The Wire: 10 years gone, the lessons still fit
HBO
The Wire, Season 3
Season 3 introduces all the characters that would be coming for the crown. The incumbents are mired in stagnation. Internal politics have prevented progress. Outside pressure brought about rushed poorly planned decisions. Burrell even mentions this “crisis of leadership.”
The pace is more furious, the stakes have been raised. Major Crimes and in-depth case files are established, but commanders use the force on whims or force horse trading favors. Even that is a hard sell when the unit is at a dead end and talk of ending the wire surveillance.
The Wire shows operational conflicts when interest become divided on both sides of the law. With any blemish used as a weapon, all the characters had to navigate political minefields. All of those except those with power, leverage and money — in that order. No one wants to have to get a real job.
There is competition for crowns on both sides. Marlo knows full well the nature of wearing the crown; Carcetti barely understood the obligations of the crowns he seeks. Again, The Wire shows it takes more wisdom and hustle to survive in the wild, whichever wild you choose. It is safe on the boat, pawn shop, or evidence. However, one can get lost there for 13 years, 4 months.
Season 3 focused on the efficiency and willingness to break rules for all the show’s major characters. Senator Clay Davis is perhaps the best role ever of a corrupt politician. McNulty and Bunk are forever partners at odds. Lester Freemon and Prezbo found a paper trail and started following the money, but the bosses killed the operation with a trigger that was light.
Marlo and Chris, with an assist of two from Snoop, start consolidating power and territory but must establish some boundaries on operational decisions. Rawls and Burrell’s friction leads to a new understanding of how things are going to function. Avon and Stringer begin their split as Avon transitions from post-prison to war mode.
The Hamsterdam experiment showed the other extreme of not enforcing drugs laws while not regulating the market either. It’s ugly, and only a temporary fix at best. Once the truth gets out, Mayor Royce and Commissioner Burrell have no choice but to shut it down.
Avon faces the same choices. He could take the hit for Stringer getting tangled up with Brother Mouzone and Omar, or he can make the choice to shut it down. In both cases, a decision was made to live another day, even if each finally came around to the ideas they helped kill.
The tough decisions on leadership and the cost of attaining positions of power lead to compromised characters. Standing on principle for an idea that is right is enviable but not always a wise long-term strategy. It could not only cost one the crown — but their lives.