I can't see why anyone would think that McNulty's downward spiral is hard to believe or is a case of too much-too quickly. From day one, McNulty's been the archetypal terminally disgruntled employee (and the stereotypical dunk cop). His frustration with the system is natural. Remember, folks, he's been working his ass off on the Stanfield case for who-knows-how-long with no overtime pay only to be called off that case and sent packing back to homicide. Homicide, where they work the numbers and sure a hell don't go out of their way to find another red name for The Board.

Also, has anyone else wondered if David Simon had an ulterior motive in creating, filming and posting on HBO's website the 3 prequels involving McNulty, Prop Joe and Omar? My way of thinking is that he wanted viewers to realize, if they hadn't already, that (1) Omar's code has been part of his fabric for years and he will not go out of his way to harm someone (physically or economically) if they're not part of The Game and (2) Prop Joe is first and foremost a business man who is not above playing all sides of The Game towards the middle, he himself being the middle, and (3) McNulty was a drunk and a malcontent long before he got to homicide and met Bunk Moreland and all the rest, so be prepared for whatever shitstorm he stirs up because stir it up he will. The storm is brewing.

uh . . . stereotypical DRUNK cop . . .

Really? McNulty is a drunk cop stereotype? I ask because I wasn't aware there was a drunk cop stereotype but I'd love to see an explanation of what that stereotype entails. drinks on the job, check. What's the rest?

McNulty's "spiral" feels sudden because it makes you wonder: what was the point of domesticating him in the first place if he's just going to revert to his old ways without giving weight to the consequences? The fact is, Dominic West wasn't available for much of last season, so they had to find some way to explain his absence. It's becoming clear that the writers were never really interested in his sober storyline, and what they did have of him last season was really just filler.

I'm sure logistics did play into McNulty's storyline. But I think the move towards domestic bliss and inner peace last season makes McNulty's decent this season all the more sad. If he'd just been the same old obsessive drunk the whole time, it wouldn't carry the weight that it now does in contrast.

Don't give up on Jimmy yet, he still has some surprises up his sleeve, I'm sure.

I love how they played with the audience's expectations when first introducing "Donald", where many people thought McNulty was going to make him the next victim. Then he shows empathy and concern when observing the poor guy sitting in the shelter. He's not beyond redemption. Even Beadie wants to give him another chance, maybe.