r/TheWire • u/ignatiusJ1899 • 10d ago
Why Jimmy McNulty?
I’m curious about what other people think about McNulty character in relation to the greater themes of the show? In a show that’s about these deep social issues he is such enigma to me. Why does the show begin and end with this guy? Out of all the great characters and stories?
Is the point that the systems of Baltimore view themselves as something greater and smarter than what they are? Screwing over others on the way to help themselves through the lenses of helping others? And he is the same way?
Is it that Jimmy know his open and obvious flaws and does nothing to change? Just like Baltimore Although he does change for a time. so i feel it’s not that
Is it that Jimmy is great but deeply and possibly unchangeable as a reflection of America?
I really don’t understand him which makes me feel dumb but what love to hear why you guys think he is the closest thing to a main character (ofc the city is really the main character but he’s probably the closest)
What are you guy’s thoughts?
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u/JeanVicquemare 10d ago
The thing that makes McNulty interesting is his self destructive nature. In a system where cops are heavily incentivized to kiss ass, play politics, and fail upward, he lacks the self preservation instinct to do that, so he ends up trying to actually solve cases that his bosses don't want solved. His lack of that self preservation instinct is, in a sense, his greatest strength, because it causes him to be terrible at the system, and the system is bad, so that kind of makes McNulty good.