Over on some of the other forums, there's some disillusionment about the paintball segment and the hotshot. I didn't mind the former, because I knew it was a training as soon as it started and figured it was an ok lighthearted before-the-credit moment, but the hotshot was too predictible and not-so-Wire-ish.

Don't forget next week's ep runs long!

What? Cutty taking a bullet? Sort of reminded me of Hill Street. (Without Belker growling "Don't die on me you son of a bitch!" of course.) Yeah, a bit of a 'your father's cop show' moment, but, much like actual drugs, if The Wire were completely pure, it would kill us. But they could've lost that and not hurt the show. The teaser? Well, it was no worse than the other teasers, imo. Wirefiends be some picky-ass motherfuckers, yo. What? They actually wanted* more* emotional weight this week. Why does fandom want me dead, bunk? I didn't even take their stash or nothin'.(yet.)

Cutty's bullet? Hell, no! I think that's a fan favorite everywhere and for generally the right reasons. I'm talking about the Bubbles/Sharrod subplot.

A little telegraphed, coming the way it did, but I seem to recall that something like that happened to the "real" Bubbles. I've no complaints though, apart from "George, you bastard!" Caught me without a tissue and everything. And somebody even warned me. But I thought, you know, I can carry it. I'm nobody's punk. But the Greek got me again.Pres blushed during the marriage discussion...how'd he *ever* survive a squad?(it was cute, though) ETA: My mother thinks my devotion to a show that can upset me this much is really crazy, btw.

Did anyone else crack up at Dexter's expression after he beaned Paul with the frying pan?

At chez shrift we had to pause, shriek, roll around on the couch, breathe, then rewind and watch it again. And possibly again. Roommate compared his expression to a child's "I made a poopie!" face.

Michael C. Hall deserves so many awards for this show.

Wireheads: check out the conservabot rant partway through the comments. Amusing!

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Also revealed: the state trooper who stops Carcetti on the way out of the building and tells him that the governor will finally see him is played by Maryland's real-life Republican governor.

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Comment Guy: What a dumbass. Obviously not watching the same program with the rest of us. And, yeah, I still believe good things happen in Baltimore sometimes, but obviously DS feels that showing us the problems is his mission at the moment. If we want to just feel mindlessly better, that is what a lot of TV is for. One of those guys drove me off of another Wire board because I kept "giving a fuck when it wasn't my turn" and engaging with his stupid ass. And, obviously, I don't agree that looking for support from society and social institutions=handout.

Did anyone else crack up at Dexter's expression after he beaned Paul with the frying pan? That look Michael C. Hall gave was the funniest thing in the whole series to date.

Oh, god, it was hilarious. "Harry always said don't let emotion get the better of you." WHAM.

MCH is brilliant in this role. I totally thought Dex was going to kill Paul, despite it being out of his ritual, due to his recent discovery of these "emotion" things. But I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't.

Anyone else kind of impressed at how Rudy is actually *more* creepy than Dexter? That takes some freaking skill. Hell, I would believe it too if he said he was falling in love with me, a la Debbie--that dude has social pretending *down.*

(Now I have crossovery thoughts with The Pretender. Ack.)

Anyone else kind of impressed at how Rudy is actually *more* creepy than Dexter?

Yes. Creepy-ass serial killer. Though it also creeps me out how much I like this show in which I'm more or less rooting for a sociopath serial killer. Except, it doesn't actually creep me out. Creepy.

Did anyone else crack up at Dexter's expression after he beaned Paul with the frying pan? That look Michael C. Hall gave was the funniest thing in the whole series to date.

Oh my god. Priceless.

Does anyone know how many eps there are in the season?

I believe it's 12 episodes.