Amsterdam

Colvin struggles to put his plan into practice, whilst McNulty and Freamon clash over priorities.

This is another excellent episode with great moments of character and plot detail.

At this point numerous characters are portrayed as struggling with change, albeit personally or to bring it about within various systems.

Colvin's plan has a lot of screen time and is depicted in as realistic a way as possible. The reaction of everyone to a seismic-shift in Western District's approach to policing the drug corners is both humorous and plausible. I love the corner boys response to the more recognisable and feared authority figure of the school principal.

Cutty has some of the best scenes, with his path towards change being fraught with temptation and seemingly little reward for an honest day's work. There is great visual storytelling in this arc and Chad Coleman expresses all you need to know with his eyes.

McNulty is brilliantly written as the same blinkered character with destructive tendencies as he's ever been. Circumstances have changed around him, yet he is portrayed as obsessive in pursuit of Stringer, isolated, and as frequently drunk. Dominic West is fantastic throughout, sometimes with just facial expressions and he acts intoxicated remarkably well.

Stringer is trying to change the world and the scope of his ambition is cleverly revealed during certain exchanges with high-flying characters. However, the burden of the drug trade and a D'Angelo shaped skeleton in the closet is brilliantly included in so many scenes.

The episode is littered with other great character moments for the likes of Bunk, Freemon, Bubbs, Carcetti, and there is too much going on to mention it all.

Greetings from Lithuania.

Amsterdam is a forth episode of "The Wire" season 3 and it was as great as the whole season so far. And so far there wasn't a weak episode nor in this season nor in series overall. Every scene here pounds with action, whether its on street or in cabinets of city rulers. Its all about surviving for some and getting power for others. Witting here is basically perfect as well superb acting and directing.

Overall, with four episodes in season 3 i believe there will be blood were this is going. I haven't seen this show before despite its being almost 20 years old and watching it for a first time now. Damn, what a perfect series have i missed.