this season has been a very emotional experience for me, despite my being very far from West Baltimore in many ways

No. kidding. This episode nearly killed me, even with the funny sections.

It was, Jen. I think we're free to post in this thread as soon as something's aired in the U.S. - it's NAFDA.

Last night's episode of The Wire was a tour de force of extremes. It began with a corrupt police cruelly breaking a child's fingers (for crashing a stolen SUV while fleeing the police) and ended with a previously unflappable drug enforcer beating a pedophile to death in a blind rage, two scenes so violent that even a Wire-o-phile like me found them difficult to watch. In between, and hell, even during these scenes, the show packed enough quiet subtle wordless reveals to stock a Jane Austen novel.

"Walker? Walker be evil." I was fine till I heard the finger snap, then...

Okay, clearly I must start catching up on the Wire on DVD. However, that's going to be a while, as the netflix queue and piles of other DVDs we have yet to watch is big.

Damn it.

Don't start with the last ones first. But I'm thinking you'll love it, but my love is not rational. It is a comedy/drama/cop show/ meditation on social issues and a love story(of Baltimore). Oh, and sometimes it's like...The Office.(Fuzzy Dunlop?) But one wonders why a snapping finger hastened that conclusion. Occasionally you're callous and strange, Sean.ETA: I say this every year, but honestly I think these are the best ones yet. Which is too bad in one way as I miss George P.'s instinct for action and he's gone back to novels, but other than that...

But one wonders why a snapping finger hastened that conclusion.

The finger of a child no less. But you answer your own wondering, Bunk:

Occasionally you're callous and strange, Sean.

Thank you. I take that in the nicest possible way.

A tiny thirteen year old car thief, actually. Donut. I've watched a lot of cop show violence but that actually made me wince and turn away. Much like I was actively affected by that delivery lady getting blown away. Even though by TV standards I've seen more death than Pol Pot. But on The Wire, it always *counts* you know?

Oh, indeed.

Because out of the clear blue, without music or anything she goes from chatting to chest-shot. I'm not sure why but it was just so *meaningful*. The people that worry about that show's violence ain't never seen nary minute of that shit, dawg. I think they think David Simon remade New Jack City or some shit like that, but that isn't glamourous. Not ever. The corners claim their own. And that's how I learned that no self-respecting cornerboy leaves a toothbrush out of his slinging shit. Juvenile doesn't provide them and you never know when you get picked up. I suppose I'm touched they want fresh breath. You don't see that in the gang documentaries. But it was in The Corner.