In The Wire Season 1, detective Jimmy McNulty's investigation into the Barksdale drug organization reveals that the real enemy is not the criminals themselves, but the systemic corruption within the police department and political institutions that protect organized crime. Deputy Commissioner Burrell prioritizes quick results and political relationships over thorough investigation, while Lieutenant Daniels struggles to balance his duty to justice with departmental politics. The series demonstrates how institutional failures, including witness bribery, political connections, and bureaucratic resistance to wiretaps, allow criminal organizations to operate with impunity, ultimately showing that effective law enforcement requires institutional integrity and political will.
He Tried to Take Down a Drug Empire… Then Discovered the System Was Protecting It本站添加:
Do you think this is just another police crime drama? No, this is one of the most realistic anti-crime stories ever told on American television. There are no flashy shootouts or familiar Hollywood formulas, only the harshest and dirtiest truths. The first part of The Wire season 1 revolves around an intense battle of wits between the police and organized crime intertwined with shady stories involving politics and business.
Every episode is packed with an overwhelming amount [music] of information that demands the viewer's full attention. Jimmy works tirelessly in pursuit of justice only to discover that the real enemy is not the drug gangs, but the very people who are supposed to uphold the law. Through his story, the series takes viewers deep into the darkest realities of Baltimore.
Baltimore is a port city in Maryland that has long struggled with high crime rates. Drug deals and violent crimes take place almost daily. Over the past year, the Barksdale drug organization has risen quickly becoming linked to more than a dozen murders in just a few months and drawing the attention of homicide detective Jimmy McNulty. Today, Jimmy attends the trial of D'Angelo Barksdale, a mid-level member of the organization, hoping to learn more about the people he is up against. The first witness is a young maintenance worker who claims he saw D'Angelo shoot a man inside a high-rise building. The second witness is a female security guard who had previously identified D'Angelo as the killer, but suddenly changes her testimony in court. "He's not the man who pulled the trigger, but you previously identified him." "That's because he looked like the shooter."
"Then what about the real shooter?" "I saw him walk into the building a week later." Those statements effectively erase all suspicion surrounding D'Angelo. In the end, the jury unanimously decides that the murder charge cannot be sustained and D'Angelo is acquitted. The judge is convinced that something suspicious is going on, so he privately summons Jimmy and asks about D'Angelo's background. Jimmy explains that D'Angelo is the nephew of Avon Barksdale, the powerful leader of a major drug organization. The gang controls numerous buildings in West Baltimore and sells drugs around the clock in public housing projects, low-income neighborhoods, and street corners across the area. Over the past few months, they have bribed witnesses and helped overturn at least three murder cases, yet no one is actively investigating them because the police department is focused on street cleaning initiatives and community policing programs. After hearing this, the judge is puzzled. If this isn't even your case, why do you care so much? Jimmy insists that he is not personally invested, but he still needs the judge's help. Unexpectedly, the judge immediately calls Deputy Commissioner Burrell after returning to his office.
That decision quickly creates serious problems for Jimmy. The courts belong to the judicial branch, while the police department operates under the administrative system. Although the two work closely together, they remain separate institutions. Jimmy's actions are viewed as going around the chain of command and reporting across systems.
What embarrasses the department's leadership even more is the fact that such a powerful drug organization has been operating in their jurisdiction without their knowledge, only for a judge to bring it to their attention.
Rawls, the head of homicide, is furious.
"Don't call me boss, you backstabbing traitor. What the hell were you doing in that courtroom? Why were you talking to that damn judge?" Jimmy gets thoroughly chewed out, but he ultimately achieves what he wanted. To deal with the pressure coming from the judge, Deputy Commissioner Burrell authorizes the creation of a special task force, bringing together detectives from homicide and narcotics to investigate the Barksdale organization. The task force is placed under the supervision of narcotics Lieutenant Daniels, but the real authority behind the operation is Deputy Commissioner Burrell. His instructions are crystal clear. Move quickly, avoid long-term surveillance, do not install wiretaps, do not conduct stakeouts, and focus only on simple street-level drug arrests. In other words, the goal is merely to make it look like something is being done.
Daniels is a seasoned veteran and immediately understands what his superiors want. He has no interest in creating trouble for himself, so he gladly accepts the assignment and gathers the members of the task force.
Most of them accept the plan without complaint, but Jimmy is far from satisfied. After speaking with a friend at the FBI, he learns that the most effective way to dismantle a drug organization is through wiretaps and long-term surveillance, so he openly objects. Daniels immediately shuts the idea down. On one hand, Burrell wants quick results. On the other, the unit still knows very little about the organization and has no clear picture of what they are dealing with. Jimmy has no choice. As a lone voice against the system, he ultimately has to accept the decision. Meanwhile, the drug dealers are not sitting idle, either. After D'Angelo is acquitted, the men begin discussing witness bribery while riding in a car. The moment Wee-Bey hears the conversation, he immediately pulls over.
"What's the rule?" "I know the rules."
"Then say it." "No business discussions in the car, not on the phone, and not anywhere outside our territory, and never talk business with anyone outside the organization." D'Angelo still believes that close associates should be able to speak freely. Wee-Bey completely disagrees. With no room to argue, D'Angelo keeps quiet. Later, he heads to a bar to meet his uncle, Avon Barksdale.
At first, D'Angelo is in a good mood, but Avon's stern attitude quickly makes him realize how serious the situation really is and how reckless it was to commit a murder inside a high-rise building. The organization spent a tremendous amount of money cleaning up the mess. Feeling guilty, D'Angelo promises to do better in the future.
The very next day, however, D'Angelo learns that he has been reassigned to the low-rise housing projects. In the organization, mistakes carry consequences. That rule applies to everyone. With no alternative, he reports to his new post, where he meets the young crew chief, Bodie, and his two associates, Poot and Wallace. Bodie is curious about the so-called prince who has suddenly been sent down to their corner. He asks whether D'Angelo got demoted because of bookkeeping problems.
Wanting to appear tough, D'Angelo claims he was demoted for killing someone.
Bodie quickly realizes that is not the real story. Later that day, they discover that Wallace has accepted counterfeit money from a customer.
D'Angelo merely scolds him and lets the matter go without any further punishment, something that surprises Bodie. Not long afterward, they catch the customer who used the fake money.
According to gang rules, he should be killed as an example. Instead, D'Angelo lets him walk away. News of the incident quickly reaches Stringer Bell, the organization's second-in-command. This is exactly the kind of situation where you make an example out of someone. You can't afford to show weakness. D'Angelo disagrees with that mentality. Deep down, he still possesses a sense of conscience and humanity, but in a drug organization, those qualities rarely survive for long. Soon afterward, Stringer Bell teaches D'Angelo a harsh lesson. The organization murders the young maintenance worker who testified against him in court. When D'Angelo sees the victim's body, he is horrified and quietly walks away in shock. As for Jimmy, he is convinced that the Barksdale organization is responsible.
To him, the murder is a message to the entire city. Anyone who dares testify against the Barksdales will pay for it with their life. Faced with such arrogant drug dealers, Jimmy grows increasingly frustrated and desperately hopes that the higher-ups will recognize how serious the situation has become.
That's why he once again approaches the judge and informs him about the murder of the maintenance worker. It's not that Jimmy enjoys going over people's heads, it's that Burrell's way of handling things is simply ineffective. The task force's working conditions are worse than a prison. Their office is falling apart, and the support personnel are hardly reassuring. Two drunks and a fool, the entire unit is a complete mess. On his very first day, the fool known as Prez accidentally fires his weapon and shoots through a wall, terrifying everyone in the room. I was just trying to show Carver how light my trigger pull is.
Daniels knows perfectly well that most of these people are unreliable.
Fortunately, there is one truly capable detective on the team, Kima. She has a confidential informant named Bubbles.
Earlier, the man who used counterfeit money to buy drugs was Johnny, one of Bubbles' friends. As a result, Johnny has been severely beaten by D'Angelo's crew. Wanting revenge for Johnny, Bubbles agrees to help Kima. Clever as always, he comes up with what he calls the red hat strategy. He pretends to sell hats to drug dealers and places a red hat on anyone important enough to identify. Meanwhile, Kima hides on a rooftop and secretly photographs the targets. Using this method, they gradually build a database of the gang's members. Jimmy is impressed by the strategy as well, but he isn't content to sit back and wait. Alongside his partner Bunk, he brings D'Angelo into the station, hoping to use him as leverage and prove that the Barksdale organization is directly connected to the witness murder.
However, the moment Jimmy returns to the station, he gets chewed out by his superiors. Word has spread that he informed the judge about the witness murder. The department's leadership is furious. Some of them even want him fired, and Daniels gets dragged into the fallout as well. Daniels is furious. He believes things might have gone differently if Jimmy had informed him first. Jimmy simply smiles and says, "Why did they send us a bunch of useless detectives? You asked for more people, and they gave you two drunks and an idiot." Daniels has no response and remains silent. Jimmy takes the opportunity to explain that he genuinely wants to solve this case. After all, they've already managed to bring D'Angelo in for questioning. Jimmy's determination finally begins to sway Daniels. He agrees to give him one last chance, but only if Kima sits in on the interrogation. Jimmy accepts immediately and heads into the interview room with Bunk to put on a carefully planned psychological performance. They describe the murdered maintenance worker as a devoted Christian who worked two jobs to support his family and raised three young children. Now, those children have been left without a father. They also remind D'Angelo that drug dealers had even killed an innocent child the year before. D'Angelo still has a conscience, and the story slowly begins to wear down his emotional defenses. Then Bunk delivers the final blow by placing a photograph of the three children on the table and saying, "The case may be over, but these kids lost their father forever." D'Angelo finally breaks down.
He begins sobbing, genuinely believing that the witness's death is connected to him. Overwhelmed by guilt, he writes a letter of apology. By the time his defense attorney arrives and urgently tells him to stop, the letter is already mostly finished. For Jimmy, that's all he needs. It doesn't matter if D'Angelo is taken away afterward. Jimmy later hands the letter to Daniels. Although it cannot serve as direct evidence in court, Jimmy believes it clearly demonstrates that the witness was killed because he testified against D'Angelo.
Jimmy hopes Daniels will show the letter to Deputy Commissioner Burrell and use it as leverage to launch a real investigation, one built on informants, long-term surveillance, and eventually court-authorized wiretaps. Most importantly, they need to bring in detectives who actually know how to do that kind of work. However, Deputy Commissioner Burrell once again reminds Daniels that the operation must produce quick results. They can carry out one or two arrest sweeps to satisfy the judge, but under no circumstances can information be leaked to the media. With his career on the line, Daniels cannot openly defy his superiors. The detectives can also see where the department's priorities lie, and they realize that relying on the system alone will never solve the case. As a result, Herc, Carver, and Prez decide to teach the drug dealers a lesson themselves.
Late one night, the three officers storm the high-rise projects, causing chaos throughout the area. Before leaving, they throw around a few threats. The operation could have ended without incident, but the idiot Prez manages to create another problem. While trying to intimidate a young boy, he loses control and accidentally beats the child so severely that he is seriously injured.
The incident enrages the drug dealers.
They strike back, and what began as a show of force quickly escalates into a violent shootout between the police and the gang. Several officers are injured in the exchange. The next day, Burrell is furious when he hears what happened.
Daniels immediately confronts the three detectives, demanding to know why they went there in the middle of the night.
Not only did they seriously injure a civilian, but they also damaged department vehicles and equipment. At first, the three men try to come up with excuses, but Daniels already knows the truth. In the end, Prez is forced to admit that he was the one who seriously injured the boy. Daniels is exasperated and warns them that they need to get their stories straight before the situation gets any worse.
But the disasters keep coming. Somehow, information about the witness murder is leaked to the media. The story immediately creates enormous public pressure on the police department. Jimmy quickly becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of the department's leadership, and attracts everyone's hostility. Rawls is so furious, he looks ready to explode.
To be fair, Jimmy feels completely misunderstood. All he wants is to fight crime and do the job a police officer is supposed to do, yet everything keeps spiraling out of control. Daniels is stuck in an equally difficult position.
Caught between Jimmy and Burrell, he finds himself trapped in the middle. But once you're seated at the table, the only option is to keep playing the game.
The following day, Daniels visits the Deputy Commissioner's office and meets Valchek, the commander of the Southeastern District. Coincidentally, Valchek is also Prez's father-in-law.
Because of the trouble Prez has caused, he is facing accusations of excessive force and intentional assault. Valchek hopes Daniels can help make the problem disappear. "I'll owe you one if you help him get through this grand jury investigation. In return, the Southeastern District will give you two new unmarked cars and a surveillance vehicle. And if you need extra manpower while your people are tied up with internal investigations, just say the word." Daniels accepts the offer. The resources Valchek is offering are simply too valuable to ignore. As a result, Daniels takes on part of the responsibility himself and keeps Prez on the task force instead of removing him.
For the first time, he now has the resources needed to pursue a more serious investigation into the drug organization. Even so, Burrell remains committed to keeping the investigation small in scope. He is willing to approve a few arrests of dangerous criminals and collect additional drug evidence to show good faith to both the judge and the public. Soon afterward, the department holds an official press conference.
Meanwhile, Jimmy watches the press conference on television. It doesn't take long for him to realize that the department is covering up the truth.
Officials claim the victim may have been killed because of street dispute rather than his role as a witness. Jimmy is furious and deeply disappointed, yet he knows he lacks the power to change the system. So, he focuses on doing his own job. At this point, the task force's biggest problem is its lack of basic intelligence on the Barksdale organization. They don't even have a photograph of Avon Barksdale himself.
Jimmy has to work hard just to convince the two alcoholic detectives to get out and do some actual investigating.
Meanwhile, the investigation in the low-rise projects continues. Sydnor prepares to go undercover and gather intelligence. Unfortunately, the surveillance equipment supplied by the department is hopelessly outdated and far too easy to detect. With no other option, Jimmy once again turns to his FBI contact, Fitz, hoping to borrow some more advanced equipment. But the moment Fitz hears that Jimmy's superior is Daniels, his expression suddenly changes as if the name carries some deeper meaning. Jimmy's team doesn't think much of it, however, and returns to the task force to continue working with Kima and her informant. As they continue working together, they gain a deeper understanding of each other. Jimmy has always respected Kima's abilities and professionalism, but now his admiration for her grows even stronger. But what other choice do police officers have?
All I know is that I love this job. In stark contrast to Kima are the two alcoholic detectives on the task force.
They are assigned to find a photograph of Avon, yet somehow return with a picture of a white man. The result is so ridiculous that it's almost comical.
Back to the investigation, Kima discovers that Avon once trained at the Golden Gloves Boxing Club. The information immediately catches Lester's attention. Having been transferred from the pawn shop unit, Lester usually spends his days quietly making miniature furniture and attracting almost no attention. This time, however, he suddenly reveals a completely different side of himself. Lester visits the Golden Gloves gym by himself and quickly obtains a real photograph of Avon. It is one of those moments where a quiet man suddenly proves just how capable he really is. Kima immediately realizes that Lester is far from ordinary. At that moment, Sydnor walks in proudly showing off the undercover disguise he spent so much time preparing. The moment Bubbles sees it, however, he bursts out laughing. To him, the disguise is full of obvious flaws.
It doesn't matter whether Sydnor is wearing a wedding ring or not. His shoes are far too clean, and that alone is a fatal mistake. If you walk through those project alleys, you'll step on bodies, bodies. Yeah, empty vials. Just walk the streets of Baltimore, and that stuff sticks to your shoes. Want to know if someone is really an addict? Look at the bottom of his shoes. Not long afterward, Sydnor returns looking completely different after reworking his disguise.
It becomes clear that experience matters in this line of work. Guided by Bubbles, Sydnor successfully infiltrates the drug corners. The task force gradually learns how the dealers operate and even identifies several apartments that may be storing narcotics. Just as the investigation finally begins gaining momentum, Daniels arrives with a new order from Burrell. The task force is instructed to conduct arrests in the low-rise projects on Wednesday. To everyone involved, it is obvious that the operation is little more than a publicity stunt. Daniels finds the order just as absurd, but he has no choice except to obey. Jimmy, however, refuses to accept it and storms out in frustration.
But the drug dealers in the projects are about to face trouble from more than just the police. At the same time, another group led by Omar has also set its sights on them. Omar makes his living robbing drug dealers, and this time he decides to target the Barksdale operation. Unexpectedly, on Tuesday night, just 1 day before the task force raid, Omar hits the drug stash in the projects and makes off with a huge haul.
Bodie escapes unharmed purely because he happens to be out running an errand at the time. The next day, Bubbles tells Kima what happened, but by then it is too late to change anything. The operation is already underway. Jimmy remains the only person openly refusing to take part. Daniels is just as unhappy about the situation, but he knows some battles cannot be won. He even suggests that Jimmy simply come up with an excuse and stay away. True to his nature, Jimmy stubbornly refuses and walks out.
Daniels decides to stop worrying about Jimmy and launches the operation.
Unfortunately, because of Omar's robbery the night before, the dealers have already moved their stash elsewhere. As a result, the task force finds almost no drugs. The officers are furious because the entire raid produces virtually nothing of value. After all that effort, the police managed to arrest only one dealer. Even then, the man would rather go to jail than provide any information about the Barksdale organization. As for Bodie, he is sent to a juvenile detention center, but eventually manages to escape. Detectives Herc and Carver head to the juvenile detention center to question Bodie only to discover that he is no longer there. They then search for him at his home, but come up empty-handed and are forced to leave.
Meanwhile, Lester quietly discovers a series of mysterious numbers. He suspects they are some kind of code or communication system, but at the moment, there isn't enough information to figure them out. As for Jimmy, who refused to participate in the raid, he is still frustrated and decides to meet with Fitz. During their conversation, he learns a shocking truth about Daniels.
We spent 2 months investigating his finances. The guy has hundreds of thousands of dollars and a ton of liquid assets. That's not the kind of money a police lieutenant is supposed to have.
Fitz explains that the FBI once brought the issue to Burrell's attention.
Burrell promised to deal with it, but afterward nothing happened. That means Daniels has a vulnerability that Burrell can use against him whenever necessary.
This is also why Burrell chose Daniels to lead the task force. A subordinate who can be controlled is far easier to manage. As a result, Burrell is not particularly worried about Jimmy. The person he truly fears is the judge.
After all, the judge can influence the city's clearance rates and by extension, Burrell's own career. So, as soon as the raid is over, Burrell personally delivers a report to the judge hoping it will satisfy him. Unfortunately for Burrell, the judge is not so easily fooled. "I don't see Barksdale's name in here, or Bell's, or anything connected to the murders." Despite his reluctance, Burrell is forced to allow the investigation to continue. After returning to headquarters, he summons Daniels and asks about the case's progress. Daniels explains that they need additional investigative tools, especially wiretaps. The drug dealers are extremely cautious. They never communicate directly through cell phones. Instead, they use pagers to send phone numbers and then return calls from payphones. If the police can clone the pagers, they can receive the same messages whenever the dealers do.
During the next meeting, Jimmy formally proposes a wiretap strategy. However, cloning a pager alone will not reveal the actual conversations. Lester immediately expands on the idea. He suggests cloning a gang member's pager first, then placing recording devices on payphones throughout the projects. When a dealer receives a page and returns the call, the task force will be able to intercept and record the conversation.
But before any of that can happen, they need the pager number of a drug dealer.
As it turns out, the mysterious string of numbers Lester discovered earlier belongs to D'Angelo's pager, and that fact has already been confirmed.
Lester's ability to spot clues and his deep knowledge of surveillance techniques completely changed Jimmy's opinion of him. The man who once seemed invisible turns out to be one of the smartest investigators on the team. From that moment on, wiretapping officially becomes one of the task force's primary investigative tools. Meanwhile, the drug organization is dealing with problems of its own. Omar's robbery sends Avon into a rage. He swears that Omar will pay with his life. At the same time, D'Angelo is held responsible for the robbery because he oversees the low-rise projects. His subordinates begin questioning his leadership, especially Bodie. The criticism infuriates him.
"Have you ever been to city jail? Have you ever killed anyone? I just got out after serving 8 months on a murder charge." The room immediately falls silent, and to be fair, D'Angelo isn't entirely bluffing.
What D'Angelo doesn't realize is that Jimmy has already started focusing on that murder case. The police now have clues suggesting D'Angelo may be connected to it. Jimmy decides to use the case as a potential breakthrough and returns to the crime scene with Bunk.
Jimmy and Bunk prove once again why they are such talented detectives. Using nothing more than crime scene photographs, they carefully reconstruct the events of the murder and gradually piece together what really happened. The most important piece of evidence is a bullet still lodged inside a wall. That single bullet becomes the crucial link connecting the murder of a college student to the Barksdale drug organization. That evening, after returning to the task force office, Jimmy can no longer contain his curiosity and asks about Lester's past.
That's when he learns that Lester was once removed from investigative work because he refused to cover up for the son of a newspaper editor in order to protect the department's relationship with the media. As punishment, he was exiled to the records unit and effectively frozen out for 13 years and 4 months. Hearing that story, Jimmy immediately feels as though he has found a kindred spirit. He invites Lester out for a drink, and Lester accepts. The two spend the evening talking at a bar.
Before they part ways, Lester offers Jimmy a piece of sincere advice.
"When they ask you where you want to go, what they really mean is take care of yourself and keep your mouth shut."
Whether Jimmy chooses to listen or not, his is far from ideal. After repeatedly going over the chain of command, he has landed on Rawls' blacklist. Fortunately, the heavy-set Sergeant Jay Landsman knows Jimmy is a good cop and decides to speak up on his behalf, carefully listing all of Jimmy's accomplishments and contributions. Even Rawls finds it difficult to justify getting rid of Jimmy entirely. In the end, he offers him a chance to return to homicide, provided he wraps up his work with the task force within 2 weeks. Time is running out, but the wiretap operation hits a major obstacle. The cloned pager successfully receives messages from D'Angelo's pager, yet the phone numbers make no sense. This reveals that the dealers have encrypted their communications. Unless the code can be broken, the detectives will never obtain the real phone numbers, and the investigation will grind to a halt.
Fortunately, another part of the investigation begins to move forward.
Among the many murders linked to the Barksdale organization over the years, detectives discover two cases with ballistic evidence matching the murder of the college student. The identical shell casings and bullet trajectories strongly suggest the same killer was responsible. Jimmy immediately teams up with Bunk to track down people connected to the victim. Eventually, they meet a woman who knew her personally. From her testimony, they learn that the victim, Deirdre, had once been Avon's girlfriend. Fed up with his constant cheating, she threatened to expose the organization's drug operation. Avon, of course, could not allow that to happen and had her killed to silence her. They also discover that Avon owns a strip club. For the first time, the detectives have identified another significant location connected to the Barksdale organization. Meanwhile, after a great deal of effort, Herc and Carver finally manage to catch Bodie again. They immediately begin questioning him, but Bodie proves to be stubborn and defiant.
He refuses to cooperate and repeatedly taunts the detectives. Eventually, Herc loses his temper and gives him a brutal beating. The wiretap operation also receives an unexpected breakthrough. One of Prez's hobbies is solving puzzles and word games. To everyone's surprise, he is the one who finally cracks the dealers' code. The dealers are using the layout of a telephone keypad as their encryption system. Every real number is replaced by its opposite number mirrored around the number five in the center of the keypad. It is a simple but surprisingly effective method perfectly suited to street-level drug dealers. If the code involved math or algebra or anything more complicated, there'd be no way those corner boys could figure it out. By this point, Prez has finally shed his reputation as the team's screw-up. For the first time, he is proving that he can genuinely contribute to the investigation. At the same time, Kima continues to shine. She remembers that Omar is one of Avon's greatest enemies. And as the saying goes, the enemy of your enemy can become your friend. With that in mind, she begins secretly tracking Omar. Omar is exceptionally cautious and observant. It doesn't take long for him to realize that the police are watching him.
Sensing that they have motives beyond simply arresting him, Omar takes the initiative and proposes a meeting so they can discuss matters openly and find out what each side really wants. Seeing how straightforward Omar is, Jimmy's team decides not to hide their intentions. They openly propose working together to bring down Avon. Omar, however, immediately refuses.
But I can't help you. You understand what I'm saying. I don't believe in snitching. Jimmy's team has little choice but to respect Omar's decision.
Before parting ways, they inform him that Avon's crew was responsible for killing Bailey, his close associate. In exchange, Omar gives them valuable information. Bird, one of Avon's enforcers, is the man who murdered the maintenance worker who testified in court. With that, Omar walks away unaware that he will soon change his mind. Meanwhile, D'Angelo still struggles to establish authority in the low-rise projects. Bodie openly gives orders to the crew right in front of him, showing little respect for his leadership. Even Avon grows frustrated with his nephew's lack of authority. In the end, he sends Stringer Bell to personally teach D'Angelo how to manage his crew. Stringer advises him not to hand out paychecks immediately and instead use the situation to discipline his subordinates. At the same time, they suspect Omar has an informant inside the organization. By withholding payments, they hope to identify the traitor since anyone secretly receiving money elsewhere would stand out. It is a classic case of killing two birds with one stone. D'Angelo immediately acts as though he understands and begins trying to project the image of a real boss, but authority cannot simply be faked and leadership cannot be learned overnight.
That evening, he takes his girlfriend out to an upscale restaurant. Even she believes he is too soft. D'Angelo admits that he has never truly felt like he belongs in this world. No matter what he does, he never feels any real sense of accomplishment or purpose. His girlfriend simply responds, "If you've got money, what else matters?" Clearly, she cannot understand the conflict raging inside him. D'Angelo feels even more isolated and has no one he can truly talk to. All he can do is continue living his life as usual. After work, he visits a nightclub to meet up with friends. There, he witnesses an argument between a man and a woman. By coincidence, he has spoken with the attractive woman before, so they are already somewhat acquainted. After removing the troublesome man from the situation, DeAngelo strikes up a conversation with her and eventually asks her out. She plays hard to get, but subtly accepts the invitation. The successful exchange leaves DeAngelo in an unusually good mood. But the very next day, Avon takes him to a hospital and immediately ruins the good mood. The man lying in the hospital bed is a former member of the organization who has been left in a vegetative state.
Avon's purpose is clear: to remind DeAngelo of the consequences of carelessness.
The truth is, you only die once, maybe sooner, maybe later, but the outcome is always the same. Looking at the motionless man in the hospital bed, DeAngelo begins to feel uneasy. What he doesn't realize is that a far greater storm is already approaching. That same evening, Wallace and Poot happen to spot Brandon, Omar's boyfriend, while walking through the neighborhood. Instinctively, Wallace reports the sighting to DeAngelo, who immediately calls Stringer Bell. Stringer has no intention of letting Omar's people go. He quickly assembles a crew and heads out. Wallace never imagines that a routine piece of information will end up changing his life forever. The next morning, he wakes up as usual, gets the children living with him ready for school, and prepares breakfast. But shortly after leaving the house, he comes across Brandon's horribly mutilated body. One glance is enough to reveal the torture Brandon endured before his death. Horrified, Wallace turns away and flees the scene.
Ironically, because Wallace informed DeAngelo and DeAngelo called Stringer, the task force finally obtains Stringer Bell's real phone number. This is a major breakthrough because Stringer is one of the organization's top leaders.
For the first time, taking down the Barksdale operation feels genuinely possible. Jimmy, however, finds little reason to celebrate. Thanks to Jaybird's efforts, he has been approved for a transfer back to homicide.
Unfortunately, that also means he could be removed from the task force at any moment, something he desperately does not want. At that very moment, Jimmy receives an urgent call and rushes to a body dump scene. After an initial examination, the detectives quickly conclude that Brandon was subjected to horrific torture before his death. The brutality is so extreme that it seems as though he had been forced to die over and over again before finally taking his last breath. At the same time, Wallace is being tormented by guilt. He opens up to D'Angelo about everything, leaving D'Angelo troubled as well. In the end, all D'Angelo can do is tell him to forget what happened and move on.
Afterward, he calls Stringer Bell and asks him to help get released.
Stringer agrees without hesitation, and this time he backs up his words with action. He quickly hires a highly skilled attorney to argue Bodie's case in court. Bodie plays his part perfectly, acting like an innocent kid.
In the end, he is successfully released.
The moment he gets out, Bodie's first move is to call his associates. For the wiretap team, that means another valuable lead. At first, Prez assumes that low-level corner boys like Bodie aren't particularly important. Lester immediately corrects him. We're building something here, building it from the ground up. Every piece matters, you understand that? That is exactly how a veteran investigator thinks. Meanwhile, Herc and Carver learn that Bodie is back on the streets. Assuming he escaped from detention, they rush over that night.
They nearly beat him up again before Bodie hurriedly explains what actually happened. While the task force is making real progress thanks to Stringer's phone number, a new problem emerges within the department. After reviewing the investigation into the murdered college student, Rawls concludes that the case is connected to the drug organization and immediately pushes to charge D'Angelo with murder. Jimmy's team believes this decision will only make matters worse. They still lack direct evidence capable of convicting D'Angelo.
Rawls, however, couldn't care less. His main concern is improving his clearance rate. Jimmy is furious and wants to confront Rawls immediately. The others quickly stop him. Kima even suggests that they ask Daniels for help. Jimmy, however, has no faith in Daniels whatsoever. Are you kidding me? He's been trying to slow us down for weeks.
This is just another excuse to shut the case down. But Kima refuses to give up.
Eventually, Jimmy reluctantly agrees to give Daniels a chance. As expected, Daniels doesn't perform any miracles. If things continue down this path, the day Rawls files charges will also be the day the task force's hard work goes up in smoke. At that critical moment, Omar becomes the one person capable of changing everything. After seeing Brandon's brutally tortured body and learning that Brandon never revealed his whereabouts even under torture, Omar is devastated. He swears to avenge the man he loved. Omar completely changes his stance and begins cooperating with the task force. He provides details about the last time he saw Brandon and even agrees to testify in court. Using wiretap records, Lester confirms that Brandon's murder is directly connected to D'Angelo and Stringer Bell.
Unfortunately, the task force had not yet begun monitoring D'Angelo's phone at the time, meaning they had no chance to prevent the killing. Jimmy is consumed by regret. He believes that if the wiretap operation had been approved earlier, they might have gathered evidence linking Stringer directly to the murder. Frustrated, he once again lashes out at Daniels. Daniels remains calm, as always, showing no reaction to Jimmy's accusations. Even so, he now fully appreciates the value of the wiretap investigation. He meets with the head of narcotics and asks him to convince Rawls to delay the prosecution so the task force can continue gathering evidence. But the commander is more interested in advancing his own career than helping the investigation, so he refuses outright. Left with no alternatives, Daniels drags Rawls directly to Deputy Commissioner Burrell in hopes of negotiating a solution. To Daniels' frustration, Rawls refuses to budge. Daniels bluntly points out that deep down everyone in the room knows that filing charges now will accomplish absolutely nothing. Deputy Commissioner Burrell cuts Daniels off, saying that he isn't optimistic about the wiretap operation, either. But this time, Daniels refuses to stay silent and pushes back. If Major Rawls is right, he'll still be right a month from now.
If the wiretap doesn't work, he can still prosecute every case he wants. We lose nothing. But if he's wrong, if he can't get a conviction, or if the Barksdale kid doesn't plead out, then it'll be too late to do anything.
Daniels goes on to argue that if they shut down the wire tap investigation now and end up with nothing substantial later, they will have no way to explain themselves to the judge who has been pressuring them all along. At that point, neither Burrell nor Rawls can remain indifferent. The consequences of such a failure would be far too costly for either of them to absorb. Later that evening, Daniels delivers the good news to Jimmy. For the first time in days, Jimmy feels a sense of relief. In his eyes, Daniels suddenly seems far more respectable than before. However, it is important to remember that Daniels is still motivated primarily by self-interest. That is the fundamental difference between him and Jimmy.
Daniels may not be idealistic, but he is practical. Jimmy, on the other hand, is still something of a rookie when it comes to navigating office politics.
By this point, Jimmy has completely alienated Rawls. As a result, Rawls summons Detective Santangelo and orders him to gather evidence of Jimmy's mistakes so he can eventually fire him.
Santangelo finds the request disgraceful and refuses to cooperate. Rawls immediately threatens to bury him under a mountain of impossible cases. Even so, Santangelo refuses to back down. No matter what happens, he will not betray a fellow detective. Meanwhile, Jimmy remains completely unaware of the danger building around him. He stays focused on the wire tap investigation. During that process, Prez once again proves his worth by successfully decoding the drug dealer's communications.
Through the intercepted messages, the task force learns that Stinkum is scheduled to pick up a new shipment within the next few days. Both the time and location of the exchange are clearly identified. However, the task force decides not to arrest Stinkum. They understand that moving too early could expose the entire investigation.
Lower-level arrests, on the other hand, are still acceptable. Kima leads the operation and successfully takes several suspects into custody. Coincidentally, one of those arrested is the same boy whom Prez had previously struck in the eye. Daniels recognizes the boy and understands that the police were responsible for what happened to him.
Hoping to make amends, he offers to help the boy leave the streets behind and start a different life. The boy simply responds with a cynical smile. He thinks he can buy me off with a candy bar. To the kids who grow up on Baltimore's corners, no one can save them except themselves. Wallace is a perfect example. Ever since Brandon's death, he has been consumed by guilt. To escape those feelings, he sinks deeper into drug use, using it as a fragile form of resistance against his fate. D'Angelo is fighting a similar battle. He discovers the informant within his crew, but instead of turning him over to his superiors, he simply issues a warning and lets him go. D'Angelo is still trying to hold on to what remains of his conscience. Meanwhile, Avon learns about the arrests and immediately senses that something is wrong. The police have picked up minor players, but left Stinkum untouched. To him, that makes no sense and suggests that something bigger is happening behind the scenes. Avon responds by temporarily shutting down operations in the projects and removing the payphones they normally use. From now on, anyone who wants to make a call will have to do it somewhere else. The sudden halt in business leaves D'Angelo worried. Around that time, Orlando approaches him. As a member of the organization with his own connections, Orlando proposes a side operation. The profits, he promises, will be split evenly between them. D'Angelo knows that if Avon ever discovers the arrangement, the consequences could be severe. But in the end, the lure of easy money proves too tempting. After some hesitation, he agrees to go into business with Orlando.
Meanwhile, the cold case Rawls assigns to Santangelo proves nearly impossible to solve. Seeing his colleague stuck, Jaybird comes up with a bizarre suggestion: visit a fortune teller.
"That woman has a gift you can't explain. When it comes to homicide investigations, she's beyond anything that makes sense." Skeptical but desperate, Santangelo decides to give it a shot. The fortune teller turns out to be every bit as strange as advertised.
She mutters about a spirit that wants to help him, hands him a small statue, and tells him to bury it. The advice sounds completely absurd. Even more absurd is the fact that Santangelo actually follows it. While one detective is seeking help from the supernatural, Jimmy and Bunk continue doing actual police work. To prove that Bird murdered the maintenance worker, they need more evidence. They track down an eyewitness to the murder. An elderly woman willingly cooperates and provides a detailed account of what she saw. Her testimony matches Omar's story perfectly. Omar proves to be a reliable source of information. He also reveals an important detail. Bird always carries his favorite gun. If the police can arrest him and recover that weapon, they can compare it with the evidence from the murder case. A match could put Bird behind bars.
The possibility excites the entire task force. They immediately present the plan to Daniels and request authorization.
All they need is a confirmed location from an informant. Daniels likes the idea and quickly approves it. Soon afterward, the team sets up surveillance with Omar accompanying them.
Unfortunately, they spend hours waiting and come up empty-handed. Omar then points out that knowing where Bird buys his drugs may be just as important.
Among street dealers, there is an unwritten rule, don't use your own product and don't get high in your own territory. That means Bird has to buy elsewhere whenever he wants drugs.
According to Omar, a dealer named Dilly sells the best product around, making him Bird's most likely supplier. Bird is not an easy target. Following Omar's advice, the team heads to the Carrollton area that night where Bird is most likely to appear. Bubbles once again puts his red hat strategy into action, and the hunt officially begins.
Eventually, they catch Bird and recover his gun. It is the first time the task force has arrested one of the Barksdale organization's key enforcers, and everyone is thrilled. Bird remains as arrogant as ever. Even after ballistic tests connect his weapon to the crime, he refuses to confess and spends most of his time insulting the detectives.
Clearly, he is not going to be easy to break. Outside the interrogation room, Bunk talks with Omar. It is revealed that the two actually attended the same high school. Using that old connection, Bunk asks whether Bird has been involved in any other murders.
Omar remembers that Bird murdered a young woman during Easter the previous year. By pure coincidence, that murder happens to be one of the unsolved cases Rawls assigned to Santangelo. After days of frustration, Santangelo suddenly has a breakthrough. The moment he hears the news, he rushes to the station. For a brief moment, Santangelo actually believes the fortune teller helped him.
Jaybird quickly brings him back to reality. Forget the fortune teller.
These are the people who solved your case. Santangelo immediately feels guilty. After thinking it over, he decides to warn Jimmy that Rawls is secretly looking for a way to get rid of him. The news hits Jimmy hard. For the first time, he realizes that his career may be in serious danger.
While Jimmy worries about his future, the rest of the task force faces a different problem. Since the payphones in the projects have been removed, the wiretap operation is no longer producing results. The team is forced to adapt.
Kima assigns Herc and Carver to monitor the dealers and figure out what communication methods have replaced the payphones. Meanwhile, she shifts her attention to the high-rise towers and begins surveillance there.
Fortunately, the new strategy pays off almost immediately. The intercept information showing that Stringer Bell has instructed a dealer named Little Man to deliver drugs to someone called Day-Day. Recognizing a rare opportunity, the task force quickly begins preparing an arrest operation. After Herc and Carver confirm that the transaction has been completed, Kima and the rest of the team immediately stop Day-Day's vehicle.
During the search, they discover that the delivery is not drugs at all, but $20,000 in cash. As soon as Jimmy hears the news, he rushes back to the station.
There, they identify the man as Damien Price, better known as Day-Day, an aide to a prominent political figure. The moment Daniels hears the name, he immediately recognizes who they're dealing with. Day-Day works directly for State Senator Clay Davis. However, the police do not yet have enough evidence to charge him with a crime. Daniels therefore decides to hold onto the $20,000. If Day-Day wants the money back, he will have to explain where it came from. While the detectives are discussing their next move, Internal Affairs Lieutenant Reed suddenly appears and summons Daniels to Deputy Commissioner Burrell's office.
Unsurprisingly, the issue revolves around Day-Day.
Daniels knows exactly what the meeting is about. He immediately argues that Day-Day has a lengthy criminal history and obvious ties to the drug organization. From a legal standpoint, confiscating the cash is completely justified. You arrested a state senator's aide. You took $20,000 out of his pocket without filing any criminal charges. And now you want to keep the money. You're not just embarrassing yourself, you're embarrassing me and this entire department. Daniels can hardly believe what he is hearing.
Somehow, in Burrell's eyes, investigating drug criminals has become an embarrassment to the department. The logic is absurd, yet regardless of how he feels, Daniels is forced to bow to authority and reluctantly return the money. Watching D'Angelo walk away with the cash leaves Kima furious. Jimmy is even angrier. He immediately confronts Daniels, arguing that Clay Davis and the Barksdale organization are obviously connected. Why aren't they pursuing the lead? And why did Daniels have to report the matter to Burrell in the first place? Daniels can only explain that someone with D'Angelo's political connections cannot simply be ignored. He had no choice but to report it. Worse still, the fallout may end his own career. According to Burrell's orders, the task force is scheduled to be shut down that Friday. Jimmy cannot understand it. As far as he is concerned, Daniels is simply doing what a police officer is supposed to do. So, why is he being punished for it?
Remembering what Fitz told him, Jimmy presses Daniels about his questionable past and asks what leverage Burrell really has over him. Daniels refuses to answer honestly. He gives a vague response and walks away. Deep down, Daniels is just as frustrated. He has come to understand a harsh reality.
Investigating drugs is acceptable, but following the money is dangerous. No one knows which powerful people the trail might eventually lead to.
Perhaps that is why the department's leadership has always resisted wiretaps.
Every day brings the risk of hearing something they do not want to hear or uncovering connections involving people who should never be touched. With the wiretap operation about to be terminated, the investigation itself seems close to ending. Even the judge eventually hears rumors about what is happening. He immediately summons Jimmy and Kima to discuss the case. They honestly explain that they have only managed to arrest low-level dealers and that the wiretap is being shut down because the investigation may be leading toward Clay Davis.
The judge is furious. He immediately calls Burrell and orders him to keep the wiretap operation active. The court authorized 60 days of surveillance. If Burrell shuts it down early without proper justification, he will face contempt of court charges the following Monday. That single phone call changes everything. A task force that was already packing up its belongings is suddenly back in business. Once again, the investigation is saved. While taking his two sons to the mall, he unexpectedly spots Stringer Bell, instantly recognizing the opportunity, Jimmy puts his sons to work helping him keep track of Stringer. Even though he nearly loses track of his children during the surveillance, Jimmy successfully records Stringer Bell's license plate number. On the drug dealing side, Omar is still devastated by Brandon's death. Wallace is suffering just as much, consumed by guilt, he falls deeper into despair with each passing day. Some members of the crew become concerned and ask D'Angelo to talk to him. D'Angelo agrees, but before he can do so, Stinkum's crew arrives, and he ends up joining them for dinner with plans to meet again later that night. Meanwhile, D'Angelo has no idea that Orlando's attempt to recruit him into an off-the-books operation has already been discovered. Avon gives Orlando a severe warning, and Orlando immediately falls back in line.
Completely unaware of what is happening behind the scenes, D'Angelo attends a celebration for Stinkum's promotion.
During the festivities, however, Wee-Bey and Savino murder a dancer named Keisha, who works at Orlando's club. D'Angelo is horrified by what he sees. Wee-Bey, on the other hand, barely reacts, treating murder as though it were just another routine part of life.
Disturbed by the incident, D'Angelo returns home. Soon afterward, his girlfriend, Shardene, who also works as a dancer at Orlando's club, starts asking questions because Keisha has suddenly disappeared. D'Angelo cannot bring himself to tell her that Keisha is dead. Instead, he opens up about the emotional burden he has been carrying.
"Sometimes I feel like I can't breathe."
As if to validate everything D'Angelo is feeling, a phone call suddenly arrives.
Stinkum has been killed. Anton, who was with him, is dead as well. The attacker is Omar. Omar believes in vengeance above all else. Unlike Avon, who constantly talks about rules and business, Omar is driven by personal justice. Killing Stinkum is only the beginning. He has no intention of stopping until Brandon's death is avenged. The taskforce is immediately frustrated by the news. They have spent weeks building a case against Stinkum, only for him to end up dead. Matters become even more complicated because Omar, who agreed to testify in the maintenance worker murder case, is now responsible for killing Anton. The department opens a homicide investigation into Anton's death, creating a serious conflict. If they pursue Omar immediately, they risk destroying the larger case they have spent months building. With few options available, Jimmy asks Bunk to speak with the detective handling Anton's case and convince him to hold off until the task force finishes its larger investigation.
Bunk is reluctant, but he agrees. After everything they have invested in the case, no one wants to see it collapse at the finish line. That evening, Jimmy and Bunk head to a bar. Before long, Bunk catches the eye of an attractive woman and happily disappears with her. Around midnight, Jimmy receives a call from the same woman asking him to come pick someone up. When he arrives, he finds Bunk so drunk that he can barely stand.
With no other option, Jimmy finds a place for Bunk to sleep because there is no way he can make it home in that condition. Before passing out, Bunk drunkenly speaks his mind. Jimmy, you know something? You're bad luck, man.
Jimmy says nothing. He simply leaves the room in silence. Meanwhile, the angriest man in Baltimore is Avon. Losing one of his key soldiers sends him into a rage.
He immediately raises the bounty on Omar's head to $10,000. Stringer Bell disagrees with the decision. In his view, the conflict with Omar is personal and should not consume the entire organization. He proposes a temporary truce hoping Omar will lower his guard before they eliminate him later. But Avon is still the boss. Once he makes a decision, no one overturns it. Stringer has no choice but to accept it and walk away. These moments reveal how different the two men really are. Avon thinks like an old-school gangster, while Stringer approaches everything as a business strategist focused on profit and long-term gains. That contrast becomes even clearer when considering what Jimmy recently discovered. While following Stringer, he learns that Stringer is taking a macroeconomics class at a Baltimore community college and is actively applying those lessons to his criminal enterprise. To Stringer, drug trafficking is simply another business.
His goal is to keep money flowing efficiently and then reinvest those profits into legitimate ventures that generate even more wealth. The way he manages operations, supervises his people, and plans for expansion makes it clear that his ambitions extend far beyond being an ordinary drug dealer. As the drug organization becomes increasingly focused on money and business, the task force begins thinking the same way. Lester decides to use Avon's nightclub as a starting point and begins tracing the web of shell companies hidden behind the Barksdale empire. Lester begins tracing the Barksdale organization's finances through partnerships and limited liability companies step by step. He follows the money flowing through their business network. The arrest of D'Angelo also leads Lester to suspect a deeper connection between drug dealers and local politicians. Acting on that instinct, he visits the Baltimore City Election Board and pulls quarterly campaign finance reports along with lists of independent donors from West Baltimore. Since the documents are public records, obtaining them is perfectly legal. Lester doesn't stop there. He also develops another strategy, building an informant network through Orlando's nightclub. Trusting their instincts, Lester and Kima quickly focus on Shardene, D'Angelo's girlfriend. Before long, they bring Shardene in for questioning. After a few routine questions, Kima brings up Keisha. The look on Shardene's face immediately tells them she has no idea Keisha is dead. Determined to break through Shardene's defenses, Kima takes a drastic step. She brings her directly to the morgue and forces her to confront Keisha's body. They then explain that Keisha was found dumped in a trash container, her death disguised as a drug overdose, and that she had been exploited before she died. The revelation leaves Shardene devastated.
Kima continues pressing her advantage.
They used her and threw her away, then tried to make it look like someone else's fault. That bastard said he took her to a hospital. Shardene's trust in the organization is shattered. Even so, when Kima asks her to become an informant, she cannot immediately agree.
She is still hesitant, but she also doesn't say no. That alone gives the detectives hope. While Lester works on cultivating informants, the surveillance team stays busy. They closely monitor the dealers and conduct searches whenever suspicious activity appears.
One day, they successfully seize a large amount of cash from a group of dealers.
Herc is so excited that he briefly considers skimming some of the money for himself. Carver quickly reminds him that even police officers can end up under scrutiny. Herc reluctantly abandons the idea and turns in every dollar.
Afterward, they return to work that day.
However, the streets seem strangely quiet. It takes them a while to figure out why every dealer in the neighborhood is focused on a major basketball game.
The game pits West Baltimore kingpin Avon Barksdale against East Baltimore boss Prop Joe. Ironically, Herc and Carver end up watching moment where cops and criminals are united by basketball.
That strange moment of unity unexpectedly pays off. Herc overhears someone mention Avon's name and immediately realizes the drug kingpin may actually be at the game. He quickly relays the information to the task force. Daniels is thrilled. For the first time, they have a chance to see the man they've been chasing for months.
He immediately joins the surveillance effort himself. Sydnor arrives first and uses the photographs they have collected to identify Avon. Once the game ends, he begins following Avon's vehicle. But Avon is extremely sharp. The moment he senses surveillance, he successfully shakes his tail. Left with no alternative, Daniels moves in personally to get a closer look. As the two men briefly pass each other, Daniels catches the challenge in Avon's eyes and instantly realizes he is dealing with a formidable opponent. The task force is proving just as capable. Lester's financial investigation begins producing real results. He discovers that Avon owns or secretly controls bars, apartment buildings, funeral homes, and numerous other businesses. In addition, the organization maintains an extensive network of stores and warehouses.
According to Lester, Avon's primary source of income remains drug sales in the low-rise projects and high-rise towers. Conservative estimates suggest the organization generates at least $60,000 a day, roughly $22 million annually. Even after operating expenses and payroll, monthly profits still exceed $1 million. Everyone understands that these figures represent only the tip of the iceberg. Lester's calculations cover only documented and semi-legitimate activities. The hidden streams of cash moving through the shadows are almost impossible to measure accurately. The fact that D'Angelo can casually walk into the projects and leave with $20,000 in cash demonstrates that the relationship between politicians and drug organizations runs far deeper than anyone originally suspected. What troubles the investigators most is this, the drug dealers do not appear to need political power in order to keep operating. So, what exactly are both sides gaining from this relationship? The answer remains unclear, but the deeper the investigation goes, the darker Baltimore's true picture becomes. While Avon is busy with his basketball game, Omar is far from idle. Even though Avon has men hunting him throughout the city, Omar constantly changes hiding places and manages to stay one step ahead. He even has the audacity to walk into the projects alone, steal a large bag of drugs, and calmly leave with it.
Afterward, Omar takes the stolen drugs to East Baltimore kingpin Prop Joe. One glance is enough for Joe to recognize that the package belongs to Avon, and he immediately asks Omar how much he wants for it. Omar surprises him by saying the drugs are free. I only got one small request. You get four packages for free if you tell me how to reach Avon. Prop Joe has no interest in whatever feud exists between the two men. To him, it is simply a profitable transaction.
Without hesitation, he gives Omar Avon's phone number and address. That same night, Avon is collecting money at Orlando's club, completely unaware that danger is closing in. The moment he steps outside, Omar makes his move. Avon reacts instantly, diving behind a nearby car for cover. Wee-Bey is just as quick, providing suppressing fire and helping Avon escape what could have been a fatal ambush. The attack shakes Avon badly.
For the first time, he accepts Stringer Bell's earlier advice, gives up his pager, cuts off outside communication, and agrees to a temporary truce with Omar until the situation cools down. In reality, Omar is no longer in a position to keep fighting either. During the shootout, he takes a bullet to the shoulder. Unable to risk going to a hospital, he turns to Jimmy and Kima for help. Jimmy and Kima agree to help him.
At the same time, they realize that if Avon is now hiding in fear, tracking him down will become even more difficult.
The task force is running out of time.
Desperate for more opportunities, Jimmy petitions the court for an additional 30 days of wiretap authorization. The judge is noticeably less enthusiastic than before, but he eventually approves the extension. Jimmy finds the change strange. Earlier, the judge was one of the investigation's strongest supporters. Now, he seems eager to see the case wrapped up as though pressure is being applied from somewhere behind the scenes. A lawyer later informs Jimmy that the judge's term will expire in 2 years and that his name is absent from the list of candidates for reappointment. Jimmy is surprised and asks, "Why isn't he being nominated again?" "Maybe because he's been associating with the wrong people." The answer is vague, but the implication is obvious. The task force has begun touching the interests of powerful people. Those individuals have no desire to see a judge continue supporting such an investigation. The 30-day extension becomes the task force's final opportunity. Fortunately, they use it well. After countless hours of surveillance, they discover that the high-rise dealers consistently receive shipments through the same middleman.
The courier regularly uses a payphone located inside a small-town supermarket.
Sydnor and Herc immediately set up surveillance around the area. During one delivery, they finally identify the courier and secretly follow him to a heavily-guarded red brick house.
To gather more evidence, Sydnor and Prez disguise themselves as sanitation workers and remove two garbage bags from outside the property. Inside, they find packaging materials, drug processing equipment, and other incriminating waste. These discoveries strongly suggest that the red brick house serves as a major drug stash location for the Barksdale organization. By continuing to monitor it, the detectives may be able to trace the entire distribution network across West Baltimore and eventually connect everything back to Avon himself.
As the team celebrates this breakthrough, another piece of good news arrives. Troy, one of Kima's former colleagues, reports that an undercover operation posing as drug buyers has resulted in the arrest of Orlando. The entire task force is surprised. Orlando is the manager of Avon's nightclub and has direct ties to the Barksdale organization. Even better, Wallace finally reaches his breaking point.
After days of living with overwhelming guilt, he decides to contact Jimmy himself. Wallace provides information that implicates Stringer Bell and also helps identify Bird and Stinkum's involvement in several criminal activities. The detectives are stunned by his decision. However, a new problem immediately emerges. How to keep Wallace alive once the organization learns that he is cooperating? With few alternatives available, Daniels decides to send Wallace away from Baltimore to live with his grandmother in the countryside, hoping the distance will keep him safe from the Barksdale organization. After being arrested, Orlando immediately claims that he can buy drugs directly from Avon's organization. According to him, the police could use that opportunity to lure Avon into the open.
Even the prosecutors think the idea sounds promising. Jimmy immediately objects. He knows that Avon has never allowed Orlando anywhere near the drug operation. In Jimmy's view, the plan has almost no chance of succeeding. Daniels fully agrees with Jimmy's assessment.
Somehow, however, word reaches Deputy Commissioner Burrell. He immediately summons Rawls and Daniels to his office and insists that Orlando be used as bait to catch Avon. Daniels tries once more to explain why the operation is a bad idea. But Burrell refuses to listen.
Determined to have things his way, he leaves the task force with no choice but to proceed. Hoping for a lighter sentence, Orlando eagerly cooperates.
The plan is for him to contact Savino, one of the organization's mid-level operators, arrange a drug purchase, and hopefully get him to mention Avon or Stinkum during the transaction. As part of the operation, Kima agrees to wear wire and pose as Orlando's girlfriend during the deal. The rest of the task force will monitor the conversation remotely and move in to arrest Savino once the transaction is completed. After extensive discussion, this becomes the final plan. Kima is chosen not only because she fits the role, but because she is one of the most capable detectives on the team. She combines courage, intelligence, and a deep sense of justice with remarkable composure under pressure.
When they arrive at the meeting location, Kima waits in the back seat for the dealers to arrive. It doesn't take long for her to sense that something is wrong. Kima realizes they have walked into an ambush. That damn informant. In reality, Kima's cover has not been blown. The organization simply wants Orlando dead before he can talk to the police.
Kima is armed, but in the chaos her weapon is accidentally knocked away.
Gunfire erupts. Kima is struck multiple times, collapses, and falls into a coma.
At one point, her heart even stops beating.
The tragedy sends shockwaves through the task force and the entire Baltimore Police Department. Everyone realizes they severely underestimated how ruthless and reckless the Barksdale organization could be. The shooting of a police officer crosses a line that cannot be ignored. As a result, detectives and officers across the department begin offering their full support to the task force.
Even Jaybird, who rarely leaves his desk, gets involved. He personally leads officers in tracking the shooter's escape routes. Meanwhile, Sydnor, Herc, and the others continue working under Lester's direction using the wiretap operation to uncover any lead connected to the shooters.
For Jimmy, the shooting is especially devastating. He feels personally responsible for bringing Kima into the investigation and indirectly exposing her to such deadly danger. The guilt begins to consume him. Seeing Jimmy falling apart, Rawls unexpectedly reveals a different side of himself. For perhaps the first time, he offers genuine words of comfort. You're a miserable son of a [ __ ] We both know that. I don't care what anybody else thinks, but don't stand here and tell yourself that you got a police officer shot. It isn't your fault, understand?
It isn't your fault. Rough as those words are, they have the desired effect.
Jimmy finally feels a small measure of relief. At the same time, his determination to bring those responsible to justice becomes stronger than ever.
On the Barksdale side, Stringer Bell quickly learns what happened. According to the reports, after Savino accepted the money from Orlando, a gunman named Little Man suddenly appeared.
Originally, the plan was simply to eliminate Orlando, but Little Man loses control. Instead of stopping there, he repeatedly fires at Kima, turning a routine hit into an all-out assault on a police officer.
Stringer immediately sees the danger.
Shooting a police officer carries consequences far beyond an ordinary murder. If Little Man is arrested, there is a strong chance he will cooperate with authorities to save himself.
Stringer decides to act before the police can. He orders Wee-Bey to find and kill Little Man, eliminating the loose end before it can become a threat.
Afterward, Wee-Bey is instructed to disappear from Baltimore until the situation cools down. Shortly afterward, Stringer Bell summons D'Angelo and tells him to accompany Wee-Bey on an errand.
D'Angelo is terrified. Being ordered to ride alone with a notorious killer like Wee-Bey can hardly mean anything good.
Too afraid to ask questions, he quietly gets into the car. The farther they drive, the more isolated the surroundings become. When Wee-Bey finally leads him into a secluded house, D'Angelo is practically on the verge of tears. Then comes the unexpected twist.
Wee-Bey simply wants him to help feed his tropical fish. D'Angelo doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. Back at police headquarters, events unfold exactly as Stringer anticipated. Deputy Commissioner Burrell gathers Rawls, the narcotics commander, and Daniels, ordering a citywide anti-drug crackdown.
The goal is to hit every drug-related location in the city without exception.
Officially, the operation is meant to send a message to the drug trade and reassure the public and media that the department is taking decisive action after Kima's shooting. Daniels strongly disagrees. He understands that massive sweeps create headlines, but they do little to dismantle the organizations behind the drug trade. Kima's shooting has fundamentally changed his perspective. What was once just another investigation has become personal.
Daniels now wants justice, not only as a police officer, but also for one of his own detectives. He is determined to make Avon and Stringer Bell pay. For that reason, Daniels quietly instructs his detectives to leave the red-brick stash house untouched during the raids. He wants to preserve the organization's supply hub so the investigation can continue gathering evidence.
The strategy offers another advantage as well. If the stash house remains untouched, the dealers are less likely to change their communication methods.
That means the wiretap operation can continue producing valuable intelligence. It is an exceptionally smart move. But almost immediately after issuing those instructions, Internal Affairs Lieutenant Reed shows up. He accuses Daniels of deliberately withholding information from the city-wide operation. The confrontation leads to a disturbing realization. He's got ears somewhere inside the task force. Desperate to protect the Red Brick house, Jimmy once again turns to the judge who has supported the investigation from the beginning. This time, however, the judge cannot help. He has finally been nominated for another term. To protect his future, he can no longer involve himself in politically sensitive matters. With no political protection left, the task force is forced to accept that the stash house will be included in the raids. Moments like this reveal how cold politics can be. The same reality becomes painfully obvious after Kima's shooting. Police Commissioner Frazier finally appears in public after the shooting.
Embarrassingly, he cannot even recognize Daniels, the man leading the task force.
Instead, he mistakes a reporter for him.
What disappoints them even more is that when Kima's partner arrives at the hospital, Frazier doesn't even bother offering condolences or support to the family of the wounded detective. Herc is deeply disgusted. To him, these leaders care only about themselves and their careers with little regard for the sacrifices made by the officers beneath them. The people who genuinely care are Kima's friends and fellow detectives.
Even Bubbles wants to contribute in some way. Jimmy asks Bubbles to continue working as an informant in the projects and gives him some money to help him get by. Jimmy then turns his attention to Maurice Levy, the attorney representing the Barksdale organization. He puts direct pressure on him and demands that Savino be turned over immediately. And then you'll receive a subpoena from the State Attorney General's office requesting every one of your bank records. Then we'll see whether those deposits match the income you've reported. Levy immediately understands the threat. A full financial investigation could destroy him. To protect himself, he reluctantly agrees to hand Savino over to the police.
Unfortunately, arresting Savino produces very little progress. He is merely a middleman within the organization, not a direct participant in the shooting of Kima, and he refuses to identify the actual gunmen responsible. Worse still, the police have no evidence connecting him to murder or proving that he received payment for any violent crime.
At best, Savino is looking at a few years in prison and a modest fine of around $5,000.
As for the actual shooters, the detectives have almost nothing unless Kima wakes up and identifies them herself. The situation becomes even worse after the Red Brick stash house is exposed during the large-scale raids that Burrell insisted on carrying out.
In response, Avon completely changes his communication methods, rendering the wiretap operation nearly useless. Once the flow of intelligence dries up, Burrell begins applying pressure again.
In his view, the operation has run its course and there is no reason for the task force to continue existing. Daniels immediately pushes back. He points out that the court-authorized wiretap is still active and that the investigation should therefore continue. Burrell disagrees. He argues that wiretap operations do not require such a large team and wants to send detectives back to their original assignments. He then demonstrates just how little he understands the investigation by dismissing Lester as a useless old detective and Prez as a politically connected incompetent. Ironically, Burrell deliberately leaves both men behind. What Burrell fails to realize is that Lester and Prez are actually two of the most valuable members of the entire operation. The irony is so obvious that Daniels can barely keep himself from laughing. At this stage, the task force sees only two viable paths forward. The first is to continue digging into the Barksdale organization's finances and uncover the relationship between drug money and political influence.
The second is to intensify surveillance on Avon and Stringer Bell themselves.
On that front, Lester scores a major victory by successfully turning Shardene into an informant. The dancer's dressing room at Orlando's club sits directly next to the room where the Barksdale crew regularly conducts business meetings, making it an ideal location for surveillance. Shardene secretly carries a listening device while Lester monitors conversations remotely.
Unfortunately, the distance makes the audio quality poor and difficult to use.
Once again, Lester's brilliance shines through. He obtains the club's architectural plans, has Shardene measure distances by counting her steps, and calculates the exact location of the meeting room. Later that night, he secretly approaches the location, drills a small hole, and installs both a camera and a microphone in the perfect spot, hidden, secure, and effective. The new surveillance setup immediately pays off.
Through the camera feed, the detectives watch Avon instructing his people to clean out and pack up everything inside the room. It is obvious that the police raids have convinced Avon to operate more cautiously. However, drugs and paperwork are not the only things he wants to eliminate. He also intends to remove potential threats. That list includes the security guard who once testified against DeAngelo and Wallace as well. Through the surveillance operation, the task force finally learns the truth Stringer Bell ordered Brandon's murder, and under his instructions, Bodie and his crew later killed Wallace.
Another young life is cut short, and the police lose a witness who could have directly implicated Stringer Bell.
Meanwhile, politicians connected to the organization's money begin scrambling to protect themselves. Maryland's attorney general personally meets with assistant state's attorney Ronnie and presents documentation showing that suspicious campaign donations have already been returned. He insists he never knew the donor's identity and is completely innocent. Ronnie later passes the documents to Daniels. Lester quickly points out that the paperwork does not prove Avon was behind the donations.
What it does prove is that the financial investigation has made certain powerful people nervous.
One of those people is state senator Clay Davis. Using his connections through Burrell, he arranges a meeting with Daniels and employs the same strategy as the attorney general. Clay Davis insists that he is completely clean and subtly brings up the D'Angelo incident hoping Daniels will stop digging any deeper.
But Daniels is no longer the same man he used to be. He was carrying $20,000 in cash received from a suspected drug trafficker, and the money was sorted and bundled by denomination. Clay Davis immediately becomes uncomfortable and struggles to explain himself. This time, however, Daniels refuses to back down.
In that moment, Burrell finally realizes that Daniels has changed. The obedient subordinate he once controlled no longer shares his priorities or loyalties. By now, Daniels no longer cares what Burrell thinks. Bringing the real criminals to justice has become more important to him than any promotion or political advantage the department might offer. The wiretap unit finally gets a major breakthrough. One day, Avon summons D'Angelo to his office and orders him to travel to New York that night to pick up a new shipment of drugs. If the task force can intercept the shipment, combined with their surveillance footage and recorded conversations, they may finally have enough evidence to connect Avon directly to the operation. The news energizes the entire task force. Daniels wastes no time and immediately puts a plan into motion. He obtains a professional tracking device and secretly attaches it underneath D'Angelo's vehicle. Using the tracker, Daniels, Jimmy, and the rest of the team follow D'Angelo's movements and intercept him shortly after he returns to Baltimore. However, D'Angelo is no longer as naive as he once was. Having previously been manipulated by Jimmy and Bunk into writing an apology letter after the witness murder, he is much more careful this time. He refuses to give up any useful information. Jimmy is frustrated. Before releasing D'Angelo, he decides to tell him the painful truth. Wallace is dead. D'Angelo refuses to believe it. He had personally asked Avon to spare Wallace. In his mind, Wallace was just a harmless kid. The idea that someone in the organization would actually kill him seems impossible. He tries to dismiss the idea, but Wallace's name keeps echoing in his mind, refusing to leave him alone. Later, when Attorney Levy and Stringer Bell come to visit him, D'Angelo finally confronts the suspicion that has been haunting him. Stringer, where's Wallace?
Stringer says nothing, yet his silence speaks louder than any answer ever could. In that moment, D'Angelo breaks.
Even after D'Angelo's arrest, Deputy Commissioner Burrell remains unsatisfied. In his opinion, the investigation should end right there.
This time, however, Daniels refuses to back down. He openly states his position. Promotions and career advancement no longer matter to him. The only thing he cares about now is getting justice for Kima. To Daniels, this is no longer just about police work. It is about personal integrity and the last line he refuses to cross.
Furious, Burrell even brings up Daniels' past corruption issues in an attempt to intimidate him. But Daniels is no longer afraid. "If you want to sign an arrest warrant for me, go ahead. I'll comply.
But as long as the wiretap authorization remains active, this investigation will continue." Perhaps for the first time in years, Daniels finally feels at peace with who he is. Shortly afterward, he launches the operation to arrest Avon and stands alongside Jimmy as the plan unfolds. Unfortunately, there is still not enough direct evidence to arrest Stringer Bell. For the moment, he remains out of reach. Watching Avon being taken away, Stringer feels no sense of relief. If anything, he understands that once Avon is gone, he will become the task force's next primary target. Meanwhile, Lester uncovers another critical lead. A newspaper article about a new Baltimore drug treatment center catches his attention. The project has received $250 million in federal development funding.
What stands out is that the proposed development area overlaps with numerous properties owned directly or indirectly by Avon. Suddenly, everything clicks into place for Lester. This is the real reason drug money has been flowing into politics. They bribe politicians to gain access to confidential development plans, then quietly buy land and properties before the information becomes public. When the government eventually acquires the land, they collect enormous compensation payouts.
The implications are enormous. Digging deeper would likely expose politicians, businessmen, and high-ranking officials throughout the city. For the moment, however, the task force lacks the resources to pursue something of that magnitude. They reluctantly set the lead aside and focus on immediate priorities.
Meanwhile, Herc and Carver continue raiding the high-rises, arresting low-level dealers in an effort to disrupt the organization's distribution network. Everyone understands that this alone will not be enough. They need another breakthrough before the wiretap authorization expires. Otherwise, Burrell will shut the task force down immediately. Jimmy proposes a bold idea.
He believes Stringer Bell will inevitably try to rebuild the organization, which which justify another extension of the wire tap.
Daniels immediately shuts the idea down.
As long as the Deputy Commissioner is still sitting in that office, before you even finish typing the request, every one of us will have been reassigned.
Jimmy thinks for a moment and suddenly comes up with another idea. What about the FBI? The idea is simple, hand the entire case over to the FBI.
For once, Daniels gives Jimmy genuine credit. Sometimes thinking outside the rules is a skill in itself. And then the task force receives even better news.
After everything he has been through, D'Angelo finally changes his mind and decides to cooperate with the police.
Jimmy and Ronnie immediately meet with D'Angelo. They place photographs of the victims killed in cases connected to the Barksdale organization in front of him.
The moment he sees Wallace's photo, D'Angelo freezes. Guilt and heartbreak immediately spread across his face. He finally realizes that he had badly underestimated Stringer Bell's ruthlessness.
D'Angelo goes on to confirm several murders carried out by the organization's enforcers. However, he admits that he does not know who specifically pulled the trigger on Wallace. His testimony sounds sincere.
With little reason to doubt him, Jimmy and Ronnie choose to believe him. As the room grows quieter, D'Angelo begins talking about his life. His father, his uncle, and nearly everyone around him made their living through the drug trade. Growing up in that environment, he never truly had the chance to choose a different path. I spent 8 months in prison. And honestly, in that prison, I felt freer than I ever did at home.
D'Angelo admits that all he really wants is to escape that suffocating life and live like an ordinary person. If the police can help him achieve that, he is willing to help them achieve their goals as well. The detectives are thrilled.
For the first time, they have a genuine insider willing to cooperate against the Barksdale organization. Jimmy immediately takes the good news to the hospital. By now, Kima has regained consciousness. Given the severity of her spinal injuries, the fact that she is awake at all is considered a miracle.
Jimmy sincerely apologizes. He feels that if it were not for him, Kima might never have become so deeply involved in the case or suffered such devastating injuries. Kima has little interest thing she asks about is the status of the investigation. Meanwhile, Stringer Bell spends a significant amount of money to secure Avon's release on bail.
Once free, Avon immediately relocates his operation to a new base.
Since the task force still has not identified the New York supplier, Stringer continues moving product and begins rebuilding the organization's distribution network. Avon, however, realizes that formal charges may soon be unavoidable. Following Levy's advice, he begins searching for someone who can take the fall on his behalf.
The most obvious candidate is D'Angelo.
The person sent to convince D'Angelo is his own mother. It becomes painfully clear that aside from D'Angelo, nearly everyone in the family is willing to sacrifice others to protect the organization. Meanwhile, the police have no idea what Avon is planning. Jimmy continues pursuing his own strategy, contacting Fitz at the FBI in hopes of bypassing Burrell and transferring the case to federal authorities.
Fitz believes the idea has merit and quickly arranges a meeting between the task force and several FBI agents. After reviewing the case, the FBI agents agree that it is significant. However, federal guidelines require a connection to large-scale organized crime, terrorism, or major corruption before they can fully commit resources.
Hearing this, Daniels immediately points to the corruption angle that the task force has quietly been investigating.
Soon afterward, a higher-level meeting is arranged. This time, the task force sits down with senior FBI leadership.
The FBI official reveals that they have actually been investigating possible corruption involving Clay Davis for 2 and 1/2 years.
Lester immediately presents his theory that the drug organization and Clay Davis may be working together to profit from federally funded development projects. However, the FBI points out that criminal charges require both witnesses and hard evidence.
While D'Angelo is a valuable witness, his knowledge is limited to the drug operation. He has no first-hand knowledge of the financial or political dealings behind the scenes, making him unable to connect the organization directly to Clay Davis.
The FBI supervisor then proposes something unexpected. Perhaps Avon or Stringer Bell could become cooperating witnesses against Clay Davis.
At first, the idea seems reasonable, but the more they think about it, the more problematic it becomes.
To secure their cooperation, the FBI would almost certainly need to offer significant concessions such as reduced sentences or partial immunity. For the task force, that is simply unacceptable.
The meeting ends on a sour note. Both sides realize that their priorities are fundamentally different. Before leaving, Jimmy can no longer hide his frustration and speaks directly to the FBI agents.
West Baltimore is falling apart. And you people just sit there and watch. All you care about are politicians. I thought you were real police man.
Although the FBI partnership goes nowhere, the task force does achieve another important breakthrough. Using information provided by D'Angelo and phone records connected to attorney Levy, they finally locate Wee-Bey's hideout. After months of chasing leads, the task force is finally ready to make one of the most important arrests of the entire investigation. Before launching the final arrest operation, Daniels takes care of two important matters.
The first is exposing the person who has been feeding information to Deputy Commissioner Burrell from inside the task force. That person turns out to be Carver. Carver is young and inexperienced, making him vulnerable to manipulation by higher-ranking officers.
At the same time, Daniels knows that throughout the investigation, Carver has worked hard and genuinely wanted to do good police work. Rather than punishing him, Daniels leaves him with a piece of advice that carries far more weight. One day you're going to have to choose between yourself and the job. The second thing Daniels does is allow Prez to participate in the operation against Wee-Bey. This may be the task force's final mission before disbandment.
Despite all his past mistakes, Prez deserves to stand alongside his fellow detectives and witness the capture of one of Baltimore's most dangerous killers. Not long afterward, the operation begins. The detectives successfully lure Wee-Bey out of hiding and move in quickly to take him into custody. After months of pursuit, Wee-Bey is finally behind bars. The next step is preparing charges against Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell. But at the most critical moment, everything changes. D'Angelo decides to withdraw his cooperation with the police.
A few days earlier, his mother had come to visit him. During their conversation, D'Angelo admitted that he was considering cooperating with investigators. She does not threaten him or tell him what to do. Instead, she uses something far more powerful, family loyalty. "Start over. How are you going to start over if you don't have your family?" Those words break D'Angelo's resolve. In the end, he cannot escape the family ties and destiny that have defined his entire life. The decision devastates the task force. Without D'Angelo's testimony, building a strong case against Avon becomes dramatically more difficult. During plea negotiations, attorney Levy presents a carefully calculated deal. Wee-Bey will take responsibility for multiple murders, allowing the police to officially clear six homicide cases. In addition, the police will be allowed to seize certain assets and evidence already recovered, while most of the organization's real estate holdings remain untouched. In practical terms, the Barksdale empire keeps most of its financial foundation intact. As for Avon, although wiretap evidence connects him to a drug transaction, the deal was never completed. As a result, he faces only three to four years in prison.
Stringer Bell fares even better. The police simply do not have enough direct evidence to charge him, allowing him to remain free.
The task force is left feeling powerless. They know they came closer than anyone before them, yet they still failed to completely dismantle the Barksdale organization. Even so, they fight to secure every conviction and every small victory they can before the case officially closes. Eventually, the court proceedings conclude and the task force begins to disband. Each member moves on to a different chapter of life and career.
Daniels watches an old colleague become commander of the Northwestern District.
Lester is transferred to homicide. Rawls continues grumbling and breathing down his neck as usual. Carver receives a promotion. Jimmy, however, remains deeply dissatisfied. He cannot accept the outcome of the case.
In his eyes, D'Angelo and Wee-Bey should not carrying the burden for crimes that ultimately benefited Avon and Stringer Bell. What hurts him most is knowing that the crimes are still continuing.
Out on the streets, Bubbles continues stealing copper pipes and selling them for survival. New leaders quickly emerge in the projects to replace those who have fallen. Stringer Bell continues running his operation behind a facade of legitimacy, his ambition burning brighter than ever. Omar enjoys life elsewhere, temporarily removed from Baltimore's endless war. Yet, when viewed as a whole, the streets remain unchanged. Drugs are still sold, addicts still use, the same cycles continue repeating day after day. It all feels like an endless cycle with no real end.
And so, season one of The Wire comes to a close on a bittersweet note. Despite achieving several major victories, the task force never truly manages to shake the foundations of the Barksdale empire.
Will they continue the fight in the future? Will Stringer Bell really escape justice forever? We'll have to wait for the next chapter to see how Jimmy and his fellow detectives [music] continue their battle against the powerful forces controlling Baltimore, and whether they can finally bring true justice to the city.
Thank you for your interest and support.
Goodbye, and see you again.
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