The Wire (2002)

★ 8.6 5 Seasons 2,622 votes IMDb

Drama Crime

Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.

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Director David Simon

Cast Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kenneth Williams, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, John Doman, Clarke Peters, Jamie Hector

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5

Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Episode 13

Now playing: Season 1, Episode 1

tmdb40011370 10/10 Nov 21, 2019

Without doubt, this is the finest, most complete TV drama ever! I know other people will say I am not even close, but for me it really is, and that includes watching Breaking Bad and The Sopranos!

Years ago I watched "The Corner", which was like a prequel to The Wire, and it not only saddened me as to how people live and are dependent on drugs, but it also intrigued me. So much so that I went on to watch The Wire.

What I loved about the show is how it views the misery of drugs from different perspectives. In season 1 it focuses on the on-going battle between the street-corner dealers and the police; season 2 focuses on drug distribution; season 3 the possibility of a drug amnesty; season 4 and school kids and their choices between education, employment and drug dealers; season 5 the media take on drugs.

There is a certain feeling of helplessness running through this show, as you quickly realise that despite the extreme law enforcement the war on drugs is long gone. But because of the exceptionally good writing throughout you keep on hoping that something can be done to rid the city/state/country of this cancer.

Unlike other drama shows, this feels so real even today, and one does wonder if governments and law enforcement departments are just peeing in the wind when it comes to winning the fight on drugs.

Mr.Charlie Jun 15, 2022

Good but not Great 3.5/5

2 series I was told I have to watch by many were GOT n The Wire. I have to say I'm at the end of Season 4 of The Wire and its just... well, OK. I'm not sure why so many people seem to praise this show so much when nobody seemed to care when it was on, rating weren't anything to talk about not to mention it never won a single Emmy. IDK it seems like all it takes is for someone to talk up the show n everyone new jumps on the bandwagon. I'm definitely expecting a lot more from GOT which is why I saved it for last. 🤞