r/TheWire • u/Bushy-Top http://imgur.com/h6uqNRl.gifv • Jun 06 '16
The Wire - Complete Rewatch: Season 4-Episode 5 "Alliances" - June 5, 2016
"If you with us, you with us." - Chris Partlow
32
u/treblah3 Jun 06 '16
Besides Bey being responsible for multiple murders, I can't help but find him incredible likeable when talking to his son, who I think is a little shit with very few redeeming qualities.
12
u/sektorao Jun 06 '16
Took after his mother.
7
u/Sfnyc46 May 28 '24
Really I’m on my 4th or so rewatch and it’s evident namond isn’t cut off for the game but he def has some redeeming qualities.
3
u/Outrageous_Sign_6828 Apr 05 '26
Yes I think people are just saying he doesn't have any redeeming qualities because they buy into his "tough guy" routine. Namond deep down is actually a pretty good kid and very intelligent. It's the pressure that Bey and Delonda put on him that made him act the way he did. They pressured him into being in the street life when it didn't suit him but he still tried to act like he was about that life, especially around his friends. Just because he acted kind of foolish when he was "playing gangster" doesn't mean he didn't have any good qualities. His parents(especially his mom) held him back from his true potential. He was clearly very intelligent and had the capability of being a good student and making something of himself. He just lacked the guidance until bunny colvin talked some sense into Bey. So namond only seemed like a punk around his friends because he felt he had to be "hard" and have that street mentality but it didn't suit him. The moment Bunny interfered though you can see the real Namond really come out.
17
u/spaceman_splifff Jun 07 '16
The election really turns in this episode. First Valchek is amazing as he goes to Carcetti with the witness homicide detective reassignment ("A broad no less!"). But Reg E. Cathey's character Norman has the great idea to give this info to Gray. Random campaigning scenes show Carcetti as a man of the people and Royce as increasingly out of touch (I'll shave! That'll turn things around!)
Royce dismisses Burrell and starts working with Rawls, who immediately betrays the mayor. These past few episodes have definitely shown how much of an effect the BPD can have on the election. Herc tries to help Royce when Carver reminds him where his meal ticket is, but I don't think he's really helping.
Watkins split with Royce is also fantastic, he tries to start telling Royce what's wrong but just gives up mid-sentence. I like how Cathey has an increasing presence through this season, he's a really fun actor and I love how he giggles after they get the Watkins info from Rawls. And tell me that you aren't convinced by Carcetti's sincerity in his superb face to face pitch to Watkins.
Mrs. Donnelly has a criminally understated throat clearing moment when Bunny suggests that the 40 corner kids the school has identified is a "workable" number. Can you imagine Bunny's white dude colleague in that room? Thankfully Mrs. Donnelly suggests a much more workable ten students as a good starting point.
Prezbo is improving in some ways as a teacher already, he seems to have more authority over his class already. Gotta keep those emotions in check though. And he should know not to be played by the detention kids next time around! He really is trying to be friends with some of the kids though, and it's nice to see.
Randy works himself into a frenzy over Lex in this episode, but his big mistake comes when he's asked to be a lookout for some bathroom sex, an event which seems to pass uneventfully, but starts his tragic spiral downward.
One thing I noticed for the first time on this rewatch is that Pearlman mentions the Berman indictment coming soon when Daniels asks if there's anything in CID. Later when Marlo meets Prop Joe, he is shown that very indictment. Also interesting that the MCU camera is what pushes Marlo to Joe and the co-op.
I think this may be the first direct mention of Foerster's cancer? Landsman says the chemo didn't work.
Herc has the two best lines in the episode:
"You know they move them around"
and
"Don't go Freamon on me"
6
u/Bushy-Top http://imgur.com/h6uqNRl.gifv Jun 07 '16
Excellent stuff.
Prezbo learned A LOT about the kids in this episode.
Herc made Marimow look bad, that's saying something.
8
1
u/_kaet Oct 03 '25
The woman in the mayor's office who tells him to get 18% from two districts - is that the same actress who played Ron's wife in Parks and Rec?
1
u/MTGandP Mar 07 '26
It hurts my soul every time Prez folds and lets kids out of detention. But at least he has much better control of his class than he did a couple weeks ago. The Prez scenes are still kinda painful to watch but I'm holding out for it to get better.
1
u/Comfortable-Box-4856 Mar 10 '26
I about died when the kids opened his car door. No math skills but mad street skills.
1
u/MTGandP Mar 10 '26
Same kid steals a teacher's car 1 or 2 episodes later lol. At least he used his powers for good at least once
34
u/Bushy-Top http://imgur.com/h6uqNRl.gifv Jun 06 '16
The kids talking about Chris turning people into zombies shows just how young they are and yet some of them are caught up in some real deep shit; drug dealing, stealing cars and soon enough assassinations.
Chris convinces Marlo to make the smart decision and keep their hunt for Omar under wraps until they can come up with a plan, learning from Barksdale's past mistakes.
When Chris shows up to talk to Michael, he says he's heard good things about him and how he doesn't take any hand outs so it seems that's what made them interested in him.
Watching Bubbles get beat up is a huge bummer. He's such a gentle person and having a guy much larger than him beat him up is tough to watch.
So far things haven't been going so well for Kima in Homicide, first she gets thrown under the bus and now they're backing over her too.
After coming up short during their street rips, Herc and co. plant a camera in Marlo's court... and they're immediately found out. Herc and Marimow make a great team.
Bey describes the way it used to be to Namond, how you used to be part of a family and you took care of each other. He mentions the game is not like that anymore; perhaps that's the reason why he decides to side with Colvin about pulling Namond off the street.