12 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Season 2 of "The Wire" shifts focus to the Baltimore docks, where union leader Frank Sobotka is entangled with a shadowy smuggling operation run by "The Greek." Frank wants to secure his union's future, while The Greek uses the docks to move illicit goods. Detective Jimmy McNulty, now in the marine unit, stumbles upon a shipping container filled with the bodies of thirteen murdered women, sparking an investigation that pulls him and his colleagues, including Lester Freamon and Kima Greggs, into the Sobotka family's dangerous world. Frank's nephew, Ziggy Sobotka, a reckless young dockworker, quickly becomes a liability, initiating a disastrous foray into drug dealing.
The central conflict revolves around the police detail's attempt to dismantle The Greek's smuggling ring and uncover the truth behind the murdered women. Key turning points include Ziggy's escalating drug activities and violent outbursts, culminating in him shooting and killing a man. Frank, realizing the depth of his involvement and the danger he's in, attempts to cooperate with the FBI. However, The Greek is tipped off and orchestrates Frank's murder. The season ends with the smuggling ring largely dismantled, but at a heavy cost. Frank Sobotka is found murdered, and the stevedore union is destroyed. Nick Sobotka, Frank's son, turns himself in and enters witness protection, while The Greek and his partner escape justice, leaving a sense of unresolved corruption.
Season 2 of The Wire covers episodes 1-12. Here's everything that happened:
Season 2, Episode 1: Ebb Tide - McNulty, reassigned to the marine unit, discovers a corpse in the harbor, leading him to investigate its origins. Meanwhile, dockworker union leader Frank Sobotka gets entangled with "The Greek" for a shipping container, which is ultimately found to contain the bodies of thirteen murdered women. The episode also introduces the struggles of the stevedores and the political maneuvering of Major Valchek.
Season 2, Episode 2: Collateral Damage - Major Valchek escalates his feud with Frank Sobotka, securing a detail to investigate the stevedores. Meanwhile, Officer Russell and Detectives McNulty, Bunk, and Freamon investigate the accidental deaths of thirteen women found in a shipping container. Avon Barksdale continues to manage his drug empire from prison, dealing with internal issues and a corrupt guard. The episode concludes with the investigation into the container deaths being classified as accidental, though McNulty suspects foul play, and Ziggy Sobotka begins a disastrous foray into drug dealing.
Season 2, Episode 3: Hot Shots - Nick and Ziggy steal a container of cameras, selling them to a fence for the Greeks. Meanwhile, Avon orchestrates a plan to poison inmates with bad heroin, leading to multiple deaths. McNulty investigates the Jane Doe, and Daniels decides to retire from the force. The episode concludes with the Greeks confidentially moving forward, while the police struggle to gain traction.
Season 2, Episode 4: Hard Cases - Frank Sobotka confronts the reality of the murdered women after being questioned by Bunk and Freamon, showing his deep distress over his indirect responsibility. Meanwhile, Daniels is offered command of the Sobotka detail, a move orchestrated by Burrell to appease Valchek. The episode concludes with Frank visibly shaken, realizing the gravity of the situation he's entangled in.
Season 2, Episode 5: Undertow - Ziggy's drug dealings go awry, leading to his car being torched by Cheese. Frank Sobotka faces pressure from federal subpoenas and the Greek's demands. Beadie begins to cultivate an informant, while Stringer manipulates Donette. The episode concludes with the police detail making some progress on the Jane Doe cases, but Frank is forced to ponder the consequences of cutting ties with the Greek, highlighting his entrapment.
Season 2, Episode 6: All Prologue - Omar Little testifies in Bird's trial, securing a guilty verdict. Meanwhile, Stringer Bell orchestrates D'Angelo Barksdale's murder in prison, making it look like a suicide. McNulty attempts to reconcile with his wife, but she asks him to leave. The episode concludes with the irreversible death of D'Angelo, a pivotal moment that significantly alters the Barksdale organization's future.
Season 2, Episode 7: Backwash - Detectives Herc and Carver's attempt to bug drug dealers goes awry when the bug is destroyed. Meanwhile, Lester Freamon and Beadie Russell use a cloned computer to track suspicious shipping containers, leading them to the Greeks' warehouse. Nick Sobotka begins selling drugs, crossing a line he promised Ziggy he wouldn't. The episode concludes with Lieutenant Daniels agreeing to take on the Jane Doe murders, albeit with full autonomy.
Season 2, Episode 8: Duck and Cover - McNulty, reeling from personal and professional setbacks, is brought back to the Sobotka detail. Frank Sobotka grows increasingly paranoid about police surveillance, leading him to send a decoy container to The Greek in an attempt to gauge their awareness. Meanwhile, Ziggy Sobotka embarrasses himself attempting to retaliate against Maui, culminating in him getting stranded on a container. The episode ends with the detail closing in on the smuggling operation, and Frank realizing his phone is being monitored.
Season 2, Episode 9: Stray Rounds - A violent shootout between Bodie's crew and rivals results in a child being tragically killed by a stray bullet. The smuggling operation changes tactics, making the detail realize they've been compromised. Meanwhile, McNulty goes undercover in a brothel, and Stringer Bell makes a critical decision regarding the Barksdale organization's future, hiring Brother Mouzone. The episode concludes with the Greeks feeling confident and resuming operations, while the detail faces mounting pressure.
Season 2, Episode 10: Storm Warnings - Ziggy, enraged after being shorted and insulted by George "Double G" Glekas, shoots and kills Glekas, also wounding an employee. Ziggy confesses to the crime. Meanwhile, the police detail learns the Greek's operation is shutting down. Prez punches Major Valchek after being insulted, leading to Prez's resignation from the detail. The episode concludes with the investigation facing new obstacles as the FBI takes a larger role.
Season 2, Episode 11: Bad Dreams - Frank Sobotka, seeking leniency for his son and nephew, agrees to cooperate with the FBI. However, The Greek is tipped off about Frank's plan and arranges a fatal meeting under the Key Bridge. Meanwhile, Omar confronts Brother Mouzone, believing he killed his boyfriend, but discovers he was manipulated by Stringer Bell. The episode concludes with Frank walking into a deadly ambush, his dreams for the docks shattered.
Season 2, Episode 12: Port in a Storm - Following the discovery of Frank Sobotka's murdered body, Nick turns himself in, leading to the unraveling of the smuggling ring. The Greek and Vondas escape the country, but the stevedore union is ultimately destroyed. The season concludes with the drug trade continuing, and Nick entering witness protection, leaving a sense of bleak continuity.
