The media exposes Hamsterdam and Colvin gives McNulty an important lead.
This is one of the great frustrating episodes of The Wire with a very plausible depiction of its subject matter.
One of the best aspects of the story is the depressingly accurate portrayal of self-serving individuals and political manoeuvring within organisations. The fallout of the Hamsterdam initiative is cleverly written, particularly in how it contrasts how numerous characters feel personally about the situation with the actions they take, either for survival or personal gain. I have witnessed this behaviour all my life and it rings very true here.
It does a great job of showing that institutional change is sometimes impossible and those who try can end up being destroyed. However, the uplifting message that individuals can change is epitomised by the character Dennis and once again the scenes in the boxing gym feel like a sanctuary from the horrors of the outside world.
The horrors include the absurd 'Apocalypse Now' tribute led by Rawls and the assault teams, the two faced backstabbing of numerous characters, the sanctimonious bulls**t peddled to gullible voters by a wannabe mayor, and the fate of the junky hell bent on self destruction.
It nicely concludes the season for a number of characters and lays the foundations for what is to come.
For me the standout performances come from Robert Wisdom, Dominic West, Frankie Faison, Glynn Turman, Anwan Glover, Wood Harris, and Aiden Gillen.
Season 3 expanded the narrative of the show to the street corners and city hall of Baltimore, introduced great new characters like Colvin and Dennis, and portrayed the dysfunctional aspects of a society brilliantly. It even found time to make allusions to the US (and allies) at war with Iraq and Afghanistan. It is another great work of television by the writers, filmmakers and performers.
This is one of the great frustrating episodes of The Wire with a very plausible depiction of its subject matter.
One of the best aspects of the story is the depressingly accurate portrayal of self-serving individuals and political manoeuvring within organisations. The fallout of the Hamsterdam initiative is cleverly written, particularly in how it contrasts how numerous characters feel personally about the situation with the actions they take, either for survival or personal gain. I have witnessed this behaviour all my life and it rings very true here.
It does a great job of showing that institutional change is sometimes impossible and those who try can end up being destroyed. However, the uplifting message that individuals can change is epitomised by the character Dennis and once again the scenes in the boxing gym feel like a sanctuary from the horrors of the outside world.
The horrors include the absurd 'Apocalypse Now' tribute led by Rawls and the assault teams, the two faced backstabbing of numerous characters, the sanctimonious bulls**t peddled to gullible voters by a wannabe mayor, and the fate of the junky hell bent on self destruction.
It nicely concludes the season for a number of characters and lays the foundations for what is to come.
For me the standout performances come from Robert Wisdom, Dominic West, Frankie Faison, Glynn Turman, Anwan Glover, Wood Harris, and Aiden Gillen.
Season 3 expanded the narrative of the show to the street corners and city hall of Baltimore, introduced great new characters like Colvin and Dennis, and portrayed the dysfunctional aspects of a society brilliantly. It even found time to make allusions to the US (and allies) at war with Iraq and Afghanistan. It is another great work of television by the writers, filmmakers and performers.