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The Wire
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Dead Soldiers

  • Episode aired Oct 3, 2004
  • TV-MA
  • 59m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Sonja Sohn in The Wire (2002)
CrimeDramaThriller

The brutality at police headquarters continues over the perceived failure of department commanders to rein in the city's crime stats. Another hit by Omar on the Barksdale stash houses goes h... Read allThe brutality at police headquarters continues over the perceived failure of department commanders to rein in the city's crime stats. Another hit by Omar on the Barksdale stash houses goes horribly wrong. Proposition Joe summons Stringer Bell to a meeting and tells him that the c... Read allThe brutality at police headquarters continues over the perceived failure of department commanders to rein in the city's crime stats. Another hit by Omar on the Barksdale stash houses goes horribly wrong. Proposition Joe summons Stringer Bell to a meeting and tells him that the cops have screwed up. Daniels reassigns his detail after the wire on Stringer Bell goes dea... Read all

  • Director
    • Rob Bailey
  • Writers
    • David Simon
    • Dennis Lehane
    • William F. Zorzi
  • Stars
    • Dominic West
    • John Doman
    • Idris Elba
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.4/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rob Bailey
    • Writers
      • David Simon
      • Dennis Lehane
      • William F. Zorzi
    • Stars
      • Dominic West
      • John Doman
      • Idris Elba
    • 2User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Frankie Faison in The Wire (2002)
    Idris Elba in The Wire (2002)
    Brandon Fobbs in The Wire (2002)
    Jamie Hector in The Wire (2002)
    The Wire (2002)
    The Wire (2002)
    The Wire (2002)
    Idris Elba in The Wire (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dominic West
    Dominic West
    • Detective James 'Jimmy' McNulty
    John Doman
    John Doman
    • Deputy Commissioner for Operations William A. Rawls
    Idris Elba
    Idris Elba
    • Russell 'Stringer' Bell
    Frankie Faison
    Frankie Faison
    • Acting Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell
    Aidan Gillen
    Aidan Gillen
    • Councilman Thomas 'Tommy' Carcetti
    Wood Harris
    Wood Harris
    • Avon Barksdale
    • (credit only)
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    Deirdre Lovejoy
    • A.S.A. Rhonda Pearlman
    Clarke Peters
    Clarke Peters
    • Detective Lester Freamon
    Wendell Pierce
    Wendell Pierce
    • Detective William 'Bunk' Moreland
    Lance Reddick
    Lance Reddick
    • Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
    Andre Royo
    Andre Royo
    • Reginald 'Bubbles' Cousins
    Sonja Sohn
    Sonja Sohn
    • Detective Shakima 'Kima' Greggs
    Jim True-Frost
    Jim True-Frost
    • Detective Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    Robert Wisdom
    Robert Wisdom
    • Major Howard 'Bunny' Colvin
    Seth Gilliam
    Seth Gilliam
    • Sergeant Ellis Carver
    Domenick Lombardozzi
    Domenick Lombardozzi
    • Detective Thomas 'Herc' Hauk
    J.D. Williams
    J.D. Williams
    • Preston 'Bodie' Broadus
    • (as JD Williams)
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Omar Little
    • (as Michael K. Williams)
    • Director
      • Rob Bailey
    • Writers
      • David Simon
      • Dennis Lehane
      • William F. Zorzi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The wake scene for Detective Ray Cole was a tribute to producer Robert F. Colesberry, who played Cole and who had passed away in February of 2004.
    • Goofs
      When referring to what should be done about a suspect Bunk says "Kofi Bryant and the UN should get a call". Kobe Bryant is the basketball player, and Kofi Annan was the General Secretary of the UN.
    • Quotes

      Joseph 'Proposition Joe' Stewart: Wanna know what kills more police than bullets and liquor? Boredom. They just can't handle that shit. You keep it boring, String. You keep it dead fucking boring.

    • Crazy credits
      The lectern in the Western district meeting room has several plaques for meritorious service in the background. The most prominent plaque is dedicated to a person named Peranio who is actually Vince Peranio, the production designer for the series.
    • Connections
      References The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
    • Soundtracks
      Way Down in the Hole
      Written by Tom Waits

      Performed by The Neville Brothers (as The Neville Brothers)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Kofi Bryant
    Omar's latest raid goes wrong and Colvin does the groundwork for his new initiative in the Western.

    This is an excellent episode with some classic series moments.

    My favourite scene is the Irish wake that doubles as a tribute to Robert F. Colesberry. Everything from Delaney Williams great delivery of a wonderfully written speech, the Pogues songs, and the epic drunkenness of everyone is fabulous.

    Stringer's 40° day rant is another highlight that continues the hilarity that is those meetings the character has with the street level dealers.

    The story continues to slow burn a number of plot threads and character arcs that are pretty compelling when you consider the likely consequences. Colvin's drug 'enforcement' strategy is the most intriguing idea, especially as we see the political sensitivities at the top of the command structure.

    I think the comstat scenes are always good value and they are great in this episode. Frankie Faison is on top form throughout, even in one scene where we just hear his voice faintly over the phone.

    Another very intriguing thread is McNulty's investigation. You want to see the truth about D'Angelo uncovered, particularly when it's written that nobody really cares.

    There are numerous character moments that standout, like a certain narcissistic councilman's fondness for looking at himself in the mirror, the very different twin sisters played unbelievably by the same actress, and folk hero Omar's personal vendetta becoming very costly.

    As ever the visual storytelling is excellent, with numerous cinematic moments brilliantly shot and edited. My favourite is the transition from one very different funeral to another and the familiar figure hiding in the shadows.

    For me it's a 9.5/10 but I round upwards.
    helpful•7
    1
    • snoozejonc
    • Jul 24, 2022

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Blown Deadline Productions
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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