Cold Case S1e7

[Mickie Bottiglieri]

Im trying to figure out what it is about Isiah Whitlock, Jr., that makes him seem instantly sinister. On the surface, he's far less menacing than Lance Reddick is, for example, but yet one look at that beatific face and somehow I instantly think: there's a bad dude.

Bubbs at AA was heart-breaking. He so obviously longs for that kind of support and applause and will take it however he can get it, even if it's faking being sober.

Judge Phelan makes the second middle-aged guy on an HBO show who has a thing for red hair and freckles (as I recall, Melfi's ex on The Sopranos loved "the Colleens" as well). Why can't any young, cute guys have that particular fetish?

Also, not having watched a lot of the HBO product, is this the first (or only) show to start with a teaser rather than going directly into the credits (or, in the case of Larry Sanders eventually dispensing with credits altogether)?

Finally, how did Bird know Kima is a lesbian? I'd believe she had a rep with the drug-dealing crowd except that in the pilot it's established that she's unfamiliar with the Barksdale crew. Unless that's just Bird assuming all female cops are gay... which is totally possible, now that I think of it.

Yay, a new Wire post. I wasn't expecting a new one today, so this is a nice surprise.

"I usually go by 'lieutenant.'" Hee. Daniels' facial muscles can actually arrange themselves into a smile? Who knew? I do, however, find it a little hard to believe that he's quite as politically naive as that scene would indicate.

I never expected that there would be this much humor in the show. I love how they weave in humorous moments, large and small. Ones you mentioned, Alan, "constabulatin'" and reminiscing about McNulty's "first time." Also "Yer doin' gooood, Walon."

"God, that kid breaks my heart." That's one of my main comments after every single episode. Oh, Wallace. Sniff.

Filmcricket, I was wondering the same thing re: the Bird and Kima exchange. Your theory seems the most likely, I guess.

I couldn't limit myself to the once-a-week watching schedule, and I finished the first season a few days ago. I love it. I spent about an hour the other night boring my boyfriend by singing its praises. I can't wait to see your comments on the upcoming episodes, Alan.

Also, ditto to the Wallace = heartbreaking comments. That kid is awesome.

Re: Bird/Kima exchange. I believe this comment is directed towards Kima not necessarily because Bird knows that Kima is a lesbian, but Bird is playing on the fact that she's a female police officer and the simplest way he can hope to get a rise out of her and to offend her is to call her a dyke. I don't think it goes any deeper than that.

With regards to your question about cold opens, filmcricket, as far as I know "The Wire" was the only HBO series that I know of that used these. I think it has something to do with the fact that the majority of HBO's output is overtly cinematic, or at least ignoring the conventions of television. "The Sopranos" I believe used a cold open in one of its early episodes in Season 1 (the exchange where Silvio does his Michael Coreleone impression for the first time - "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!") but that was purely a one-off.

You've hit all the points that grabbed me on this one, Alan, but I just have to say that, despite Prez's "original sin," it was beautiful to watch his goofy pride in cracking the Pit's code, and Freamon's avuncular pride in his doing so. "It's fun figuring shit out" is probably the first time Prez ever found joy in actually doing this job, and Freamon is able to mentor him to the point where, who knows, Prez might even become a decent cop.

@filmcricket, I don't think Bubbs was faking being sober: the chain was for those who "have 24 hours or a sincere desire to live," and I think Bubbs has the latter a-plenty.

I was wondering the same thing about Bird and Kima as the others, but the notion that Bird would use that line on any female officer does make sense.

Some trivia:

In this episode, Omar says "never get high on your own supply" when discussing the rules that Avon and Stringer set for their employees. This is an ingenious reference to a hilarious tune by the Notorious B.I.G. called "10 Crack Commandments". The latter song is literally a 10-rule handbook for how to sell crack effectively. The relevant lyrics are:

"[Rule] number four

I know you've heard this before

Never get high on your own supply"

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