The Ultimate Villains on ‘The Wire’:
Shameless Journalists, Of Course

Sure, the cops cook the numbers and cover up scandals in the ranks, the politicians make back-room deals just to win elections and the drug dealers double-cross each other and kill anyone who gets in the way of selling product to addicts.

But the journalists are the only one of Baltimore’s tribes shameless enough to succeed as a result of their sinful ways in the finale of the “The Wire.”

After all, McNulty seems ready to atone for his twisted scheme and finally gets around to doing good police work, Lester’s inside info on the grand jury leaks helps salvage at least some vestige of the indictment of Marlo’s crew and even Rawls realizes that they can’t pin all eight murders on the poor homeless psycho with the pocket full of business cards.

Carcetti has a Napoleon complex and so far his ambition has outstripped his commitment to public service (and his coercion of Daniels was inexcusable) but there’s a sense that, as governor, he just may be able to fulfill his promise.

Marlo may be back on the street, a born-and-bred thug, and Michael seems committed to the gangta life, but at least they’ve got a sense of street justice (of which Omar was the living embodiment). As does Slim Charles by killing Cheese to punish him for giving up Prop Joe.

By now, the whole world knows about series creator David Simon’s ultimate revenge fantasy, his need to punish the editor and publisher he considers responsible for ruining the Baltimore Sun by turning them into craven caricatures on “The Wire.”

But does he have to be so cynical about journalistic ambition that the series ends with that awful shot of Templeton, Klebanow and Whiting accepting the Pulitzer Prize? (I wonder if Columbia even gave their permission to have the show use the school’s logo in a scene which mocks the prize?)

Templeton, of course, is the most gutless and unprincipled character in the entire show. Forget Avon, Stringer, Clay Davis, Sergei, the Greek, Marlo, Chris, Snoop – they may all be reprehensible villains but at least they’re honest about what they do and who they are.

Even the newly remorseful McNulty stares at Templeton with utter contempt.

He lacks any shred of integrity (he can’t even admit his lies to McNulty).

And with the exception of hardworking underappreciated Alma, most of the other journalists lack much spine. (Except for Mike, who gets props for his commitment and compassion).

Even Gus, my hero this season (joining Bunny and Cutty in the Hall of Fame) who has been a rock of down-to-earth sincerity all season long slips at the end. Why didn’t he protest Templeton’s share of the prize and Alma’s relocation?

Yet another reason for the public to hate the media. At least the lawyers (Maury) have no problem admitting their shamelessness.

Wow, I’m still absorbing the end of the greatest show on television (yeah, it’s become a cliché… but only because it’s the truth)

 

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