Thoughts on Rewatching the Third Season
Over the last month I rewatched the Third Season. Now, I’ve watched every episode of the Wire twice save the Second Season (which is many people’s favorite).
I forgot how good it is. Sociologically, I think it’s the most interesting of the five. The season’s central conflicts – Hamsterdam, Cutty’s journey from soldier to boxing coach, Carcetti’s rise, and the tension between Avon and Stringer – were some of the show’s strongest.
There’s a long list of memorable scenes from this season: Bunk and Omar discussing the moral disintegration of their neighborhood since their youth; Bunny Colvin lecturing Carver about the difference between soldiering and policing as well as his “there ain’t never been a paper bag” speech; McNulty talking with D’Angelo’s mom in the police station. And, of course, the scene where Omar and Mouzone execute Stringer at his condo…. Rewatching that scene it felt tragic. Here’s a guy who tried to overcome his surrounding and upbringing and couldn’t. He looked vulnerable and scared.
Stringer and Avon had more than one great scene together. One of my favorites was the one where they tussle after Avon tells him he didn’t “have it in him” to be a gangster and Stringer tells him that he was responsible for D’Angelo’s death. And their final scene together on the rooftop penthouse looking over the city where Stringer tells him, “We ain’t gotta dream no more, man.”
The two had very different visions of what life can be. Avon is like Marlo. Both either cannot imagine, do not think they qualify or just don’t care about the life beyond the ghetto fiefdom they carved out for themselves. And in a way, why should they? They were both kings of their own neighborhoods, rulers of their own lives. And “the king stay the king” right? They believed in the gangster mystique and lived it to its apex.
Stringer was different. There are “games here beyond the game” he told Avon who never adjusted to Stringer’s way of thinking. Stringer wanted to be legitimate, to escape the neighborhood and be a downtown developer. But he shafted so many people on his way to becoming a lord of the underworld that it did him in. Ultimately, he couldn’t escape his past. If Avon had adjusted to Stringer’s plan, things could have gone well but, as Avon put it, “I’m a just a gangster, I suppose.”
Interesting how in the last episode, Avon comes around to Stringer’s position. He looks lost and lonely directing the hit that never happens against Marlo. It seems he realized his old partner’s logic too late.
Over the last month I rewatched the Third Season. Now, I’ve watched every episode of the Wire twice save the Second Season (which is many people’s favorite).
I forgot how good it is. Sociologically, I think it’s the most interesting of the five. The season’s central conflicts – Hamsterdam, Cutty’s journey from soldier to boxing coach, Carcetti’s rise, and the tension between Avon and Stringer – were some of the show’s strongest.
There’s a long list of memorable scenes from this season: Bunk and Omar discussing the moral disintegration of their neighborhood since their youth; Bunny Colvin lecturing Carver about the difference between soldiering and policing as well as his “there ain’t never been a paper bag” speech; McNulty talking with D’Angelo’s mom in the police station. And, of course, the scene where Omar and Mouzone execute Stringer at his condo…. Rewatching that scene it felt tragic. Here’s a guy who tried to overcome his surrounding and upbringing and couldn’t. He looked vulnerable and scared.
Stringer and Avon had more than one great scene together. One of my favorites was the one where they tussle after Avon tells him he didn’t “have it in him” to be a gangster and Stringer tells him that he was responsible for D’Angelo’s death. And their final scene together on the rooftop penthouse looking over the city where Stringer tells him, “We ain’t gotta dream no more, man.”
The two had very different visions of what life can be. Avon is like Marlo. Both either cannot imagine, do not think they qualify or just don’t care about the life beyond the ghetto fiefdom they carved out for themselves. And in a way, why should they? They were both kings of their own neighborhoods, rulers of their own lives. And “the king stay the king” right? They believed in the gangster mystique and lived it to its apex.
Stringer was different. There are “games here beyond the game” he told Avon who never adjusted to Stringer’s way of thinking. Stringer wanted to be legitimate, to escape the neighborhood and be a downtown developer. But he shafted so many people on his way to becoming a lord of the underworld that it did him in. Ultimately, he couldn’t escape his past. If Avon had adjusted to Stringer’s plan, things could have gone well but, as Avon put it, “I’m a just a gangster, I suppose.”
Interesting how in the last episode, Avon comes around to Stringer’s position. He looks lost and lonely directing the hit that never happens against Marlo. It seems he realized his old partner’s logic too late.
posted by Andy Sywak at 7:59 PM
2 Comments:
Season 3 and Season 4 were both so great. Whichever one of the two I'm currently watching is my favorite season ever. DeAngelo's interpretation of The Great Gatsby in the prison book discussion group can be applied to Stringer and much of the series in general.
Big Fan here and I read your stuff all the time.
I like the parallel you used between Marlo and Avon, but I think it goes even deeper than that! Both were the kings of their domain, but had sooo much potential to flip there illegal activities into legals ones.
I also think Stringer and Chris P were paralleled becasue they both could see what their "bosses" couldn't and that was the end of and era - For Stringer, he saw that not turning legit could harm him, and for Chris chasing Omar would be there downfall..and both proved to be right!
thanks for the read!
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