We're this close to the end of the season, and the loose ends that have flopped in the previous episodes are getting tied together, often to tragic results.
1. Carcetti does indeed want to do good: but there's that $54 million school deficit that no one will be made responsible for...
2. Daniels wants to give Herc a slap on the wrist; the ministers want him fired. For Carcetti this is a shit eating moment: keep Herc, he angers the influential black leaders, fire Herc, and the rank-and-file in the police--the guys on the street--hate him.
3. Lex--who was killed in the first episode of the season for having killed Fruit--is found in one of the row houses. Lester now knows where the bodies are that came with Marlo's taking over "half of West Baltimore"--but Landsman does not want him unearthing bodies which will upset their almost 50% clearance rate. The stat is still king.
4. The special class is being shut down--unless Bunny can convince City Hall that it is worth saving. In the meantime the kids in it are studying for the test which will only send most of them back to the corners. And there are the kids like little Albert who has found his mother dead--and still has come to school.
5. Over in Prez's room, there is real learning going on, and now his class is sounding a little like thr special class, as the class wants to talk about intimacy.
6. Prop Joe, bowing to the power of Omar's big honking gun, has agreed to lead Omar to Marlo's package.
7. Michael is actively being trained in the way of enforcing by Snoop and Chris; and he is a fast learner, as Snoop observes.
8. Namond doesn't have it in him to punish his own soldier, Kenard, for stealing the missing dope. However, Michael does.
9. Randy is now branded by almost everyone as a snitch, afraid to go back to school, and watched over by an unmarked cruiser, and Carver as well. However, there are others watching him as well.
10. Prez kicks himself for having trusted the police--Herc in particular. He now sides with "his kids" rather than the police and his old friends.
11. Dukie has been promoted to high school; he is not happy with the news.
12. Bubbles , in trying to kill his tormentor, accidently provides the poisoned dope that kills Sherrod.
Whew.
Speaking of Bubbles, here's the whole sad sequence of events that lead to Sherrod's death.
So what I'd like you to write about"
1. Something we have not talked about at all, and I'd like to before we finish our discussion of the season, is Bubbles. He has been a regular on the show since its beginning, first as a snitch for a Kima, then an out-and-out junkie who does whatever he has to--steal in particular--to get his high. He still gets high, true, but there's more to him now, I think. How would you characterize Bubbles? A word or phrase, and why? And--what do you see his role is on the show? Why spend so much time on a character whose story line doesn't advance any of the major plot lines--a person, in the reality of the store, whose life is barely above the level of those three junkies we saw buying from Bodie way back? Why might Simon have put him in such a central role in this season? Write several sentences.
2. What scene in these episodes especially stayed with you--and why?
3. In response to my asking you what you wanted to talk about after the last episodes, a couple of you asked a similar question: what would happen if the special class didn't teach to the test--what would happen if the whole school didn't teach to the test? So mhy question: what do you think Tighlman Middle School should do--should it risk its funding, risk its very dedicated and hard working principal Withers and assistant principal Donnelly getting fired, risk it being taken over by the state, by saying "no" to the teaching to the test and the cost it has for the students? Write several sentences.
4. Donnelly tells Prez that he cannot be a parent to Duquan. There will be many more Duquans for him to work with in the coming years. That is a very un-Paideia thing to say, don't you think? Why would she tell him this? Is this good advice?
5. Tomorrow we will probably finish the season. What to you is the best case scenario for each of the boys--what would be the realistic happy ending for Duquan, Randy, Michael, and Namond?
6. On the other hand, what do you imagine will happen to each of them?
Finally, the title credits for both seasons 2 and 3.
Season 3:
1. I would characterize Bubbles as a father figure. He is a mentor to Sherrod and he truly cares about him. Sherrod is one of his only friends and I think he sees him as a son. One scene with Bubbles that sticks out to me is the one when Sherrod first comes back to school. Bubbles steps in as his father and takes care of him the best he can. I think Simon emphasizes Bubble’s story to show how that even people in the worst situations can do good and help people. Bubbles works hard and takes care of Sherrod despite being a junkie and being homeless.
ReplyDelete2. The scene that stuck with me was the one where Michael was training with Snoop and Chris. It was both impressive and frightening how good Michael was at shooting the paint gun. It was sad for me because I had wanted Michael to stay away from Marlo, but I guess it was kind of inevitable.
3. I think the school should take a risk and not teach to the test. I feel like the kids are learning so much more when “regular” class is going on—not the test prep classes. The information isn’t really sticking with the spoon feeding, but if the kids are really engaged in class and are actually learning something they might succeed more on the test.
4. Ms. Donnelly is warning Prez not to get too attached to the students. Maybe in past the teachers have learned to distance themselves so that if the kids return to the corners the teachers aren’t disappointed. I don’t agree with Donnelly’s advice because Prez’s relationship with Duquan is very important to both of them. Prez is a sort of father figure to Duquan in a time when he really needs it. As we see later in the episode, Duquan looses his home. Prez provides care for Duquan when his family doesn’t. Prez also gets a lot of joy helping Duquan and obviously cares about him.
5. Duquan: a happy ending for Duquan would be to continue his relationship with Prez and find stability in his life at home. Also, to succeed in high school would be a positive thing for him.
Randy: a happy ending for Randy would be the snitch rumor about him to die down and for him to gain trust from his peers.
Michael: a happy ending for Michael would be to not get too caught up into Marlo’s gang. However, I don’t think this is quite realistic. I don’t know how Michael could have a happy ending when he is becoming a part of Marlo’s gang.
Namond: a happy ending for Namond would be to stand up to his mother and to graduate from the special class into the regular classes.
6. Duquan: I imagine Duquan will do well in high school if his home life becomes more stable, but I doubt this will happen. He might end up working for a local business or something, but I don’t see him turning to the streets.
Randy: I think Randy will end up moving schools because of the snitch rumor going around the neighborhood.
Michael: he will join Snoop and Chris and help them kill the people who get in Marlo’s way.
Namond: I think he will continue to be verbally abused by his mother and will keep letting people take advantage of him.
Unlucky. I would use this word to describe Bubbles because even though he is working really hard, he always ends up in a horrible position. For example the guy that keeps beating him up and stealing from him. Another example would be when Sherrod takes the cyanide, thinking it was cocaine, and dying. I don’t know why the writers put him in, maybe they put him in to show a poor person that does not deal drugs. In the end I just feel really bad for bubbles.
ReplyDeleteOne scene that really stayed with me is when Prez tells randy not to talk to the police anymore. I think that scene really shows how much he cares about him kids, even above the law. I also think it is significant because he was once a police officer.
No I think even though teaching the test is horrible, if the school refused to do it they would simply be shut down. Since they are not a private school they have to follow government guidelines even if it doesn’t help the kids. I think that it was terrible the corner kids program got shut down too.
I think that it is good advice. I think that Prez being attached to his kids is one thing, but I think that he has not realized that he only gets to teach them for one year. I feel bad for Duquan though.
I think that with amazing luck Duquan could be an engineer, because he is very smart. I think that Randy could own a shop if people forget about him being a snitch. I think Michael could be the next Marlo, or someone like him. I truthfully don’t know what Namond will be, he doesn’t have the heart for the drug game, we know that much.
Truthfully I think it is very possible that they all end up as druggies like their parents. I hope it doesn’t happen though. Duquan I could see being a junkie. Same for Randy. I do not see Michael as a druggie though; he seems to strong for that. He could defiantly be an enforcer though. I think Namond will try to get out of the hood.
I see Bubbles as one of the characters trying to make an honest living in life and as a father figure in regards to Sherrod. His character has become very tragic since he accidentally killed Sherrod and I feel very sorry for him. We have talked in class about how Simon is using this show to paint a picture of Baltimore or any American city and I think Bubbles is used as the character to show the life of a junkie. He is not defined by his addiction though many of his actions are based upon it. During this season, it could be easy to forget he was an addict since the show never explicitly showed him buying drugs and only used brief shots of him taking them. I think the show once again wishes to question the viewer’s stereotypes and expectations this time surrounding junkies. The show utilizes Bubbles to show that a junkie is human and can be a good person even though they participate in something one would probably typify as “bad”.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that stays with me is when Bubbles awakens in the morning and later finds Sherrod dead from the poison he made. It was very tragic because Bubble was so happy moments before he realizes Sherrod’s fate, and I think his desperate attempts to revive Sherrod show how much Bubbles cared about Sherrod.
I would like to say “yes” the school should refuse to teach the tests and everyone should risk their jobs, but I think the result would be similar to Major Crimes fate earlier in the season. Everyone would be replaced or abandon the school and it would be reduced to an even worse state. I think the teachers should do what Prez does. Teach about the test a week or two before it begins and otherwise focus on actually teaching the students. It is not the “morally” right thing to do, but I think it would produce the most effective results. The teachers should maintain the appearance that they are teaching the test for the months ahead of time, but only truly teach the test when it is very close.
I think Donnelly knows that Prez will have to say goodbye to Duquan in a year and even though it is months sooner than expected she knows how a teacher can survive at the school by only getting attached to a certain extent. While I do think this would make Prez’s job as a teacher easier, I think his attachment to Duquan can not be so easily forgotten and I hope Duquan will listen to Prez when Prez offers to continue to help him with laundry and showers.
I think Duquan’s happy ending would be to go to high school, live with Michael and maintain contact with Prez throughout those years. He could successfully graduate and perhaps go to college or start his own business and avoid the drug world. I think this is possible for Duquan, but I think he will be lost as his new school without his friends and he will probably face ostracism again and not have the aid of a caring teacher like Prez to help him maintain his sitatuation. I think currently for Randy it would be he stays away from school long enough that no one cares about the snitching story and in a few months he joins Duquan in high school, and they both focus on their studies. However, I think Randy will at least be forced to change schools and will face other persecution because of him being labeled a snitch. For Michael it would be for him to stop entering the Drug World and return to focusing on Bug and perhaps school. However, I think it is much more likely that Michael will become an enforcer with Chris and Snoop for Marlo. For Namond I hope he can continue to not give into the pressures around him to commit violence and ignore his mother’s wishes and he will maintain contact with Bunny who will mentor him. I think he will not be very successful at resisting the pressures and I see him becoming like Bodie in a few years.
1.my phrase would be a just man in an unjust world. I know it doesn't only talk about bubbles, but the place you live is a part of you in my opinion. The reason i say this is because of how nice he is to Sherrod and how much love he has for him, and how he always seems to have the best of intentions. He even makes an honest living without stealing, even if he used to. Even the attempted murder of that guy who kept harassing him was just. He was just VERY unlucky. I feel a lot of sympathy for this character. I can't feel empathy because i have no idea what that would feel like to kill the only person you love and are loved by. I feel very bad for bubbles. The reason he has such a big role in this film is to show another exception to the mean, stereotypical drug addict and to show there are some honest people in this world who get screwed over for no good reason. Life is not fair, this is what he represents.
ReplyDelete2.The scene that stayed with me the most was the scene where Donut has his fingers broken by that cop and how that image looked, and how unjust that looked.
3.I think they should continue with spoon-feeding every once and a while so that they can continue at least a little learning. The kids don't learn anything by being spoon-fed, but it's better to learn most of the time and devote just enough time to the test materials that don't help them to keep the school active and the students learning. (probabilities and language)
4. She is giving him good advice because it's good not to get too attached to students, however, in this case Duquan needs Prez. His familiy does nothing for him and Prez is the only person who really cares for him. Michael does too, but not in the same way. I think he truly needs Prez.
5. Duquan- Car mechanic/technology repairman
Randy- Store owner/salesman
Michael- Boxer
Namond- Working for randy maybe, we don't see any special skill of his as of yet. He couldn't back his mouth like we saw earlier.
6.
Duquan- much like bubbles or working for michael
Randy- Dead or kicked out by foster mother
Michael- much like chris, or much like Marlo
Namond- working for Michael
1. I would describe Bubbles as self-sufficient. He has cared for himself for a very long time obviously’ and has managed to stay alive and basically make a living for himself. When he realized Sharod needed schooling, he brought him to the school, when he kept getting terrorized by this bully he talked to the police, when that didn’t work, he went and poisoned the drugs. This man takes care of business. The reason I believe Simon choose to spend so much time on Bubbles is because he’s the perfect example of the bottom. He’s about as low on the totem pole as it gets and Simon, in making this show has made a clear effort to show economic diversity.
ReplyDelete2. To me the clear standout scene is the last one. When you see Sharod lying dead on the floor. For some reason I couldn’t help but think of Herc. If he had dealt with the problem like he said he would then this never would have happened.
3. Absolutely they should stop teaching the test. Both the kids and the teachers are wasting their time. While yes, Withers and Donnelly are hard working and want the best for the kids; they’re still giving into the state demands. They’re hurting the kids just as much as the state is. They need to take this risk.
4. This is a hard question for me to answer because I know that Mrs. Donnelly is probably right, but I completely understand where Prez is coming from and would probably be doing the same thing. These kids need the love and nourishment that Prez is giving them. The trick to Prez’s job is spreading it evenly.
5. Duquan: I think him living with Michael is the best thing for him right now. He needs to get away from his parents and the hostile environment they create for him.
Randy: Ideally this whole scandal about him being a snitch will blow over and he can go back to school.
Michael: If we are talking about what would make these boys happy, not society. I think him going into the drug trade is the best thing for him. He would be safe, along with his brother. He’s clearly cut out for that life and it would provide an income for him, something he’s lacking right now.
Namond: He needs to get out of his mothers care. He isn’t meant for the life his mom is forcing him to live. He needs to go back to the normal class, but keep a close relationship with Bunny.
6. Duquan: I fear he’ll fall apart in high school without Prez or any of his friends. I don’t want to see it obviously, but I think he might drop out.
Randy: He probably will have to change schools. The sad thing is he’s going to have no friends at his new school and he’ll be alone.
Michael: He will go into the drug trade and become an enforcer like Snoop and Chris.
Namond: He will continue to sell drugs by the force of his mother and become more and more messed up mentally by it all.
1. Bubbles shows the true cost of what the drug dealers are doing. He is smart and resourceful. His shop reminds me of Randy’s makeshift shop at his junior high. I don’t think that Randy is going to get addicted to drugs, but Bubbles plight reveals how he could get stuck despite his resourcefulness.
ReplyDelete2. The scene in which Bubbles realizes that Sherrod is dead was the most upsetting and moving. It was painfully clear how much Bubbles loved Sherrod when Sherrod left. I think Bubbles decided to kill his harasser partially to protect Sherrod. He didn’t want Sherrod to have to live with the harassment he did, just like he does not want Sherrod to struggle with drugs the way he did. Sherrod’s death was incredibly painful for Bubbles, especially because Bubbles indirectly caused it.
3. All of the teachers would lose their jobs, and the state would take over the school. The state would go back to the old system. I think they are doing the best they can by pretending to play the game for the assessors, and teaching the kids other things as well.
4. She tells Prez he cannot be Duquan’s parent because she thinks it is better for Prez to let Duquan go. She should have told him that he can still help Duquan while Duquan is in High School, and that the change will have to happen at some point. Prez has helped Duquan a lot already, and his compassion and effort are beneficial for him too. I don’t know if he is getting to attached for his own good, as Donnelly seems to suspect, but he has consistently been on the kids side, which is good to see.
5. I hope to see Duquan succeed at High School, and maybe move in with Randy. I hope Randy goes to another school and escapes Marlo’s revenge. I hope Namond stands up to his mother and tells her she should be supporting him, not forcing him to throw his life away to support her shopping. That wouldn’t work, but I wish he would move in with Bunny and live the life we saw a snapshot of when he spent the night with them. I think the most realistic possibility for Michael not going into the drug world would be for him to see Chris and Snoop do something cruel to Randy. Maybe if he saw them be violent to someone he was loyal to, he would lose the callous attitude he has towards killing. At the same time, this would be really sad, because I don’t want to see Randy hurt.
6. Marlo is probably going to get to Randy somehow. Namond is probably going to bend to his mother’s will, and Duquan might go into the foster care system, or quit going to school. Michael will probably become one of Marlo’s enforcers.
1. Bubbles is a very loving character. His interactions with other characters such as Kima show this. He’s a very open, friendly guy who was willing to take a boy who he is not related to under his wing. Bubbles is the ultimate consequence of the going-ons of the various individuals of Baltimore. In this season, he never manages to accomplish anything, he is just hurt and battered down by his drug addiction, by Walker, and by the man who beats him up constantly. Bubbles is an example of how this broken society can make such a loving, intelligent guy into a poor, desperate addict.
ReplyDelete2. Even though it was probably a fairly minor scene in terms of the overall plot, I really loved the scene in which McNulty and Bodie meet in the restaurant. I’ve always loved these kinds of moments (like in Season 1 or 2 when the cops run into Bodie, Poot, and their girlfriends at the movies), as the criminals and the police rarely interact as normal folks. Even in the scenes with Carver and the corner boys, Carver is clearly acting as an authority figure. In this brief scene of McNulty and Bodie, Mcnulty is clearly engaging Bodie as his equal, as a guy he just happens to know. I thought this scene was special in that it showed that, despite the class and legal separation experienced by the two characters, they can still meet on a human level.
3. This situation is a total catch-22. If all the teachers decide to not teach the tests, they will be fired and replaced with teachers willing to teach the tests. The students don’t learn. Alternatively, the teachers can continue teaching the tests. The students don’t learn. It’s senseless for Donnelly and Withers to risk their jobs for something that won’t have any long term effect, but it’s also terrible to not teach the students correctly. I think, ideally, the teachers should have to find some balance between teaching the tests and teaching useful information. If the rules of the game are that they have to teach the tests, fine, but an equal amount of attention must be given to subject matter that they judge as important.
4. Donnelly tells Prez this because she believes that if he focuses too much on Duquan, his attentions will stray from other students who need his attention. I think that this is fundamentally poor advice. Just because there will be more “Duquans” in the future doesn’t mean that this Duquan isn’t in need of further help from Prez. Instead of leaving him out to fend for himself, Prez should support Duquan and help him transition into high school (which must be a scary experience for him, as none of his friends are following him).
5. Duquan: The best case scenario for Duquan is that he successfully transitions to high school, studies hard, gets good grades and gets into college.
ReplyDeleteRandy: At this point, the best case scenario for Randy would be that he transfers to a school that is removed from the world of drug warfare. Carver’s statement about the snitch business dying down in a week or so seems to be very unrealistic. If kids are willing to get as violent as they did in the episode we watched, Randy needs to get out of there, and fast.
Michael: The best option for Michael is for him to devote his obvious talents to something more healthy than killing people. Boxing has been presented as a viable option for him, so I would say that in his best case scenario, he bows out of Marlo’s crew and takes on Cutty as a mentor.
Namond: Namond seems to be the kid with the least amount of alternatives. I suppose his best case scenario is that he somehow gets his mother off his back (with the help of Bunny, most likely), transitions into “GenPop” smoothly and then goes to high school.
6. Duquan: I think that Duquan is the most likely to succeed of the children. However, if I’m being pessimistic, I’d say that Prez follows Donnelly’s advice and cuts himself off from Duquan and Duquan enters high school alone and doesn’t do as well as he should.
Randy: If it wasn’t for you saying that Randy shows up next season, I’d say that Randy is going to die. Since we know that he won’t die, I’d say that he switches schools, ends up alone and loses some of his cheerful demeanor.
Michael: I think that Michael will carry on with Chris and Snoop as his mentor and eventually graduate to a full blown killer like them.
Namond: I think that Namond is going to get seriously injured in a drug battle, which will lead to his mother feeling very remorseful.
I would characterize Bubbles as being replenished. He was previously a junkie that stole to get a high from drugs. Now, he is showing responsibilty in taking care of Sherrod. He only has Sherrod's best interests at heart, and by having previously gone through the stage of extreme junky, he knows what Sherrod is experiencing. I see him as a sign of hope; he is a part of the little bit of good that goes on in West Baltimore, and by making a good person in West Baltimore a junky, it causes viewers to have a different view of the show. The scene that stayed with me was the beginning of the episode where Michael is running from Chris and Snoop. I just knew he was going to get killed, but then he shot Chris and Snoop, which then made be think that he was now going to become the killer for Marlo. Then he says how he knows where to shoot next, with then made me think that he isn't going to take over now, but he is definitely going to be a natural at it when his time comes. I think the school should do what it has to do to maintain possession of the school. The school isn't just a school to these kids; for some of them, it's an outlet away from the terrors that they have to face at home. To let the school get taken over would mean that these kids are already being given up to the system (where odds are most of them are going to end up), and to give up on them this early is only going to encourage their already volatile behavior. I think Donnelly is giving Prez good advice. Getting attached a kid in West Baltimore isn't safe. People can die at any time in this environment, and to start to act like a parent to a kid could yield negative results for a teacher. What Prez is doing is heroic, but he shouldn't try to protect Duquan from something that he cannot stop from happening. West Baltimore do with a person what it sees fit to happen. For Duquan, I would like for him to have a good experience in High School, get to college, and get away from West Baltimore, because he really doesn't belong. For Randy, I would like everyone to realize that he isn't the snitch that he's seen to be. I just don't want to see him get put in a house. For Namond, I would like to see him go to High School, and get away from his mother and that life. His mother is a terrible influence on him, and he just isn't that type of kid. For Michael, I would like to see him continue to be the brother that he is to Bug. He's a great influence on him, and if he can withstand Marlo and his plot to get Michael to join him, he'll be good. Honestly, I think all of them are going to disappear besides Michael. Michael is the only one I think can survive. He's just natural, and the other three boys don't have what it takes to be a corner kid.
ReplyDeleteI think that the best way to describe Bubbles is that he is complex and quite a character. On one hand, you have the junkie who is always getting high and pushes around a shopping cart with items for sale. That’s the kind of person most see from their car and lock their doors. On the other hand, you have a man who helps out the Homicide unit, and let’s not forget when he was quizzing Sherrod on his math and he knew the answer to complex problems. I think that the contrast between these forms of him is what makes him such an interesting character, and also why they focus in on him so much in the show.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say Michael and Dukie walking home to Dukie’s place, and they find out that Dukie has been evicted. Dukie truly has nowhere to go but the streets. Then Michael, says “You can stay with me and Bug. We have a place of our own,” which we didn’t even know until then. I think this shows how much the four boys care about each other and what kind of difficult situations all of them are in.
If they don’t teach the test, all of the teachers will get fired. They don’t have the choice. What they can do, however, is get someone in power to change it, like Carcetti. The solution isn’t immediate, but it’s better than getting fired or just sitting back and doing nothing. All of the teachers don’t want to teach the test, and this is what they have to do so that it won’t be in the school system again.
She told him this because she didn’t want for him to get attached to a student too much. If he does, it will be hard to see that student leave. And while Dukie’s story is particularly heartbreaking, there are many other kids in the same or worse situation than Duquan. This means that Prez will pull strings for them whenever he can, and Miss Donelly suggests that Prez won’t have the energy, time or money to do that. I don’t think Prez should listen to that, because what he did for Duquan changed his life.
Namond- His mom realizes that he isn’t a fit for the drug life, and they both get jobs that they are good at and keep them out of debt. His relationship with Bunny turns into definite friendship.
Randy- The “snitch” stuff dies down, he stays in the same school system and he still is eager to become an entrepreneur. He excels in school and stays out of the game.
Dukie- He stays with Michael, keeps his close relationship with Prez, and his talents with technology, overall toughness, and his exceptionally bright brain are all discovered at a level where he can be properly recognized.
Michael- He develops a relationship with Chris, Snoop and Marlo so close that they will not be able to hurt him even if they have to. He lifts himself and Bug away from poverty and does not interact with his mother ever again.
Namond- He won’t be soft much longer. He’ll harden up on the streets or die.
Randy- He gets harassed so much that he has to switch schools. He doesn’t see his friends again.
Dukie- He stays with Michael, and Prez helps him climb the education ladder.
Michael- He gets with Marlo’s crew.
If I would associate two words with Bubbles they would be persistant and intelligent. Persistance because if there is one standout feature of Buddle's life it's that he always gets back up. No matter what happens to him he is back out there pushing his cart the next day. While he shares many similarities with the three junkies, he isn't like them. I get the feeling that it's not just necessity that drives him but a sense of purpose. He isn't the kind of character that would be content to simply work towards his next high. Bubble's addiction seems like it latched onto him and can't let go, an unfortunate flaw in an otherwise solid compassionate character. Smart because Bubbles knows how to vend, but more than that he has a sense of right and wrong which is somewhat unique for someone in his position. Bubbles has a central role because his story in many ways is a simple one. Bubble's struggle each day is to survive with isn't something we see in many characters. Everybody has their problems but few focus each day on earning their next meal. There is something base and primitive about that which makes for a scintillating plot.
ReplyDeleteNaymond's mothers rant stayed with me. The scene has many trappings of the violence in Mr. Prez's class early in the season. It always been understood that Naymond's mother expects him to sell drugs for a living and she has gone to great lengths to make this possible. It's also clear that Naymond isn't cut out for the job in just about every way. This is all obvious but there is still something about her agression and hitting him that gets to me. This woman will stop at nothing to force her son to sells drugs and that in its self is more than a little terrifying.
The dilemma over whether to "teach the test" or not is a popular one in my experience with literature and film. There is a group of people who want to do what is morally right but are held back by the system, the man, the authority. The system is corrupted and wrong. Common knowledge, but stepping out of line onto the moral path ends in punishment. Someone has to take that first step, value their students integrity over the stats. If the whole school didn't teach the test then there would be major repercussions for everyone at Tighlman, but the problems with the schools systems would be unignorably officially acknowledged.
Prez has accumilated a personal liking to Duquan, but she is right in telling him to let the boy go. Very soon there will be others just like Duquan who will need his help more, and those kids have to become his priority. While is may be more emotionally taxing, Prez must not get close to the kids he helps because those relationships are going to end up just like his with duquans.
A very strong argument can be made that there is no "realistic" happy ending for each of these kids. Each option I come up with involves change that is nothing short of impossible, but i will try. Duquan: finds another teacher like Prez to guide him through highschool, his intelligence gets recognised and moves onto some respectable lower class job. Randy: the snithcing thing blows over and his wish of owning a store is recognized. Michael: by some miracle he stays out of the game and takes his talent elsewhere professionally although i really see him dead in the next season. Naymond becomes a drug dealer kind of like bodie is. not violent and has a shred of dignity.
realistically the fate of each kid is much more tragic. Duquan: ends up at some foster home with no future, maybe becoming addicted. Randy: permanently shamed from his snitching and becomes some sort of hermit/pet for the police. Michael: dead from involvement with Marlo. Naymond: dead for the same reason as michael.
1. I think Bubbles is the most responsible adult we see in the drug world. He genuinely cares about Sherrod and wants to do what's best for him. He's definitely a better role model, even as a junkie, than any parents Duquan, Randy, Namond, and Michael have to look up to. He encourages Sherrod to go to school when everyone else encourages the kids to drop out to work the corners. I think his role on the show is to counter the stereotype that all drug addicts are bad or immoral people. Bubbles' drug habit is rarely at the forefront. We usually see him in the context of his positive interactions, often with Sherrod. Even though I would characterize him as a good person, he is still screwed over by the government, most notably Herc and Walker. In a sense, I think he does speak to that American Dream. He works hard every day, but he will never have a house with a white picket fence; he was born into a situation he will never escape, and no one with any power is going to do anything about it. He doesn't get what he deserves, which is what we all essentially want. He doesn't deserve to be beat up and robbed every day by a man on the street an the cop he goes to for help. He doesn't deserve the accidental death of the one person he cared so deeply for. His life won't change if Carcetti is in office instead of Royce. Despite all the good he does, no one cares about him or what happens to him. He is alone.
ReplyDelete2. The scene that stuck with me was the very first scene, when Michael is training with Chris and Snoop. At the beginning, I thought he was in real trouble. I found the saddest part to be the moment when he passes their little quiz at the end and smiles at being called a quick learner. To me, this sealed his fate. He will serve Marlo. I don't think he has another choice, but he really isn't too worried by the prospect of killing people for the rest of his life, as we see when he takes care of Namond's problem by beating a child. When he first refused Marlo's money, I hoped he could escape the corners, but he has become more deeply entrenched in the drug world than any of his peers.
3. I think the school should stop teaching to the test. There are many short term risks, particularly for the school administrators, but I think the longer term risks for the kids outweigh those. We see the kids don't learn anything from the curriculum, and the point of the schools (in theory) is to educate the children. Prez can accomplish this, if left to his own devices and not tied down to the curriculum. In the end, the school needs to act in the best interests of the children. My only fear is that the state would take over the school, and nothing would change, because the state government is just as concerned with making the school look good. It is clear to me, though, that the current system cannot continue, because it sacrifices the kids' education for a good image.
4. I understand where Donnelly is coming from. Prez's job will be much harder if he grows attached to kids he can't save, because there will be many of them. At the same time, I think it is dangerous to tell him not to care about his students too much, because so many teachers don't care enough about the kids. I don't think Prez should despair over the situation of some of the kids, because he can't save them all, and if he gets caught up in their many troubles, he could easily become so overworked and burned out that he can't help any kids. At the same time, I think his attempt to help Duquan is admirable, and I think it is better to care too much than not to care at all.
5. The best thing that could happen to Duquan is that he goes on to high school and succeeds. He continues to visit Prez, who can still help him out with clothes and food. Randy leaves behind his snitch reputation, continues in school, and eventually owns his own store like he dreams. Michael leaves behind Marlo. I could see him turning into someone like Bunk or Carver, or even Bunny. Namond could leave the special class and continue to high school, then go on to follow in Bodie's footsteps as a relatively independent dealer.
ReplyDelete6. I think the system will forget about Duquan. He will probably go on to high school and be as lonely as he was at the beginning of the season. I could see him turning into Bubbles: smart, but unable to get out of his situation. Randy will need to transfer to a different school, and even there he probably won't be safe. He will be beat up for awhile, and things could turn out even worse for him if Marlo decides he is a nuisance. Michael will follow in Chris's footsteps. We already see he has little problem filling that role. Namond will try to continue dealing on the corners, but he's not cut out for it. He will probably end up working for one of the drug dealers, maybe similar to the owner of the store that Omar robbed (who was eventually killed).
1. I think I would have to characterize Bubbles as improving. All this time Bubbles has been rising out of his former life and trying his best to get back on his feet. Sherrod seemed to be one way in which he was trying to regain a normal life. By acting as the father of Sherrod he was justifying his own existence, which grew into a great relationship between the two. I think Bubbles is shown in the show to give us an idea of what life is like at rock bottom. He's a character who is scraping by, trying to maintain his high and take care of a kid. He's trying his hardest to return to his normal life and it gives us a very different perspective on life.
ReplyDelete2. I think that there were a couple scenes that I remember vividly. One was The scene at the beginning of episode 12 with Michael, Chris, and Snoop. It was mildly saddening when I realized what was going on and what Michael was becoming, but I had kind of seen it coming. I think that Michael will fit the role well and if you think about his skills and situation in life it seems to be the most obvious path. The second was the scene when Landsman ordered that Lester not open up any of the row houses despite the knowledge that they contained bodies. This blatant disregard for loss of life and for Lester's case frustrated me to no end.
3. It is a very tough decision. On one hand the school shuts down, and on the other the kids learn next to nothing and the teachers have to "juke the stats." I think that the issue lies with the system and the school should continue with their individual curriculums and defy the system. It seems to me to be the only way to start a change in the school system.
4. I would say that while it is good advice it is not used in the correct situation. Certainly with some kids you just have to let them go as there will be more coming in behind them, but for someone with Dukie's situation it just isn't alright. In high school there won't be anyone like Prez who is willing to go out of his way to help Duquan. I think that she should have realized what Dukie's home life was like and realized what Prez was doing for him.
5. Randy: I think he should switch schools and receive a better education particularly in math. If the issue with the snitch accusations calms down I think he'd make a great entrepreneur.
Duquan: I think that Dukie would in the best situation rise into the solid middle class. I think of all of them Dukie has the best chance of rising up out of the West side and becoming a hard working member of the middle class.
Namond: In the best case scenario Namond would return to his mother, apologize and eventually move on with his life. I think that the best we could hope for is that he becomes a successful drug dealer.
Michael: I think that the best thing for Michael would be to get out now. He could be the next Bunk. I think that were he in the police force (not likely whatsoever) he could really make a difference in Baltimore.
6. I think that in reality the kids will have a much harder time in life.
Randy: I think that in reality Randy may end up dead. If people continue suspecting that he snitched or that he knows more than he should he may have Chris and Snoop walking him into a row house.
Dukie: In reality I still think Dukie will rise up and work his way up the ladder. He may even be capable of becoming an engineer one day.
Namond:At this point I don't have any idea about Namond. I think he could quite possibly end up in jail or dead. It seems like he can't exactly return home now and without drugs or his mom I don't have any idea what he'll do.
Michael:I think the closest thing to what Michael will be in ten years is either Marlo or Chris. He has the potential to control an entire drug organization, but he may end up simply a top lieutenant or enforcer.
1)Bubbles is human. Throughout the episodes we've seen he has grown as a person every time. He makes mistakes, like everybody else, and learns from them. I think he was put in here by Simon to give a face to the junkies. Just like every character on these streets, we've already set up a stereotype before we see them. So having Bubbles gives us a more positive and caring view of this junkie. Our views can't be concrete about Bubbles, because Bubbles is always changing and making himself into a better person.
ReplyDelete2) Probably the scene that stayed with me the most is the final one. When Sharod dies and we see Bubbles lying over him I felt really sad. I had always thought of Bubbles as a character on the show, but now I feel more of an emotional attachment to him. Losing someone like Sharod and actually caring shows that Bubbles really does have feelings for others, and isn't just another tough street thug.
3) I think it's out of their hands by now. Like Carcetti said they need state level funding for there issues, so for now just teach the test. If they can wait it out, and take a few losses here and there, then they should be fine. If they drop teaching the test now though there could be much more severe consequences.
4)If you get to attached to the kids, sooner or later you're going to be attached to every kid that goes through your class. I think Donnally was right in saying this to Prez. As horrible as it may sound, it's the truth, and the truth hurts. Donnally has had experience with these kids, and perhaps has been in much the same position as Prez, so I would trust Donnally.
5&6) Adoption for Duquan, I think Prez might adopt him. For Randy I think getting his name cleared out of all the bullshit would be the best. For Naimond he faces the facts that he is not what he pretends to be, and tells his mom. And for Michael I think he's going to go out and kill somebody with Chris and Snoop.
1. Perceptive. I would calls Bubbles this, because not only was he a snitch, and he knows everything that goes on in the neighborhood, but also he is very in tune with his personal self and emotions. I think that his role on the show is to pull on the compassion strings of the viewer. He is the character that the viewer wants to succeed just once, and to do well. Bubbles is the character that is there to create hope for the viewer, but not necessarily give it. I think Bubbles became such a focus, because Simon wanted to present part of the “scum” on the bottom of the boat, which is arguably necessary for America. Bubbles is also needed to create a different view of junkies, and what they these people are like. While watches Bubbles, I always think to myself how I would never imagine his story presented on the wire if I saw him on the street.
ReplyDelete2. The scene of Chris beating Bug’s father with his bare hands. That scene really stuck out for me, because it was the one time this whole season where I literally had to turn my head, and could not watch. It was so gruesome, and I personally felt the anger of Chris and it made me really uncomfortable and even unbearable.
3. Tighlman Middle School should say no to teaching the test, because it is apparent with Prez and the separate class if they taught and talked about things that these students actually wanted to learn they would enjoy it. They could apply concepts to their lives, and they would enjoy learning, without even realizing it. Also, like Bunny said if they say no to teaching the test, the students could actually learn something that can be applied to their lives, and it would be more than what they are supposedly learning in the class now.
4. I think she told him this, because if Prez did get attached to every Dukie that comes through his class, he will be consumed with many kids, especially being a teacher in Baltimore. Granted I do not think that Dukie should be totally forgotten by Prez, it is true that Dukie was going to go to high school sooner or later. I still wish that he could finish out with Prez. Arguably, I think it is acceptable advice, I do not think it is good, but it is not bad advice. I think that Mrs. Donnelly is just trying to make this process easier on him.
5. Duquan- Living in a stable family, with a computer, and the ability to continue his schooling.
Randy- Living with his foster mom (and hopefully getting adopted) and selling candy and growing his business ways.
Michael- Living with Bug in their own place, not working for Marlo, and being a good leader in a different better situation, like Cutty.
Namond- Living in a healthy encouraging environment, not with his mom, possibly with Bunny, and finally secure with who he is as a person, and confident/strong enough to finally stand up and do what he wants to do.
6. Sadly, I think the exact opposite will happen to all of them. I do not see that any of the situations I expressed will be obtainable and actually happen to these kids. I cannot say that I see them dead or anything, because I do not necessarily think that, but I do not think that these kids will have realistic happy endings.
Bubbles is a strong-hearted character. Despite his weakness for drugs, he cares deeply and loves Sherrod. His affection for Sherrod is more significant than in any other parental relationship we have witnessed on The Wire. I see him as an example of the harm drugs can have on intelligent people. Bubbles’ ingenuity and affinity for business could make him a great success in another world, but on the streets, the many things pulling him down overshadow opportunities. For example, the junkie who beats Bubbles for money and drugs destroys his effective business—Bubble’s depot—and leads Bubbles to take desperate measures since the police do not respect him enough to offer true help. Bubbles is on the show because he signifies the good man who was brought down by his own environment.
ReplyDeleteThe scene at the end with Bubbles and Sherrod particularly moved me because I could feel Bubbles’ pain and loss. I hated to see Sherrod die at so young of an age, when I believed that he could begin to start living a better life with Bubbles. However, I am beginning to expect that nothing is as it seems on The Wire and I could see that something was about to go horribly wrong. This scene was a culmination of the horrible effects of drugs and desperation, the two things that go hand in hand more than they ought to.
Honestly, I don’t know. This is a challenging question because there aren’t very many options for the school as it is now, and it’s not like they have much funding to lose with the education system $54 million in debt. Conversely, they are getting by as it is, and perhaps that is better than the potential for complete failure. If I were the person making the decisions, I would choose to take a risk and change the school because the potential benefits would be such an improvement from the current situation. Both sides of the situation have strong arguments though, and while I choose one side it only makes me doubt my choice more.
Donnelly tells Prez this because she knows that his dreams for Duquan are unrealistic and she is trying to discourage him before he gets too attached. I don’t think anyone at Paideia would ever come out and say such a thing, however I’m know that teachers understand that their role is different than a parents and act accordingly. I actually think it is wise advice, despite the cold way in which she presents it. My immediate reaction was enthusiasm for the idea of Duquan being adopted by Prez, but then I considered the unlikelihood of that happening and I preferred for both of them to move on rather than get their hopes up. Perhaps I am being too cynical but I think her advice is intended for their best interests.
Somehow I doubt there will be an entirely happy ending. The nature of the show has taught me that they prefer to leave us with questions rather than ideas about fairytales. I love that about the show, but I also know that they aren’t going to tell us everything about the boy’s future or let everything end without curiosity. A realistic happy ending would most likely entail that Prez adopt Duquan, go to college, and become some sort of money manager or technology specialist. Randy would open up a successful business and live happily with his foster mom until he could sustain himself and a beautiful family. Michael would become a leader in the government of Baltimore. And Namond would have his boyish perception of the world colored by struggles at first, but ultimately end in success. However, those aren’t particularly realistic endings. It’s more likely that the show will leave us questioning about their future.
I imagine that Michael will become Chris, Randy could become Bubbles eventually, Namond would get in serious trouble, and Duquan will be pushed into the corner and ignored at his new school. It’s unfortunate, but the ending will be more interesting than perfect.
I would characterize Bubbles as a junkie who might have had potential. Bubbles has showed signs of intelligence and also some fatherly skills. He wanted Sherrod to go to school, and he also wanted him to get off the corner and stop selling drugs, but because of his addiction he ends up killing the only person he had in his life. It just shows how much drugs control you when your addicted to them and it's sad to see Sherrod get killed because of Bubbles wanting revenge. Bubbles represents the bottom of the bottom, and gives us a different view of how we think about junkies.
ReplyDeleteOne scene that stuck with me was when Namonds mom told Bunny to stay away from her child and all that. Bunny realized at that point i think how bad these kids really have it, and it's almost impossible not to be a corner kid when you have parents like that.
I think Bunny should try to tell the mayor what he is trying to do and help get a class like this in other middle schools around the city because it is helping some students. For example it's helping Namond, Darnelle, and Zenobia, and also the other little dude who opened up to Bunny.
I mean what she said is true because kids have to move on to the next grade it's apart of growing up, and teachers have to let them go. So even though Prez is a good mentor to Dookie he still has to let him grow up and go to the next grade.
I the Duquan has the best chance to do well in highschool and succeed. Randy might get that store one day if he moves. Michael will get it together and keep taking care of his brother, and it's hard to see a happy ending for Namond because of his mom. Realistically i still think Dookie will succeed. Randy is in trouble i think. I know the cops keep saying it will blow over in a week, but i have a bad feeling about the situation. For Michael it's clear to me that he will become another Chris, and Namond i think will drop out of highschool and hit the block full time. But because Namond is not really thug or whatever like his mom wants him to be i have a feeling he might get killed because of that.