Top 50 Characters of The Wire 40-36

#40
Leander Sydnor

How He Fit: Already considered one of the best detectives from his first appearance in season 1, we didn’t really get to see Sydnor improve in the same vein as Carver and Prez, but what we did see was a committed cop learn more about how to be “good police” from people like Freamon and McNulty. David Simon has said something to the effect that Sydnor is the only character who by the end of the series has not jeopardized any morality (I may have butchered this, but the point is there). By the end of the series he becomes the new McNulty, which seemed somehow appropriate, although it certainly means he won’t remain unblemished for long.

What I Liked: One of the best things about the show was its verisimilitude and realism. While I loved characters like McNulty, Omar, and Prop Joe, they did seem like characters, however realistic. With people like Sydnor, he felt like a guy I could actually befriend and just go for a beer with. It was also nice seeing one of the younger cops actually be good at his job and not an idiot with police brutality of the brain. Not the most developed character on the show, but I loved him anyway. Go fight the system, dude (anyone else wonder what would happen to certain characters like him if a season 6 ever actually got made?)

Best Moment: Getting dressed down by Bubbles on his junkie authenticity.

#39
Beatrice "Beadie" Russell

How She Fit: A regular port cop who didn’t really have a strong desire to be a cop, by the end of season 2 she had game. Becoming an integral part of the Sobatka investigation, we saw as she developed as an officer, but unlike with say, Jimmy or Kima, didn’t let it affect her home life. After that she became the woman that kept McNulty on the sane side, or at least tried to.

What I Liked: Beadie would have probably been much higher had she been in the show more. I can understand why most of the other season 2 characters did not reappear in season 3, their arcs were finished; but I couldn’t help but be disappointed when Beadie wasn’t a part of the detail at the beginning of season 3 (although her eventually reappearance was a nice surprise, since I figured she was done). It seemed like her arc in season 2 was setting her up to be a regular, although I realize that would have messed up McNulty’s arc considerably, which is probably what the writers considered the priority. Much of my like of her comes from Amy Ryan’s performance, Ryan being one of my favourite actresses out there at the moment. Little moments like her slight fear at following Vondas up to the hotel room or her ambiguous surprise at McNulty leaving after inviting him in for a beer were perfectly played. Her appearances in seasons 4 and 5 were much more to play off of McNulty’s personality, but I still enjoyed her presence. Basically, a character who was good but who I would have enjoyed more of.

Best Moment: Seeing Frank’s body. Once again, perfectly played by Ryan. The emotions of guilt alone in that moment must have been horrible.

#38
Nick Sobotka

How He Fit: In a way the D’Angelo of season 2, in that he was kind of our main viewpoint into the world of the docks (Frank seemed to grow to be more of that as the season went on, although that may be my own bias since I liked him more). Although the least sympathetic of the three Sobotkas it still sucked to see him delve further into crime just to support himself and his family, and basically becoming a mini-Frank. His continual support of Ziggy despite his constant idiocy was frustrating on the first watch-through, and kind of admirable on the second.

What I Liked: The aforementioned tragedy of his character. As with Ziggy (to a much greater extent) I knew things were not going to end well for Nick. Once he decided to become a drug-dealer and became buddy-buddy with Vondas and Sergei, it looked all uphill to him, but all downhill to me. I admit I found the performance (while good) a little less natural and realistic than most of the actors around him, which I think detracted a bit from his my like for his character. What I liked most was his relationships with Ziggy and Frank: with the former, he acted like a big brother who looked out for his insanely immature younger sibling, while at the same time being a bit of an envy for Ziggy for how much better he is at doing everything; with Frank, the father figure and Nick adequately played the son that Frank wished he had, making the inevitable fall for all three of them all the more tragic with these relationships built in.

Best Moment: His cameo in season 5. “Who is that?” “Nobody, Mr. Mayor. That’s nobody.” Can’t think of many more scenes that sum up his the view of the show more accurately. :(

#37
Gus Haynes

How He Fit: Part of what is unanimously thought of as the weakest storyline in the series, Gus was the crusader for truth in a shrinking world where prizes and prestige were increasingly meaning more. Last representative of the old-school method of reporting that the show seems to think is dying out.

What I Liked: While the one-note characterization of the newspapers characters was definitely the weakest part of the series, and this rubbed on Gus, as he was a little too self-righteous and crusading at times, I didn’t really mind it as much in his case, and I think it was nicely balanced by some good humour from the character and the fact that he often missed things too, e.g. Omar and Proposition Joe’s deaths. I just wish that all of the characters in this storyline could have had that kind of nuance, since I think Simon gets a lot of what is wrong with newspapers and the media spot on, but with caricatures like Templeton that makes it a lot harder to get through. I also always enjoy Clark Johnson, whether in front or behind the camera, and have been enjoying his character on Homicide: Life on the Street now that I am going through it. More than anything, this character will be a representation of what this storyline could have been more than anything else.

Best Moment: Explaining to Alma the follies of corporatism and how it is killing quality journalism.

#36
Cedric Daniels

How He Fit: Always toeing the line between career-man and “doing the right thing”, Daniels was in many ways a good representation for a large part of the show, where people usually get punished for trying to help or change something that isn’t working, and praised and promoted for going along with the Olympian God that is the status quo. What he found eventually was that he loved the job more than getting ahead, which unfortunately led to many problems for him. The job did not love him back.

What I Liked: The aforementioned constant battle that was always ongoing, and how he pretty much always came through on the right side. Unfortunately, Reddick’s performance wasn’t always quite up to par, which is why the character is lower than he would be. He was too often one-note, and while that worked at times since as supervisor Daniels could not show emotion and “weakness” as easily or as often as the detectives could, it hindered many scenes that could have more weight to them, such as when he is talking to Carver about how your subordinates will follow the game you play. Basically, a great character who I really liked, but the performance unfortunately often left too much to be desired. A rare weak link in a mostly strong show. Nevertheless, I always liked every single time he said, “Detective, my office.”, especially the bug eyes after Prez punched Valchek.

Top 3 Moments:

3. Chewing McNulty out in season 3 when he goes behind his back to Colvin. Such ambiguity in that I was glad that McNulty did what he did, but could also understand why Daniels was so pissed and kicked him off the force.

2. “This…is BULLSHIT!” The moment when he turns from company man to finally seeing the light on what exactly the higher-ups were doing, the type of games they play and refusing for the first time to play along.

1. “I’m not involved in drugs, Lieutenant.” “Good.” An evolution from the 2nd best moment, when he refuses to ignore the strings that control the department anymore, and throws Burrell and Davis’ attempt to get him off their scent right back in their faces.