[Premium Access] The Wire - 1x12 Cleaning Up - Group Reaction + Uncut

anybody hating on season 2 is a clown and doesn't deserve to watch this brilliant show

A L

Jesus, Pat.

Michael Kang-Beats

Your cat is called Bodie!! hahahahahah!!

Raymond Chan

The best way to understand the transition to Season 2, or any season, is that each season is a book. They're all self-contained. The five seasons have recurring characters, as books in a series do, but at the end of each season, that season's story ends. It's as simple as that.

outdoorcats

I feel like this is the group for this show

Justin Neason

Wallace was really the only “man” in the crew. He was taking care of those kids not just looking out for himself

R.I.P Wallace, I feel like he should’ve known better than to come back....also I’m not gonna lie this death effected me but not as much as when they beat bird behind closed doors

_ FlusterCluck

Where's Shippuden

Pervy Sage

Oh - and I wanted to make a point about the kids Wallace was taking care of. Those aren't just project kids - they're D's employees. In a previous episode, Wallace asked the kid he was helping with math how 'he could keep the count right' but couldn't do the book problem. The kid replied that if the count is wrong 'they fuck you up.' In THIS episode, a new kid that shows up tells Wallace that they call him 'Buff cuz he's got the stuff.' These kids are slinging. So think about the organization like it was another business. Avon is the CEO - he's, what, late 30s? Stringer is a COO or some shit. D is around 20, he's Director of his business segment, and Bodie's a Manager at 16. Poot and Wallace are also 16, but not quite as ambitious so they're like assistant managers. And the bottom level employees? They're these kids, in elementary school or maybe early middle school. They hand out vials, look out for cops, whatever. Of course, the nice thing about employing kids at the risky levels of the business is they can't go to jail so they're less likely to roll on you.

Nerd Going Outside

I typed a big long thing before reading this but your puzzle analogy really says it effectively.

Nerd Going Outside

re: Season 2: like most people, I didn't really understand what was happening when I started season 2 the first time. After watching season 1, I had thought The Wire was another show about (mostly Black) drug dealers versus (mostly white) cops. A really GOOD and nuanced version of that show, of course, but still one that was going to be about the drug war exclusively. What I realize now, and wish I had known that first time, is that The Wire is a show about Baltimore. It's a show about what the struggles of that city and, through it, the struggles of all American cities since about 1960. And yeah, drugs and murder play a big part in that unfortunately and so they get a lot of screen time. But there are other things going on too. Once I realized that season 2 actually became one of my favorites. I also wish I had known in the first few episodes of season 2 that The Wire wasn't going to just drop characters and storylines forever. Though it might go across town and start building new characters and storylines for a while, it will always come back. The show is building something, and all the pieces matter.

Nerd Going Outside

Pat, you'll be alright for season 2. Just trust that even if it feels different or weird, it's like they stopped filling in one side of the puzzle and started working on the other side. Nothing is forgotten. The camera just zooms out a bit so you see a bigger picture. Because "all the pieces matter". Also "You wanna change the cat's name?" just wrecked me.

jveezy

As soon as I saw D'Angelo's mother, I was like ugh, just remembering what happens next, I'm like oh God... they had to bring her in.

D. Kennedy

I’m with you completely 💯

Zee

The parallel of the shot of Bodie at the top of the stairs gesturing to Poot at the bottom, and Daniels at the bottom of the stairs gesturing to McNulty at the top. Great composition.

Jarrod Wild

Whatever it was, his wife knows so it must be something she is comfortable with.

Jarrod Wild

The game ain’t in Rana no mo’

Zee

I know what you mean. I sometimes stop after a certain season because of what happens with some of the kids. It's too emotionally draining.

Legion

The hardest thing about watching The Wire is the children who have fallen through the cracks. This show is a real challenge to watch, it forces you to confront the horrible aspects of our society. It’s not really sensationalized it’s a stark look at the reality of it. I can handle the dealers and junkies, and the shit cops and all the other things that we will get to. But the kids just break my heart. There are kids out there right now living just like Bodi, Poot, Wallace and all those kids he took care of.

Ryan

Rana ain't built for this game.

As the late great Stuart Scott would say, Lester is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

Chaos T

Personally i still think Season 1 is better, but i actually do agree i'd put it above Season 5. 5 was......still good, but relative to the rest of the show it's a part of? Not so much imo. For a number of reasons, that i obviously can't say because of spoilers lol.

Shockzz1234

Same

Max

You should watch ‘The chi’

yup, deacon.

Kiana B.

While it's not necessarily an answer, here's an interesting tidbit of information for Chris' question. The guy Avon is based on actually plays someone later in the series.

Nathan Evans

"Look at these Delta Force motherfuckers..."

outdoorcats

I feel like you guys need to get on The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire after that discussion! Great reaction as always, I love what you all have to say about this show and can't wait to see how you react to the narrative switches in each season.

Laura

Season 2 goes down a lot smoother on a rewatch when you understand how it's all meant to fit together

Alex

Marketa and Rana absolutely deviated by Wallace getting killed. Pat's reaction: "Daaaamn. Poot got more balls than the other dude." Lmfaooooooo the contrast between those reactions had me weak 😹

Kamina 1

I just always took it as that Daniels was part of a unit kind of like Denzell's in Training Day but not as ruthless. They just skimmed off of busts and everyone had to take a cut to dirty themselves so they couldn't snitch.

Jab1073

lmao rana there may be something to that dream! michael k williams (omar) was a dancer/choreographer before acting, he was on tour with madonna and george michael plus a whole bunch of other things.

Kiana B.

big galaxy brain wire fans love season 2! and i think mickey's preface was totally appropriate.

Kiana B.

between school and life, this is like one of the only things i look forward to, oh and this semester being over lol.

Kiana B.

this episode is amazing, wish we wouldve got suraj reaction too

Eduardo Gonzalez

Micky was right to give Pat a heads up about season 2. It can be very off putting, especially the first 3 episodes or so. It’s a jarring shift in narrative but it’s also a very necessary one which allows this show to take a broad view and not a narrow view. Personally I put season 2 above both seasons 1 and 5 in terms of quality. But it is whiplash inducing.

Ryan

😭

Ryan

“Where’s Wallace?” 😢

Zee