Since screening the first seven hours of Season 5 of HBO's The Wire and writing about it in the Sun, (http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.wire06dec06,0,5238388.story), I have been besieged with questions as to which of the classroom characters from last year are back in recurring roles.

The answer: Duquan "Dukie" Weems (Jermaine Crawford) and Michael Lee (Tristan Wilds). Michael has used some of his earnings form his work on the corner to rescue his younger brother, Bug (Keenon Brice), from their drug-addicted mother and set up a household of his own with Dukie serving as a self-described nanny for Bug. The dynamic of this trio makes for some keen insights into traditional notions of family and gender.

Episode 3, "Not for Attribution," includes an out-of-state car trip that reminds viewers of the childhood lost by teens like Michael when they are forced to grow up fast selling drugs in the city.

Dukie is one of the most engaging and mutli-faceted teen characters on television, and Crawford once again brings him to life in such a tender and touching way that you can't help but share his anger and pain. This is a character worth caring about in Season 5, which begins Jan. 6 on HBO.  

Randy Wagstaff (Maestro Harrell) does show up briefly in one of the latter episodes -- still in a bad group home. No sign of Namond Brice (Julito McCullum), but remember: This is only based on the first seven episodes.