More with Less:

"The bigger the lie, the more they believe". Opening quote sets the tone for the season.

Bunk, Norris and Jay tricking those kids into confessing is both sad and hilarious. Wonder how ofter cops really do shite like that.

The detail is all over Marlo, but Marlo and crew know it and take extra precautions. The detail has nothing on them yet and are getting frustrated.

Meanwhile, no OT or court pay for the cops despite Carcetti's promise. Though wouldn't the Union make a lot more noise about this IRL? I'd think they'd be close to a strike.

Jimmy back to his old ways

They shut down the detail again, this time for budget cuts. But keep a Freeman and Sydnor to get Clay Davis. At least they have priorities like Daniels says.

Carcetti wouldn't take the money for the schools from the Republican gov and now he won't work with the Republican US Attorney to help with the 22 murders because the local guys want Clay Davis and he doesn't want the R's to have Davis' scalp. All so he can be governor. frick You. Don't tell me how these guys care about the people.

We get introduced to the newspaper people. Gus, is far and away the best new character and old school paper guy, I'm guessing like Simon. The news peeps are dealing with cut backs, just like the cops. Love how they get the story on Nareese and Fat-Face Rick. How much does THAT happen? The reporter Alma is married to Larry Gilliard (D'Angelo) IRL.

Unconfirmed Reports:

Scott Templeton is the new douche for this season. I had kinda forgotten about his made up story about the crippled kid at the Orioles game. Gus of course sees right thru it, but the suits run with. The bigger the lie the more they believe.

Now that the detail has backed off, Marlo's crew back to business. Kill June Bug and 2 others just because he maybe talked shite. Wow. Michael learning both from and about them.

Jimmy really all in back to his to his old self, getting hammered with Bunk and Lester as they lament the end of the detail and take swipes at how people are more upset over the disappearance of Natalie Halloway than dead black males.

Jimmy and Lester try and go around the Dept again and bring the Marlo case to the Feds, but the US Atty won't help since Carcetti told him to frick off. Carcetti says its on them, nope sorry, you put your career ahead of the city.

Hungover/Drunk Jimmy takes his new found info about post-mortem marks on the neck being indistinguishable from strangulation to stage a serial killing to get some extra funds for the police. This always seemed forced and does again. Frankly Bunk should have done more to stop him.

ETA: forgot to mention how awesome it is when Marlo goes to the prison to met with Sergi/Boris (he even calls him Boris, why always boris