The Wire (TV Series) One Arrest (2002) User Reviews

I wanted to make that s*** special

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 25 March 2022]

The wiretap provides useful information in conjunction with witness information.

This is another very strong episode with decent plot development and memorable character moments.

There is a satisfying main event to this episode that feels quite rewarding given the subject matter and the time already put into watching the details of a police investigation slowly unfold. Tied into it are scenes that shock and entertain.

A strong theme in a number of scenes involves the rules (or codes) in place that govern behaviour. This is cleverly written into numerous portrayals of characters who are shown to live by a code, enforce a code, go against a code, or pressure others to break a code. We also see the sad consequences to people when moral codes have been broken. One short scene in particular is heartbreakingly sad.

It also entertains in several great moments of character humour. Madam LaRue, Batman and Robin, the fundraiser event, and one epic exchange of drunken banter help lift the spirits in a show with such stark realities on display.

As ever all the performances are fantastic, with Michael K Williams, Dominic West, Wendell Pierce, Andre Royo and Lance Reddick standing out for me.

The production values are great as ever, with the camera, sound, and editing all telling the story in a cinematic way.

A man must have a code.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 28 August 2022]

With Omars' help, the unit is able to arrest Bird (Fredro Starr) and successfully connect him to a murder. He proves incredibly belligerent while in custody, mouthing off to Landsman, Greggs, and McNulty. Therefore, he's not exactly a sympathetic victim when the unit decides to dispense with any sort of pleasantries. Meanwhile, Stringer and Avon are so concerned with the possibility of a snitch in their gang that they instruct the members to disable all the pay phones in the pit, and to travel a couple blocks instead. (They must also NOT use the same phone twice in a day.). This, of course, will derail the carefully planned wiretap operation, even though the judge (Peter Gerety) has green-lit it for another 30 day period.

'One Arrest' is another excellent exercise in gritty realism for this series, and there will always be bad news to go with the good news. There's time for some comedy relief as the hapless, pathetic Santangelo (Michael Salconi) utilizes the services of some supposed gypsy woman (Robin Skye) in solving a case. Rawls had *ordered* "Sanny" to either dig up some substantial dirt on McNulty, or either solve a bunch of cold cases. We see Bubs' boy Johnny agree to go into a drug treatment program in order to stay out of jail, but of course he's not taking it seriously; later, after sitting through his first session, we see him about to shoot up. Unfortunately, some people always have to learn the hard way.

Most interesting about the last half of 'One Arrest' is its interesting, matter-of-fact handling of the sticky issue of police brutality. Be that as it may, we can't feel sorry for Bird, especially when he utters a particularly vile epithet to Greggs.

Also of interest is the closing scene with McNulty and Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) as the vulnerable detective informs her that he's learned just how much Rawls is gunning for him, determined to kick him off the police force. Here, at least, is a character that deserves some sympathy.

Eight out of 10.

1x07

[formotog · 8/10 · 7 August 2020]

Another great episode. One of the things I like so much about this show is how realistic it is and how well fleshed out the story is. The characters are all convincing and their motivations are all very consistent, the nuances of the police work and the streets are captured with great accuracy, and it's just really engaging to watch. McNulty's passion for the case is especially admirable. As I've mentioned before, I never really have much new to say after an episode because it's just a steady stream with a working formula. The story progresses with the same quality it has been up to now. Thus far there haven't been any major plot breaks, nor has the show really strayed from its established structure yet, but I'm sure it will

Low 8

Time for some progress

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 14 February 2009]

With basically half the season over, it's reasonable to expect at least some degree of progress in the investigation that constitutes the heart and soul of The Wire's narrative. However, this being a more reality-based series than your average police show, it's also fairly logical to expect a downside as well.

The progress is that thanks to Prez's knowledge of drug-related slang, the team is able to decipher all the essential conversations heard with the wiretap. Additionally, a strategically planned bust goes exactly as Daniels had hoped, and McNulty has no big problems convincing Phelan to extend their warrant for another 30 days. Unfortunately, a sour surprise is waiting around the corner since, after successfully arresting Bird with Omar's help, McNulty finds out Rawls is determined to throw him out of the police department. Furthermore, Stringer tells D'Angelo and the others to destroy the pay-phones in the Pit and change their communication habits as a precaution, which effectively stops a large part of the detail's operation.

One Arrest is a pretty important episode, primarily because it shows how committed to the job these people are. McNulty, in particular, gets to expose his softer side in a scene that would come off as contrived under any other circumstances. That it works is due to the no-nonsense writing and Dominic West's down-to-earth acting. The last section of the show is also a perfect piece of evidence in regards to how accurately The Wire depicts the more controversial aspects of law enforcement: how many TV programs can have a scene where police officers beat up a suspect just for the heck of it and still make us root for the officers? Sure, the fact that the suspect refers to Kima Greggs as a "c*nt-eater" isn't gonna earn him any sympathy points...

Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, sold in a market down in New Orleans

[RainDogJr · 10/10 · 29 April 2009]

So the wire starts giving something to our guys. You know the always against paper work and stuff Herc and Carver so here is great since the went for the action and everything went right so now Herc sees that they had a plan thanks to the wire. So the thing that went right brought to the office the carrier of the package who happens to be the kid that Prez (hey I have to mention he looks like Quentin Tarantino!) leaved blind of one eye so certainly is a throwback to the stupid detective that Prez was at first for us, he later showed to everybody what he was capable of and certainly he became a fundamental character.

Other minor character is Detective Santangelo and in this episode we get to like more, to make fun of him and ultimately to think of him as lucky person. Rawls here gives Santangelo an ultimatum: or he brings him information to f*** McNulty or he solves any of his unsolved cases. And then enters the desperation of Santangelo, certainly the fact that he is going out to solve one of his cases by doing whatever thing but just the fact that he is trying to solve a thing certainly will make you like him and well is all very funny with Santangelo and the psychic and is just hilarious when and after hearing that one of his cases was solved Santangelo is like "I don't recall asking to the psychic about this case", of course Santangelo will feel need to talk to McNulty since after all those guys solved his case. Of this episode I particularly loved the scene with Avon being confused, not understanding what the f*** is going on and also that part with Bunk and Omar that after all has in its consequences the case of Santangelo solved.

I haven't write a lot about the great character Bubbles I think I will do a little summary about Bubbles: we were introduced to him and his friend Johnny (Leo Fitzpatrick) during the first episode and unfortunately everything ended in an almost complete tragedy. As I think I have mentioned, Bubbles became a CI but I don't think I have mentioned what happened to Johnny, well after getting back to the streets soon he was arrested and in this episode Greggs can help Johnny and in consequence he has to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings, this certainly has to do with Bubbs and more when he unlike Johnny is interested in changing his life (pretty memorable scene with Bubbs at the meeting).