The Major Case squad is now working on the war between Marlo and Stringer, though Daniels informs McNulty because he went around Daniels' back in order to make this happen, he's finished in the unit once Stringer's been apprehended. Lester brings up the the burners Avon's crew is throwing away, and says they should scoop them up to find out who they're calling. McNulty gets the idea of stopping Bodie, taking his phone, and switching it with one of the ones they've recovered so they can have an easier job of it. Unfortunately, it runs against Hamsterdam, as Bodie says he was on his way there and he has a free pass. When Colvin tells Kima, McNulty and Sydnor about Hamsterdam (even though he still claims it's a tactical move, though he admits the bosses don't know about it), Kima and Sydnor are outraged, but McNulty, though he questions the viability of Hamsterdam being a tactical maneuver, is willing to go along with it. The squad is happy about getting the phone, though Lester cautions since Avon's crew throws the phones away after a few weeks, it makes it tougher to get a wire up. Everyone in the squad, however, is outraged when Kima and McNulty learn from Herc that Avon has been released from prison (Herc saw him being driven around earlier, and couldn't believe it), and they confirm it by looking in the computer.
At Hamsterdam, meanwhile, Carver becomes distressed when he notices all the younger kids hanging around with nothing to do (even though Herc and Colicchio point out this is what happens when the dealers no longer need lookouts). Carver tells the dealers to pay in for "unemployment insurance", and also buys a basketball hoop for the kids to play with, though it gets vandalized pretty quickly. Also, Colvin finds out, just as he'd hoped, there's been a drop in crime in the Western District, though he's cautious about taking credit for it just yet.
Though Butchie tries to dissuade him, Omar is still feeling guilty over what Bunk said to him, so he decides to make it up to him by putting the word out onto the street that he'll pay for the return of Dozerman's gun. When he gets it back, Butchie calls Bunk, who picks up the gun, and though he's upset the murder of Tosha will remain unsolved, Bunk takes the gun. Burrell returns the gun to Dozerman at a press conference.
Elsewhere, Terri convinces Carcetti to avoid grandstanding on the issue of the dead witness, but to approach Royce again, McNulty finds Terri again, thanks to Prez getting her number, Dennis goes back to his lawn-mowing job and worries about his future, Marlo takes his revenge on Avon's crew attacking his crew by having Snoop shoot up a corner, Stringer gets upset when he finds out Donette told Brianna about McNulty telling her about D'Angelo, and we meet Bernard (Melvin Jackson Jr.), the one buying the phones for Avon's crew, and his nagging girlfriend Squeak (Mia Arnice Chambers).
This episode contains examples of:
- Babies Make Everything Better: Once again averted; when Kima stumbles home, and Cheryl demands to know what's going on, Kima says, "I miss us," to which Cheryl snaps, "Do not blame that baby. Do not do it."
- Call-Back: McNulty admits he knows how Daniels got him off the boat.
- When Dennis' boss asks if there's anyone else besides him he can talk to, Dennis mentions the Deacon.
- Omar wraps Dozerman's gun in the tie he wore to testify in court; Bunk gives the tie back to Butchie, and tells him to tell Omar to save it for when he gets arrested next.
- Donette brings up the talk she had with Brianna about seeing Stringer.
- Camera Abuse: The episode ends with Kima, livid over the news Avon's out of prison, throwing an object towards the camera, followed by a Smash to Black.
- The Chains of Commanding:Daniels: I got no problem changing targets if that's what the bosses tell me to do, unless it's personal, like when Kima got shot. I don't care where we spend our time and money. Bell, Williamson, whoever; It's all just police work to me. And I understand that people above my pay-grade have the right to make decisions that are theirs to make.McNulty: And if they're wrong?Daniels: Then they're wrong and time will tell, won't it?
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Discussed when McNulty admits going around Daniels' back. Also, when McNulty asks Colvin whether the bosses really don't know about Hamsterdam, Colvin responds, "Fuck the bosses", which is music to McNulty's ears.
- Continuity Nod: Johnny continues his downward slide.
- Deadpan Snarker: When Terri tells Carcetti how he loves being self-righteous, Carcetti responds, "If I lie down on this couch, do you charge by the hour?"
- Donut Mess with a Cop: Herc and Garrick spend most of there time on stakeout debating what they want for lunch.Truck: Pit beef from the market.Herc: See? Now you thinking like real police.
- Epigraph: "Conscience do cost", said by Butchie when Omar blanches at how much he had to pay to get Dozerman's gun.
- Foreshadowing: Bubbles' decision to expand his business when a junkie at Hamsterdam asks for candles and toilet paper becomes important later, as does Bernard's decision to buy eight phones at once at his last stop instead of just two, and the drop in crime in Colvin's district.
- I Did What I Had to Do: McNulty's justification for going around Daniels' back.
- Ironic Echo: When Cheryl was mad at Kima for going out back out on the street, Kima says, "We talked about this", and Cheryl snapped, "No, you talked about it." Cheryl does the same thing when Kima gets upset at how the baby has been dominating their lives.
- Jerkass Has a Point: However you may feel about Royce's attitude about protecting state's witnesses, he's right in saying without money either in his budget (the services he brings up to Carcetti - garbage and snow removal - are essential) or from the state or federal governments, there's not a lot he can do. Unfortunately, this is Truth in Television.
- Nothing Personal: McNulty admits Daniels is a better boss than most of the ones he's had, but he'd go around anybody's back to get to Stringer.
- Pet the Dog: Marlo not only keeping pigeons, but complimenting the young man taking care of them.
- Police Are Useless: Or at least Sydnor thinks the department is useless; "Some day I wanna work for a real police department. Just to see how the fuck they do it, you know?"
- Running Gag: A detective who's fallen asleep in Homicide getting their tie cut off. Bunk does it to Crutchfield.
- Serious Business: When McNulty goes to the event Terri is at, he asks for his usual drink of Jameson's. The bartender says he only has Bushmills, to which McNulty scoffs, "That's Protestant whiskey." Subverted in that he actually takes it.
- Sophisticated as Hell: When talking about all the children standing around in Hamsterdam:Herc: It's like one of those nature shows where you mess with the environment, some species gets fucked out of their habitat.Carver: Did you just use the word "habitat" in a sentence?Herc: I did.
- The Spock: Terri, who tells Carcetti his best strategy for confronting Royce about taking care of state's witnesses is not to confront him publicly, but to press him privately in his office, and write a letter documenting what happened so if Royce does take action, the issue gets resolved, but if he doesn't, Carcetti gets to hammer him on the issue later. Carcetti sarcastically says it's "win-win", and Jen points out witnesses still get screwed; Terri sighs and says she knows, but this is the only way things get done.
- Also, surprisingly, McNulty; while it's likely he agrees to let Bodie go to repay Colvin for getting the Major Case squad to go after Stringer, he also seems to understand what Colvin is trying to do (though he's dubious about its effectiveness as a tactical strategy), and unlike Kima and Sydnor, is able to see it from a practical point of view.
- Stalker with a Crush: Terri playfully accuses McNulty of this when he shows up unannounced at the party she's at but starts to leave almost immediately.
- Tempting Fate: When Slim tells Avon Marlo's gone to wholesaling, Avon says he was just about to respect Marlo for showing heart. When Poot worries about being on a corner because of Marlo, Slim assures him he's got muscle, and says, "Don't worry about it, little man." Sure enough, Snoop shows up later at that corner and kills one of Avon's crew.
- Tranquil Fury: Daniels' reaction when he finds out McNulty's Chronic Backstabbing Disorder came through again.You piece of shit.
- Wretched Hive: The free zone at night is a terrifying hellscape. Even Bubs, who is accustomed to some of the worst of Baltimore's dope corners and trap houses, is visibly spooked while walking through it.
