In this episode, Kelly explains how Game Theory manifests in The Wire, with a focus on Tommy Carcetti. 

Works Cited:

“Game theory is a theoretical framework for conceiving social situations among competing players. In some respects, game theory is the science of strategy, or at least the optimal decision-making of independent and competing actors in a strategic setting.” - Investopedia

“Some literary work can correctly (and non-metaphorically) be denominated a game if a) it is a game which the reader plays, or b) it is a game which the reader views.” - The Detective Story: A Case Study of Games in Literature

Game Theory and Literature by Steven J. Brams

“All situations in which at least one agent can only act to maximize his utility through anticipating (either consciously, or just implicitly in his behavior) the responses to his actions by one or more other agents is called a game. Agents involved in games are referred to as players.” - Stanford Encyclopedia

“Communication is pointless in constant-sum games because there is no possibility of mutual gain from cooperating. In variable-sum games, on the other hand, the ability to communicate, the degree of communication, and even the order in which players communicate can have a profound influence on the outcome.” - Investopedia