THE TARGET
- When I first heard the guy who got shot's name was Snot Boogie, I had no idea what to make of that. And who would really. The closing line pre-intro is one of the show's best. Paraphrasing "why'd you let the guy play if he always stole the money?" "Got to, this America man"
...when it's not your turn – McNulty
- The opening trial scene is the best post-intro scene in the first episode of any show that I've seen. Levy's lack of questioning to the first witness as telling of some bullshit about to go down. Stringer's drawn picture that he showed McNulty was the best. The only thing regarding this scene I don't understand is why a different prosecutor was used than the one that was intended to be used throughout the whole run of the show. Anyway, as we know that dumb bitch security guard contradicts the testimony of the initial witness and says she didn't see DeAngelo shoot the guy. And so it goes. McNulty's level of disgust after hearing this was hilarious, coupled with that nicely done quip, that was great. And the moron assigned to the case putting his phone up to his cock was just as good. He doesn't believe McNulty either.
- The first takedown did a great job establishing what kind of fuckheads we're watching do their work in this show. SHIT GON SCRATCH THE PAINT DON'T PUT THAT SHIT ON MY CAR. TWO GUNS. That shotty was p. neat though.
- Jury finds D'Angelo not guilty of first and second degree murder. Look on that idiot detective's face makes my day. "You have a nice day."
- McNulty bitching to judges is going to be a theme here...
- lol typewriters in 2002. Even my technologically parents had a computer then. Carver burned Herc pretty good regarding the possibility of them using an actual computer for their work. "You can't even call this shit a war. Wars end." GOAT comment.
- Funny to see how much Bunk didn't want that body to come back as a murder.
- See look what McNulty done fucked up. He told people about Avon Barksdale and NARCOTICS doesn't even know who he is. Nobody does! McNulty doesn't expect the shit he's about to get, but hey Rawls loves giving the big stick to everyone! "You see these McNulty, you see them...these are for you" LOL. The casual use of "African-American person" by Rawls in this conversation made me a little uncomfortable. McNulty lying and saying he didn't know the judge was going to call anyone was a very amusing lie. TYPE THAT REPORT BOY. WITH DOTS.
- So everyone's stuck at the police station typing reports. Meanwhile, D'Angelo is telling Wee-Bey that shit Stringer pulled during the trial was sick. BUT DON'T TALK IN THE CAR. Discipline and rules are the only way to run a tight ship in the drug game.
From here on out I'm gonna call D'Angelo, D. Reason being, I keep spelling his name incorrectly, and that apostrophe is giving me fits. Plus, everyone calls him that.
- We meet Avon for the first time as he's being told by Stringer that there's a cop who wants to get in their shit. Avon then gives D all kinds of shit for shooting the guy and putting the business and himself in that kind of trouble. Ha at "when I get back to the tower." Okay.
- Unfortunately Bunk's body didn't come back a natural death. Too bad. Gonna have to do some police work. McNulty was pretty stupid to tell Landsman where he didn't wanna go. Short-sighted to the max.
- D pulling up to the tower only to be told it's time for him to go down to The Pit left him quite incredulous. But did he really think he was gonna get his spot back after shooting some guy in a lobby?
- lol at Wallace thinking D was down in The Pit cause he messed up a count. No, he killed someone. DUH. This contrasts little kids who sell drugs from hardened criminals who know better quite well.
- Bubbles money scheme was the absolute worst thing. His attempt to "get Johnny brown" was funny shit. Now I can't understand how it actually worked on Wallace but, you know, this harkens back to the kids who sell drugs thing. D was too trusting and expected Wallace to do it right, and nearly put it away, but Bodie knew better and told him to count it. Back when Bubbles and Johnny are getting high and all fucked up and shit was something I can imagine less desensitized viewers probably weren't expecting or comfortable with watching. That's life though.
- lol buy-busts.
- The tour through the FBI field office was pretty neat, as was their video of ongoing surveillance. We learn that this is the last drug case pending for these Feds.
- Johnny's gonna do the money scam now. What a fuckin' bad idea. He's too anxious, cutting in line and shit and confusing Wallace who's just too dumb for this shit. So he throws the "money" in Wallace's hand, that's obviously a bad idea, and now Johnny's gonna get fuckin' CRACKED. They trip him, knock him over, then Bodie, Poot, and Wallace go to town on him like animals.
- First meeting on the major case against Avon begins now, and McNulty starts immediately with calling the current plan wrong. Well, he's right of course, but there are negatives to taking that course of action. CHAIN OF COMMAND, Daniels is just following orders, so McNulty is bitching up the wrong tree and hasn't earned the right to do differently. Yeah he's right, most people would do the same shit, but cops have to follow rules, right? At least he knows how fucked he is.
- D doesn't approve of Johnny getting beat up like a pile of shit over a few bucks. Yeah it's all in the game, but that shit's dumb. lol 20 dollars for a drink that's some kind of racket if I've ever heard one.
- This is when we find out Kima's a lesbian but anyone should have had her pegged from the start. That wasn't exactly a huge reveal.
- Jimmy pissing in the wind with a train rolling down the tracks straight at him was quite metaphorical. Great example of one scene in one show telling you everything that's ahead in the subsequent season of the show.
- Johnny in a coma was quite fucked up. And as such, time for Bubs to do some snitchin'.
- Closing scene starts with a hungover and overworked Bunk having to go out to another body. Is it any wonder so many murders slip through the cracks? I really hate the editing in reminding the viewer of Gant's importance to the show, it's good that never happens again. D's there, he sees, and he knows. And that fucks him up, just because one person said some shit about him in a case where D was proven innocent the guy gets a shot to the dome. That's fucked up and unfair. And that's the first episode.
Videos:
The Wire Season 1 Opening & Intro
The Wire - Rawls Has A Gift For McNulty
The Wire | Johnny Learns a Lesson From The Pit Boys
It's odd because I don't remember the first episode being as good as this, yet it is. But for a first time viewer I can easily see how they would get confused or not understand exactly what it is they're watching, why the police act this way, operation of drug organizations, etc. However, I prefer shows that don't baby viewers and treat them like idiots so stuff like this is up my alley and always was from the beginning. First time I watched this episode (and this was without people telling me how good it was, and how imperative it was that I watch this show), I knew I'd watch all of them. I found it on HBO on Demand one day, tried it out and got hooked immediately.