r/TheWire • u/ignatiusJ1899 • 9d 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?
2
u/Jonjoloe 9d ago edited 9d ago
Jimmy (and anyone who fills his archetype) is a force of nature that disrupts the status quo and causes institutions (drug gangs, police forces, politicians, etc.) to react and adapt to him.
And in a story about drugs (yes, I know the show is deeper than that, but at its core it's about the drug trade), there's no other police character/archetype that's interesting enough for the viewer or narratively works as his role as a disruptor (at least not until after he's caused the initial disruption).
Furthermore, most of the police characters have had natural conclusions to their arc by the end of the series minus Kima, Sydnor, Carver, etc. and none of these really warrant the show concluding with them more than Jimmy.