Even Wait To Get The Motherfucker In The House!”
Chris Partlow beats Michael Lee’s abusive Step-Father mercilessly in the open. Punching and kicking and pistol-whipping again and again.
And again and again and again.
It is brutal.
8. “You’re A Soldier, Bodie”
Yeah, Bodie pulled the trigger on Wallace, but by the end of season 4, I had tremendous respect for the street soldier.
D’Angelo was right about the pawns, and Bodie realised he was one of the last pawns on the board.
7. “I Got The Shotgun, You Got The Briefcase. It’s All In The Game Though, Right?”
During his court appearance in the Bird murder trial, Omar reveals his occupation whilst giving a false testimony. He is characterised as being a violent criminal and parasite by attorney Maurice Levy, but Omar then flips the script on Levy with style. Omar wins over the courtroom and diminishes Levy’s credibility.
6. “Where’s Wallace? Where The Fuck Is Wallace? Huh? Huh? String? String? Look At Me! Where The Fuck Is Wallace? HUH!?”
Wallace is the target of the Barksdale crew when they suspect him of being a snitch.
D repeatedly tries to protect Wallace, trying at first to hide his whereabouts, then trying to persuade the young hopper to go back to school, and finally, as the truth of Wallace’s fate dawns on him, shouting at Stringer from behind the jailhouse glass.
5. “You, McNulty, Are A Gaping Asshole. We Both Know This.”
In the hospital after Kima is shot, Rawls notices McNulty sitting in a corner, covered in blood. He shows an amazing level of compassion, considering that he is, in fact, Bill Rawls.
His speech in the hospital to McNulty is one of the most inspiring bits of oratory I’ve ever heard in a TV show.
4. “They Don’t Teach It In Law School.”
You have to love Senator Clay Davis’ “silver-tongued bullshit”. A master class in jury-swaying Johnnie Cochran shit. Clay’s defense doesn’t hold water, of course, but it’s a fine gambit for a jury this easily persuaded by a slick storyteller like Clay.
3. “That’s Far Enough. Drop Your Laundry And Turn Slowly.”
An ode to the Wild West, Omar and Brother Mouzone square up in a classic gunfighter duel. I’m almost sure you even see some tumbleweed on the deserted street while the outlaws make small talk.
2. “Let Them Know Marlo Step To Any Motherfucker… Omar, Barksdale, Whoever. My Name Is My Name!”
Marlo explodes when hears of Omar’s insults, it becomes clear just how much Marlo has been holding in his rage all these years. It also becomes clear just why Chris and Snoop have been going out of their way to keep Marlo ignorant of Omar’s PR campaign.
1. “On The Midnight Shift, I’m Rarely Sober.”
I was going to have Jimmy’s eulogy at #1, but I’ll keep that for Part 2. To wrap this Top Ten up, I’m cheating.
A new detective becomes Detective Bunk Moreland’s partner in CID Homicide.
So, there’s our 10. What did we miss?
Discuss it below and give me all the ideas for Part 2!
