Hamsterdam
| "Hamsterdam" | |
|---|---|
| The Wire episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 4 |
| Directed by | Ernest Dickerson |
| Story by |
David Simon George Pelecanos |
| Teleplay by | George Pelecanos |
| Original air date | October 10, 2004 |
| Running time | 58 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
"Hamsterdam" (called "Amsterdam" in the first DVD release) is the fourth episode of the third season of the HBO original series The Wire. The episode was written by George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon & George Pelecanos and was directed by Ernest Dickerson. It originally aired on October 10, 2004.
The title refers to the Dutch city with liberal drug laws; Officers Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Anthony Colicchio use the city's name as an example to the drug dealers. This subplot was introduced to explore the potential positive effects of de facto "legalization" of the illegal drug trade, and incidentally prostitution, within the limited boundaries of a few uninhabited city blocks. The posited benefits were reduced street crime, city-wide, and increased outreach of health and social services to at-risk populations. The name "Hamsterdam" comes from the drug dealers' mishearing Herc when he refers to Amsterdam, although some viewers have noted that the "Ham" reference may also be a pun based on the dealers' view of the police as "pigs."
Fruit makes this statement in response to Carver and his team trying to move his crew into one of the new drug tolerant zones. This also ties in with Carcetti's announcement of running for mayor in Baltimore, despite his ethnicity, as well as Cutty's difficulty at changing his ways. To a lesser extent, it can apply to McNulty and Rhonda's dysfunctional relationship.
Councilman Tommy Carcetti has dinner with some friends. When they see reports of a murder on the news, his friends (all white) make disparaging comments about African Americans. Carcetti disapproves of these comments, insisting it's not about color and a lot of good people live in the neighborhoods. Carcetti then announces his intention to run for mayor. He notices Theresa D'Agostino, a political consultant he knows from law school, walk in. He makes a bet with his friends, who are unaware that they know each other, that he can successfully approach her. When he does talk with her he courts her interest in becoming his campaign manager but she tells him he has little chance of success because he is white.
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