There's two episodes left in this season of The Wire, and it's hard to watch the show and not feel a sense of uneasiness over what's going to happen to Michael, Randy, Namond, and Dukie, the four boys who have been this season's central characters. Michael's sold his soul to the local drug kingpin to keep his family safe, Randy's been branded a snitch, and Namond's teetering on the brink of a life of crime. It's the first timein the show's history that I've actually felt dread for what might happen to the characters. Every other character has always seemed like they could take care of themselves. They were veteran players in (to use Wirespeak) "the game," but the four boys are still rookies.

Tom Coombe