Why You're Wrong About Rawls | The Wire

[@CineRanter]

*Why did Avon help Marlo? Did he set him up?* kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5KQaZlomK2Lfq8

[@frankmurphy7234]

So he can be king

[@peaceindarkness.darknessis3494]

Not help, played. The game is the game.

[@TheCmascagni]

For $100k. I think it’s implied that he had made up with his sister and the ways he could earn from prison were very few.

[@TheCmascagni]

I don’t see how he “set him up”. Marlo wanted the intro. Avon had enough pull to earn on it and he gave him exactly what he wanted, right?

[@TheCmascagni]

@@peaceindarkness.darknessis3494 out of curiosity, how do you think he played him?? Seriously. Not being a smart ass. Marlo wanted access to “Boris”. Avon earned on it, but all he promised him was an intro. If he played him for $100k, his sisters life would be in danger because he had them give her the money.

[@felixtheRHYTHMCHEF]

Rawls is literally the opposite of Omar. Jaded, cynical, plays it safe, more than willing to throw his own guys under the bus, and CLOSETED.

[@FutureMatrioshkaBrain]

And white

[@tanveerhasan2382]

Very allegorical

[@MarcillaSmith]

And rhetorical

[@sandybell4913]

Also, while Omar will be remembered, not in record but by his peers and the public as a legend, Rawls will most likely be forgotten by those around him, but will be around in documents and literature for years

[@mappingshaman5280]

Its kind of funny how the gay guy in the legal world where it would be more tolerated (see kima) is in the closet but the guy in the illegal world where nobody likes being gay is out.

[@KaptainKhaos1]

My buddy is a cop. He swears that he'd have Rawls as a boss over any other because you know exactly where you stand with him.

[@kevinb2844]

I kind of agree to that…. He does not pretend to be anything else and let’s you know it…. Which is so much better than having a manager smile at you and then back stab you… Rawls let’s you know up front he will be vindictive and explains reasons for that regardless…

[@nyterpfan]

@@kevinb2844 Agree 100%--he's an asshole--but he's HONEST about it LOL!!

[@timmysullivan2515]

Your friend wants a bureaucratic careerist - albeit a fictional one - who ruined a police department?

[@hedgedrisk]

@@timmysullivan2515he’s a cop🤷‍♂️

[@shannonwoods5425]

@@timmysullivan2515 Happens everyday 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@charlesxavier6785]

When Kima got shot Rawls went to the crime scene and he found where wee bey and little man had made their ambush from, Rawls took control of the crime scene. That scene showed why Rawls was in charge.

[@TJY-mb5hk]

Excellent analysis. Rawls was one of my favorite characters. When he talks to McNulty in the hospital after Kima gets shot, he showed that there is still a soul in there somewhere.

[@nevermindme8922]

This is exactly my thoughts. He said you’re an gaping asshole, so if it was on you, I’d be the first to say so.

[@Aivottaja]

More like there was a somewhat professional cop in there. He didn't really do it to soothe McNulty. He just detached his personal feelings about McNulty and assessed what had happened and that it wasn't McNulty's fault.

[@dismafuggerhere2753]

nobody hates you more than me... i felt that line

[@mybestnugget7514]

Ehhh not really he was just shocked by McNulty’s narcissism and wanted him to snap out of his state of self pity so he reminded him of a simple truth

[@joshblanchard3719]

​@@Aivottajahe actually turned off being a politician for a minute.

[@GemsOfPower7]

He was the ONLY one in room to realize exactly what Bunny had done.🤣🤣🤣

[@vt-yp7yq]

Yes, yes he was. That was a priceless moment. 🤔

[@coachtali5151]

He was😭😭😭😭

[@jasminehill6312]

I loved that part!

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

Then he went to a gay bar later that night to celebrate.

[@TheFirstTEE1]

@@flightofthebumblebee9529 he was in there ain't? When Brother Mouzon's mans came in lookin for Omar.

[@bullmilk]

Even as a shift commander, he was happy to throw good cops under the bus. Freamon’s former partner being blacklisted for calling Rawls out for interfering with a crime scene sticks out the most. His character knew the costs AND the rewards for being a company man.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

True but I'm sure we would hear a very different version from Rawls.

[@randomcenturion7264]

The Wire is a sad tale of how no matter which team you're on, gangster, cop or politician, nothing changes.

[@Yvanehtnioj2000]

It also shows they use the same tactics the criminals broke laws but so did the cops and the politicians

[@mcs131313]

It often does though. Look at Boston or NYC. They’re worlds different than they were 40 years ago. There’s still drugs and gangs, but it’s a lot less violent. And notably the mob / mafia / unions have much less of a death grip over the cities in terms of corruption and protection rackets.

[@MarineA109]

The biggest problem is that people keep voting for the same type of politicians. Especially in the cities.

[@mcs131313]

@@MarineA109 “idealistic” liberals

[@philshoward9340]

Landsman and the actor who plays him embody middle management so well I had a tough time seeing him as a boss in we own this city lol

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

This show is so amazing that just when I really hated Landsman for leaving those bodies in the houses, I grew to love him again for the way he treated Bubbles.

[@ZIGZAG12345]

He was SO good at the part, they had the REAL Jay Landsman play Dennis Mello instead!

[@logantasker4551]

😂🤣. I feel this exact way, just never knew how to say it so accurately! 👌👍. This comment is gold

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Landsman was not middle management. He was a Sergeant. 1 step above patrolman/detective. He was a supervisor. Middle management was Daniels, Colvin, Valchek.

[@philshoward9340]

@@A_10_PaAng_111 he had a boss he directly reported to and people below him, by definition middle management

[@The91strecon]

The thing about Rawls is that he’s less a villain and more a force of nature that the major crimes unit has to navigate around. There has always been a Rawls. There will always be a Rawls. And the minute Rawls went to MSP, another Rawls probably took his place. You don’t get to where he was but not putting your interest before everything else.

[@DimaShinder]

time is a flat circle

[@kennethdonaldson16]

No Rawls No Game

[@Pantsinabucket]

Much worse than Rawls, they have Valchek as Rawls’ replacement. Combining Rawls’ assholishness, with a vindictiveness, incompetence, and everything else awful that comes with Valchek.

[@ehhhhhhh6141]

Bill Rawls is a reasonable man.

[@FH-hu5vn]

Rhetorical and reasonable.

[@peterkost4376]

One of the best scenes

[@TheCmascagni]

They do say that.

[@StoutProper]

Very reasonable, unless you have his attention

[@mards2479]

When I see him I say “bill Rawls you are a reasonable guy”

[@mmmcookies2]

One of the scenes that really struck me and gave me a new perspective on Rawls is when in season 2, he defends the homicide division from having to take the container murders from (I think) the commander of the Port Authority. When he's heading back to his office, all the detectives look at him, worried that they will have to take the case. He then pumps his fist in victory and they all cheer. Up to this point, we have only seen him really from McNulty's point of view, as an antagonist, an obstacle. But seeing other 'protagonists' like Bunk and Freamon looking at their leader with baited breath for his support, it feels like, for a lot of people, he's the asshole they're glad to have on their side. It shows how a strong domineering personality can be received negatively or positively, depending on which side of the barrel you're on. It's actually reminiscent of McNulty, where his brashness is admirable when he's fighting for your cause, but unbearably repugnant if you're even a little in his way.

[@ripwednesdayadams]

He was only acting to preserve his department’s clearance rate. He was willing to pawn off the container murders onto a different unit knowing the investigation would be a joke. This was not out of loyalty to the homicide detectives- it’s all about the numbers with Rawls.

[@mmmcookies2]

@ripwednesdayadams No doubt. But the thing is, NO ONE in homicide wanted those murders. And he was the guy they could rely on to bully another department into taking them. Whatever his motives, he was the detectives' shield (lol) from getting screwed over by a seemingly unsolvable case. I just picked up on the solidarity in the scene, and the relief from the unit that he was fighting on their side.

[@Br0seid0n]

He's still an obstacle to anyone who wants to do real police work. That scene just reinforces his selfishness while showing that it incidentally benefits lazy cops.

[@FingerinUrDaughter]

@@mmmcookies2 too bad its their fucking job, huh?

[@marc80s]

The actor who plays Rawls channels Gene Hackman perfectly

[@RadgeTV]

Both of them are former US Marines :)

[@sillygoose9791]

The voice of Caesar from Fallout New Vegas

[@PoshingtonSpark]

When you can make video essays about every character, you know this show is good.

[@Jayessdablu]

The first six episodes of season one proves that Bill Rawls is the reason for the whole barksdale fiasco!!! He is the exact one that stopped the wire investigation to close the murders instead of letting Daniels and the team keep working. That first wire tap was their best and easiest chance at taking down a drug kingpin. He thought so little of D’Angelo, Stringer and Avon, that he figured the cops could just “pressure “ them to confess to the other crimes. I get the point that he is “good POlice” and all but he is still the epitome of what’s wrong with policing. Chasing stats and protecting their own interests.

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

The whole point is that things are gray. Not black or white. Rawls was wrong about some things and so was McNulty and crew. Sometimes a leader has to embrace the burden of command.

[@MarcillaSmith]

Here's an uncomfortable thought: what would be the result of a wholesale takedown of Avon's network? Drugs just wouldn't dry up in west Baltimore. How many Marlo's woulda come out to try to fill the vacuum? What would happen to the level of violent crime?

[@thallus23]

Bill Rawls represents “Maintaining the System.”

[@jamesmarshall6619]

Rawls was arguably the smartest character on The Wire. He was careerist and would step on anyone who got in his way but at the same time he also knew when to set his ego aside to get out of the way that was both beneficial to the work and his own career. When Daniels wanted McNulty back he balked but after awhile when Daniels went back to him Rawls put his issues aside and let Daniels have McNulty as he knew McNulty was the right guy for the job and in doing so would help investigation and in turn would help his career. He was too vindictive to ever inspire loyalty or be a great leader, his persona was to inspire fear which has severe limitations, and that was always going to hold him back but when it came to intelligence, he knew how to play the inside politics better than anyone, and he often used his intelligence to further the goals of not just his own career but also allow others to do good police work.

[@Bigdiego74]

Slim Rawls and the Greek was the smartest dudes

[@richarddixon8365]

@@Bigdiego74 Slim Charles is extremely underrated character. One of my favorite on the show.

[@poopoofuhqueue2389]

nah, politics weren't Rawls strong suit. needs to stick to operations

[@lordoffaiyum9727]

@@poopoofuhqueue2389 facts

[@mrdarkshoe]

@@poopoofuhqueue2389He ended up as Superintendent of the State Police which presumably comes with a pay bump as well as greater authority, id say he played the politics game well.

[@EdwardTonai]

As James Cromwell (McNulty undercover) would say, "Spot on".

[@jackblack9605]

Also he seems like he's the same age with Freeman. If they joined around the same time, both good police, their both examples of how bucking the system or confirming can change the direction of your life . Freeman was exiled to the pawn shop unit and stunned his career while Rawl becomes a colonel.

[@lamaredward22]

That’s why he respect freeman especially seeing freeman come back to do work Rawls probably thought “damn he got kicked out all these years and comes back full force as if nothing happened, any other man would’ve been done for life but he’s still standing” lowkey Rawls admire that in freeman an honorable individual but at the end of the day both of their paths ends with their true nature

[@Aivottaja]

It's also that Lester "Natural poh-liice" Freamon didn't care about climbing up the career ladder. He just cared about doing real police work.

[@hablifelong]

The way you hit that, “natural police” had strong Baltimore vibes. Nice work!

[@FM-xe3mj]

Not only you made me understand my favorite show better, but you also made me understand myself a little better as well. Thank you.

[@EddyTheMartian]

Great video, never really payed attention to him on first watch much. The Wire has the the largest cast of characters with every single one being important in some way, realistic, and well developed, it’s insane. It’s the best show of all time IMO.

[@MIGHTYBOOSCH198]

I think Landsman saw the issues in the system and stopped caring but he knows it's messed up, hence why he relates to his staff and is joking and jovial but lso comes across as lazy and uncaring. Rawls saw the issues in the system and said well that's how it is, that's how it is and realised he couldn't change it but could go far working with it. They both gave up but Landsman gave up altogether, going for the easy life instead. Rawls gave up on changing the system and worked towards preserving it knowing it would pay off in the long run. Tgen for comparison there's Bunk who gave up changing the system and sees its broken but has resolved to do what good he can within it. Bunk can't get political, he'd feel the pull to try and change things, so he gave all that up and just tries to be a good detective despite the limitations.

[@doctornazgul547]

I liked it when Landsman showed compassion for Bubbles always felt he was better than he looked.

[@TJY-mb5hk]

Excellent analysis

[@frankmurphy7234]

Glad to see you do more Wire stuff

[@CineRanter]

More to come

[@mbryson2899]

@@CineRanter Excellent video, I'm looking forward to more (please pretty please).

[@paulgordon6949]

Always.

[@Ayo.Ajisafe]

@@CineRanter Got my notifications on.

[@TJY-mb5hk]

Keep ‘em coming! My favorite show of all time.

[@TheCmascagni]

He was very reasonable. They say that.

[@ralphtijtgat3233]

They all know this.

[@TheCmascagni]

@@ralphtijtgat3233 😂😂

[@walkingreader]

Yeah, if the head frog says jump you jump till he tells you to stop.

[@cameronmoffett181]

They do say that!

[@mkn.567]

I"ve never stopped to give Rawls this much thought. Even though i was aware that he could be effective at times, It never dawned on me that he could've, once upon a time, been "good po-lice." You make a very convincing argument. cheers.

[@kevinthomas7214]

This is someone who would let an innocent person go to jail for life if it could boost his career. The judicial departments are filled with his type he is not an anomaly but the standard.

[@carlamarlene2927]

he wouldn't put an innocent person in jail but wouldn't fight to keep an innocent person out.

[@vespasian606]

There's a few like him in this world. When you have someone as savvy behind the desk as they are in front of it you'd better hope they care about their fellow man. Too often they don't and then you have a problem. What usually happens is eventually their purpose is served and then their career is purposely stalled.

[@TheBroligarch]

Everyone tripping over themselves to make excuses for a guy who lets the real bad guys go whenever it’s convenient, lies for his own benefit and laughs at his own people when he hangs them out to dry all because he can be funny sometimes.

[@cameronmoffett181]

This is awesome. I watched all the seasons and for whatever reason I never noticed that he had climbed the chain. Most appreciate this perspective and information. Well done!!!

[@edwinlopez1922]

"you legalized fucking drugs" 😂 gotta love Rawls

[@skymagruder5270]

I came up working corporate retail jobs. Basically any higher up after about 2008 knew where the bodies were buried. When things get desperate, the survivors are all ruthless, vicious, and effective “team” players

[@gregarious2911]

This is the most click bait title ever, and it got me

[@GlassThirdEye]

He is also closeted so I think he has a lot of insecurity there so I think he compensates for it by trying to come off as tough and a hard ass.

[@dfailsthemost]

After seeing We Own This City, Rawls doesn't seem so bad.

[@abdulkhafidsulaymaan]

this is a message to those of you who are SELFLESS. its fine that you are a good kind soul but remember there are people out there who are NOT and they will use you like a piece on a chess board to get what they want- the worse part about this is they will use you most of the time while hurting others because self centered people ALWAYS leave a trail of hurt and broken people in their wake- I know that bothers you, I know that rubs you the wrong way. Another thing too about self centered people, they are not smart. They usually only see as far as they self interested go but not further beyond that. They don't see the big picture much like the story of the frog and the scorpion. So take hid to my words dear selfless soul. Dont let evil win.

[@satyris410]

When McNulty and Freamon met the officer who helped them procure fresh bodies, Freamon explains the officer had a run in with Rawls who was area chief and was allegedly* interfering with the young (then-)detective's homicide crime scene. Lester's associate stood up to Rawls citing General Orders, and then stood up to the discipline hearing after which he was transferred out of homicide against his wishes. He subsequently became a realtor/estate agent but keeps his police job as his main employment likely because of the excellent pension. *let's give Rawls the benefit of the doubt lol

[@TonyStank-XIX]

My favorite detail was when they showed him at a gay bar revealing that he’s gay but it’s never mentioned or referenced highlighted as either a good or bad thing like they did with Kima, it’s just a detail. It does nothing to define him.

[@thats4thebirds]

Great video! I recently made a huge retrospective on The Wire and touch on some of this same stuff. One thing about Rawls too is his status as a closeted gay man who shields himself from suspicion through homophobic and aggressive language to his subordinates and peers. I do fundamentally disagree with the premise that there can be good police tho, as part of what makes him good police are the very things that make him rise up the ranks. “Good police” in every sense of the word shields issues and cases for the company. I think ultimately his response to the kima shooting is also a facade. He cares because he has to care and how it’ll reflect on him for handling the company as he should. He feels thoroughly directed by those inner desires. I personally think the real tragedy is him being forced by circumstance and profession to hide his true self which has likely made him into this bitter vindictive person he ultimately is.

[@thats4thebirds]

If anyone is interested in my retrospective on the series!:kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHOriZ6mg8qfo6M

[@synth3tik242]

My second time watching through the show, when Lamar storms out of the gay bar, and there is Rawls his character made much more sense, his over compensation to his own self doubt.

[@gerardomendez7718]

"It makes him an asshole... but it's also what makes him good police". Landsmann was right on McNulty, but subtly was refering to his boss too.

[@lordhriley]

McNulty deserved to be treated the way he was treated

[@jayfox3628]

Rawls rose to state police commander of Maryland. He left Baltimore with Carcetti when the Mayor ran and won for governor.

[@Nash9r]

I love the theory of him being envious of McNulty for standing up for himself, since he did not and a part of him hates hhimself for it.

[@sithsoldier98]

He learned his lesson when he was killed in the Oz universe and respawned as Rawls😂

[@daltontyson]

Rawls was also spotted in the gay bar when brother mouzone's man went looking for Omar.

[@CombatConvos]

When I noticed him, I busted out laughing. Such a great Easter egg.

[@jasonhouse481]

Detective Ed Norris is played by Ed Norris who used to be BCPD commissioner before he became MD state trooper superintendent before he served time in jail for corruption charges. Even though Rawls and Norris are different in so many ways, I always thought it was funny that the show threw Rawls becoming superintendent of the state troopers in the show. The parallels are a so much stronger between Carcetti and Mayor O'Malley but I am pretty sure they threw that in there as a nod to Norris

[@bigkahuna3534]

Rawls was a mans man

[@heavyone2438]

Double entendre.

[@orzonorobinson7183]

Rawls being the only one to notice the sign is turned and took charge at the Kima shooting to show how he knows how to handle problems

[@Drew791]

Aside from the gay stuff, you make amazing points that David Simon was trying to get across in the first place in regards to the inequity between African-Americans and the police force that is supposed to serve and protect all citizens regardless of skin color

[@zareththealchemist8982]

As usual - great video. You always enlighten and entertain CR. I give this 👍👍

[@gregwhite6972]

They never went on about Rawls being gay…

[@mephistoxarses8585]

Rawl's knew "the game".......he was just playing it his way The Game isn't just about the drug business....it's about the system....Rawls was just another Avon Barksdale but from the institution of the po-lice dept "perspective" of the GAME. I wonder how many people's thought that Avon or Stringer was just a "gaping a-hole"? I'd like to think that at one time...maybe during the 70s or 80's Rawls WAS LIKE "Mc Nutty".....but got crushed like the system intended him too. Rawl's morality tale.....Dont go up against the system......the system WILL crush you and have no mercy in crushing you! And you become the thing you once despised. There was a scene where Rawls gives two fingers to McNulty......i believe that happened to Rawl's at one stage during the 90's......and that his commanding officer gave two fingers to Rawls....."You have my undivided attention detective Rawls!!!"

[@teejaye6226]

Above Lt. in a police department, you cease doing real policework, you're nothing but a politician with a badge and gun.....that's in most large city departments.

[@pythomas29]

Very true!!

[@chrisburns143]

That gets to speed around town and enjoy a nice retirement after 20 years, and then 2nd career doing some type of security making 30-40hr or more. I know an ex cop that’s doing secuirty work for movie starts filming in NM. He brings in 6k a month from his retirement, and 15-20k from security work. All with only a associates degree in criminal justice

[@richiehunt5097]

I've always felt that Rawls was one of the most complicated characters on the show. In some ways there were parallels between him and McNulty and Avon and Stringer. McNulty and Stringer were idealists while Rawls and Avon were realists and understood that the game will never be reformed and only a fool would believe otherwise. The difference is that Avon had genuine respect and people that would die for him or go to prison for him while Rawls almost go tn respect.

[@aaronbonogofsky4463]

His dialogue when Daniel’s convinces him to bring back McNulty in season 2 is hilarious. 😂

[@billyheaning]

Dude the gay bar scene flew RIGHT OVER my head. I had to stop the video to confirm. Wow. I can't believe I never picked up on that.

[@mrbiggrin6261]

I've watched the wire at least six times. I'm rewatching it now since the 20 year anniversary just passed. His bar scene pop up is at Season 3, episode 10. 40:39 mins lol

[@francissobotka8725]

The same situation is still going on in Baltimore in real life .

[@xalanii]

He is the symbol of the establishment, he may care, he may wish things were better but he won't lift a finger to change anything because it would hurt him personally.

[@meltz87]

Got to admit, I never looked at him this way. You make a good point

[@vulkanlives8188]

I kinda see the McNulty/Rawls angle as a top gun: maverick and ice man sort of dynamic. Kinda simplistic I know but I see him as a more by the book type of dude who can't stand a maverick who plays off instinct, not worried about it coming down on the people around him

[@Whatisright]

The tragedy of Rawls is the same for Burrell and anyone else working for the department. The mayors office needs a good enough public image and crime stats are a big part of that. The elected help shits on the appointed help who in turn shot on the hired help. Burrell summed it up during his departure that “suddenly they know police work.” They don’t care about the work, they care about the results they can gain from it. Even if it means tanking investigations. The rot starts at the top. I don’t think from Burrell down they were bad at the job, just at a certain level it’s not about doing the job it’s about playing the game. Doing the job and doing it right interferes with the game for people who’re to self important.

[@charlespirate1]

McNulty is unbearable. I’m with Rawls on that one.

[@carlamarlene2927]

mcnulty is like a dog with a bone with oppositional defiance disorder. I think the fringe is calling it "sigma"

[@whattheysayaboutme425]

Easily the worst character

[@lmaolol9357]

What the fuck did he do? : D

[@yaqubebased1961]

The fuck did he do?

[@SamP-by7iv]

​@@lmaolol9357McNulty is a prick.

[@brendano4196]

Rawls not exiling Freamon again at the end definitely redeems him a little in my eyes.

[@benmerliss7702]

Don’t wait too long on that Jay Landsman video okay?

[@alexanderwaite9403]

Rawles reminds me of whole bunch of careerist flag officers I had the misfortune of serving under in the US Army.

[@Swagoullie]

I think it shows what people have to become to function as a higher-up in such a huge bureaucracy. Rawls has to worry about the mayor, city council constantly breathing down his neck about stats but those same entities not actually wanting to follow through or follow the money trails because it leads back to them (ie: Clay Davis). I've seen it in big companies I've worked for, directors getting up in arms about something to show they are loyal for survival but no real interest in rocking the boat for the greater good. I've also worked for Landsman types, the types that bring nothing original to the table but serve as soldiers for their superiors.

[@Nevyn515]

The city and system chews them up and either swallows them or spits them out. After all the game is the game, whichever team they play on.

[@alecaquino4306]

PLEASE make a video on Landsman! Your videos are of SUCH high quality!

[@CineRanter]

Thank you!

[@peaceindarkness.darknessis3494]

Watching the Wire again now, perfect timing! You should try to get into doing some deadwood dissection vids cineRanter. I for one would love to hear your breakdown of, iMo, HBOs finest gem.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

My Opinion of Rawls was always that he was McNulty'ing long before McNulty ever McNulty'd. That why he had the disdain. Rawls eventually gave up and joined the system, the had to watch McNulty come around and McNulty all over the place. At first they got along great likely...but when Rawls sees too much of what he was in McNulty he starts to despise him. Its pretty simple.

[@zero1188]

people forget that if you dont play the game you are ostracized and kicked out. the new mayor is the prime example of what happens when people come in trying to make a genuine change.

[@Kaspisify]

"The Hunt" is the best Rawls episode hands down. He fucking takes over the show in the beginning there. He shows what he used to be and used to know, before he just completely let the gaping asshole that is current Rawls swallow him.

[@sandro-lh3zj]

Thank you! Loved the moment when he changed those street signs

[@coderider3022]

My fav character. Good lines. Total bastard. He’s in an Ncis episode , worth a watch.

[@Blix-Tha-Epic-TM4L]

I think you're spot on with Rawls. But his personal ambitions overshadow the best of him, which engages the worst of him. I wouldn't trust him with anything.

[@atomicstone93]

Thanks for all your videos, always watch them straight away

[@walterdorsey8935]

I come from Baltimore Maryland, but now am living in California, that was an excellent analysis.

[@dpaceesq]

Well done in your commentary, sir!

[@dcaseng]

He was definitely one of those bosses you hate, but he wasn't a bad person. He was just someone who understood the job, and didn't allow anything to get in the way. I was actually disappointed that they never followed up on the revelation that he was gay. That was one hell of a cliffhanger that was never addressed. I couldn't wait to see what would happen once word of his sexuality got out, but sadly, it never happened.

[@nickthompson2376]

I agree. When I first saw that scene I was like ‘wait, this guy is gay?’ Than I truly started to think he hated McNulty so much because he was physically attracted to him and hated himself for it

[@OffMyRocker52]

Spot on analyzation.

[@dismafuggerhere2753]

I like that without drawing any real attention to the fact the show has 3 of it's toughest characters being gay.

[@rywav]

Rawls and Vito... real come from behind type of guys

[@1cryogen]

You're too kind to Rawls. You're correct that he's not incompetent, but the man sold his soul a long time ago...

[@Thegoldenchopsticks]

Yhh

[@bobbyjones3351]

He was smart enough to acknowledge how clever Mcnulty's. Tides Analysis screwed him over

[@fearlessjoebanzai]

I wonder if there's symbolism in the first screenshot that you showed of Rawls - he has a ship in a bottle on his desk. Is that something he made? He obviously likes it enough to display it. Freeman makes doll houses, or at least the furniture. Rawls (possibly a play on the word "roles"), likes to make things but keep them contained. Freeman (obviously a free man), likes to make things that can be used by others to their own imagination. Rawls believes in confined roles because he is sure of the system. Freeman believes in the unconfined because he is sure of himself.

[@mitchelll3879]

His homosexuality hidden aside, Rawls is the type of person known in every facility as the person who everyone hated, and at times the facility and operation would be less toxic without them..he thinks it's his job to be a a hole..I kinda always look at an employee like this with the basic premise of how much do they bring to the table vs how much effort u expend cleaning up some mess, whether being a cowboy or a toxic troublemaker...in my opinion, unless that person is so infinitely talented as to threaten the existence of the business if they left, I would find them a solitary position to keep them away from other people and corrupting them

[@stevenford1344]

Is there anyone else that notice Rawls was in the G_____ bar that was never explained

[@edmadison9573]

Kima getting shot. The whole thing was unsettling. The radio chatter, them trying to find her in the alley, the whole thing was hard to watch.

[@ceciliavontapirsburg3917]

perhaps his closeted sexuality is part of what MAKES Rawls toe the line so neatly. He's a generation or so ahead of some of the main cast such as McNulty, meaning he must have joined the force in the 70s or 70s, and has worked as police at a time when homosexuality could be career-ending, so of course he couldn't afford any attention being drawn to his personal life. It's worth noting that Kima is closeted at work to most of her colleagues, at least at the beginning of the series. Not really a justification, but something to consider.

[@caseyhart4999]

Nah Avon didn’t set Marlo up he just had nothing but love for west side like he said lol

[@uchidaoginome]

I swear, throughout season 5 I thought McNulty was gonna become the new Rawls. Look at where it was going: Jimmy manipulated the entire department for personal reasons. Although he wanted to use his status as the detective in command of the homeless murders to solve other real cases, that wasn't for the sake of those hurt, brutalized or even murdered by gangsters, it was for his own ego. He just just wanted to prove how smart he was. Rawls will use the system against itself to pad his department's numbers (by getting cops to snitch on one another for the crime of not being sufficiently loyal or trying to get another police agency to take responsibility for those dead girls in that can) but I don't think Rawls would lie! Not because he cares about the truth but because he knows that's the one thing that can be dug up and bury you. Anyway one of the other detectives in season 5 calls McNulty "boss" because he's been given command over the temporary budget allocated to solve the serial killings he made up. McNulty takes offense at being called boss! I thought this was the beginning of him being promoted for running this case. And even though he lived for working the streets and never desired rank, with a rise in rank comes much better pay and the ability to not only make those child support payments on time but to be better suited to send his near-college age boys to Loyola to finish what he started. Maybe that one kid of his graduates and gets a job at Kojima Productions (have your seen that fresh new studio of his? Damn!). Anyhow, I thought with those promotions he couldn't turn down because they made real life a little easier, he'd grow more bitter and resentful because sitting around an office at police headquarters, reading a bunch of stats, writing reports and attending CompStat meetings just didn't make him as happy as being being a cop on the beat. He'd become Rawls from the other side, the side of not having goals but being forced to be in the world of cops who actually did their full 4 at Loyola and attended political fundraisers and cocktailers with potential donors. He might shut himself in his corner office, sipping from that flak of Jameson and snapping at anyone who didn't bring the cases the way he saw fit. Rose always wanted to move up and was willing to cut you in half career wise if you didn't help him take the next step but Jimmy might come that interminable a****** out of straight up resentment for his career not ending up in that fantastical Jimmy McNulty Parade that Lester Freeman described back in season 2.

[@frankcostanza8479]

another good Rawls scene is when he compliments Lester on his investigative skills and sends him back to homicide (to Lester’s surprise) instead of a meaningless unit

[@bigt4135]

Him and Vito could have been great friends

[@marqc.9904]

My second time watching the series I had a lot more respect for Rawles. I still didn't like him, mind you, but I was five years older and less naive. McNulty's reckless personal life was reflected in his police work--however, it did make him a better detective. Being a renegade less concerned with who gets humped over and more interested in getting his man (or, in his personal life, getting his woman or his drink) didn't always serve him, which is why he was living his best life when he became a beat cop. This isn't to say he was wrong for his detective style, but he was living his personal life the same way he worked cases. Rawles, as you pointed out quite well, learned how to beat company man and probably led to a more stable life. Although we never find out for certain if he's gay, I'm sure tucking that piece of his life away helped keep him more "stable" at least on the outside. Likewise, towing the line didn't mean he was good police but it certainly meant he wasn't going to risk much. He and McNulty are mirrors of each other in those regards.

[@mrrodriguezHLP]

It's funny, first time I saw the Wire I was in my early 20s and McNulty is a hero, now in my mid 30s he is the worst human being. And how does a raging alcoholic keep a six-pack physique?

[@DetroitMuscle]

I never thought about but you are right. Burrell did show flashes of being street savvy. 🤔

[@Ithro-Ithrozovich]

Rawls being visibly amused, when he asks if it's true that McNutty called the First Deputy an 'empty suit' to his face, lends credence to your theory that Rawls and McNulty are very alike, apart from their choices to either play ball/become bureaucrats or not/getting spit out. If Rawls could do that with impunity, he would in an instant.

[@BlackHowl1]

This is such a good analysis. 👍🏻

[@KingOfMadCows]

I always though Rawls was more like a version of Lester who decided to shut up and not upset the bosses. Rawls is analytical and notices the small details like Lester.

[@adamsagehorn3520]

Apathy does not occur spontaneously rather it is curated.