The Wire: Season 4 Review

L-R: Tristan Mack Wilds, Julito McCullum, Jermaine Crawford and Maestro Harrell in The Wire, Season 4, Episode 1. 'Boys of Summer'. Produced by HBO (2006). Used for review purposes.

Fatherhood appeared the dominant strand that Simon, Burns, and Colesberry ran with in Season 4. Through some pretty major re-introductions of major characters, namely Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski (Jim True-Frost) and Howard 'Bunny' Colvin (Robert Wisdom), it became one of the 'pieces' that matter. The new cohort of Westside children  -  Namond (Julito McCullum), Michael (Tristan Mack Wilds), Duquan ‘Dukie’ Weems (Jermaine Crawford), Randy (Maestro Harrell) also provide a bulk of pathos in Season 4.

Colvin took on another experimental scheme with the nascent talent as part of the new “socialisation” class at Edward J. Tilghman Middle School. Amongst participants who become part of the University-backed program, Namond was standout  -  son of the throwback character Wee-Bey Brice (Hassan Johnson) (a very problematic father figure, festering in prison for being a loyal Barksdale soldier). His problems with Wee-Bey and his mother De’Londa Brice (Sandi McCree)’s parenting techniques were adeptly portrayed; eventually Namond gets taken under Bunny’s wing.

Pryzbylewski was reintroduced this season after his woeful exit in Season 3. It still felt like they pushed Prez through a weird black hole in Season 3, but within the new educational environment Roland appeared to flourish. He developed fledgling bonds with his students, in particular Dukie; despite witnessing the systemic challenges they faced along the way, he attempted to help out where he could. His colleagues and boss reminded him that his overly fatherly connection to Dukie was unprofessional; he should leave the kids behind when he finds new students to teach the following semester.

L-R: Dominic West, Aiden Gillan, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Reg. E. Cathey in The Wire, Season 4, Episodes 6 & 14: 'Margin of Error' & 'Final Grades'. Produced by HBO (2006). Used for review purposes.

The absence of father figures in Season 4 was abundantly clear too .  Michael ended up having Chris (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and Snoop (Felicia Pearson) kill his abusive stepfather/Bug’s dad in order to assert his control. Randy is bumped around the foster and social services system while not being able to escape a game he never wanted in the first place. His label of 'snitch' appears to have stuck even by the end. Shakima ‘Kima’ Greggs (Sonja Sohn)’s parental storyline has shuddered to a full halt - she replaces McNulty (Dominic West)’s idiosyncratic way of dealing with a complicated home life. (Something she remarks upon, actually.) The everlasting (and ever-ignored) Grecian level tragedy that is the Bubbles (Andre Royo) storyline remains a well thought-out, incredibly sad affair. He loses his foster son figure/partner Sherrod (Rashad Orange) after his “hot shot” attempt to take back some control in his life immediately backfires.

Given these competing patrilineal plot strands, it was deft that Bodie (J.D. Williams), a character whose growth was stunted without an obvious father or familial figure, was popped in the season finale. As his coup-de-grace, Bodie went to get a foreboding lunch with McNulty who decided to pick him up from booking. In what might be a foreshadowing of McNulty’s descent from these new sober heights, their spiky, nuanced interaction practically signed Broadus’ death warrant — in spite of McNulty’s attempt to bond. Without much consideration save for a word or two from Chris, Marlo (Jamie Hector) ordains Bodie must fall and like the pawn that he was, his corner is to be replaced. Refusing to back down from his corner despite Poot’s warnings, Bodie is one of the last remaining from the Barksdale Organisation, save for Slim Charles (Anwan Glover) and Poot (Tray Chaney), to be slain.

McNulty noticeably took a backseat in this series, only to resurface at the end for Bodie’s send off. His own personal reshuffle that landed him a renewed home at Western District seems to have paid off for him - he became more normal and less of the drunken lout we have come to know and love throughout three seasons on the show. However, the finale indicated in perhaps original McNulty fashion he will move on as he rejoins Major Crimes. Thanks to a meteoric Daniels and Lester Freamon’s gigantic efforts, the recently deceased department has flourished anew. This appears to be conceivably the major downfall of The Wire — the ramshackle Major Crimes will not go away! Love, Death, Taxes and Detective Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson) sighing (at nearly everything).

Upstairs so to speak, this season is miles ahead of Season 3. While I will acknowledge Season 3 was was necessary to set up the Thomas Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) administration, this term is where Carcetti and Norman Wilson (Reg E. Cathey) shine as the newfound politicking duo. They fend off challenges from a beaten Burrell (Frankie Faison), usurpation from the ‘shiitt’ stirrer Senator Clay Davis (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), and eat a lot of shit with regards to education. All of which makes for some of the best halls of power satire The Wire has produced so far. The scene where Norman smokes ponderously while Al Green plays meeting one of Royce’s former chief-of-staff, was pure cinema.

The design on set of the mayor’s office is gorgeous in its conspicuous emptiness - director Joe Chapelle and cinematographer (I think) David Insley’s angles casting shadows over the green Carcetti is fabulous. I can’t wait to see how this administration deals with more setbacks in a heavily lauded Season 5.