History Recap / TheWireS01E10TheCost

* AbsenteeActor: Although credited, John Doman and Domenick Lombardozzi do not appear in this episode.

* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: The legal variant of this tropes is averted at Elena’s petition. Rhonda admits that as a criminal prosecutor, she [[RealityEnsues doesn’t have the first clue about divorce-related law]].

* RealityEnsues: As noted under Omnidisciplinary Scientist, [=McNulty=] grabs Rhonda for his hearing as literally the nearest available lawyer, but as a criminal prosecutor she knows nothing about divorce laws and can't help him at all in the hearing.

* RealityEnsues: As noted under Omnidisciplinary Scientist, McNulty grabs Rhonda for his hearing as literally the nearest available lawyer, but as a criminal prosecutor she knows nothing about divorce laws and can't help him at all in the hearing.

-->'''Proposition Joe:''' Of course, he (Omar) said you would be paying my fee rather than his own self.
-->'''Stringer:''' Your fee?
-->'''Proposition Joe:''' I'm doing like one of them marriage counselors. Charge by the hour to tell some fool he need to bring some flowers home. Then charge another hour telling the bitch she ought to suck some cock every little once in a while.

* ImpliedDeathThreat: Played with; Levy isn't implying *he* will harm or kill Orlando if he doesn't sign over the strip club, but Avon and/or Stringer.

* JerkassHasAPoint: As uncompromising and hostile as she is about it, [=McNulty=]’s ex-wife Elena ''does'' have a point about his parental irresponsibility. Using his kids to tail Stringer and then losing them is a prime example, even if they were never in any danger.

-->'''Kima:''' Name of Troy Wiggins, but pay no attention to the man, cause he about 90-95% pure bullshit.
-->'''Wig:''' Kima, she just talk like that cause I had her when she was good.
-->'''Kima:''' Shit, you the motherfucker turned me the other way.

-->'''Rhonda:''' What?

* ProperlyParanoid: Stringer makes sure to never refer to Avon by name despite being nudged to do so like Omar.

* WaxingLyrical: When Omar leaves at the bus station and says goodbye to McNulty, he is asked about New York City. He replies 'There must be something happening, it's too big a town', a line lifted from the Music/SteveEarle song 'New York City'

* HeroicBSOD: When they find Kima shot, while [=McNulty=] tries to help her, and Daniels calls for an ambulance, Sydnor just stands there, looking shocked, while Carver stomps around screaming in anger and then collapses into a crouch, looking like he's about to cry.

* GenreSavvy: Stringer, who resolves to isolate Avon even further from anything that can set the police on him, and also refuses to mention Avon's name no matter how many times Omar tries to get him to do so. Omar, too - as he tells [=McNulty=], he asked for money to see if Stringer was "keeping it real"; if Stringer had told him to forget the money and that Omar should just be glad he was alive, then it would have been all right, but agreeing to the money meant Stringer had something else planned.
** [=McNulty=] as well; he asks some uniforms to stake out Wallace's place, but provides them with beer and crab cakes to help pass the time.

* TemptingFate: Though Carver figures [[GenreSavvy Avon will already assume Orlando is snitching for the police]], Orlando says since the assumption is he's trying to raise money for a lawyer, no one will suspect otherwise.

* ProductionPosse: Neko Parham, who plays Detective Troy "Wig" Wiggins (from the state police), played Dinky on ''The Corner''.

-->''You wanted to be in the game, right? Now you're in the game.

* BlatantLies:
-->'''Proposition Joe:''' (''to Omar'') Don't believe we've met. I'm Proposition Joe.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The fact Herc is out all week due to in-service training becomes *very* important later.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The fact Herc is [[SirNotAppearingInThisEpisode out all week due to in-service training]] becomes *very* important later.

The detail scores a few successes; they get a lead on the main stash house, [=McNulty=] finds Wallace (after [[Recap/TheWireS01E09GameDay hearing on the wire how he's still affected by Brandon's death]]), who agrees to testify (though Daniels is forced to drive him to his grandmother's on the Eastern Shore because they can't afford to put him up), and Orlando gets busted by state police while trying to sell drugs. However, neither Omar nor Shardene are able to get any dirt on Avon. Also, while Kima and [=McNulty=] don't think Orlando would be able to get anyone on tape, Burrell forces the detail to use Orlando on a buy/bust. The result is, Orlando gets killed, and Kima, who's posing as Orlando's girl, gets shot.

* WhyAreYouAllLookingAtMeLikeThat: After [=McNulty=] finds out Elena is dragging him to court, he tells Jay, "I need a fucking lawyer." They look around and see Rhonda.

The detail scores a few successes; they get a lead on the main stash house, [=McNulty=] finds Wallace (after [[Recap/TheWireS01E09GameDay hearing on the wire how he's still affected by Brandon's death]]), who agrees to testify (though Daniels is forced to drive him to his grandmother's on the Eastern Shore because they can't afford to put him up), and Orlando gets busted by state police while trying to sell drugs.

* ContinuityNod: Shardene is still angry at D'Angelo.

The detail scores a few successes; they get a lead on the main stash house, [=McNulty=] finds Wallace (after [[Recap/TheWireS01E09GameDay hearing on the wire how he's still affected by Brandon's death]]), who agrees to testify (though Daniels is forced to drive him to his grandmother's because they can't afford to put him up), and Orlando gets busted by state police while trying to sell drugs.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:

* PutOnTheBus: Literally, Omar, as he heads to New York City. [[spoiler:Not for long, though.]]