Bubbles seems clean, but for how long. McNulty is back at Homicide. Budget woes in Baltimore just killed an investigation into 22 murders. And belt tightening at the Tribune companies has gutted the Baltimore Sun’s newsroom. The Wire is back.

It’s a bitter sweet thing because this is the last season, but I am going to savor every minute of it. If you don’t know this show, start renting from the beginning. It is the best show on television, ever. And its not only good TV, it’s important TV. This show opens a door on the third-world living right under our noses in American cities. Last season’s look at education changed the way I will look at the problems of urban school districts. This season’s look at the newspaper business will likely do the same.