The Corner Boys project class is turning into one of the central and most impressive storylines of the season. Colvin and Professor Parenti have created a learning environment that allows the traditional classes to be free of the most troubled student’s disruptions but creates a productive situation for the project class. Colvin’s flipped the script right in front of the student’s eyes. The Corner Boys are now the teachers while the Colvin, Parenti and the teacher have become the students, taking notes and learning about the mental make up the rookie criminal. In a later class, Namond, the self-proclaimed class spokesperson, is “schooling” everyone on how the drug trade is minor in comparison to other social issues like “Amron, (Enron)” steroids, booze and cigarettes who he declares are the real killers.

Skee: Colvin is an interesting cat. When he was officer with the city police he was very creative with regard to ridding the city of its crime problem or at least moving it. Rembember Hamsterdam? He uses the same model here. It may appear on the surface like he’s got rid of the problem kids but he’s just moved them. He’s teaching the students group skills and communication in a way experienced teachers have fallen short. The writers of the show have done an excellent job with his character. Colvin’s good peoples but a forgotten man who cats hate on. Only problem is the class is creating more organized drug soldiers but what does he care? He aint police no mo.

Another one of the shows highlights is our first real insight into what exactly is going on in Michael’s house. He has been forced into being the man of the house and chastises his strung-out mother for selling the groceries for drug money and lying to him saying he gave an uncooked box of Rice-A-Roni to a hungry boy on the stoop. Later we find out Michael’s step-father who has been locked up for drugs is back. An upset and somewhat frightened Michael is reaching his boiling point with his situation…a scene that we’ll probably see reach a head in next week’s episode as evidence by the previews.

SKEE: Michael, by far is my favorite new character. He’s the smartest of his boys but probably the one with the most problems. I don’t know what happens next week but if he gets Marlo to “loose” his step-pops it could take the show in a whole other direction. I can’t wait. 4 MORE SHOWS LEFT! Great thing about The Wire is there’s no clear-cut bad guy or good guy. I mean who do you root for? Who do YOU side with? CHIME IN!