What Lester said at the end is probably one of the truest shit I ever heard.

@olzhas1one755

2 жыл бұрын

He tells Jimmy the same thing Beadie tells Jimmy at the end of Season 5

And the irony of lester and prez actually doing police work (testing the camera) while mcnutty talks himself up. Damn I love this masterpiece.

@MarcoBoneMan

3 жыл бұрын

Perfection.

@terrygracy8345

2 жыл бұрын

Mcnulty is talking them up. He’s including the team

@Big_ten

2 жыл бұрын

Lol including getting key evidence of McNulty being a narcissistic egotistical piece of shit.

@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261

2 жыл бұрын

@@akshaynatu1084 Thirteen years and four months in the pawn shop unit.

@user-of3hy4hg1l

Жыл бұрын

@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 one of my favorite lines from the wire, I love that they repeat it again in the 4th season

Prez didn't say a word, but the way he sit there listening while doing his work, and look at them from time to time, makes this scene perfectly real and impressive.

@RTukka

2 жыл бұрын

And I wonder if Lester's snap back at Jimmy didn't have something to do with Prez being there. Like, McNulty doesn't specifically exclude Prez from what he's saying about good police, but Prez is probably aware that he has a reputation for being a joke/fuck-up and while Prez has skills, he's basically a "house cat" in terms of what he does for the unit (and the shot lingers on Prez for that part of the speech) - he's not setting the investigative strategy or doing traditional police things in the street. And McNulty addresses everything he says directly to Lester, by name. So the whole spiel is actually pretty insensitive, and disrespectful to Prez. Lester can be just as vain as McNulty in his own way, so I think under different circumstances he might indulge McNulty in his attempted circle jerk... but not when McNulty is implicitly (and probably unintentionally) dissing his protege. This is one of my favorite scenes in television history, but I don't know if it's something anybody would submit for awards consideration. There is no grand drama, no high stakes action, no flashy acting, no big plot movement. But what it is is an essential character moment, and a relatable one. The shot composition is interesting and adds meaning but it's not distracting. The writing is perfect. The acting is on-point. And it's real. I don't have a film degree or anything so maybe I'm talking out of my ass, but to me this is a master class.

@xemtube

2 жыл бұрын

@@RTukka dang when a youtube comment is better written than most college essays

@anatoldenevers237

2 жыл бұрын

@@xemtube The comment sections for The Wire are my favorite thing on KZread.

@binsturdy3830

2 жыл бұрын

@@RTukka reminds me when stringer wanted Slim knock off Clay Davis and Avon walked in and deaded it. Slim didn’t say nothing and listened the same way Prez did, like they both knew their place in a way

@CrisC81

2 жыл бұрын

@@binsturdy3830 Nice comparison

Ed Burns wrote himself into this scene as “natural police” lol

@jasminehill6312

2 ай бұрын

Right!!! I love that 😆😆

Lester was like the Obi Wan of The Wire

@optimusprimerib602

Жыл бұрын

Best comment ever

@RaulGalhardi

10 ай бұрын

Obi Wan created Darth Vader training and indulging Anakin, rs.

@NormAppleton

8 ай бұрын

Fuck that, he was Gandalf

@philistine3260

5 ай бұрын

@@RaulGalhardi Shit, does that mean Sydnor is gonna go evil at some point?

@jameskoeller3431

4 ай бұрын

“You WILL listen to me, motherfucker.”

"Life. It's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come" That's dark, Lester. Dark, but true.

@jsuva5229

5 ай бұрын

It can be dark. It can also be beautiful if you take it to heart and figure out how to enjoy where you actually find yourself.

"A life ... it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come." Damn.

@vensonj

5 жыл бұрын

This qoute is def in my Arsenal i love saying it

@McGradey

4 жыл бұрын

Incredible line. That one really stays with me.

@dylan4652

4 жыл бұрын

Best line about life I've ever heard. I'm using that shit...

@michaelfaber9198

4 жыл бұрын

Tv or not ... that line is some of the realest sh*t ever spoken.

@1800aubrey

3 жыл бұрын

That is a rip off from John Lennon; ‘life is what happens while you were making other plans’ or some such

Lester’s quote at the end while Jimmy is looking at a picture of beadie on the fridge is some great foreshadowing 🔥

Lester read him like a 2000 page novel. So much of Jimmy's ego went into how he did his police work (whether he admitted it or not). And it's crazy that Jimmy brushed Lester off in this moment, but he found out the hard way that Lester was right: "The job will not save you."

@cmaplefreak

2 жыл бұрын

​@@akshaynatu1084 Exactly, That's like when people say "money can't buy happiness" WELL SHITm IT WON'T HURT TO HAVE MONEY. Just like a job won't save you on it's own, but it'll be a big part of it.

@MM-vs2et

11 ай бұрын

I think Lester used to be McNulty in his early years. Then he found a life, and saw that this ain't all there is to it.

@Taospark

6 ай бұрын

I mean Jimmy did listen to him and start a relationship but then he went back to his old bad habits.

@gedbeat15

6 ай бұрын

@@Taospark Exactly

@jsuva5229

5 ай бұрын

I think it's the whole theme of the show.

I love how Jimmy is bonding and Lester just wakes his ass up real quick... like stop getting yourself off lol

@scott4398

5 жыл бұрын

But what's cool is that Lester is really just trying to help him, not degrade him.

@dgmetaxa

4 жыл бұрын

His bonding is just side effect, really he's just stroking his own ego and expecting Lester to stroke it back. Jimmy's good but he's egocentric as fuck.

@josephzanes7334

3 жыл бұрын

I never do that with more than one other person in the room - people get all upset n shyt

Never noticed. when he shouts out good police, he says "Ed Burns." Series co-creator shouts himself out. LOL. I wonder if the other names were real police too.

@ToolsWithAdrius

6 жыл бұрын

Don Worden was a real murder police in the 1980s-1990s in Baltimore.

@manuginobilisbaldspot424

4 жыл бұрын

A couple I know really were. Jay Landsman is a real guy...who was chapped that the larger actor (Delaney Williams ) depicted him. I'm certain he's not the only one.

@hellowang74

4 жыл бұрын

@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 Not police, but the real life "omar" (the person that was the inspiration for omar's character) played the black deacon that helps cutty and bunny throughout the 3rd and 4th season. During a talk between slim charles and avon, avon asks "What about Eggy Mule?" and Slim replies something to the effect of "he went and cleaned his whole ack up" Eggy Mule was a real life criminal in baltimore in the 80's or 90's, sometimes around there.

@fawrun

4 жыл бұрын

@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 the real jay landsman plays colvin's second in command from season 3 onwards. skinny guy with glasses lol

@stevengordon5870

4 жыл бұрын

@@fawrun that's not Jay Landsman. The real Landsman left,Baltimore City PD after 20+ years and became a Baltimore County,police for last 20.

I like that mcnulty shouts out Ed burns, the former detective that was pretty much co-showrunner with David Simon and helped make the cop side of the show so realistic

Lester kept it real. Jimmy needed that.

A life..the shit that happens while waiting for moments that never come. ... Now there's a line

@josephzanes7334

3 жыл бұрын

Finally! Im starting to grow mushrooms out my ass!

@johnmurdoch3083

3 жыл бұрын

@@josephzanes7334 now there's an image

@upstating

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnmurdoch3083 the floor is yours senator

@jonathanbirch2022

Ай бұрын

He’s paraphrasing John Lennon: “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

0:24 - Check out Prez' eyes shift when the term "house cats" comes up. Jimmy crapping where he eats.

@JimmySteller

2 жыл бұрын

Jimmy has never cared about being liked. He only cares about being acknowledged as a great cop.

Jimmy is headed towards a break down. Buildin' up his importance so as not to deal with reality.

@samstone011995

6 жыл бұрын

Funny. Lester just listens for a straight minute. He reads McNulty's true reasoning behind all this speach. What an intelligent and wise fucking man. The best character of the show, IMO.

Inspiring at first, depressing at last.

@bigman25plus25

6 жыл бұрын

That's The Wire baby.... that's why I love this show. Give me a big spoonful of cynicism and hope all mixed up.

@QeepingItReal

3 жыл бұрын

Lester's advice can be applied to anyone who thinks if they could just achieve one more career milestone, they will be satisfied. Depressing or not, it is true and an important piece of wisdom.

@capnskiddies

3 жыл бұрын

@@QeepingItReal yep. Strive to aim high early. Reach a peak around 35/40 and then begin having a real fucking life. Otherwise you'll be dead before you live

@capnskiddies

3 жыл бұрын

@@QeepingItReal yep. Strive to aim high early. Reach a peak around 35/40 and then begin having a real fucking life. Otherwise you'll be dead before you live

@francescotamburini5790

3 жыл бұрын

I find Lester’s words at the end very motivating. We all wait for moments that never come, while our actual lives flow and pass us by. It’s an invitation to stop just chasing ghosts and finding what’s good in the lives we have.

Anyone else bummed that when McNulty’s naming the names of the few police he respects he neglects the Bunk? Where’s the love Jimmy? Where’s the motherfuckin love?

@mattv.4089

Жыл бұрын

You want some love? Come over here and sit on my lap.

@mmabuff101

Жыл бұрын

ahh, lester knew bunk. mcnulty didnt have to mention him. its already known to the both of them

@Gunleaver

Жыл бұрын

Bunk is one of the guys he names as part of CID, just chasing clearances. He's smart and good at it, but he doesn't do what Jimmy considers REAL police work. Sometimes he works with the detail, but it's just following Lester's or Jimmy's plans.

@Jake-nd4gx

5 ай бұрын

@@GunleaverI mean I don’t know in season 5 bunk is doing real police work which eventually leads to him catching Chris on a legit murder charge which leads to him subsequently pleading guilty to all the vacant murders all while Jimmy is doing his bs serial killer antics. I’d say taking down the most ruthless killer on the streets is far superior police work then inventing one.

@Gunleaver

5 ай бұрын

​@@Jake-nd4gxYes, but that's a more objective, detached opinion. I am talking about MCNULTY'S thought process, particularly in a moment when he is riding high on his own ego. Remember, too, that Bunk was hunting Chris with a mentality in direct opposition to what he saw Jimmy doing.

Ed Burns gets a shout out!

This was the best scene. It’s so true about every single job that is a service to other human beings. The job keeps going. It never culminates.

Lester, the designated adult every time.

Unbelievable how well written and acted every single scene in The Wire is!

Loved how they added “Ed Burns” to that list. 😊

Lester is probably speaking from experience all those years as a homicide detective and then in pawn shop unit.

Basically summarizing the life of a careerist, they have nothing but the job, it is quite sad. I love how the camera focuses on Beadie's photo while Lester is telling McNulty what the deal is.

@juma__

3 жыл бұрын

I never noticed that detail! Great catch

@curranfrank2854

2 жыл бұрын

@@akshaynatu1084 2 out of 3 gets you pretty far. A job that you don't hate can be adequate for being fulfilled if you have the other two

@jdlamb4212

Жыл бұрын

At least it's a career that matters (sometimes). We need people who are obsessed with their career when that means they're doing surgery or catching serial killers. Not everyone has an important job but there certainly are some and the people who end up in them probably became the way they were incentivised to be. The sad thing is how our society creates these situations.

I like the parallel with Jimmy looking Beadie on the photo, exactly at the same time when Lester says "A life". I immediately knew there was going to be something between Beadie and Jimmy.

I thought this was a bit sad for Prez, sitting there taking offense as a "house cat," only to kill an undercover officer later in the episode out on a rare run with McNulty.

@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261

2 жыл бұрын

In my opinion, Prez was good at puzzles and was a good investigator because of it. But he couldn't be trusted to carry a gun. I suppose there aren't any roles for "cop but no gun" on a police force. (Even if the deskbound types don't go out.)

I love it when McNulty goes off on one of his verbal tangents .

And this was what made Lester Lester. Alot of people feel Lester was superior at policing but I think him and Jimmy were closer to equals. The difference is Lester understood the after and Jimmy lived for the present.

This dude was really feeling himself.......this scene is actually really sad. An addict getting high on his own success. Everyone knows it too....

If HBO was to rebroadcast this series how many of us would watch it ?

@JimmySteller

5 жыл бұрын

If I didn’t already have it on blu Ray, or if I had hbo, I would

@demetriusmckay617

5 жыл бұрын

i would every night best show ever

@scipio2009

4 жыл бұрын

Rebroadcast? Nah, I'm good; have seen the series, end to end, at least three times lol. Now, if they started the show again, accounting for time? Count me in. How long did Michael keep things going as a rip-and-run? What type of detective did Carver turn into? Did Marlo Stanfield really leave the game or did he get got coming back? What type of leader did Slim Charles become (with his integrity, on top of getting schooled by Barksdale/Bell and Prop Joe)? Did Cutty ever find a champion that he was able to save from the streets? How did the Baltimore ecosystem deal with ecstasy, lean and meth epidemics? What heroes/villains have emerged over the intervening 10 years of life?

@wbishop

4 жыл бұрын

i watched it twice on HBO GO

@josephjohnston612

4 жыл бұрын

@ludlow 889 like deadwood or true detective season 1

I wish they did more with Gary Childs out in the county, he was my favorite character.

@austinkonrad

5 жыл бұрын

They would have but Gary didn't have the makings of a varsity shinebox

@DigitalBath306

4 жыл бұрын

charles schwab over here

@goodyeoman4534

4 жыл бұрын

watch ya fat fuckin' mouth

@randellgoering1014

3 жыл бұрын

Stupidah facking Gary!

@rattleheadmig5626

2 жыл бұрын

Whatever happened to Gary Childs. THE NATURAL POLICE type

Deepest quote ever

"- A life, a life, Jimmy, you know what that is ? It's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come." Yup.

I just noticed when Lester says his ending line, the camera pans on a picture of Beady on the fridge, Jimmy's life outside of police work

The irony of Lester warning jimmy and then later on both ending their careers chasing the big one only for him to walk away without a scratch and them both out of the force.

@Spanner249

Жыл бұрын

I always assumed Lester lost it when he was ordered to stop looking for bodies in the vacants. It was too much for him to cover up crimes which is essentially what Landsman ordered him to do. He couldn’t stand the hypocrisy anymore

Gotta hand it to Dominic West here. He nailed that "still drunk but about to be hungover in the morning" behavior. I dare say he may have had a few before this scene, and experienced the real suffering that comes with that early sun.

i think one of the most important points of this scene is that it shows mcnulty as another addict. hes addicted to himself and and clearing cases, they talk about it the same as any other high. he's always craving the next one, to fill a hole in his soul.

@jonathanbirch2022

Ай бұрын

We’re all addicted to something

I always loved this speech. I think Freeman either always knew or realized in the pawn shop that he can do real good work but also that there's more. He has multiple moments where he is willing to give it all up which Jimmy could never have done at this point. It's probably part of what kept him on the straight and narrow for season 4.

For Natural Police, it was no different from the pushers... the game is the game.

That "life" line is one of my favourite quotes ever! Not just in this series, but ev-ver!

Why the Wire is the best thing ever done.

A good case “ends’”

This scene is a masterpiece

Jimmy names Ed Burns...Ed Burns being the show's co-writer and a former Baltimore cop...

Never noticed this before, but that's a picture of Beadie Russell next to Kima's photo at 2:23, right? Right as Lester answers his own question about what life is.

@KCgrunge

6 жыл бұрын

its quite obvious tbh

@Onigirli

6 жыл бұрын

Wasn't obvious to me. Nicely caught!

@111Mfreeman

6 жыл бұрын

good catch

@maniac50ae14

3 жыл бұрын

You may not have noticed it but it was intended for you too, because he later goes to see her. Theres also a seen where he chases a squad car down thinking it was her but it turned out not to be and whoever was in the car kind of teases him about having her on his mind

Another great little detail observation: when Lester tells Jimmy he needs a life outside the job, Jimmy is looking at Beadie's photo on the fridge.

0:52 - "Who is there out there can do what we can do with a case? How many are there, really? Don Warden, *ED BURNS*, Gary Childs out in the county..." - Nicely done there, nicely done! :)

Shoutout to Ed Burns

It’s a line that I wish I heard a long time ago, I work, I pay my taxes, I have a house, and I’m doing alright. But happy? I dunno. Hits hard at least to me. My life isn’t my job and it shouldn’t define me.

That last line by Lester hit way harder than it should.

@Igetsitin89

Жыл бұрын

That was some real life shit

Jimmy talking himself up, while the other two are actually working, getting full of himself before Lester starts bringing him down. Jimmy looks in the fridge presumably for a drink, and while Lester is still banging on, Jimmy has already realised what a life could be, by looking at the photo of Beadie. He's an arrogant prick but still diminishes the power of Lester's rebuke by seeing the conclusion early.

One of my favorite scenes. Really hammered home a lot. I made the same face as Jimmy made the first time I saw this ep.

Good scene. Gosh I love the wire

Jimmy McNulty was the Michael Bluth of this show: self-righteous, arrogant, and full of himself.

"The job will not save you..." When it's all over, you better have a family that likes you looking back at you, because no one will remember your name.

@kevinc8955

2 ай бұрын

Who cares if someone remembers your name or not, you’re dead. Maximize your happiness while you’re on this earth because this is it. You can love your job, but eventually the job ends and you better have something else.

@LFOD1776

2 ай бұрын

@@kevinc8955 I’m not saying when you die, I’m saying when you leave the job.

1:00 Writer/creator Ed Burns gets an in name only cameo

Life....it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come..... Lester F.

One of the best scenes ever

Damn man, before becoming king, Prince Charles really went and put some miles on his soul! 😅

This should be shown at any and all commencements no matter what they’re graduating from. You are not changing what cannot be changed, and your ego? Check it at the door.

"A life..." This is the The Wire. The Wire isn't cops and criminals. It's life. For all these character, the structure of society and so on

When Jimmy mentions the names of the policemen who "bring it in" he says the name Ed Burns, who is a co-writer of the show. Just noticed that.

Lester’s very enlightened. Most men that age think that work is the end-all and be-all of life.

@bengaltiger96

4 жыл бұрын

But was it Lester's exile in the Pawn Shop unit for 13 years (and 4 months) that gave him this perspective?

party pooper lester

They are talking about addiction. As a person who has delt with it myself and my family basically my whole life. Lester words ring incredibly true.

Thank you so much Lester. I watched the episode and i decided to marry. She turned my life into shit. Thank you so fucking much!!

@juandogg27

3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣 he almost got me too til I saw your comment thanks friend

I got the last 18 seconds of this saved on my phone for a reason

Prezbo took Lesters advise to heart.

just realized Ed Burns gave himself a subtle shout out lol

That quote at the end was as stone cold as the truth can come

Jimmy was at full blown ego in season 3. Lester saw this and as his friend and coworker he tried to reason with him. Rawls also seen it and still respected Jimmy and gave him many chances. In the end it was for the best that Jimmy was no longer a cop after what he did, and I'm sure he lived a happier life being a PI or something instead.

Jimmy and Beadie.

We never see it but this is probably ALL Jimmy talks about when he’s on break. 😂 It’s never “I saw Unforgiven last night, that’s a great movie.” It’s “Lemme tell ya something ELSE wrong with the police department!”

Kind of foreshadowing considering Jimmy and Lester are the two who end up outsmarting just about everyone in Baltimore in season five with the homeless serial killer hoax until Jimmy fucks up by telling Kima what they’re doing

John P. O'Neill- Former Baltimore Fbi guy- and the one who got canned before 9/11

Lester is the police version of fucking Yoda

This scene is weird to me because later on Lester is talking about how all he needs is that one good case and "boy I could die happy"

@dylanhom58

3 жыл бұрын

Always easier to solve someone else's problems lol

@maxbenard472

3 жыл бұрын

@@dylanhom58 aint that the truth

@chickenringNYC

Жыл бұрын

But Lester already has an outside life, hobbies, a great woman. He knows what life 2:24 is about.

Tooting his horn as well as Lester with Pres sitting right there.

I was wondering if McNulty was going to put that half&half back in the damn fridge.

I feel like McNulty is mistaking smarts with tenacity and at 1:50 he tries to defend himself with the hypothetical career defining good case. Tenacity exists no matter how menial the task though. A worker with tenacity can make 50 Big Macs in 5 minutes which everyone mocks, but no one wants to do. You hear the sirens in the back at 1:50 while he starts talking about the "good case", yet every cop in this scene doesn't do a damn thing about it. It's funny because this whole conversation is about McNulty and the select "natural police" being head and shoulders above everyone in the department, yet he's on his ass wasting time and talking himself up while trusting whatever beat cop has his siren on to take care of the problem in the distance. It can even be the "good case" he's talking about, but it fades away by 2:10 while Lester tells him that he "needs something out of this here".

What was said is that the only goal in life is some form of happiness or contentment as it were.

Huh. I never caught the Ed Burns shoutout before.

It’s funny hearing McNulty reveling in being one of the best of a bunch of bad options. 🤷🏻‍♂️🙄🤦🏻‍♂️

Does anyone notice ed burns name mentioned(the creator of the show) (ex Baltimore p.d) as natural police

"Ed Burns"😎

The gods, nor job will save you. Lester and Burrell sort of agree.

RIP Omar little

This scene is to "The Wire" what the Carmela / Dr. Krakower scene is to "The Sopranos."

@johnmurdoch3083

4 жыл бұрын

Hows that working out for you

@petrichorjournal8866

4 жыл бұрын

"Basically, I'm natural police." "You me you're a depressed detective, prone to anger, serially unfaithful. Is that your definition of natural police?"

@goodyeoman4534

4 жыл бұрын

charles schwab over here

@petrichorjournal8866

4 жыл бұрын

So that's it, then. No theory, no speculation just stupid fuckin' shineboxes.

@madeconomist458

3 жыл бұрын

IDK, This scene is excellent, one of the greater scenes in The Wire, but the scene with Dr. Krakower might be the greatest scene in the history of television. It doesn't just implicate Tony Soprano, it's a reality-check for the audience, too.

13 years? and 4 months.

That line about life…nothing more true has ever been written.

"the job will not save you" this is true for everyone

And this pretty much how it ends

Its kind of sad that McNulty can name all of the "good" police on one hand it seems.

Lol same thing for Labor Organizers

I'm McNulty with this Truck Driving Shit

One of those 600 to 700 housecats used to be Lester, at least Daniels initially called him one: Lester Freamon? A cuddly housecat. Can't help but wonder if McNulty doesn't make the same mistake here

Jimmy knew lester was right all he had was the job.

@TheSchemer1

4 жыл бұрын

....and hotties to bang at night - any average bloke would give his left nut for a life like that - smart and handsome and drunk whilst getting away with it (all messed up)

@nomongosinthaworld

4 жыл бұрын

TheStrober is what you’d think until you realize that you’ll get literally zero fulfillment out of that kind of life. What everyone keeps trying to tell Jimmy throughout the series is that he should try to find something/somebody that will give him a purpose outside of the job and fucking women. Because a good case and a one-night-stand only last so long.

@TheSchemer1

4 жыл бұрын

@@nomongosinthaworld until the next one comes along to replace those two things - again and again

@buddyfats4768

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheSchemer1 that may be cool in your 20s but in your mid 30s and early 40s no one thinks getting drunk and having a one night stand most nights is a fulfilling life

1:01 Ed Burns, as in one of the lead writers on the show?

Just think if their was no McNulty.......................There would be no wire