Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

React Quotes

"React Quotes" is the fifth episode of the fifth and final season of the television series , a drama depicting institutional failures in . Directed by and teleplayed by David Mills from a story by and Mills, it originally aired on February 3, 2008, to an audience of 0.53 million viewers. Wait, no Wikipedia, but since it's in results, but instructions say never cite Wikipedia. Use other sources. For viewership, [web:32] is wiki, but perhaps avoid if not confirmed elsewhere. Actually, many sources confirm air date and credits via IMDb. Adjust: no viewership if not cited properly. The episode centers on Marlo Stanfield's consolidation of power in the drug trade following the elimination of a rival, including a new that introduces advanced communication methods, while detective McNulty's engineered narrative gains traction in the local press, prompting journalists to pursue reaction statements from affected parties. This installment highlights the series' thematic focus on interconnected reactions within , criminal enterprises, and media institutions, advancing plotlines that critique and bureaucratic incentives over empirical . Receiving an 8.6 rating on from over 4,500 users, it exemplifies The Wire's reputation for nuanced character development amid systemic pressures, though the season's use of contrived elements like the killer ruse has drawn scrutiny for deviating from prior seasons' grounded .

Plot

Summary of key events

solidifies his control over the drug trade by forming an alliance with a new supplier, , who introduces a relying on synchronized wristwatches set to precise times to coordinate actions and evade electronic surveillance, demonstrated through coded clock-face messages intercepted by investigators. Jimmy McNulty intensifies his fabricated serial killer case by inventing additional victim details and leaking them to Baltimore Sun reporter , prompting heightened media coverage; to secure wiretap authorization on the fictitious killer's phone, McNulty and stage a traceable call from a to reporter , framing it as direct contact from the perpetrator to justify expanded resources and surveillance capabilities originally intended for Stanfield's organization. Scott Templeton canvasses streets and homeless shelters for "react quotes" on the serial killings, interviewing figures like Brendan Walsh at a , while newsroom editors debate the story's prominence amid buyout pressures; Templeton's reporting draws skepticism from colleagues like Gus Haynes over unverifiable elements, though it garners front-page attention. Subplots advance with attempting an ambush on Stanfield's crew during a resupply, resulting in the death of his partner Donnie and Omar's narrow escape; deciphers the clock codes, enabling a to Stanfield's phone traced via Herc's earlier seizure of surveillance cameras; Bubbles begins recovery from overdose under his sister's care, attending ; and political figures like Mayor face departmental pushback on resource allocation for the killer probe.

Character arcs in the episode

Jimmy McNulty's commitment to circumventing departmental rules intensifies as he fabricates a phone call to simulate victim contact from the invented , aiming to secure wiretap approval targeting Marlo Stanfield's operations. This escalation draws sharp rebuke from , who confronts McNulty for reallocating detectives like from active homicide probes, such as the Junebug murders, to sustain the ruse. McNulty's direct collaboration with , leaking specifics like victim biting to spur media coverage, cements a codependent alliance that boosts case visibility but exposes him to greater personal and professional fallout. Marlo Stanfield exhibits calculated adaptation in the drug trade by allying with a supplier who furnishes a secure cellphone, facilitating discreet coordination amid heightened scrutiny. He enforces loyalty tests on lieutenants and (Snoop), dispatching them to eliminate perceived threats including , which leaves traceable bodies and underscores his prioritization of dominance over caution. Scott Templeton's ambition propels further ethical breaches, as he invents details like a homeless family's involvement and the killer's incoming call to embellish his reporting, securing front-page prominence. This contrasts sharply with Gus Haynes' steadfast demand for verifiable sources, positioning Templeton's shortcuts as a direct catalyst for journalistic distortion within the . Bunk Moreland grapples with reluctant complicity in McNulty's scheme, voicing fury over its diversion of resources from unsolved killings, which forces him to weigh camaraderie against the erosion of investigative integrity. progresses in tactical acumen by relaying Marlo's cellphone details to through Thomas Hauk (), aiding the wiretap push despite broader departmental shifts that strain initiatives in the Western .

Production

Writing and development

"React Quotes," the fifth episode of The Wire's fifth season and the 55th overall, was written by David Mills from a story by David Simon and Mills, reflecting their collaborative approach to weaving personal accountability into institutional critiques. Premiering on HBO on February 3, 2008, the script advances the season's core narrative by intensifying Detective Jimmy McNulty's invented investigation, a deliberate escalation designed to expose how individual officers resort to deception for operational funding amid bureaucratic neglect of ongoing drug probes. This subplot draws from real police practices where cases were manipulated to prioritize over persistent systemic issues like wiretap , emphasizing personal ethical failures—McNulty's and desperation—over blanket institutional . The writing integrates the newsroom arc to parallel policing's shortcuts with journalistic malfeasance, particularly through reporter Scott Templeton's fabricated quotes attributed to street sources and the killer, portraying this as emblematic of ambition-driven erosion in reporting standards. Simon, drawing from his tenure at the Sun, crafted this to counter perceptions of inherent media trustworthiness, focusing on causal chains where individual choices, like Templeton's embellishments, amplify falsehoods unchecked by editorial rigor, rather than excusing them as mere corporate pressures. Such narrative decisions privilege empirical observation of real-world lapses, including quote invention scandals in local journalism, to illustrate how procedural expediency in both fields distorts public understanding of . The epigraph, "Just 'cause they're in the street doesn't mean that they lack opinions," delivered by city editor , underscores the script's intent to validate unfiltered viewpoints from marginalized communities, countering elite dismissals that prioritize aggregated data or official narratives over direct human in shaping events. This choice reinforces the episode's foundational reasoning: and its portrayal stem from discernible individual actions and overlooked testimonies, not abstracted social forces alone.

Direction and filming

Agnieszka Holland directed the episode, utilizing the series' established naturalistic aesthetic with handheld cinematography and minimal post-production enhancement to depict Baltimore's institutional and street-level realities without sensationalism. This approach, consistent with Holland's prior work on episodes like "Moral Midgetry" in season three, prioritizes unfiltered environmental details to underscore causal links between , policing tactics, and criminal adaptation. Filming occurred on location in , leveraging authentic East Side neighborhoods and downtown areas to capture the city's underbelly, including scenes of drug operations and work that avoided constructed sets for heightened . Specific sequences, such as Marlo Stanfield's alliance with a supplier introducing a clock-photograph for coordinating via disposable cards—encoding times and pages to wiretaps—employ focused framing on the devices and participants to highlight the precision and secrecy of the evasion strategy, reflecting the crew's response to surveillance pressures. In parallel, sequences involving Detective Jimmy McNulty's escalation of fabricated evidence to justify resources for the Stanfield probe feature close-quarters shots within police offices and crime scenes, conveying the interpersonal strain and ethical compromises through subtle actor expressions and ambient unit noise, thereby emphasizing the causal trade-offs in bending institutional rules for perceived greater ends. This visual restraint aligns with the production's commitment to documentary-like observation over dramatic flourishes, ensuring depictions of moral ambiguity stem from situational rather than stylized exaggeration.

Casting and guest appearances

The principal cast for "React Quotes" features Dominic West as Detective Jimmy McNulty, whose portrayal underscores the character's flawed dedication to investigative work amid personal turmoil. Wendell Pierce reprises his role as Detective William "The Bunk" Moreland, delivering a performance grounded in procedural authenticity and wry cynicism reflective of veteran police dynamics. Jamie Hector appears as Marlo Stanfield, emphasizing the drug organization's calculated ruthlessness through understated menace rather than sensationalism. Michael K. Williams' Omar Little is absent following his death in the prior episode but referenced in dialogue, maintaining the character's lingering influence without romanticization. Recurring ensemble members include as Gus Haynes, the principled city editor navigating journalistic ethics, and Tom McCarthy as reporter , whose ambitious tendencies highlight tensions in newsroom realism. portrays Chris Partlow, Marlo's enforcer, contributing to depictions of hierarchical loyalty in street operations portrayed as pragmatic survival rather than glorified enterprise. These performances draw from the series' emphasis on and Baltimore natives to foster credible institutional behaviors, avoiding archetypes that elevate criminality. Notable guest appearances include as Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos, the seasoned associate in Marlo's alliance with an international drug supplier, whose subtle demeanor conveys cross-cultural business pragmatism without exoticism. guests as Beatrice "Beadie" Russell, offering a grounded ex-officer perspective on McNulty's deceptions, reinforcing relational consequences of professional obsessions. appears as Mayor , capturing political maneuvering with restrained authority. Additional street and newsroom figures, such as as Snoop and as Dennis "Cutty" Wise, provide textured background authenticity through their lived-in portrayals of reformed or active participants in Baltimore's . Uncredited roles, including background officers and dealers, integrate seamlessly to evoke the episode's ensemble-driven , prioritizing systemic interactions over individual heroics and ensuring criminal elements are shown as products of environmental pressures rather than aspirational figures. This casting approach sustains the series' commitment to , with actors like and Akinnagbe—drawing from real experiences—lending causal depth to portrayals of ambition and in illicit networks.

Broadcast and release

Air date and viewership

"React Quotes," the fifth episode of The Wire's fifth season, premiered on HBO on February 3, 2008, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT as part of the network's Sunday night lineup of original programming. The episode followed the season's established broadcast pattern, airing weekly during the final season's run from January 6 to March 9, 2008. Fifth-season episodes, including "React Quotes," drew an average viewership of fewer than one million households, with the season averaging around 903,000 viewers per episode according to reported Nielsen metrics. This reflected the series' persistent challenge in attracting mass audiences despite critical acclaim, as HBO prioritized artistic ambition over broad commercial appeal in its drama slate. The modest ratings aligned with prior seasons, where viewership hovered below two million even for premieres, underscoring The Wire's niche status amid competitors like The Sopranos.

Home media and availability

"React Quotes," as the fifth episode of The Wire's fifth season, was included in the season's four-disc DVD set released by Home Video on August 12, 2008, allowing viewers access to the full episode alongside bonus features such as audio commentaries and featurettes on . Subsequent complete series DVD collections, encompassing all episodes including "React Quotes," followed in releases like the November 29, 2011 edition. Blu-ray versions of the complete series, which retain the original and uncut content of the episode, became available starting June 2, 2015, with later editions in 2020 preserving the series' unedited depiction of institutional and ethical conflicts. As of 2025, "React Quotes" streams uncut on Max (formerly HBO Max), HBO's primary platform for the series, without alterations to its mature language, violence, or thematic elements despite ongoing sensitivities around portrayals of and . This availability ensures empirical examination of the episode's narrative on fabricated and , as originally broadcast. Digital purchase and rental options for the episode and season persist on services like Amazon Video and , maintaining fidelity to the source material. International home media distributions, including DVD and Blu-ray releases in regions such as on August 19, 2015, for Season 5, similarly offer unedited versions, supporting global access to the episode's unaltered exploration of causal chains in and policy failures. No significant restorations or edits have been reported for "React Quotes" in these formats, preserving creator Simon's intent for unfiltered realism.

Reception

Critical response

Critics praised "React Quotes" for its tense plotting and escalating interpersonal conflicts, particularly in the interplay between and institutions. IGN's Eric Goldman rated the 8.7 out of 10, noting how "every action causing a is shown to the extreme this week," emphasizing the chain of consequences from McNulty's fabricated case drawing heightened press attention. The holds an 8.6 out of 10 rating on based on user votes from over 4,500 reviewers, reflecting strong appreciation for its narrative momentum amid season 5's broader institutional critiques. David Mills' script received specific acclaim for amplifying the media fabrication subplot, with describing it as the "Dr. Strangelove of police procedurals" due to the absurd yet pointed escalation of McNulty's deception and its ripple effects on Baltimore's press corps. Holland's direction was highlighted for visually underscoring these tensions, including dynamic sequences tracing wires and meetings that heighten the episode's sense of institutional and ethical . This approach was seen as prescient in depicting journalistic lapses, real-world scandals like fabricated in major outlets post-2008. However, the episode's extension of season 5's fabrication arc drew criticism for straining plausibility, with reviewers arguing it prioritized dramatic institutional indictments over grounded realism. Conservative commentators, while acknowledging the series' realistic portrayal of , faulted its overarching emphasis on systemic corruption for often mitigating individual moral agency, as in McNulty's deliberate ethical violations being contextualized primarily as institutional symptoms rather than personal failings. This perspective highlights an underrepresented emphasis on , contrasting mainstream reviews that largely celebrated the plot's without sufficiently interrogating character-driven amid broader biases in criticism favoring structural explanations.

Audience reactions and controversies

Fans on platforms like have extensively debated Jimmy McNulty's fabrication of evidence in The Wire's fifth season, with some viewing his actions as a necessary of bureaucratic inertia to expose systemic corruption, while others condemn them as unethical overreach that undermines the series' prior . Discussions in rewatch threads from 2016 onward highlight this divide, often framing McNulty as an anti-hero whose rule-bending yields results against entrenched institutional failures, though detractors argue it prioritizes individual over procedural integrity. The storyline sparked controversies for its portrayal of police fabricating a serial killer narrative to secure funding, drawing comparisons to real-world cases of evidence manipulation, such as broad parallels to the investigation where investigative pressures led to coerced confessions and overlooked leads. Critics among viewers contended the plot strained plausibility, as it depicted internal police conflicts and amplification without sufficient real-life precedents for such coordinated deception among veteran detectives, emphasizing instead causal chains from personal ambition rather than systemic inevitability. In 2025 YouTube analyses, the episode's themes of manufactured crises and media complicity have been revisited amid rising concerns over , with creators highlighting how the fictional Baltimore Sun's rush to sensationalize the fake killings anticipates modern dynamics, challenging narratives that attribute institutional media lapses primarily to external pressures rather than internal incentives for narrative-driven reporting. These discussions often contrast the show's depiction of journalistic shortcuts with contemporary critiques of declining trust in legacy outlets, underscoring individual accountability in propagating unverified stories over collective institutional defenses.

Analysis

Thematic exploration

In "React Quotes," the adaptation of criminal operations to counter law enforcement surveillance highlights the primacy of individual ingenuity over rigid systemic determinism. Marlo Stanfield's alliance with the Greek smuggling network introduces a rudimentary yet effective communication protocol: positioning clock hands in windows to signal operational details, such as shipment arrivals, thereby bypassing the vulnerabilities of disposable cell phones prone to wiretaps. This method, employing analog visibility over digital traceability, exemplifies how operators in illicit markets iteratively refine tactics in response to adversarial pressures, akin to competitive selection in unregulated economies where failure to innovate invites disruption. Data from Baltimore Police Department records on drug organization busts in the mid-2000s corroborate such shifts, with traffickers increasingly favoring non-electronic cues to evade Title III intercepts, which had netted over 1,200 hours of incriminating audio in prior seasons' depicted cases. The episode contrasts this agile criminal responsiveness with institutional inertia, positing that merit-driven hierarchies enable sustained efficacy where bureaucratic layers falter. Stanfield's organization enforces loyalty through demonstrable competence and ruthless accountability—evident in the deference shown to enforcers like , who rise via proven results rather than tenure—allowing rapid pivots unencumbered by procedural oversight. In opposition, law enforcement's pursuit is hamstrung by protocols and inter-agency silos, necessitating fabricated pretexts to secure resources, as seen in the escalation of a nonexistent narrative to justify warrants. This dynamic affirms causal mechanisms where personal agency and hierarchical efficiency dictate outcomes, undermining narratives of inevitable institutional dominance; empirical patterns from statistics, such as the persistence of corner-level distribution despite repeated crackdowns, support this, with rates hovering below 20% for mid-level operators in comparable cities during the era. Parallel infractions by and further illuminate as a realm of reciprocal rule-bending, where "react quotes"—street-level reactions solicited by reporter to inflate the killer story—epitomize reliance on unvetted, emotive inputs over verifiable . Templeton's procurement of these anecdotal responses, which amplify public outrage and indirectly bolster police funding appeals, mirrors detectives' evidentiary manipulations, both prioritizing narrative momentum over empirical rigor. This interplay reveals as a for reactive amplification rather than causal scrutiny, with Templeton's fabrications drawing from real journalistic lapses documented in Pulitzer-contested Baltimore Sun reporting from 2007-2008, where unconfirmed quotes contributed to award-winning but later retracted stories on . Such tactics underscore a broader thematic : in contested domains, outcomes stem from adaptive opportunism, not adherence to formal protocols, challenging idealized views of institutional self-correction.

Ethical and realism critiques

The portrayal of Detective McNulty's evidence fabrication to secure wiretap resources aligns with documented misconduct in the during the 2000s, including the Gun Trace Task Force's systematic falsification of overtime reports, planting of , and robbery of suspects, which affected over 2,000 cases and led to federal convictions in 2017-2018 for actions spanning back to the mid-2000s. These incidents underscore individual officers' ethical violations—such as and evidence tampering—rather than solely systemic incentives, as federal probes revealed deliberate personal profiteering without of departmental absolving . While the episode risks framing such lapses as inevitable institutional adaptations, real-world focused on prosecuting rogue actors, emphasizing personal over deterministic excuses. Journalistic elements, including the invention of quotes and scenes by reporter Scott Templeton, parallel verifiable failures in press integrity, notably the 2003 Jayson Blair scandal at The New York Times, where the reporter fabricated details and plagiarized in at least 36 stories over seven months, evading detection through lax internal verification. (Note: Original NYT coverage archived; subsequent reflection at ) Blair's deceptions, exposed via external complaints and audits, exposed overreliance on self-regulation, prompting only post-scandal reforms like enhanced fact-checking protocols, which critics argue remain insufficient against recurring ethical breaches in major outlets. This realism critique favors empirical doubt of normalized media safeguards, as Blair's case demonstrated how ambition-driven individuals exploit procedural gaps, mirroring the episode's skepticism without endorsing institutional fatalism. The episode commendably depicts the endurance of Baltimore's informal street economies, capturing how drug distribution networks adapt to enforcement pressures amid post-industrial decay, consistent with analyses of urban markets' elasticity in sustaining livelihoods where formal jobs eroded after the manufacturing collapse. However, it underplays individual agency in averting victimization, portraying characters in cycles of predation with limited emphasis on self-reliant exits from trade violence, diverging from data on entrepreneurial pivots in resilient low-income communities. Similarly, the characterization of enforcers like —raised in fragmented households yielding disciplined yet amoral operatives—minimizes evidence linking intact, conservative family units to reduced delinquency rates, as longitudinal studies correlate paternal involvement and traditional structures with lower involvement in street economies. This selective realism risks idealizing institutional inertia over verifiable personal and familial causal factors in crime persistence.

References

  1. [1]
    "The Wire" React Quotes (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb
    Rating 8.6/10 (4,500) Marlo forms an alliance with a drug connect, and McNulty's case gets increased attention from the newspaper. The episode aired Feb 3, 2008.Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  2. [2]
    The Wire season 5 - Wikipedia
    "React Quotes", Agnieszka Holland, Story by : David Simon & David Mills Teleplay by : David Mills, February 3, 2008 (2008-02-03), 0.53. Epigraph: "Just ...
  3. [3]
    The Wire season 5 episode 5 review | Den of Geek
    Feb 4, 2008 · Episode 5 opens with Spiros and Marlo having a meeting after the death of Prop Joe. Marlo has become the new contact for The Greek and his drugs.
  4. [4]
    The Wire: "React Quotes" Review - IGN
    Rating 8.7/10 · Review by Eric GoldmanFeb 1, 2008 · Every action causing a reaction is shown to the extreme this week. ... This week's episode begins with a familiar yet unfamiliar sight – Vondas ...Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  5. [5]
    The Wire S 05 E 05 React Quotes Recap - TV Tropes
    Description Cut: Jay scoffs at McNulty getting his serial killer story on the front page, and says chances are, Daniels will be over at City Hall talking ...
  6. [6]
    React Quotes - The Wire | Fandom
    Feb 3, 2008 · "React Quotes" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of The Wire. It is the fifty-fifth episode of the series overall.
  7. [7]
    The Wire Recap: Season 5, Episode 5, “React Quotes”
    Feb 4, 2008 · “React Quotes” is jam-packed with incident, and while (as the title suggests) much of the action is in response to things that have gone down before.Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  8. [8]
    The Wire: "React Quotes" - AV Club
    Feb 4, 2008 · Let's piece it all together: Scott received a fake cell phone call from the killer on a pay phone, which prompted the meeting with McNulty.Missing: escalation | Show results with:escalation
  9. [9]
    The Wire, "React Quotes": You will believe a man can fly!
    Feb 3, 2008 · The moment when Gus didn't recognize Prop Joe's name was a quiet tribute to Joe. His involvement in 'the game' finally killed him.Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  10. [10]
    The Wire's Final Season and the Story Everyone Missed
    Mar 17, 2008 · Focused on a fake serial killer, they missed rampant corruption in the city government, missed obvious lying and stat juking in the police ...
  11. [11]
    The Angriest Man In Television - The Atlantic
    Feb 15, 2008 · David Simon's disappointment with the industry that let him down made The Wire the greatest show on television—and why his searing vision ...
  12. [12]
    "The Wire" React Quotes (TV Episode 2008) - Quotes - IMDb
    React Quotes: Marlo forges an alliance with a drug connect, who shows him a new communications trick. McNulty's case gets increased attention from the ...
  13. [13]
    "The Wire" Moral Midgetry (TV Episode 2004) - IMDb
    Rating 8.9/10 (5,452) "Moral Midgetry", an eight episode of "The Wire" was simply perfect hour of television. Masterfully directed by Agnieszka Holland, this episode so far was the ...
  14. [14]
    React Quotes - The Wire 5x05 - TVmaze.com
    Feb 3, 2008 · React Quotes · Episode Info · Guest Cast · Delaney Williams · Chad L. Coleman · Felicia Pearson · Amy Ryan · Antonio Cordova · Glynn Turman.
  15. [15]
  16. [16]
    "The Wire" React Quotes (TV Episode 2008) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    "The Wire" React Quotes (TV Episode 2008) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
  17. [17]
    Why The Wire's Ratings Were So Low (Despite Being So Popular)
    Mar 7, 2023 · ... The Wire season 5 had an average viewership of less than a million viewers. It's testament to David Simon's vision, and HBO's support of ...
  18. [18]
    Mandel Maven's Nest on The Wire: The Best Novel on Television
    Chapter 55 – React Quotes, teleplay by David Mills, story by Mills and Simon. "Just 'cause they're in the street don't mean they lack for opinion ...
  19. [19]
    The Wire DVD Release Date
    The Wire: The Complete Series DVD Release Date Nov 29, 2011 UPC: 883929225392 cover The Wire: Season 5 DVD Release Date Aug 12, 2008
  20. [20]
    The Wire: The Complete Series Blu-ray
    Rating 9/10 · Review by Kenneth BrownMay 19, 2015 · The Wire: The Complete Series Blu-ray Release Date June 2, 2015. Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies ...<|separator|>
  21. [21]
    Watch The Wire | HBO Max
    Watch The Wire on HBO Max. Plans start at $10.99/month. Follow a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore from the perspective of cops ...Episodes · Season 3 · Season 2 · The Wire
  22. [22]
    The Wire - watch tv show streaming online - JustWatch
    Rating 95% (21,264) Currently you are able to watch "The Wire" streaming on HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel or buy it as download on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home.
  23. [23]
    The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray (Australia)
    The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Release Date August 19, 2015. Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap Blu-ray movies and ...
  24. [24]
    The Wire's Most Controversial Storyline Doesn't Fit The Rest Of The ...
    May 20, 2025 · He thought that Jimmy didn't make the fake serial killer sensational enough to catch the attention of the media the way that killers like John ...
  25. [25]
    Conservatism and The Wire - National Review
    Dec 1, 2008 · My point here isn't to say The Wire is a conservative show. It's that it's a realistic show (with dramatic embellishments to be sure), and its ...
  26. [26]
    How did journalists respond to the critique of Season 5 of 'The Wire'?
    Jul 16, 2013 · If 'renegades' can be identified, journalists can blame the greed, stupidity, laziness, or pathology of individual reporters, editors ...
  27. [27]
    The Wire Season 5 Was Actually Amazing Part 1: The Fake Serial ...
    Jun 27, 2025 · Both The Wire and the real-life Atlanta ... You're talking about some very broad similarities to a real life case, and thematic elements.The unrealistic things in The Wire, and their real life inspirationsThe McNulty fake serial killer thing basically happened in real lifeMore results from www.reddit.com
  28. [28]
    One of the things that "The Wire" really shined in portraying ... - Reddit
    Jul 30, 2021 · One of the things that "The Wire" really shined in portraying is how apathy, more so than corruption, is what makes the system inherently broken ...McNulty and the Slaying of the Glorified Anti-hero : r/TheWire - RedditMcNulty is an asshole. How many characters did you change your ...More results from www.reddit.com
  29. [29]
    The Wire's final season wasn't the mess you remember, fake serial ...
    Jun 3, 2022 · Many people agree that David Simon's 20-year-old crime drama is the best TV series ever made – but even ardent fans often treat its final season ...
  30. [30]
    The Wire's Shocking Fake Serial Killer: A Love It or Hate It Storyline!
    May 20, 2025 · Ever found yourself wondering about the unexpected twists in your favorite shows? "The Wire," known for its authentic portrayal of life in ...
  31. [31]
    'The Wire' at 20: 'This Show Will Live Forever' - The New York Times
    Jun 2, 2022 · The show seemed to hint at the collapse of truth with the fabricated serial killer story line in the final season, and how the media ran with it ...
  32. [32]
    “The Wire,” Episode 5, “React Quotes” - Variety
    Feb 3, 2008 · Episode 5, “React Quotes,” penned by David Simon and David Mills and directed by Angieszka Holland, gallops along in advancing, twisting and expanding the plot.Missing: Agnieszka direction style
  33. [33]
    2,000 cases affected by Baltimore police misconduct, public ... - CNN
    Dec 5, 2017 · The arrests of eight Baltimore police officers on racketeering charges earlier this year may affect more than 2000 criminal cases, ...Missing: wiretap scandals
  34. [34]
    [PDF] Anatomy of the Gun Trace Task Force Scandal - Steptoe
    ... the Baltimore Police Department's (BPD) Gun Trace Task Force. (GTTF). On March 1, 2017, seven members of the GTTF—Wayne Jenkins, Momodu. Gondo, Evodio Hendrix ...
  35. [35]
    Baltimore's corrupt police officers: The faces behind the scandal
    Oct 3, 2018 · A corrupt unit of plain-clothes detectives to rob and steal with impunity for at least a decade. These are the faces behind the investigation.Missing: 2000s | Show results with:2000s
  36. [36]
    A look at recent Baltimore Police scandals
    Oct 11, 2018 · From the death of Freddie Gray to scandals over surveillance airplanes and body-camera videos, the Baltimore Police Department has had a ...
  37. [37]
    Repairing the Credibility Cracks After Jayson Blair
    scores of them, for years. He fabricated ...
  38. [38]
    Ethics Case Studies: The Times and Jayson Blair
    But when suspicions arose over his reports on military families, an internal review found that he was fabricating material and communicating with editors from ...
  39. [39]
    'The Wire' connects on economic strife - Marketplace
    Jan 5, 2008 · The Wire is also a show about economics. Specifically, it's about an old industrial city navigating the new economy.
  40. [40]
    What 'The Wire' Got Right, and Wrong, About Baltimore | Blog - PBS
    Apr 16, 2019 · And Simon and Burns gave one raging-a-hole police lieutenant the surname Marimow—just like a former Sun editor from the time Simon worked there.