Mission Accomplished (The Wire)
Carcetti believes that Mayor Royce is holding off on shutting down Hamsterdam so that he can first concoct a story claiming that it was part of an enforcement strategy.
Royce meets with Demper and public health academics, still considering keeping Hamsterdam open under a banner other than drug legalization.
McNulty admits to Bunk that he is disappointed at not being able to let Bell know that he was caught talking about hiring hitmen on the wire.
McNulty sees that Stringer's book collection includes scholarly works such as Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, realizing how little he knew about his suspect.
Avon admits he has lost interest in battling Marlo, but Charles tells him they must finish the gang war they started regardless.
At the Major Case Unit, Greggs and Freamon learn from the wiretaps that Marlo is being blamed for Bell's death, and anticipate an escalation in the violence.
Colvin, who has been put on permanent leave, gives McNulty the location of Avon's safe house that Bell divulged before his murder.
Freamon meets with Prez, who is anxious on how the review board will rule over his accidental shooting and now feels he is not meant to be a cop.
When Daniels shows reluctance to move on the safe house on the basis of an anonymous tip, McNulty becomes impatient and reveals that Bell was the informant.
On the wiretap, the MCU learns that Charles has tracked Marlo to Vinson's rim shop, ordering his soldiers to prepare to strike.
When Burrell is told he will be relieved over Hamsterdam, he threatens to tell the press that the zones were operated under pressure from Royce to keep crime down.
That night, after the area has been cleared of dealers and addicts, an officer finds Johnny dead from an overdose in a vacant building.
Royce manages to persuade the Deputy Drug Czar from allowing the government to cut federal funding for Baltimore over Hamsterdam.
Burrell places the blame firmly with Colvin, but Carcetti refuses to accept his excuses and makes a well-received speech about his inability to forgive the way that West Baltimore has been neglected.
The season closes with a montage of scenes: Herc and Colicchio arrest young dealers; Gray campaigns for mayor; Carver, Santangelo, and a uniformed and contented McNulty attend a roll call briefing in the Western; the Hamsterdam zones are reduced to a pile of rubble; Carver visits Cutty's gym and finds him training young boxers; Crutchfield cuts Bunk's tie off as he sleeps at his desk; Donette cries over the men she has lost while Tyrell plays with his toys; Omar stands in silent contemplation before throwing his weapons into the Baltimore Harbor near the docks, where union campaign posters for Frank Sobotka can still be seen; drug dealing continues throughout Baltimore; Bodie walks the streets alone; Daniels and Sydnor take down the Barksdale investigation board; Carcetti also begins his campaign for mayor as his family watches him give a speech; McNulty walks his beat in the Western and joyfully greets members of the community he polices; Brianna Barksdale attends Avon's trial but walks out when he looks at her; Chris Partlow and Marlo also arrive at the trial, and Avon finally sees and acknowledges his adversary; Pearlman prosecutes Avon along with Barksdale Organization members Shamrock, Poot, Perry, Gerard, Sapper, Puddin, Arthur Carroll and others, all defended by Maurice Levy.
