On the face of it, this seems like an unfitting end to the one character on The Wire who was bigger than real life. Shot from behind, unsuspecting, killed by the 11-year old miscreant Kenard. No build up, just buying cigs at a corner store ... then pop and drop. But when you think about it, it's kind of fitting for Omar to go out that way, considering his character has always felt a bit like the romanticized outsider of the great West, a la Jesse James or Wild Bill Hickock. All were larger than life figures whose reputations often overshadowed their substance. All were similarly shot in the back of the head by lesser men -- men who were fascinated in (and eventually disappointed by) their legends.

Remember, it was Kenard last week who said, "that Omar? He's just a cripple, man." And Alan Sepinwall points out that early in Season 4, it's Kenard who play acts as Omar in a game of 'hoppers and thieves' with other 8-year olds. Omar is then, in a sense, killed by a product of his reputation. Omar was just a shadow of his former self, though, getting sloppy and heading down Season 5's slippery-slope theme since breaking his code. He was limping and desperate -- not how we want to see our hero. One could argue that Kenard's cowardly shot was a mercy killing. Mad props for the visual foreshadow showing Kenard about to set fire to an alley cat when he sees Omar the first time. Not just the metaphor of Omar as alley cat, but revealing Kenard to be a sociopath in the making.

So what does Omar's death mean for our other slippery slopers, McNulty, Freamon, Templeton, Carcetti and Marlo? Since they're all embroiled in lies and deceit and this is David Simon's world -- where you've got to play the game to get ahead -- I had thought they'd all come out smelling like roses ... but there's got to be more consequences for actions taken. And since Simon's taking aim at our favorites, someone better tell McNulty to watch his back.

So much else happened, but most of it seems to set up the last two episodes, so we'll table it for next week. Until then, I'm drinking to Omar -- rest in peace, brother ... it's all in the game.

Playlist: The Wire - Episode 5.08
1. "Stay" - Lady D - Poot and Dukie in shoe store
2. "Every Booty (Get On Down)" - George Clinton - Dozerman and Truck check out rental car
3. "Let This As Nothing Happened" - Choi Suk Jun - Kenard takes out Omar in corner store
4. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls - Bunk's ringtone in crime lab
5. "A Bay Bay" - Hurricane Chris - Chris and Snoop in SUV
6. "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" - Coleman Hawkins - Freamon and Davis in bar
HBO's tracklisting and scene info

Previously: Goodnight Scammers (Episode 5.08)

drake lelane
all in the game at the music/soundtrack blog thus spake drake

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