https://blackgirlnerds.com/herc-from-the-wire-is-one-of-tvs-greatest-villains/
As The Wire hits its twentieth anniversary, I believe it is important to look at the many things this piece of literary fiction transposed onto the small screen gave the world: there were the Ivy League-level courses centered around its depiction of race and its interplay with the justice system; there was the fact that it was part of a Second Golden Age of Television, a time period wherein TV shows, rather than movies, became the place to see blue-chip acting and quality screenwriting; and then there was the fact that it gave us Thomas “Herk” Hauk (Daredevil’s Domenick Lombardozzi), one of television’s greatest villains who was too stupid to know he was such.
Fans of The Wire are well aware of Herc’s antics. He was the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Narcotics Unit detective who hit first and asked questions later. For Herc, the best day was one spent putting “hoppers” against the wall and getting $25 worth of heroin off the street and into evidence. And he did this, of course, with his partner in crime Detective Ellis Carver (Seth Gilliam of The Walking Dead) and the rest of his Western District unit.
I use the past tense because those same Wire fans know what then happened to Herc’s police career. After a series of screw-ups like losing a $1,200 surveillance microphone one season, or, losing a camera and illegally attributing information to a fictional informant in another, or, in that same season, when he harasses a Black minister due to some faulty information (more on that later), Herc is rightfully canned from the BPD — which, if the show is correct, is like a demon getting fired from Hell for taking the whole “eternal torment” thing a bit too far.
Sure, Herc eventually lands on his feet working for scummy-but-skilled criminal attorney Maurice Levy (Michael Kosstroff), but this should be seen as a negative. He went from being the cop who ratted on his commanding officer’s plan to effectively legalize drugs (in order to focus on “quality arrests” and community policing) to an admittedly well-paid private investigator for the lawyer representing Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector) — the show’s physical manifestation of murderous, capitalistic id. But here’s the thing: I said it should be seen as a negative. Emphasis on “should.”
Herc, however, may just be dumb enough to think he’s finally won.
Herc is a villain precisely because he doesn’t know how effectively he destroys people’s lives and works toward the detriment of those around him.
Whereas the show’s outright villains like Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) or antiheroes like Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) have a sense of self-awareness about the consequences of their actions, Herc seems blissfully unaware that, as McNulty says, “a patrolling officer on his beat is the one true dictatorship in America.” As a sworn officer, Herc has the ability to effect material changes in people’s lives. He can focus on investigations into strings of burglaries or assaults. He can actually get to know the people in the communities he’s policing.
He could do these things, but he doesn’t.
Instead, like many of the BPD officers depicted, he focuses on stats and overtime in order to make rank and retire with better pay. One can argue that these goals are not inherently bad, but it’s how Herc goes about it and who this affects that’s so upsetting.
In fact, Herc’s single mindedness and selfishness get some people badly hurt, even killed.
First, there’s Bubbles (Andre Royo) and his young friend Sherrod (Rashad Orange).
Season 4 sees Bubbles and Sherrod being harassed by a street punk (Armando Cadogan, Jr.), who robs and beats them every chance he can get. Bubbles looks to Herc for help, and the latter man says he’ll have Bubbles’ back. Thank god Bubbles didn’t hold his breath over that one.
Herc repeatedly dismisses Bubbles’ phone calls resulting in Bubbles and Sherrod being beaten, sometimes severely. As a result, Bubbles gives up on Herc and instead opts to rig a “hotshot” — tainted heroin meant for his tormenter to steal, inject, and overdose from. As a bit of payback, Bubbles finally gets a hold of Herc and gives him the “tip” that a well-dressed man with a town car is carrying drugs. This becomes the Black minister’s arrest that ends Herc’s career. This almost-funny bit, however, is ruined by what happens with the hotshot. Bubbles leaves it out and Sherrod, also an addict, shoots it up while Bubbles is out. This kills the young man and shatters Bubbles nearly beyond repair. All because Herc was too distracted to pick up a phone.
Of course, Herc didn’t force Bubbles to rig that shot, and he didn’t make Sherrod shoot the dope, so it’s arguable he didn’t really, actually hurt those people. Fair enough, Meanest Person in the World, but what about this: the second pair of lives he ruined were that of Randy Wagstaff (Maestro Harrell) and his foster mother.
Basically, Herc, in an effort to expedite the length of an interrogation in which he has no leverage, tries to goad a drug dealer, Little Kevin (Tyrell Baker), into thinking that someone has informed on him about his role in a murder (it’s a long story; watch Season 4 of The Wire to understand and because it’s great). In doing so, Herc inadvertently reveals Randy as someone who has spoken to the police, even though he didn’t give them any information that could land anyone in prison.
Regardless, the word gets out that Randy is a snitch, and his life is ruined for it. He is beaten at school, his home is firebombed, and his foster mother lands in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. And Randy? He gets put back into the group home system, but this time as a known “snitch.”
I’ll let you imagine how well that goes for him.
The one and only time we see Randy after this is when we see what this treatment has done to him. He’s leaner now, meaner. He’s had an education on the dos and don’ts of the street world and he’s proven to be an excellent student.
In short, Herc ruined this kid’s entire life. Or, at the very least, his adolescence.
But Herc, until Carver gives him a brief speech late in the show’s final season, remains largely unaware of the reverberations of his actions. As Carver says, “It all matters. We thought it didn’t, but it does.” (This is after the now-fired Herc says of his many mistakes, “Yeah, I screwed up. So what?”)
From here, we see Herc attempt to make amends by using his Levy connection to give police a promising lead on Marlo. It’s comes late, but it does help take a devastatingly murderous organization off the streets.
So, Herc: idiot, or villain? Well, it’s both.
He means well, but intent is often divergent from impact, and Herc’s impact, here, is devastating.
As the show’s low-key indictment of the BPD, Herc represents the worst of what can come of a police department lacking in empathy or self-awareness.
What Herc, and therefore all cops, have to remember is: it matters.
It all matters.
The Wire is available to stream on HBO Max.
As The Wire hits its twentieth anniversary, I believe it is important to look at the many things this piece of literary fiction transposed onto the small screen gave the world: there were the Ivy League-level courses centered around its depiction of race and its interplay with the justice system; there was the fact that it was part of a Second Golden Age of Television, a time period wherein TV shows, rather than movies, became the place to see blue-chip acting and quality screenwriting; and then there was the fact that it gave us Thomas “Herk” Hauk (Daredevil’s Domenick Lombardozzi), one of television’s greatest villains who was too stupid to know he was such.
Fans of The Wire are well aware of Herc’s antics. He was the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Narcotics Unit detective who hit first and asked questions later. For Herc, the best day was one spent putting “hoppers” against the wall and getting $25 worth of heroin off the street and into evidence. And he did this, of course, with his partner in crime Detective Ellis Carver (Seth Gilliam of The Walking Dead) and the rest of his Western District unit.
I use the past tense because those same Wire fans know what then happened to Herc’s police career. After a series of screw-ups like losing a $1,200 surveillance microphone one season, or, losing a camera and illegally attributing information to a fictional informant in another, or, in that same season, when he harasses a Black minister due to some faulty information (more on that later), Herc is rightfully canned from the BPD — which, if the show is correct, is like a demon getting fired from Hell for taking the whole “eternal torment” thing a bit too far.
Sure, Herc eventually lands on his feet working for scummy-but-skilled criminal attorney Maurice Levy (Michael Kosstroff), but this should be seen as a negative. He went from being the cop who ratted on his commanding officer’s plan to effectively legalize drugs (in order to focus on “quality arrests” and community policing) to an admittedly well-paid private investigator for the lawyer representing Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector) — the show’s physical manifestation of murderous, capitalistic id. But here’s the thing: I said it should be seen as a negative. Emphasis on “should.”
Herc, however, may just be dumb enough to think he’s finally won.
Herc is a villain precisely because he doesn’t know how effectively he destroys people’s lives and works toward the detriment of those around him.
Whereas the show’s outright villains like Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) or antiheroes like Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) have a sense of self-awareness about the consequences of their actions, Herc seems blissfully unaware that, as McNulty says, “a patrolling officer on his beat is the one true dictatorship in America.” As a sworn officer, Herc has the ability to effect material changes in people’s lives. He can focus on investigations into strings of burglaries or assaults. He can actually get to know the people in the communities he’s policing.
He could do these things, but he doesn’t.
Instead, like many of the BPD officers depicted, he focuses on stats and overtime in order to make rank and retire with better pay. One can argue that these goals are not inherently bad, but it’s how Herc goes about it and who this affects that’s so upsetting.
In fact, Herc’s single mindedness and selfishness get some people badly hurt, even killed.
First, there’s Bubbles (Andre Royo) and his young friend Sherrod (Rashad Orange).
Season 4 sees Bubbles and Sherrod being harassed by a street punk (Armando Cadogan, Jr.), who robs and beats them every chance he can get. Bubbles looks to Herc for help, and the latter man says he’ll have Bubbles’ back. Thank god Bubbles didn’t hold his breath over that one.
Herc repeatedly dismisses Bubbles’ phone calls resulting in Bubbles and Sherrod being beaten, sometimes severely. As a result, Bubbles gives up on Herc and instead opts to rig a “hotshot” — tainted heroin meant for his tormenter to steal, inject, and overdose from. As a bit of payback, Bubbles finally gets a hold of Herc and gives him the “tip” that a well-dressed man with a town car is carrying drugs. This becomes the Black minister’s arrest that ends Herc’s career. This almost-funny bit, however, is ruined by what happens with the hotshot. Bubbles leaves it out and Sherrod, also an addict, shoots it up while Bubbles is out. This kills the young man and shatters Bubbles nearly beyond repair. All because Herc was too distracted to pick up a phone.
Of course, Herc didn’t force Bubbles to rig that shot, and he didn’t make Sherrod shoot the dope, so it’s arguable he didn’t really, actually hurt those people. Fair enough, Meanest Person in the World, but what about this: the second pair of lives he ruined were that of Randy Wagstaff (Maestro Harrell) and his foster mother.
Basically, Herc, in an effort to expedite the length of an interrogation in which he has no leverage, tries to goad a drug dealer, Little Kevin (Tyrell Baker), into thinking that someone has informed on him about his role in a murder (it’s a long story; watch Season 4 of The Wire to understand and because it’s great). In doing so, Herc inadvertently reveals Randy as someone who has spoken to the police, even though he didn’t give them any information that could land anyone in prison.
Regardless, the word gets out that Randy is a snitch, and his life is ruined for it. He is beaten at school, his home is firebombed, and his foster mother lands in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. And Randy? He gets put back into the group home system, but this time as a known “snitch.”
I’ll let you imagine how well that goes for him.
The one and only time we see Randy after this is when we see what this treatment has done to him. He’s leaner now, meaner. He’s had an education on the dos and don’ts of the street world and he’s proven to be an excellent student.
In short, Herc ruined this kid’s entire life. Or, at the very least, his adolescence.
But Herc, until Carver gives him a brief speech late in the show’s final season, remains largely unaware of the reverberations of his actions. As Carver says, “It all matters. We thought it didn’t, but it does.” (This is after the now-fired Herc says of his many mistakes, “Yeah, I screwed up. So what?”)
From here, we see Herc attempt to make amends by using his Levy connection to give police a promising lead on Marlo. It’s comes late, but it does help take a devastatingly murderous organization off the streets.
So, Herc: idiot, or villain? Well, it’s both.
He means well, but intent is often divergent from impact, and Herc’s impact, here, is devastating.
As the show’s low-key indictment of the BPD, Herc represents the worst of what can come of a police department lacking in empathy or self-awareness.
What Herc, and therefore all cops, have to remember is: it matters.
It all matters.
The Wire is available to stream on HBO Max.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Ok, citizens, let's get into this! Check out the latest episode of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review airing this Wednesday at 8 p.m. eastern on the BTalk 100 internet broadcasting platform. Join your Kree-enhanced AFROnerdist hosts as they unpack the above-titled issues including a recent toy exhibit in Las Vegas depicting a statue of a lynching in a model train scene. Hence this appalling scene:
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify, and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Let's keep it tight and concise, folks! Welcome to the latest episode of Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse broadcast airing this and every Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on the BTalk cyber-radio platform. Listen to your shattered Uru-hammered empowered AFROnerdist hosts as they discuss the following topics: the highly-anticipated fourth installment of Marvel's Thor franchise, Thor: Love and Thunder was released this weekend to a healthy 300M plus global box office takedown, and the crew have their first impressions; CW Flash actress, Candace Patton has recently alleged onset racial disparities along with social media harassment that her employers failed to address; our thoughts concerning the season finales of Amazon's The Boys (S3) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (S1); a recent article and MSNBC TV appearance by Naval War College educator and conservative writer, Tom Nichols, places some blame on the popularity of MCU films for the rise in young male perpetrated mass shootings in the US; former Japanese PM, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated in a country with minimal gun violence and Dburt has to ask, is the US exporting its culture to the "Land of the Rising Sun?"; more icons are leaving the planet-Sonny Corleone himself, James Caan passes at the age of 82 and F-Troop comedic actor, Larry Storch dies at 99; Lastly, more details are coming out about the fourth installment of the Captain America franchise, starring Anthony Mackie (including Chris Evans future in the Steve Rogers role an dthe MCI at large).
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify, and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
Written by: April Prince
Since the release of the first game in 1996, Resident Evil as a series has captured the attention of gamers all over the globe. It’s even spawned other forms of media such as comics, animated films, audio dramas, live-action films — and TV shows. That’s what we’ll be taking a look at today. Thanks to the people at Netflix, we were granted early access to the new live-action Resident Evil show from showrunner Andrew Dabb and Constantin Films. Let’s see if this new angle on an old favorite holds up or if it’s meant to be put down.
Resident Evil follows Jade and Billie Wesker, the half twin daughters of everyone’s favorite mad scientist Albert Wesker. Yes, that’s right. Wesker is allowed to parent in this iteration and surprisingly? He seems like a genuine, loving father.
The series takes place during two periods in time. The first takes place in our current time during 2022, where Jade and Billie are teens who just moved to New Racoon City with Albert and are adjusting to their new life. The other half of the show takes place in 2036, 14 years in the future. In the future, most of civilization has been wiped out by a virus. Jade is a researcher seeking to understand said virus on how the “Zeroes” work. Zeroes are the name given to the infected.
In this new live-action story, we are getting themes of family, survival, and forgiveness. The survival is obvious; this is a Resident Evil show after all. But those themes of family and forgiveness are ones that are handled with a lot of heart and honesty. RE is not new to tackling these things, but the way it’s handled in the show makes you care about the characters and how they relate to each other.
As stated before, Albert Wesker is a surprisingly caring father, and it puts the viewer on edge mainly if you’re familiar with his depiction in the games. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. There’s a tinge of the usual threatening nature we’re used to with him but not to the degree or in the way you’d expect.
There’s the very easy-to-spot fact that Albert is being portrayed by a Black man. Yes, there was some controversy about this casting choice. However, Lance Reddick brings his masterful skills to the role, marrying the fresh depiction of Wesker as a father with the usual haunting and off-putting figure fans recognize from the games. It’d be easy to write this off as a racebending casting for brownie points, but Reddick does a great job with the material. Don’t write him off.
As for the show’s other characters, Jade and Billie hold their own quite well. Jade is a strong-willed woman who puts her goals above all. This is something that realistically serves as both a positive and a negative. Thankfully the show doesn’t pull punches when it comes to her flaws. Having a one-track mind can lead to catastrophe when you don’t know when to pull back.
Billie, on the other hand, is someone who goes along to get along, for better or worse. She’s passive by nature, and that means she’s more likely to turn the other cheek for the most part. In the beginning, she alludes to her explosive temper and how she doesn’t want to relive those moments of anger and lashing out. It makes for an interesting character arc of her either choosing to continue to be passive or letting her anger out and being known as the wild, irrational girl all over again.
The setting of New Raccoon City is portrayed as an idyllic suburb on the surface while below that there’s something more sinister going on. There’s an undercurrent of militarized threat that permeates almost every interaction, and the presence of surveillance doesn’t assuage those feelings. Each time teenage Jade or Billie seeks to better understand their surroundings there’s someone there to shut that down as soon as possible. It gives the viewer an incentive to keep watching as we know only as much as the characters we’re following do. If they don’t know something, we don’t know either. It’s what makes certain reveals later in the season hit hard and land effectively.
The big question to ask is, who is this show for? Well, longtime fans of the series may find it hard to reconcile what you already know and expect from a Resident Evil story with how Constantin chose to go about their version. But, once you give it a chance, it’s entertaining and does a good job of telling an engaging story while leaving things open for a second season. For newcomers who aren’t as familiar with Resident Evil, the show is a good mixture of action, sci-fi, and family dynamic. The characters are well defined and their motivations are paired well with their personalities.
All in all, it’s a good show that deserves a fair shot with the potential to offer something new to an already packed franchise.
The series premieres on July 14, 2022, on Netflix.