A step back to go forward

The second season of the Wire is not as good as the first season, but it is just as important.

The entire run of the show could be understood as an American epic, each season is a book and each episode a chapter. Season 1 introduces you to the setting, the war on drugs, and the characters, the drug dealers and the police. The problems, solutions and consequences of prosecuting the war on drugs are explored along with the politics of the and inner workings of both competing factions. Following the first season of the Wire each season answers questions about how different facets of society fails to correct, influences or is influenced by the war on drugs.

Season 2 answers the question: “Why don’t the drug dealers just get a job?” or better stated “How does modern economics play into the war on drugs?”

I spoke about consequences and the detectives aren’t immune to the blow back of their actions. Familiar characters are punished not just for committing crimes but punished for bucking the system. The subtle parallels are drawn between criminals and police as they are positioned to reflect their penance. Lt. Daniels, the stern "company man" on the professional fast track to a police command of his own, is found in an evidence locker, tucked away behind a cage. Avon Barksdale, well on his way to owning the Westside Baltimore drug trade, is now in jail. Both men punished for the parts they played. Bodie moves up in the struggling Barksdale criminal organization, now led by Stringer Bell. Freeman returns to detective work partnered with Bunk.

McNulty makes his presence felt as he does the work to prove where a shipping crate of women were killed and thus pinning the dead bodies on his old supervisor's unit, getting revenge for having him assigned the marine unit of the Baltimore police department, patrolling the harbor.

The central criminals of the season the longshoreman, men who work for a Union to unload goods from the incoming cargo ships on the docks. A profession and a promise that is withering in the light of the new world. To make ends meet they are loosely associated with drug trafficking they look the other way as illegal things come off the cargo ships and even boost a few goods for themselves, reselling it to local stores. Thanks to a personal beef with police commander, Stan Valchek, and the dead women the Union becomes the focus of the season.

Frank Sabotka, the Union treasurer, is not a professional criminal and takes issue with the idea of Human trafficking. He is merely a man trying to make sure his way of life continues. He uses the money he gets from the mysterious narcotics dealer only known as "The Greek". Frank takes money to fund his Union and buy access to politicians who he lobbies to expand the pier. The dockworkers are as street wise (or dockwise?) as any low-level dealer and face the same bleak economic outlook. Frank is played Chris Bauer who brings a lot of humanity to a role as he is the audience conduit into the world of the dockworker’s Union.

Nicky Sabotka, Frank's nephew, is drawn into the criminal life by his neerdowell cousin, Ziggy, to get enough money to support his family. Nicky, played by Pablo Schreiber, is as sympathetic as D'Angelo was but a little less seasoned in the world of drug dealing and his efforts to make an living, honest or not, drives some of the more compelling parts of the story. Nicky a dutiful and loyal cousin risks his life more than once to help his cousin. Ziggy is often comic relief turned tragic as he doesn't seem to know when enough is enough. A perfect example is when Ziggy makes some money and starts to show off. He buys a duck and gets it drunk in the Union bar with his friends; they joke and laugh. Later you see the duck dies from drinking and the entire night is ruined and Ziggy turned from amusing fool to just a damned fool.

While the characters from the Inner city don’t own the spotlight some of the series best characters are introduced. Cheese, played by Clifford Smith Jr aka Method Man, is excellent. He is the nephew of Proposition Joe and spends a good deal of his time on screen antagonizing Ziggy. He brings real depth and menace to a character that could have been just a cameo. Brother Mouzone, a contract enforcer on retainer, is another standout. He is a member of the Nation of Islam, wears a bow tie and is very civil. He stands apart from many of the other criminals and is a real delight.

Some of the best moments in the season do come by way of returning to Stringer and Avon. Avon in jail, having lost no political power, and Stringer trying to run the organization on the outside. Stringer Bell's motivations evolve and sow the seeds of conflict between him, Avon and the rest of the organization.

People often rank this season as the worst and if you were watching the Wire from the premiere I could see why. In the first season you were introduced to characters and a setting and instead of ‘getting the band back together’ the show introduces new characters with reduced focus on fan favorites.

In the full run of the show however this season expands the world, making it richer as a narrative. While the second season does not reach the heights of the first it is a very important part of the story David Simon is trying to tell.