That's interesting. I didn't know that was why he had a reduced role. One reason why I didn't like the last couple seasons (sorry, I know you like 4) is that I felt like the characters were all beginning to gel together in very unrealistic ways. I mean, I like that The Wire focused on showing the drug stuff in Baltimore, but by the end of the series I felt like everything major and drug related was due to the efforts of the same band of cops over..and over...and over again. Basically, after Season 3 The Wire started to feel like a TV show, rather than something that might happen in real life (a tad too predictable and convenient all around).

Season 2 is my favorite because in S1 you are introduced to all of these troubled cops and law people as they deal with dangerous, shady drug dealers. You just sorta figure that's gonna be The Wire's "thing" until the show ends - cookie cutter drug dealers.

Then, completely out of left field, we get an amazing deep and intricate story about the shipping business and poor white Gen X'ers and unions and Baltimore politics and how the police department acts after their lone victory over Barksdale in S1 end, etc. Plus you get these bad guys who were infinitely more powerful and dangerous than any drug dealer and no amount of excellent cop work could nab them (no one even knew who The Greek was until the end). Suddenly, Baltimore's criminal, economic and social problems seemed genuinely authentic and entirely believable. Forget the drug dealer stuff - THIS is what The Wire needed to do. Season 3 had the opportunity to start a massive wiretap investigation on local politicians, but they never went that route.

Season 2 raised the bar so high, I just didn't feel as excited about subsequent seasons that went back to focusing on the little world of Baltimore.

The ONLY thing I will say is that I really did like how season 5 showed the ailing newspaper business - again - that was something happening all over the country and I could even relate to it on a personal level (since I worked at one for almost 4 years).