In retrospect its almost exactly the same only the eps aren't directly on the network you are on.

And we now return you to your regularly scheduled Wire talk!

I just watched three more episodes. Ever since episodes 4 and 5, I've been loving this season more. I think the first several episodes were essentially all setup, and now shit is actually starting to happen.

I'm liking Cutty more now and finding his journey somewhat interesting. I feel like it's too isolated from all the rest of the action, though; I keep waiting for it to matter in more than a "This is the story of a man who could not return to the game" tale.

I'm loving how Hamsterdam is turning into a clusterfuck! Because it really seemed like a good idea at first, but now I'm seeing all the ways it could go wrong (which almost seems like the show is saying DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME). It's really interesting to observe as a social experiment, though. Like Herc said, they fucked with the habitat. And I loved when Our Heroes totally got in the way and were all, "Hamsterdam WTF?" Fuck the bosses!

And on that note...damn, McNulty! Daniels is not going to put up with that shit! I've read that McNulty fades into the background a bit in the next season because Dominic West was up for Bond or something, and I don't know whether they knew about that possibility this early on, but it certainly works. I think McNulty has fucked with Daniels one too many times.

I think the ending of episode 7, with the team discovering that Avon Barksdale is out of fucking prison and Kima slapping a shelving unit at the camera to cut to black, is my favorite ending of the series. That's how I like my episode endings, dammit! Although the ending of episode 8 is pretty good, too, with a pan over Bell and Barksdale into black.

I never get tired of Prez's geeking out over the WONDERS OF TECHNOLOGY.

I feel like Avon came out of prison more hardcore than he went in. His whole attitude is more, well, gangsta, like he says, whereas he felt more like the head of an organization in the first season. I kind of love it, though; it's like he's embracing a persona. And I know part of the meta reason is to put the differences between Avon and Stringer into sharp focus. I was sort of irritated at Avon for not seeing the good in what Stringer's been doing, really, but he has a very different mentality. He's old school, and Stringer's new school. That's kind of a running theme throughout this season, really.

I wasn't sure whether I wanted him to do it or not, but I'm glad McNulty twisted the guilt knife on Brianna because, gah, I hate her.

Quick clarification question: the motorcycle drive-by was actually Omar and the girl, but Avon assumed it was Marlo. Right?

There are really no words to describe the awesome of that final Stringer/Avon scene, so maybe I shouldn't even try. Except to say, WHAT THE HELL IDRIS ELBA IS BRITISH THAT DOES NOT COMPUTE.

Quick clarification question: the motorcycle drive-by was actually Omar and the girl, but Avon assumed it was Marlo. Right?

It was Marlo. The girl is Snoop Pearson.

Dexter was too much for me, and I'm not sure why. I read Dennis Lehane, and his books pretty much feature ways to make jigsaw puzzles of the human bod, and god knows my man George can bring the pain, and I'm all dark-humored so it made me really laugh sometimes, and MCH was really good, but it wigged me out sufficiently that I don't know if I can watch anymore. Or maybe it was just too soon after the Wire for a

It was Marlo. The girl is Snoop Pearson.

Oh, okay. I have no idea who Snoop is, but that makes sense anyway, since the next scene with Omar and Co. didn't make any reference to it.

I have no idea who Snoop is,

You'll get to know her.

I finished catching up on Dexter a week or so ago. I like it, the story sucks me right in, but I just hate voice-overs so much it saps some of my enjoyment.

Augh! Oh, Prez. Prez, Prez, Prez, Prez. You should never leave the office. And you should never, ever, ever carry a gun.

Man, reading detailed Wikipedia recaps makes me realize how little I really know about what's fucking going on in this show.

I didn't know who the hell that girl was who Marlo shot, Devonne. Turns out, ah, she was only in one episode before. Oh, yeah, she was that girl that got with Marlo. Who, wait, that was a Barksdale trap? That...makes the whole thing with the meeting where she never showed up make sense.

And then I had no idea who that guy who followed the dude out of the gay bar was. It was Omar's boyfriend! Which...also makes sense. Man, this show would be so much easier to follow if I had impeccable facial recognition and the ability to read between all the goddamn lines.

Also, I am not happy to see Brother Mousone again. I hate that guy. Like I said, he's the only person on this show who feels like a TV Character. He doesn't fit in at all.

What the fuck, that was RAWLS in a gay bar! Rawls is gay?? And they just drop it on us like that? Ha ha ha ha. I guess, come to think of it, there has never been any indication or evidence that he's heterosexual besides my heteronormative worldview.

I wish there were some more fallout between Stringer and Avon. I mean, you'd think that after he admitted to KILLING HIS NEPHEW, there would be more tension between them, but, no, seems to be about the same amount of tension they've had since he got out and started causing trouble. But, man, the co-op took a vote and wants to vote them off the island! There are going to be issues here! I found it interesting that they referred to Avon as "Stringer's dog," when, in theory, Avon is the higher-ranking member of the organization. Highest, even. I love the relationship between the two of them. I like the sense of history when Stringer brings up getting into the game in the first place. What were they like back then?

I have this great idea for nurturing children and keeping them from a life of violence: let's get them together and have them PUNCH EACH OTHER IN THE FACE.

Aw, Tommy has a soul! Aw.

Lester Freamon, how are you so awesome?

Also, what's that I see? Is McNulty...gaining self-awareness? Could this be, dare I say it, character growth?

Yeah, there's a big cast, and they expect you to recognize even the most minor character.

Brother Mouzone is the most cartoonish character on the show. But he's not on it much, so try to to let it get to you.

Rawls: actually, he spouts some fairly bullshit-macho, misogynistic shit all the time. Overcompensating, I assume.

I wish there were some more fallout between Stringer and Avon.

Yeah, they really let the viewer down there. SPECIAL NOTE TO EVERYONE WHO ISN'T A SPECTRAL BOVINE: Shhh.