The Wire

The first season of The Wire (2002) concentrated on the often-futile efforts of police to infiltrate a West Baltimore drug ring headed by Avon Barksdale and his lieutenant, Stringer Bell. In Seasons Two and Three, as the Barksdale investigation escalated, new storylines involving pressures on the working class and the city's political leadership were introduced. Season Four focused on the stories of several young boys in the public school system, struggling with problems at home and the lure of the corner - set against the rise of a new drug empire in West Baltimore and a new Mayor in City Hall. The fifth and final season of The Wire centers on the media's role in addressing - or failing to address - the fundamental political, economic and social realities depicted over the course of the series, while also resolving storylines of the numerous characters woven throughout the narrative arc of the show.

Episodes

Characters

Lt. Cedric Daniels Det. Shakima "Kima" Greggs Off. James "Jimmy" McNulty Det. Lester Freamon Det. Thomas "Herc" Hauk Det. William "Bunk" Moreland Det. Ellis Carver Det. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski Dep. Comm. William A. Rawls Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman Omar Little Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins Russell "Stringer" Bell Ervin Burrell Councilman Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti Preston "Bodie" Broadus Avon Barksdale Marlo "Black" Stanfield Det. Leander Sydnor Chris Partlow Maj. Howard "Bunny" Colvin State Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis Norman Wilson Maurice "Maury" Levy Duquan "Dukie" Weems Dennis "Cutty" Wise Off. Beatrice "Beadie" Russell D'Angelo Barksdale Mayor Clarence V. Royce Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos Michael Lee Frank Sobotka Chief of Staff Michael Steintorf Alma Gutierrez City Editor Augustus "Gus" Haynes Scott Templeton