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The Wire(TV show/series, 2002-2008)

TV-MA
| 1h per episode | Genres: Crime, Drama

Scripted Reality in 5 seasons with 60 episodes

The WireRating: 4.3/5 (with 1,000 votes)
The Wire is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by American author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002, and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising 60 episodes over five seasons. The idea for the show started out as a police drama loosely based on the experiences of Simon's writing partner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective and public school teacher. Set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland, The Wire introduces a different institution of the city and its relationship to law enforcement in each season while retaining characters and advancing storylines from previous seasons. The five subjects are, in chronological order; the illegal drug trade, the port system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and the print news medium. Simon chose to set the show in Baltimore because of his familiarity with the city. When the series first aired, the large cast consisted mainly of actors who were unknown to television audiences, as well as numerous real-life Baltimore and Maryland figures in guest and recurring roles. Simon has said that despite its framing as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and abo... ()
Poster of The Wire

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About The Wire

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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Trailer for The Wire + Featurettes/Teaser/Clips

The Wire Seasons and Episodes

01/06/2008Season 5 - 10 episodes
The fifth and final season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on January 6, 2008, and concluded on March 9, 2008; it was the show's shortest season with 10 episodes. The series introduced a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom, while continuing to follow the Baltimore police department and city hall, and the Stanfield crime syndicate. The fifth season aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm ET in the United States. The season was released on DVD as a four disc boxed set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season on August 12, 2008 by HBO Video. ()
In the projects. On the docks. In City Hall. In the schools. And now, in the media. The places and faces change, but the game remains the same. In the fifth — and final — season, the series expands its focus into the media — specifically the role of newspapers in big-city bureaucracy — as it follows a newspaper staff as they struggle to maintain integrity and meet deadlines in the face of budget cuts and staff reductions.
#1 | 01/06/2008More with Less
3.8/5 (with 23 votes)
"The bigger the lie, the more they believe." - Bunk Moreland. McNulty and the detail continue to stake out Marlo and his crew. Recently promoted Sergeant Carver is met with complaints concerning unpaid overtime. Meanwhile, Haynes deals with cutbacks, but is still able to expose a politician's connection to a drug dealer; and Joe, Marlo, Fatface Rick meet to divide up the drug trade across Baltimore.
#2 | 01/13/2008Unconfirmed Reports
3.9/5 (with 20 votes)
"This ain't Aruba, bitch." - Bunk Moreland Freamon keeps a look out for Marlo, who is putting together a deal with Avon Barksdale. Davis goes to Burrell for help, but finds that the commissioner's hands are tied. Whiting puts together a series on broad strokes.
#3 | 01/20/2008Not for Attribution
4.1/5 (with 19 votes)
"They're dead where it doesn't count." - Fletcher Mayor Carcetti's police department plan is leaked. Marlo turns to Proposition Joe for help. Meanwhile, McNulty strikes up an unexpected ally -- Freamon.
#4 | 01/27/2008Transitions
4.1/5 (with 19 votes)
"Buyer's market out there." - Templeton Omar plots his revenge for his former associates murder now that he's returned from exile. Gus stresses the need for a city-court reporter, after missing out on a grand jury probe. Carcetti finds there are strings attached in his desire to get rid of Burrell. While McNulty investigates the deaths of homeless men, Freamon needs the help of an old friend. Also, Marlo looks to the future in his dealings with the Greeks.
#5 | 02/03/2008React Quotes
4.1/5 (with 20 votes)
"Just because they're in the street doesn't mean they lack opinions." - Haynes While the crew awaits a showdown with Omar, Marlo celebrates a business deal. Meanwhile, at the Sun, McNulty and Freamon take advantage of a development regarding the murder of the homeless people, while Dukie heads to Cutty's gym. Also, Herc does Carver a favor as a means to make amends for his past behavior, while Davis takes his case to the court of public opinion.
#6 | 02/10/2008The Dickensian Aspect
3.9/5 (with 20 votes)
"If you have a problem with this. I understand completely." - Freamon Marlo's crew goes on full alert after Omar's mysterious disappearance. Meanwhile, Carcetti concentrates on the plight of the homeless, while Bunk has an interview with a witness connected with the row-house case, and Templeton looks to a follow up to his recent front page story.
#7 | 02/17/2008Took
3.9/5 (with 19 votes)
"They don't teach it in law school." - Pearlman After cooking up another scheme for the homeless case, McNulty and Lester become popular figures. Davis is set for his day in court by collecting the best legal assistance money can buy. Plus, Michael has brushes with the wrong side of the law, while Gus seeks help for an old story by going outside the Sun.
#8 | 02/24/2008Clarifications
4.0/5 (with 21 votes)
"A lie ain't a side of a story. It's just a lie." - Terry Hanning A shift in the police department sends Carver to a new location. Meanwhile, Carcetti is forced to put his political future in jeopardy, Haynes digs deeper into Templeton's work, and an important case has a breakthrough by Sydnor, while Fletcher continues working with Bubbles.
#9 | 03/02/2008Late Editions
4.1/5 (with 20 votes)
"Deserve got nuthin' to do with it." - Snoop A promising lead makes Freamon's hard work worthwhile, although McNulty doesn't feel like a celebration. Michael is suspicious about his latest assignment;.Haynes gets fresh eyes to help with fact-checking. Namond's debating skills make Colvin proud. Davis points a finger at Levy and the courts. And Bubbles recounts a recent temptation overcome.
#10 | 03/09/2008-30-
4.4/5 (with 25 votes)
"...the life of kings." - H.L. Mencken A damaging report by Pearlman and Daniels gets a reaction from Carcetti, while Haynes finds little support for his concerns about a reporters work from the bosses. Meanwhile, McNulty wants to put a homeless case to an end, Dukie searches for an old mentor and a fallen officer is given a wake.
09/10/2006Season 4 - 13 episodes
09/19/2004Season 3 - 12 episodes
06/01/2003Season 2 - 12 episodes
06/02/2002Season 1 - 13 episodes
08/20/2006Specials - 7 episodes

Additional Information

Production country: United States of America (USA)
Original language: English (EN)
Spoken languages: Greek (EL), English (EN), Spanish (ES), Chinese (Mandarin) (ZH)
Translated into 35 languages: Arabic (AR), Bulgarian (BG), Bosnian (BS), Czech (CS), Danish (DA), German (DE), Greek (EL), English (EN), Spanish (ES), Estonian (ET), Persian (FA), Finnish (FI), French (FR), Gallegan (GL), Hebrew (HE), Croatian (HR), Hungarian (HU), Italian (IT), Japanese (JA), Korean (KO), Lithuanian (LT), Dutch (NL), Norwegian (NO), Polish (PL), Portuguese (PT), Romanian (RO), Russian (RU), Slovak (SK), Slovenian (SL), Serbian (SR), Swedish (SV), Turkish (TR), Ukrainian (UK), Vietnamese (VI), Chinese (Mandarin) (ZH)
Status: Ended
First episode released on: 06/02/2002
Last episode released on: 03/09/2008
Appearing Characters: Cedric Daniels, Jimmy McNulty, Kima Greggs, Alma Gutierrez, Augustus Haynes, Avon Barksdale, Beadie Russell, Bodie Broadus, Brother Mouzone, Bubbles, Bunk Moreland, Butchie, Cheese Wagstaff, Chris Partlow, Clarence Royce, Clay Davis, D'Angelo Barksdale, Dennis "Cutty" Wise, Duquan "Dukie" Weems, Ellis Carver, Ervin Burrell, Frank Sobotka, Howard "Bunny" Colvin, Jay Landsman, John Munch, Johnny Weeks, Dwe, Leander Sydnor, Lester Freamon, Marlo Stanfield, Maurice Levy, Michael Lee, Monk Metcalf, Namond Brice, Nick Sobotka, Norman Wilson, Omar Little, Poot Carr, Proposition Joe, Randy Wagstaff, Rhonda Pearlman, Roland Pryzbylewski, Scott Templeton, Sergei Malatov, Slim Charles, Snoop, Spiros Vondas, Stan Valchek, Stringer Bell, The Greek, Thomas "Herc" Hauk, Tommy Carcetti, Wallace, Wee-Bey Brice, William Rawls, Ziggy Sobotka
Creator: David Simon
Director of Photography: Uta Briesewitz
Alternative titles in other countries (from previews, ads etc.):
"The Wire (Bajo escucha)"
"وایر"
"더 와이어"
"Los Vigilantes"
"Wire HBO"

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WatchPlayStream ID: SHOWS:399, Added: 05/10/2018, Last updated: 03/21/2024