‘The Wire’ shocks again and again

Wait -- did we just see what I thought we saw?

There’s all kinds of room for this to fall apart (more on that later), but watching Marlo Stanfield’s reign of terror ostensibly collapse continued “The Wire’s” Lazarus-like rise from this season’s earlier, muddled malaise. Once again zigging when everyone expected a zag, Sunday night’s installment found Lester and Sydnor engineering of the series’ biggest, most beautiful bust since Avon Barksdale.

But for all the marvelous tension, from Syndor’s initial call through the nerve-racking buildup to the arrests, everything went down smoothly, probably the most by-the-book, feel-good arrest the series has ever seen. Ironic, isn’t it? And what is this bizarre sensation that rose up as Lester looked down at Marlo on the sidewalk? Pride? Satisfaction? Justice? Where am I, and what’s happened to our hopeless Baltimore?

For better or for worse, that’s exactly where we’re at -- not some glittering, network-born land of “Law & Order” where everything ties together neatly. There’s still the small matter of Kima going to Daniels about McNulty’s serial killer, who in turn went to Pearlman from the DA’s office, and now it’s decision time for two of the show’s most ethical, least tainted figures. Just after Mayor Carcetti and the whole department take a curtain call for the biggest “dope on the table” bust in memory, is Daniels really going allow Marlo to bounce from jail because the investigation was dirty? Given the emphasis “The Wire” -- and the world, for that matter -- places on politics and appearances, I can’t possibly imagine that being allowed to happen, even if it may come at the expense of Daniels’ conscience.

But as those who watch this space know, there’s been a whole lot of wrong written here before. One thing we can all agree on, however, is McNulty is utterly doomed. Which is a shame because after all he’s gone through building his case (and Lester’s for that matter), his long dormant conscience didn’t let him enjoy Marlo’s arrest -- he even spent the night sober, in one of the evening’s biggest upsets.

But if Daniels and Pearlman can’t hang someone for the sea of unethical excrement that engineered this bust, I’m afraid he and Lester are in for something far worse, though I can’t imagine what. Jail? Pension-garnishing termination? Public flogging? Whatever the result, it should provide plenty of the grim and empty feelings this show generally specializes in.

Which brings us to Michael -- and, by extension, his pal Dukie. As good as it was to see great debater Namond bouncing back (along with Bunny Colvin with what felt like a forced and pointless face-off with Mayor Carcetti), the redemption tap has seemingly run dry for the other corner kids. Michael’s a cold killer now, and even though Snoop insisted he was “never one of us,” Michael’s soft-spoken turn on her proved he may be something more.

We’ll miss you, Snoop, but not as much as we’re going to miss Michael, who seemed on his way out of town after seeing Bug off at a mysterious, middle-class aunt’s house. (Anyone else remember hearing a word about her before this?) As for his friend Dukie, not even he can come where Michael’s going. For you, Duke, we have deluxe accommodations in a hellish shooting gallery with your junk(ie) man boss. Best of luck!

Wherever Michael’s headed now, Snoop’s death is only going to confirm Marlo’s suspicions about the identity of the police’s imaginary informant. But with one of his enforcers dead and the other in jail, who’s left to hunt him down? Kenard?

But for all the waiting for the other shoe to drop elsewhere around the episode, including the continued referencing of Levy having a source in the courthouse and Gus Haynes’ overwrought quest to discredit Templeton before the Pulitzer committee gets there first, something has to be said for what we saw out of Bubbles Sunday night.

For the most part a forgotten man despite (or maybe because of) his rehabilitation, Bubs’ -- I mean Reginald’s -- one-year anniversary speech at group again upped the ante in a season that seems to have no shortage of brilliant moments despite all its flaws. Watching Bubs’ eyes well up as he finally, truly shared about his loss of Sherrod was one of those scenes you want to drop in front of everyone who hasn’t yet watched “The Wire” to explain what they’re missing.

We’re in the homestretch now. More to come on latimes.com/showtracker this week as we prepare for the super-sized finale, including some predictions, polls and whatever else we can dream up to prolong the inevitable. Crank up the Pogues’ “Body of an American,” we’re headed for a proper wake once it’s all said and done.

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chris.barton@latimes.com

Show Tracker follows television series through their highs and lows.