MovieChat Forums > The Wire (2002) Discussion > Great show, but a couple small things an...

Great show, but a couple small things annoyed me

posted 5 years ago by JunoItsBill (93)
3 replies | jump to latest

Incredible show, I love it, but there are a couple instances of how oblivious and stupid the police are to basic ideas of investigation that annoy me. Off the top of my head only one or two come to mind, but I definitely remember multiple instances where I said to myself “come on, really?”

For example, season 2 when Officer Russel is trying to figure out a way to track the shipping containers. She takes the big guy, who put Ziggy on top of a stack, out for coffee to try to make him an informant. And he hints to her to look into the computer system that they use to manage the containers for her to track containers, then she lights up and says “the computer!” as if that was some crazy idea that no one would ever think of on their own. I thought that was absurdly stupid. Russell or the detectives could have just googled ‘how do dock workers record/track shipping containers,’ if they really couldn’t just think about it for 20 seconds and realize there’s obviously a computer system the checkers use with the scanners they’re always using. “How can we ever figure out where these containers go and how they’re stealing them? No way should we look into the computer system they use to track and account for the containers. Maybe the union uses some secret code written on hidden pieces of paper, or maybe they just remember where the thousands upon thousands of containers are stored and moved?”

Or in season 1 when the detail is trying to figure out who is in Barksdale’s crew, Kima, Herc and Carver are on the rooftop taking pictures of the Barksdale crew being identified by informant Bubbles as he places hats on them. Firstly, Carver and Herc cannot even come close to guessing why they would be doing that or what the hats could possibly mean. Then when Kima is asked, instead of enlightening them with one or two sentences, she has this arrogant look on her face as she refuses to explain then walks off like she’s some kind of genius prodigy detective.

I can only remember those two at the moment, but I’m certain there are numerous examples of the cops being oblivious to the most obvious things. I understand that they’re trying to portray the department as being dysfunctional and having lots of incompetent people, but 14 year olds without police training would be able to figure these things out. The writers’ could have definitely done a better job on these scenes/dialogue.

[–] MichaelJPollock (731) 5 years ago

The somewhat cartoonish Brother Mouzone character introduced in Season 2, in an otherwise extremely realistic series with quasi-documentary qualities, always bothered me.
Omar, though a great character, also comes close to crossing the line from mythical into cartoon territory (he's just too invincible and ubiquitous...).
But yes, great show indeed. Haven't seen better since, in therm of scope and quasi-anthropological value.
Looks like a follow-up with the original cast is under preparation...

[–] daveyh (623) 4 years ago

If we're going to talk about ridiculous moments with Beadie Russell, I've got to go for the part near the end of Season 2 when she "follows" Vondas in the hotel. I don't think she could have been any less subtle if she tried. And yet the other detectives are watching this and saying "she wasn't much when she came here but look at her now" or words to that effect.

[–] Who (5146) 4 years ago

Russell or the detectives could have just googled ‘how do dock workers record/track shipping containers,’ if they really couldn’t just think about it for 20 seconds and realize there’s obviously a computer system the checkers use with the scanners they’re always using.

Season 2 was filmed in 2001 and aired in 2002. Google was relatively new then, most people were using Yahoo which was clunky and produced limited search results. I recall doing boolean searches on Alta Vista in 2002 to try and get good info. Computer illiteracy was widespread, and most police departments were still populated with old school veterns who were reluctant to move into the tech era.