More links between the different spheres of the city.
Episode #44: “Unto Others”
“Aw yeah. That golden rule.” – The Bunk
Royce and Carcetti make their peace. Prez has a good day with his class minus the “corner kids”. Omar convinces Bunk to help him prove his innocence. Greggs uses “soft eyes” at a crime scene and finds the witness killing was accidental. Marlo steals Herc’s surveillance camera provoking him into a more direct approach. Carver hands Randy over to Herc who fails to understand the importance of his story. Sherrod begins working in the drug trade and fights with Namond over territory. After receiving a beating Namond disrupts Colvin’s class. Proposition Joe continues to court Marlo’s involvement with the Co-Op.
New Character:
State’s Attorney elect Rupert Bond
Episode #45: “Corner Boys”
“We got our thing, but it’s just part of the big thing.” – Zenobia
Colvin uses corner logic in class and is greeted with enthusiasm, particularly from Namond. Michael is devastated when his stepfather returns to live with him. Bunk exposes the frame on Omar but antagonizes his colleagues by meddling in the case. Herc stops Chris and Snoop and fails to realize the significance of the tools he finds in their car – they use them to conceal the corpses of their victims. Carcetti makes the rounds and discusses his plans as Mayor and his intentions for the future. He considers employing a new police commissioner and Cedric Daniels sees his stock rising.
New Character:
Bug’s father/Michael’s stepfather (no name given)
Deceased:
Col. Raymond Foerster
I really like Michael’s character. He reminds me of a stronger version of wallace- he takes care of his younger brother, he’s responsible, and he is smart. I can’t really see any weaknesses when it comes to Mike’s character and his being able to survive in the streets. I see why Marlow is intrigued by him. Mike seems to already know the game so well yet he refuses to “play.” Instead he minds his own business and takes care of his family. I’m interested to see how Mike holds up against the drug game. It seems to be pushing on him from all sides- friends and family.
On thing that struck me during the episode Unto Others was the attitude the sociologists and educators teaching the corner kids held about their behaviors. They talked about the disrespect and psychological problems they encountered in a clinical way discussing the childrens actions as textbook cases or noting how fascinating it all was. This sort of language made the students seem like lab rats in one large experiment rather than people, in effect dehumanizing them. No doubt their research is fueled by a sincere desire to help disadvantaged and troubled youth in schools but labeling the kids with psychological disorders and merely examining them is a slow step toward this aim.
The steps Prez has taken to get to know his students and trick them into learning provides an alternate take for someone new to the inner city system. He is beginning to get a feel for the sort of intelligence valued on the street where common sense and close observance provides clues to lead one to the correct answer. When one of his students gets the right answer to a multiple choice question by watching and counting the dinks on the chalk board Prez senses the untapped potential and intelligence the kids take for granted. As he takes cues from what the kids want to learn he strays farther and farther from the proscribed curriculum that teaches to state wide tests. He has already begun to run into problems with the other teachers who offer conciliatory and half hearted answers about looking out for his own survival. Whether either effort will be successful in the coming episodes still remains to be seen..