alexandral | The Wire season 3

"We don't need to dream no more" Stringer Bell

I have finished watching the third season of "The Wire" this weekend. To tell the truth, I struggled a little with the season 3. It didn't "grab" me from the beginning as season 1 and particular season 2 did. But as I continued to watch so much of the whole picture and whole paradigm of "The Wire" started to develop beautifully in this season that at the end I fell completely in love with it.

Broken dreams
It very realistic and very sad but all three seasons in one way or another follow a story of broken dream, a failed attempt to break free from the old way of things..

In season 1 D'angelo Barksdale came very close to being free from his family and their way of life (selling drugs). He was not born and fit to be a drug-dealer but at the same time there was no realistic way out for him. I think that betraying his family to the Police would have been impossible for him to get over in his future life. It would have always tortured him.. And if he "just left it" he would have always been a danger for his family. I don't say Stringer did the right thing when he ordered D'Angelo's murder but I see that this was the only logical thing to do. But oh, do I weep for D'Angelo! His story breaks my heart the most in this series full of sad stories. But of course, in the season 3, in a game-of-fate connection to the D'Angelo's attempt to come clean, his murderer Stringer Bell becomes the one who betrayed Barksdale to the Police.

In season 2 Frank Sobotka had a scheme which was his dream : he wanted to rebuild the grain pier and bring some new life to the dying docks of Baltimore city. And because he needed money for dealing with the city politicians he found money from dealing with THE Greeks, the scariest crime organisation in "The Wire" world to which none of the drug-dealers of Eastside and Westside come even close in scariness! And of course, "to live with wolves means to howl as a wolf" and Frank Sobotka was murdered by the Greeks when he attempted to betray them to the Police (just as D'Angelo did in his time)...

In season 3 it is all about Stringer Bell who is clever and brilliant and wants to have another life and some clean business as a building developer. But he can't.. He wasn't born into this, he doesn't have connections in the city, he doesn't know things. He is a boy who was born in the Westside and the Westside can't be taken out of him. And here is the point where I go very very sad for Stringer who tried his best but who at the end was dragged back into the place he has been trying to escape from. I am too sad for him to write any more..

Parallel between Drug trade/Business and Politics Hmm.. There is no difference between these three, isn't it? As Stringer and Avon say their famous "It's only business" when they betray each other, D'Agostino says to Carcetti "It's politics. Live with it or lose." when he is going behind the back of his only friend Gray.

Here comes the hopeful part
- Avon Barksdale seems to have received his comeuppance at least! Minimum 7 years!

- Stringer in a way paid for D'Angelo's murder.

- Cutty (who is so very lovely) built his gym! He has broken free! EEEE! I even confess that I started liking Avon Barksdale because he let Cutty go!

- Daniels got finally promoted! And he is going out with Pearlman! My first ship of "The Wire" is born!!!!!!!

- Even though Hamsterdam ended as a total disaster for fabulous major Colvin I can't see this as the end of the road for him. I don't know why but I think Colvin will have some good things coming to him. (And better soon! May be in season 4?)

- Jimmy broke my heart to little pieces but he finally realized that his life is self-destructive! May be he will change?

My favourite characters in a gallery of sceencaps. Spoilers

Omar Little because he is my Lone Gunman:

Stringer Bell because he is so brilliant and looks so gorgeous in suits:

And he looks very good when frownig which he does a lot in season three. Frowning can be so attractive!!!

Bunny Colvin because of many many things he is and among them: a dreamer, a courageous man, an excellent leader..

Lester Freamon because I adore a man with the brains:

Brother Mouzone because I adore an articulate man:

Dennis Wise because he is just a lovely big teddy-bear:

Jimmy McNulty because he is full of self-destruction:

Cedric Daniels because he is so scorchingly hot:

And here is the shippy moment of the season 3: Daniels touching Pearlman's hand. AWWWWWWWW!

I made some icons too (I never can resist) and they are free to share. Please let me know if you need any customisation, any text added or taken away

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