It’s official, with the Sopranos on the shelf and scheduled for extinction after this season the Wire is the best show on TV. (at least I think so.) I’ve been one of the show’s proponents since season one and almost jumped off the bandwagon after the shows writers tried to reach a more “mainstream� (WHITE) audience in season two by introducing the Longshoremen’s Union storyline. The show’s only saving grace was the ongoing Barksdale Investigation and the introduction of Councilman Carcetti intentions to run for mayor which took flight in season three, revitalizing the show. Like most fans, I was concerned that the current season (Season Four) would struggle after Avon Barksdale was sent to jail for good and Stringer Bell’s shiesty past fatally caught up with him.

However, The Wire has met and exceeded all expectations. The Stories of Michael, Namond, DuQuan (Dukie) and Randy are captivating. The characters are front line witnesses to the rise of Marlo Stansfield’s West Baltimore drug empire. Each character has been brilliantly brought to life in convincing detail as they each battle inner conflicts, peer pressure and outside street influences.

In the most recent episode (#44) the tides turn on Omar (Little). Now incarcerated, he’s now the hunted and looks for a way out. His meeting with Bunk was one of the classic moments of the season. Out of desperation, Omar pleads with Bunk to get procecutor, Ilene Nathan, to honor his IOU for testifying against Bird in the Barksdale investigation.
SKEE: Omar, has the gift of persuasion whether it’s behind the barrel of a shotgun or with words.

Not realizing the occupational hazards of running a package, Namond almost gets his “wig pushed back� by former Bubbs protégé, Sherrod who is high on coke.
Skee: This shows the genius of the show. All season, these two characters who you’ve come to know only briefly crossed paths for about 10 minutes in Pryzbylewski’s class are brought together in an almost fatal showdown. It’s like like the problem of rooting for two NFL teams. When they are suddenly are pitted against each other, who do you root for? Ok in this instance it’s simple. Sherrod is gangsta and Namond, well he wears a ponytail. Too bad Cutty had to break it up. I’m surprised he didn’t tell just yell “F*c% You!â€Â� As Colvin finds out, that’s his favorite phrase. Namond’s been on thin ice all season whether it’s in school or on the streets. His time is running short. Randy has officially received his snitching degree. He even knows the rules and has Herc drop him off blocks from his house to avoid being spotted with the cops. His stock is falling fast with me but there’s still time for him to turn it around. Bubbles…Sherrod aint coming home. Time to find a new project.

The story took an interesting twist with Officer Gregg’s discovery that Braddock murder was nothing more than a miss. In essence, Carcetti is mayor because some dummy missed a liquor bottle in target practice. Interesting! Next week it looks like Chris and Snoop have a run in with the law. Watch it now On Demand or Sunday at 10PM on HBO.