The pace of this season refuses to slow down. Fellow blogs continue to criticize the overwrought "unWIRE" like writing and direction. I concur with their assessments as how it's jarring to the veteran WIRE viewer, but am sitting back and enjoying the ride. I will continue to theorize that this is a result of Season 5 wrapping up story lines that don't require an additional episode or two to flesh out character qualities. However, the sacrifice here is the "Sun" storyline which is guilty of providing us with run of the mill, TV style character developments - with the exception of Haynes (who is rivaled only by Bunk as this season's stand out character).
The episode teleplay comes from Ed Burns (who continues to be overlooked as an equal co-creator of television's greatest show) and is laced with terrific lines - including the title of this entry. The line, of course, refers to Bunk's grilling of the Forensics chief, who quietly explains why there is a significant lapse in regards to DNA evidence from the "vacant" murders of Season 4.
Bunk's storyline continues to be the anchor for this season, as he is the only person aware of the McNulty/Freamon agenda and the consequences it can have on impeding real "po-lice" work. His refusal to blow the whistle and his insistence to work - alone - on the real, open serial killer case is at once admirable and taxing at the same time - portrayed beautifully by Wendell Pierce. His veteran police prowess continues to shine as he works back on the case involving Lex (allowing for one of this episode's "where are they now" cameos) by questioning the now hardened Randy. (Other cameos include 'Niko' Sobatka's insubordination of real estate developer Kracheck.) Bunk's hard work lands him with a good lead into the murder of Michael's stepfather, a single case outside of the bungled "vacants" series - because Chris refused to wait to get him into the house - allowing Bunk a clearly identified case DNA sample. However, his work continues to take a back seat to the now stoked wildfire of McNulty's "serial killer".
McNulty's ruse needs to get bigger because Freamon is becoming more insatiable for resources to track down Marlo - whose new trick is to use pics from his cell phone to indicate meetings. As the need for higher end technology to continue proper surveillance and build a case grows, so does the justification to up the ante on their lie. Further, McNulty is getting just a little taste of his former supervisors' struggles in dealing with Freamon's persistence.
The opening scene revolving around Chris and crew's frantic search for Omar was superb. (Detective Monk? Snoop Little?) The legitimate concern on Chris' face and his anger displayed that he seems to be the only one who knows what's fully at stake. Marlo continues to convey a cold confidence and his arrogance may be his downfall as he informs the co-op (which indeed seems to be dissolving) that he controls the "connect", that he's responsible for Joe's death, and that the price on the "brick" is going up. Slim Charles - fully aware that Marlo's explanation of Joe's demise was completely false - passes his opportunity to captain the East Side drug trade over to (Marlo-made) Cheese. Slim will be one to watch.
Templeton - donning a Kansas City Star t-shirt (wonder if that was consolation for interviewing there) - spends the night on the streets in an effort to actually "pound the pavement" to follow up on his front page story based on the serial killer's call to him. He finds that actually doing the work might provide better results than making it up, as even the suspicious Haynes was impressed with his piece showcasing a Gulf War II vet's story. A favorite quote amongst the shows' writers is by one of their own, Richard Price - "God is not a second rate novelist" which Templeton may be finding out by reporting this kid's actual story. (I'm also convinced that the actual anecdote was probably based in truth as well.)
Trouble seems to be brewing for the DA's office as well as Bond's insistence to try Senator Davis locally as a dog and pony show and by himself might get derailed by a possible leak in his office. Det. Holly uncovered Prop Joe's file of Grand Jury testaments and warrants revealing how the crafty Joe was able to stay one step of the law all these years. (Bunk: "Somebody finally got old Prop Joe.") Marlo, with his reckless and impatient ascent to Joe's chair (sitting empty during the recent meeting) as the head of the co-op, may have overlooked Joe's ability to ascertain information about ensuing raids or ongoing surveillance and may eventually keep him in the dark about the small, but insistent team - now including Sydnor - surveilling him. We'll have to watch.
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