The Wire: One Of The Best Crime Dramas!

The Wire (Seasons 1 to 5) is considered one of the greatest TV shows of the 21st century by the BBC, and we agree. We were amazed by its raw and honest portrayal of a crumbling city. So, this show focuses on everyday life and urban society in Baltimore, USA.

Notably, ‘The Wire’ is essentially a cop drama series that delves deep into the criminal underbelly of a decaying society in North America. So, capitalist America is divided into Rich and Poor (or the White and Black or the powerful and the powerless) sections. But there is so much more to it. Not only does it tap into contemporary society in the USA, but it also sheds light on the functioning of key government departments. Like any great novel, this series too has unimaginable layers and depths of storytelling about people, society and the governance model in place.

It’s a proverbial tale of two Americas.

David Simon, show creator

Spoiler-Free Review: The Wire (Season 1/2002 to Season 5/2008) Series

The synopsis

In the city of Baltimore, there are good guys and there are bad guys. Sometimes you need more than a badge to tell them apart. This highly realistic and totally unvarnished drama series chronicles the vagaries of crime, law enforcement, politics, education and media in Baltimore as it follows a team of cops and the criminals they are after. This series looks at the narcotics scene in Baltimore through the eyes of law enforcers as well as drug dealers and users. Other facets of the city that are explored in the series are the government and bureaucracy, schools and the news media. The show was created by former police reporter David Simon, who also wrote many of the episodes.

The storyline

Although we wish to tell you its storyline in detail here, however, it may spoil the surprises that this slow-burning TV series has in store for its viewers. So, we shall disclose only those particulars that its creator (s) have shared with the public.

And in case we do share any of the spoilers inadvertently, then we deeply regret the same.

This drama series is set in Baltimore City, where drug-related crimes thrive. The racial angle between the Black and the White communities living in the city dominates. Inequality and injustice in society reign supreme. The common people are suffering. And the political and police systems are considered to be broken. So, the society as a whole is decaying. This crime drama delves into the themes of the drug crisis initially. However, the latter part of this contemporary socio-political tale focuses more on the issues of inequality and injustice. We see the social, political and economic inequities prevalent in American society. Subtly, this show raises some very serious questions about the capitalist system, too.

Besides, it touches upon controversial subjects – race, class, politics, corruption, power, crime, policing, education system, etc., with unusual panache. Not very often do we come across an honest and blunt take on the ills plaguing contemporary capitalist societies. This show dares to take an uncensored look at the American Dream. It depicts the inequities and injustices meted out to the economically weaker sections of society in the USA. They are heart-rending, and sometimes they are difficult to watch.

Timeless characters

To be honest, we had seen The Wire series years ago, when it was aired. Still, we cannot forget its intricate and detailed look at American society, using the city of Baltimore as a backdrop. With so much depth and understanding, it created some of the best characters that we have seen in a show. Almost all the characters in the show have a credible storyline. They have a captivating character arc, too. We liked most of the well-etched-out characters, so allow us to share a few names of the unforgettable characters here:

Omar Little (Michael Kenneth Williams), Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels), 
Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), Snoop (Felicia Pearson), Stringer Bell (Idris Elba), Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris), Wallace (Michael B. Jordan), Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce), Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters), Herc (Domenick Lombardozzi), Bubbles (Andre Royo), Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen), Rhonda Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy), Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector), etc.

Later on, most of these actors have gone to achieve greater success. For example, Idris Elba, who played a negative chracter Stringer Bell in this show. Then, a few years later, he crossed over and played the protagonist (DCI John) Luther in another wonderful series, this time from UK. 

Its brilliant script backed by its superb ensemble cast has made this series – one of the best dramas of all time. And how great are the other actors in this series? According to us, almost all of them are terrific.

You have to see the characters mentioned earlier (actors) in action in the show to believe it. Not surprisingly, many of them have gone on to make it big.

The most iconic dialogues (video)

Take a peek into the lives of some of the very well-written characters in The Wire series mentioned above. These are some of the best dialogues/lines from the show in this video.

That is one of the lines in this series that we liked very much.

A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s the shit that happens while you’re waiting for moments that never come.

Detective Lester Freamon ( played by Clarke Peters)

The conclusion

Supposing that you love a good piece of literature, then The Wire is a must-watch drama series. We think that it will be difficult to put down once you pick it up and start it. To conclude, we reiterate – The Wire is highly recommended to you all.

Rating of The Wire (Season 1/2002 to Season 5/2008) Series

Poster of The Wire (Season 1/2002) Series

Key Details about The Wire (Season 1/2002 to Season 5/2008) Series

Trailer of The Wire (Season 1/2002 to Season 5/2008) Series

Please note that we could not find season-wise trailers of The Wire series on YouTube, except for this one.

Bonus YoutUbe Video #1 Link:- Trailer of The Wire (Season 5/2008) Series

America is a country that is now utterly divided when it comes to its society, its economy, its politics. There are definitely two Americas. I live in one, on one block in Baltimore that is part of the viable America, the America that is connected to its own economy, where there is a plausible future for the people born into it. About 20 blocks away is another America entirely. It’s astonishing how little we have to do with each other, and yet we are living in such proximity.

David Simon, show creator | The Guardian

Awards Won by The Wire (Season 1/2002 to Season 5/2008) Series

When (US President) Obama praised this Series

We came across this YouTube video, where the US President Obama chatted about the challenges law enforcement faces with the creator of The Wire series, David Simon. So, the US President (at the time of its recording) also approved this series, too. Here is what he said in the YouTube video link shared below.

I’m a huge fan of “The Wire.” I think it’s one of the greatest not just television shows but pieces of art in the last couple of decades. I was a huge fan of it.

~ Barack Obama | YouTube Video link

Featured Images and Poster of The Wire series | Courtest: Facebook & HBO/The Wire.