The Pager

Things get moving as the first season of The Wire gets to the practical part of the drug-fighting business, not to mention some violent reactions on the dope kingpins' part. It's slow-burning as usual, but it's never dull.

The main issue at the center of the episode is Avon's growing paranoia, which leads to Stringer telling D'Angelo to cut payments for the week in order to spot possible snitches. Also, the search for Omar and his boy continues without mercy. Meanwhile, Judge Phelan gives Daniels' detail the green light for the cloned beeper operation, and McNulty and Greggs have a meeting with Omar to discuss their common problem: Barksdale. Caught in the middle is the detail's regular informant, Bubbles, who has to deal with the hospitalization of his partner Johnny.

In keeping with the tradition of previous episodes, it's the little moments that matter. In this case, standout bits include every scene with Omar, the operation being put in action, Prez's brief moment in the spotlight and the tragic epilogue, which sets the tone for some characters' development over the course of the next eight episodes. Most revealing, though, is a scene where McNulty talks about his ex-wife with Greggs and says "a lesser man would just call her a c*nt". It's a rough, uncompromising line, just like the series. No sanitized drama here: this show looks, sounds and feels real.

Avon gets more cautious and aware he might be under surveillance and Omar shares information about a common enemy.

This is an excellent episode with clever plotting and great character work.

There are some key moments in this episode that greatly impact the main narrative of the season. They come with a strong level of irony given the failures by the police detail to fully observe events as they are transpiring. This is tied into some of the main themes of the episode about the need to be careful, organised and alert to the dangers of 'the game'. All the scenes involving Avon, Omar, and the police wiretap of D'Angelo's pager tie in well to this.

D'Angelo's character further develops in his attitude towards the business and the mentality of people in his life. Two scenes that contrast well are one set in a nice restaurant and the other in Orlando's.

Herc, Carver and Bodie interact in scenes that both shock and entertain. There is a certain level of amusement in thinking that if they were all on the same team they would be good pals. Also pretty humorous is McNulty in a few scenes concerning his personal life, particularly the way he describes his ex-wife after an irate conversation.

As ever the production values are superb with great cinematography and editing. The final sequence involving the wiretap technology capturing certain calls taking place is very effective considering you know something terrible and unseen is happening.

All performances are great as ever with Michael K Williams, Wood Harris, J D Williams, Seth Gilliam, Domenic Lombardozzi, Dominic West, and Lawrence Gilliard Jr with particularly good screen time.

For me it's a 9.5/10 but I round upwards.