Season 5 Episode 54: Transitions

"I wasn't made to the play the son."

And with his usual calculated coldness Marlo Stanfield has moved up yet another rung in the ladder. Once The Greeks insinuated they might be able to do business with the street king, combined with the off-shore account set up and Levy introduction, Marlo finally made his much anticipated move on Prop Joe. The murder wasn't shocking, but Cheese turning in his blood was. "The boy always was a disappointment."

I feel the need to discuss Prop Joe here a little further. First, he has always had some of the best lines on the show, but this particular episode really had him shinning. While discussing the history and passing of Butchie, "he quieter than a puppy walking on cotton." While writing the note for the flowers for Butchie's funeral, "Woe to any man who calls evil good, and good evil." I am so glad that Simon used Joe's last moments to have him shine one last time. Just so very sad that such a smart (and relatively non-violent) man such as Joe would be so blind to the moves being made by Marlo. Did he really think his education of Marlo would change him for the better?

"Sweet Jesus I'm gonna do them." And with that line, finally, Omar is back. Being the smart player he is, he crew's up, starts scouting the Marlo crew, and is making his plans to hurt some of his people so the "snake pops his head above ground." The previews show a shootout between Omar, Chris, and Snoop. I really hope that if Chris or Snoop (or Omar) get got, that it isn't during a shootout. I think Chris needs to die Tarantino style, like Drexel in True Romance. Die with a gun in his face being forced to look into the eyes of his killer and know the reasons for his death. Same goes for Snoop. They just need to die.

Burrell finally went down as well, but I must say his final speech to Rawls about what it's like to run the department was great dialogue. Perhaps we saw what actually made Burrell the man in the first place: a willingness to carry the burden of the politicians. "Get elected Mayor and suddenly you know police work." It was a great scene and almost made me sympathize with Burrell.

Did anyone else catch the shore man from season 2 at the homeless pit? He was the guy with the dog drinking a bottle. He was the kid who stole the cars with Ziggy in season two and was in on the capers. As well, the flower shop guy was back too. I think in season one he was there when Bodie came in to buy flowers. I love how loyal and intricate the show is to throw back cast memebers like that.

McNulty and Lestor are up to the serial killer thing and it looks like they might start using the newspapers to help their cause. "Jamey and mouth wash, your scent." Beadie tells the scheming McNulty. She was and is too good for a fuck up like Jimmy.

I will say this again, Herc is going to be involved in the take down of Marlo. Once again, the camera is brought up and the show made a point of placing both men in the same room. No WAY that doesn't eventually eat at Herc. Does he go to Carver about Marlo and his money? Does Carver tell Bunk who tells Lestor who puts it in with his case? Does Kima find out and then get the little witness to agree to finger Chris and Snoop? I am not sure, but I am telling you that Herc is going to be involved in the play against Marlo's crew.

No shows: Bubs, Cutty, Randy, Namond, Colvin, and Prez. Starting to think the kids and Prez wont be shown till the season ending montage.

One last quick note/theme of the episode besides the obvious transitions (Burrell down, Prop Joe down). Stories of origin. Prop Joe giving us some background info on both Butchie and Burrell. Is there anyone Joe doesn't know? We learn how Butchies was blinded and we learn how dumb Burrell was in the Glee club. Good stuff.

I will go out on a not so long limb here and predict one or more of the following characters are going to die in episode 5: Cheese, Chris, Snoop, or Monk.