Most recent public comments by Chelsea Williams https://nowcomment.com/users/18879 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481240 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481240 With Wallace and D'Angelo we almost have a parallel story line. Both go against the code, which ends in their death. D'Angelo seeing the purity in Wallace, tries to save him from the game, but ultimately he can't even save himself. Wallace is torn up about what happens to Brandon, but I also think he is torn up about the role he plays in his demise. D'Angelo and Wallace are predecessors to Namond who similarly is not cut out for the game either. Fortunately, Wee-Bey allows for Colvin to take him in which saves him from an untimely demise like Wallace and D'Angelo. The show continuously shows us how the game has no sympathy for the weak or the pure. Even the big players such as Avon and Stringer can't last the full series. Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:42:57 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481228 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481228 While I do think that Bubs trusting the police to help him and them letting him down is a great failure on the police's part, I would not say this is a commentary on police. I would say this is more of a reflection of Herc as a police officer. Around this time, he is going through his own issues and does not go through the proper channels as he is investigating his cases, which leads him to not being able to properly protect Bubs. Also, it seems to be common knowledge by some of the people in the streets that Bubs is an informant, so I don't believe he is seen as a traitor. Also, as a drug addict Bubs is not given as much credibility as a corner boy, so even if everyone knew he was a snitch it would not hold as much weight as if Michael was an informant. Sun, 28 Feb 2016 20:19:11 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481183 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481183 This section about how men deal with their potential babies is interesting to me, because not once do they say they simply get a paternity test to determine if the baby is there's. Also, aside from D'Angelo and Donnette, we do not see any of the characters with their own children. This article makes it seem that paternity scares and child births are normal occurrences for corner boys and an issue amongst young men in inner cities. Why is it then that you think Simon and Burns left this narrative out of The Wire? Do you think this plays into the lack of female characters in The Wire in general? Or do you think that children would not add to the overall message in The Wire? Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:16:31 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481176 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=481176 I definitely agree that death is part of the culture, but not jus for Baltimore but all inner cities. The mind-state described in this paragraph is personified in Season 4 in the corner boy classroom. Nahmond and others said they didn't expect to make it past 25 (my number may be off), because the game would catch up to them. They were not afraid and even laughed about the matter, because death was the norm for them and it even seemed like something they wanted. Bodie also had this mindset when Chris and Snoop set up his killing. He wanted to die rather than look like a punk to his own corner. He did not fear Marlow like everyone else, and gave his life for his beliefs. The street life is so popular because of the respect the boys get who "convincingly display" this mindset. Sun, 28 Feb 2016 18:55:16 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=455177 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=455177 Adding to what my peers have said, I love the juxtaposition of Barksdale's gang with the police department. However, one clear difference is that in the police department their own stubborn ways often gets in the way of their success. Due to their corruption, they are unable to actually accomplish their end goal of taking down the Barksdale ring. Instead, they just allow them to change leadership, and give them lesser charges. McNulty and Freamon are always ont he right mark, but because they don't have the support of their leadership they miss out on captures. It also makes it hard for the audience to find someone to root for. You know that Barksdale is wrong, but you kind of want to see him win just as McNulty's arrogance kind of makes him hard to root for, but nevertheless we're equally invested in both sides. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:32:46 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=455136 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=455136 While I agree that because of the thorough research that went into this project, it makes the reality of the show more believable. I also feel this way about The Sopranos, which to my knowledge did not have the same extensive background research. I guess the difference between the shows is The Sopranos was not a social commentary piece, which adds to The Wire's powerfulness in its reception. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:23:00 -0500