The Wire - The Complete Series Review

The first season of The Wire is arguably the most complex and brilliant season of any show to ever air; be it on network television or premium channels. This is both the show’s greatest strength and its biggest hindrance. Rather than having each episode introduce questions and answer several by the end of the hour, The Wire throws dozens of questions at the viewer and only answers them when it is good and ready. At times it can seem a bit heavy, as if there is too much going on. This is what turned many people away, but also what kept viewers coming back for more. People knew the payoff would come eventually and that was what the show did so well. It is comparable to reading a good novel really; a slow but strong build up leading to a conclusion that is more than satisfying.



Equally as interesting as the season long story arc are the characters that populate the show. Very rarely does a show come along that has you rooting for both the criminals and the “Good guys” in equal parts. The show does a truly outstanding job at fleshing out each end every one of these people. No matter how minor a character may be, there is always something driving them. Larry Gilliard Jr. is outstanding here as D’Angelo Barksdale. Watching his plight throughout the entirety of the season was just enthralling.  



D'Angelo and Bodie



The first season of the Wire deals with a murder and drug investigation in Baltimore. However, the story isn’t told in the same way as a conventional investigative drama would be. This show explores both sides of the story. The good and the bad are shown here equally and no stone is left unturned in regards to the plot. The criminals showcased here are The Barksdale gang lead by Avon Barksdale. The Barksdale gang owns the West Baltimore drug market and they are not afraid to make their presence known to rival crews. The story begins with a murder investigation involving Avon’s nephew D’Angelo as the suspect. This soon sprouts into a much larger drug investigation looking into Avon and his people. This plot branches out and grows as the season goes on, eventually culminating in a very gratifying way rewarding viewers for their time.

My only true gripe with season one is that it could have used another episode after the first to set things up. The series opener was loaded with important information and laid it on a little too heavily. While still an enjoyable episode and a gripping start to one of the most impressive series on television, it felt a little bloated at times. For my only complaint to be a single episode with too much information, that’s saying quite a bit about the quality of this season.

Overall score for season 1 - 9.7/10

Season two of The Wire picks up shortly after the events of season one and shows once again that it is not afraid to shake things up. A brand new setting is introduced with the docks and several new characters are brought in while major players from season one take a back seat. It is extremely bold for a show to change so many things so drastically, especially a show as involved as The Wire is. Having said that, this season was an outstanding follow up to the excellent first season and even improved upon what was already near perfect. The storyline from the first season echoes throughout season two, but a new case takes center stage here, and what a case it is. Dealing with illegal smuggling of goods and drugs in the Baltimore Harbour area, this season feels much bigger than the previous one.

The show never loses that human touch that made the characters so memorable in the first place though. The Sobotka family really stands out here, as Frank, Nick and Ziggy are instantly likeable and relatable. This is a show where every character has as many flaws as they do positive traits, and the Sobotka’s are, in my honest opinion the best example of this in the show’s five season run. The main cast from the first season is here too, although many are in much smaller roles for the first few episodes. Each one’s character is built upon and much more is shown about what makes them tick. Dominic West once again shines as Jimmy McNulty; A character so loveable but so flawed is not an easy feat to pull off. Leave it to a show like The Wire to accomplish that task. I have to mention James Ransone, who plays Ziggy Sobotka perfectly with an amazing level of style and dedication. This character is one of the most flawed and certainly one of the most tragic in the series, and to ever appear on television.

Ziggy and his duck

Like season one, the second season is all about the build up and how the conclusion is reached. With more players, a bigger investigation and an incredibly focused narrative, season two not only lives up to, but surpasses the expectations created by the first. Again, both sides of the story are shown in equal parts, but this time the criminal side has something more to it. Each member of the Sobotka family is given just the right balance of good and evil; it is enough for the viewer to know they are doing wrong, but at the same time understand their reasoning and relate to the characters.

Season 2 was everything a fan could have hoped for and more. It made a change in setting and mixed up the character dynamic quite a bit, but stayed true to what the show was about. I really have no complaints about this season at all, and I would be hard pressed to even find little things to complain about. It is rare for a drama with a first season so outstanding to deliver such a stellar follow up, but The Wire managed to do just that. Season two is an outstanding achievement and is the true definition of television at its very best.

Overall score for season 2 – 9.8/10

               

The Third season of the Wire settles back into the style and pace of the first season, but with a few welcome changes. Gone completely are the docks, on which season 2 was centred and returning are the drug infested streets of Baltimore. The second season was a huge leap in a different direction for the show to take, but The Wire accomplished it flawlessly. It steps back into its original format this season like it never missed a beat. Things start out extremely slow with the third season, carefully displaying just how horrible the streets are as well as what the drugs are doing to the city. While the drug investigation may seem like familiar ground, the show introduces a new side of the story not shown before. The Political story is not only a welcome change, but proves to be one of the season’s greatest strengths.  



The acting on everyone’s behalf is once again outstanding and has become one of the most gripping aspects of the show. If the performances aren’t believable, the viewer will remember that they are just watching a T.V. show. Luckily the show excels when it comes to talent. Tommy Carcetti is played superbly by Aidan Gillen, and brings something fresh and interesting to the table. Much like the second season, several main players from seasons one and two sit back for this season, and are even absent from some episodes. This doesn’t hurt the show though, and instead makes room for new stories and characters. The introduction of Cutty and his story arc shows a fascinating contrast between the streets in the 90’s and what they have become. Having his character learn that the rules of the game have changed so much, and watching his path to redemption is one of the highlights of the season. I haven’t mentioned much about Stringer Bell in my review yet, but I will say that he is by far the most compelling character in this series and played wonderfully by Idris Elba. This is a big season for him and I have to give credit to the writers for how they shaped his character over these three seasons.

Idris Elba as Stringer Bell

This time around, things are taken much slower than they have been before. For some viewers that may be frustrating, but I found the build up to be very addictive and with each episode felt more intrigued to see where everything was going. Seasons one and two had only a handful of plotlines going on, and managed to keep each one interesting in its own way. Season three lays the amount of stories on rather heavily and it becomes a delicate balancing act. There is Colvin and his new “experiment”, Cutty trying to get his life back on track, The Barksdale crew, Carcetti’s political storyline, Marlo coming into the picture, Stringer Bell’s business ventures, Omar’s escapades and several other smaller stories. Even with a cluster of plotlines weaving in and out of each other, the show never loses focus. Each story, and more importantly each character is given just the right amount of screen time through the season. Any other show that introduces subplots usually does so in order to fill in gaps that they have nothing else for. With The Wire they have done the exact opposite. Every aspect of every story is interesting; some more than others, but not a single one seems like filler.

While Season three is by far the slowest season, it is far from the least interesting. There are a few big moments in the season that will leave you breathless, but again it is all about the build up. My one and only complaint this season is that there was a point about half way through were some of the stories really slowed down for an episode or two. The show seemed to lose its balance a little bit, but thankfully picked itself back up and gave viewers what was the best penultimate episode of the series to date. The final two episodes of season 3 proved once again that this show is not afraid to shatter the guidelines of traditional television.

Overall score for season 3 – 9.6/10

Every great show has that one season; the season that defines what the show is and what it is capable of being. For The Wire, that happened to be season four. The end of the third season saw the show going through yet another big change. This time however, it was a change in setting, characters, and the tone of the show. The main focus of the fourth season is Boston’s inner city schools, which is uncharted territory for the show. Carcetti running for mayor of Baltimore is also a big part of this season, and rounding out the major storylines is the investigation into Marlo and his people. The decrease in the number of story arcs from season 3 is nice, and gives the viewer a chance to invest more time into the three main plotlines that are present here.

I have mentioned before that the acting in this series is nothing short of outstanding. If anyone needs proof that this statement is true, look no further than season four. Not only do the series regulars deliver their best performances yet, but the kids are the real stars of this season. Maestro Harrell, Julito McCullum, Tristan Wilds and Jermaine Crawford are absolutely brilliant here. Each of their stories is different, but all are equally as absorbing. Dominic West was placed in a minor role this season due to a personal request from the actor. Early in the season I felt that the Absence of McNulty from the heart of the season would hurt the show, but as I watched each episode and was taken away by every story, I hardly noticed. It is a great achievement for a show to hold back their lead actor after three seasons and produce a season as emotionally thrilling and groundbreaking as this one. Jim True-Frost was placed in a much larger, far more prominent role this season and does a phenomenal job with pryzbylewski. I feel that I should also mention J.D. Williams who plays Bodie. He doesn’t have much to do this season, but there are a few scenes that he absolutely steals. His chemistry with McNulty in one particular scene towards the season’s end was exceptional.

Left to right: Namond, Randy, and Duquan

Things move at a very brisk pace throughout season four; faster than the show has ever moved before as a matter of fact. While many would assume this is a departure from what the show does best with the build up, there is nothing to worry about. The events of the season culminate in ways can only be described as brilliant. The only real difference this season is that there is a lot of ground to cover within its 13 episode run. This being The Wire, it of course accomplishes this without anything seeming forced or rushed. Every minute of every episode is pertinent (Wire veterans, see what I did there) and adds depth to the outcome at the season’s closing. Marlo’s presence is really quite strong this season and with the absence of the Barksdale crew, is a remarkable replacement.

After a slow, albeit powerful third season, The Wire comes back and hits the ground running. Season four is a glorious achievement in both television programming and storytelling that doesn’t let up until the very last moments. This is by far the heaviest hitting season emotionally and is some of the most powerful storytelling I have ever witnessed; be it in television, movies, or books. This is the defining season of one of the greatest shows to ever come around, and deserves all the praise it can get.

Overall score for season 4 – 10/10

To call season five of the Wire “The worst season of the show” is true only in the most literal sense. It is in fact the least amazing season of a television masterpiece. That said, in comparison to almost everything else on television, the final season of this show still comes out ahead by miles. After hearing from numerous people that season five was a bit of a letdown, I admittedly went into the season expecting a noticeable decline in quality; I could not have been more wrong. In comparison to the masterful fourth season, any show is going to appear lesser that it really is. The fifth season introduces a brand new side to the story with the Baltimore Sun newsroom. Many fans felt this strayed too far from what the series was about, and hurt the overall pacing of the story that was being told. I felt it was a welcome addition, but it did have some recognizable problems along the way.

                McNulty is back full force this season in his most powerful story to date. This being the final chapter, the show runners really pulled out all the stops with McNulty and it pays off huge. His tale is shocking to say the very least, and as the season moves forward it only flies further out of control. Most of the new characters come in from the Baltimore Sun plotline, and for the most part play their roles admirably. Bubbles has always been a big part of this show, and after a great storyline last season, a fitting follow up is given here. If you look back at the character in the first season, you can clearly see how far he has come. Every season Omar has a highly entertaining, larger than life story, and his final one is no exception. In some of his best work on the show, Michael K. Williams gives Omar a fitting final chapter, in what is one of my favourite arcs in this season. The only new character to really stand out here was Gus and his dedication to finding truth behind all the lies. Clarke Johnson does a great job in this role and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. One last character I have to mention again is Michael, and just how far he has fallen from when we saw him first in season 4. His tale is one of tragedy and over the past 2 seasons was played out beautifully.

The larger than life Omar Little

                This season deals primarily with city wide budget cuts, and how they impact the Baltimore police department. Everyone is on edge about the backed up overtime pay, and the city is falling apart because crimes are going unsolved. After a year on Omar and his gang, the Major Crimes unit is stripped bare due to the cutbacks. McNulty comes up with an idea of how to get the manpower needed to bring down Stanfield, but it is not a pretty one. The pacing is similar to season 4; it is much faster than previous seasons, but again never feels rushed. Season five is fast, brutal and the build up once again is expertly done. So what went wrong with this season? Well, nothing went wrong so to speak, but the newsroom story never lived up to the potential it had, and came short of the standards this show has created. On its own, it was a fantastic story, and it was a largely enjoyable look at the press and how they operate. However, because the main plot this season was so flawlessly executed, the Baltimore Sun storyline was overshadowed.

When the worst season of a show is still better than any other rival dramas on television, this is clearly a sign of something special. Sure, one plotline was much stronger than another, but I feel that also applies to why so many people felt let down by this season. After season 4 proved there was still so much life left in this show, people went into season 5 with ridiculously high expectations. The season did have its problems, but even with some minor flaws, this remains the best drama to ever grace television with its presence. Also worth mention here are the final three episodes of the series. These are three of the finest hours the show has ever produced, and although the rest of the season didn’t live up to the level these did, they closed this five season long story extraordinarily.

Overall score for season 5 – 9.3 out of 10

The Wire is a series that dared to take the proper time to tell a story. Though each season had an individual storyline running throughout, this series was really one big sprawling epic. It is a story about a city with serious problems; the people who cause those problems, and the people trying to fix them. This is by far the grittiest, most realistic show that I have ever had the privilege of watching. I have used the word “Masterpiece” a few times in this review, and I feel that it is completely justified in the case of The Wire. As a whole, the show is stronger than the sum of its parts, and that is why I will be giving this truly amazing program the score that I am.

Overall score for The Wire Complete Series – 10/10