The Wire–Episode 58

We knew it was coming. Just didn’t know it was this episode, or that it would be so sudden. We actually tricked ourselves into believing that Omar would die in some gunfight. That was too easy, and this show’s never been particularly easy. We dont’ get something just because we expect it. And I’ll tell ya–it took some pride swallowing to be able to write Omar’s death in such an understated fashion. There’s your greatest creation, David Simon, and you just dropped him off the face of the earth like everybody else. Not everybody could do that.
Also, it showed Simon’s ability to wrap things up quickly without feeling rushed, which bodes well for what appears to be myriad things that must be resolved by the end of the series. I have greater faith now than ever that everything important will be tied up. It’s just going to take a clinically precise piece of writing to pull it off.
1. It had to happen like that. Look, Omar had exceeded his life expectancy in a way no character on The Wire ever had. People die when they’re supposed to on here. Omar, by and large, had been incredibly lucky. He had to get it in an unexpected way because that’s how cats like him die. He was never invincible Just incredible. And incredible was good enough for him to be one of the greatest creations in television history. The Wire has made a lot of people love a murderous homosexual black man. Yes, David Simon, you are a genius.
2. How do I feel about Kenard now? I no longer feel bad for enjoying him getting his ass kicked in Season 4. He’s on my “on fire” list. As in, people I wish would die by catching on fire. He killed Omar. But, I’ll be damned if he didn’t play that part to death.
3. Poot! I miss Poot. In Marlo’s camp, none of the hoppers are any fun. Straight Semper Fi. But Poot telling Dukie to bang some more and them come back…damn. What can a kid do in that situation? I got a bad feeling about what that thing is.
4. Remember…when Bubbles came up with the hot shot plan, he was in a horse stable. And where did this cat tell Duke he was? The stables. Ruh roh.
5. McNulty’s cooked. Someone hit him with something he should have, but never did, consider. Somebody would figure out that something was up. Didn’t have to know what was up. Just had to figure it was something, and he’d be at his mercy. Not looking good, Jimmy. But you’re oh so close because…
6. …Sydnor cracked the code. It’s on. But how?
7. Classic humor. The cops playing with the GPS? That’s so damn funny. Plus, the thought of a cop hemming someone up in a Kia Sephia. Kinda lacks the majesty of the Crown Vic, dig?
8. I hate Carcetti. Bastard.
9. Back to Omar. It was time for him to go. He was so old and weary. He was almost like Willy Loman, at the point in his life where he didn’t have anyone left. The game had taken everyone from him that ever really had his back (save for his grandmother). He was fighting on principle in a battle based on the bottom line. There was nothing left for him to do because there was nothing else he could do. He made his point. And when that was done, he had nothing else. He had all that money, but it was never about that with Omar. I’m not sad he died. There was nothing left to live for.
10. Where to go for Mike? They’re really tired of his lip, Chris and Snoop. But it’s really just Snoop, and her jealousy has always been apparent.
11. Chris is set to turn. See that look on his face when Marlo said they were due some time in Atlantic City, as if Marlo had anything to sweat? Great moment of subtlety.
12. The description of the serial killer. Kinda saw that one coming, but still great.
13. Lester’s a G. How else do you shake down a shakedown artist?
14. One thing for McNulty. You can’t say his plan didn’t work. This is Hamsterdam redux. Which means he’s going to really get it in a bad way. Assuming he doesn’t give it to himself.
15. Gus, you’re up next. Open act of defiance. Not a good sign for your future on The Wire. Which means Templeton’s gonna win out.
(BTW, I’ve never been like that about edits. I’m starting to wonder if, at times, I should have been. Always felt like the only thing that truly mattered was the essential point. But that was just me. Was.)
16. The bag scene at the end was perfect. Omar will live on in perpetuity, but under the radar of the mainstream. He is a street legend, from here on out.

16 thoughts on “The Wire–Episode 58”

  1. Brilliant episode. We all know that this show has been criminally snubbed during awards season, but I seriously don’t know how you get away with not acknowledging Michael K. Williams brilliance this time around. My only point of confusion, and it’s a nit-picky one, is how come there was no limp evident when he entered the store?

  2. The lack of a limp suggests that his finale was shot before they developed the story around The Jump.
    BTW: The older dude who got smoked in Monk’s apartment is the real life Omar. Troof!
    Further still, that actor, Donnie Andrews is married to the real life Fran from “The Corner”.
    The dude who played the Reverend (Bunny Colvin’s friend in S04) is one of the real life inspirations for Avon Barksdale.
    One of the detectives on the show was a real life cop in B-More when all this was going down.
    I’m sure there are many more.
    A web of interconnections.

  3. Funny how I don’t watch this show, but with the Internet and nearly every blog on fire, I’ve come to love Omar and Snoop. My new gay gangsta heroes! A classic moment was a few weeks back when Terrence from 106th & Park tried to clown ‘Snoop’ and she nearly threatened to ‘out’ him on live national tv. I also can’t wait to read ‘Snoops’ new book which she’s hawking on Amazon.

  4. love reading your episode writeups. And while i did want a big epic death scene for omar, you’re right, it had to be the way it was.
    Anyways, i just watched ep 9, can’t wait to read what you got to say about that one.

  5. The way Omar was taken out was some of the best writing in television history. In real life, people like Omar don’t die in a blaze of glory taking out the bad guys. No, they get it in a convience store when they let their guard down. That whole scene was flawless.

  6. Great episode. I’m about to watch the second-to-last episode in a few but know this — I ain’t snitchin!
    Kennard was a funny little grown ass kid. No respect, no worries, just trying to grow up faster than his tiny ass really was. Crazy… but I’ve seen it many a time before. Guess that Omar ending had to be like that… but I’ll admit it was pretty sudden. He was losing it, yelling on the street in desperation and what have you. Of course it all makes sense now… ha.

  7. good Work, Bomani. Great comments all.
    1. Kennard, Kennard, Kennard…what can we say? Bo, I’m surprised that you didn’t mention Kennard dousing the cat with lighter fluid before he took out the O. That was a view into the soul of a killer. Kennard is the TV version of Chi town’s Robert “Yummy” Sandifer. Google that shit.
    1a. Where does Kennard live? Who are his parents? Is he in school? Is he a ward of the state? Who is he accountable to? Does he only eat fast food purchased with hopper money? Will he claim the bounty on Omar? Will anyone believe that he did it? What will he do with the 50K?
    2. The mighty O. I hate to see you go. I was disturbed for a whole day after I seen that shit. But it had to be this way. In a way, you knew it, and we knew it. I’m sure that renaldo steeled himself to never see you again after you left your Carribean paradise. you were a good man.
    3. the sad irony of all this is that Omar’s P.R. campaign against Marlo was all for naught. snop and Chris definiteyl took pains to keep Omar’s taunts from Marlo’s ears, as evidenced by the scene where they told Mike that they wouldn’t tell him. So you are left to assume that Marlo never knew of anything that Omar was doing or saying. Remember, he killed Junebug’s whole family for merely insinuating that Marlo was gay. So in some way, Snoop and Chris robbed Omar of the blaze of glory he desired so badly.
    4. The Wire blogger of NJ.com said some shocking shit; the Kennard story started in Season Three. Remember when those little kids were running around talking about “it’s my turn to be Omar”? The kid who said that line was Kennard. real talk.
    5. I knew the body bag scene had to happen. There was nobody left to mourn the O with. Nobody we could look in on to see their sadness at the loss. So we had to see him one mo gin, to pay our last respects.
    6. Poot always struggled with the receding hairline. Glad to see that he took the kovodis one level lower to disguise it. I hate Poot for the Wallace thing, and he didn’t stand tall for Bodie.
    7. One more note on the Mighty O: it was fitting that Bunk came to the scene for a final meeting. These two had two epic conversations that really amounted to two of the greatest scenes in teh show. Outside at that park bench in season three, and in the interrogation room in season four. Also, Bunk had known Omar longer than anyone else in B-More, dating back to their time in high school.

  8. Who else peeped Jim Jones from Dipset standing outside the carryout when Snoop comes out?
    I despise Jones so much, it almost dampens my love for the show.

  9. so perfect the downfall of omar. only person able to sneak up on omar would have to be a kid. too slick for anyone else. remember you gotta have a code. kids and old folks dont fit into it.

  10. something about the omar death scene –
    there was a very similar scene in richard price’s book ‘clockers,’ where a young, aspiring hustler shoots an o.g. with no real provocation.
    richard price was a writer for ‘the wire’ and is a damn good author. i suggest his novels.
    even if it is recycled material, it was the perfect ending for a character like omar.

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