The Wire - Season 1 (2002)
Medium level coarse language, drug references, sexual references, drug use
On the drug-infested streets of West Baltimore, there are good guys and there are bad guys. Sometimes you need more than a badge to tell them apart.
From David Simon, creator and co-writer of HBO's triple Emmy winning mini-series The Corner, this unvarnished, highly realistic HBO series follows a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore. Told from the point of view of both the police and their targets, the series captures a universe of subterfuge and surveillance, where easy distinctions between good and evil, and crime and punishment, are challenged at every turn.
| Status: | Normal |
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| Run time: | 780mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: |
| Run Time: | 780mins |
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| File Size (Approx): | 7 GB |
Television Revision
by Andrew Williams, 20/12/2012 12:34:00 PM
Now, this is a story all about how... A police unit including divorced, bull-headed homicide detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) investigates a brutal gang of drug dealers headed by Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) and his second-in-command Stringer Bell (Idris Elba). Happy days? Absolutely. You’ll notice The Wire cropping up again and again on various 'Best of All Time' lists, even though practically nobody watched it the first time around. It’s a densely plotted, dialogue heavy series with immense rewards for anyone who affords it the time and commitment it deserves. The second half of the series in particular contains some standout sequences; you’ll be utterly shocked one moment, thrilled the next, and intrigued the moment after that. It’s all delivered with a hefty side of creator Davi...
Now, this is a story all about how... A police unit including divorced, bull-headed homicide detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) investigates a brutal gang of drug dealers headed by Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) and his second-in-command Stringer Bell (Idris Elba).
Happy days? Absolutely. You’ll notice The Wire cropping up again and again on various 'Best of All Time' lists, even though practically nobody watched it the first time around. It’s a densely plotted, dialogue heavy series with immense rewards for anyone who affords it the time and commitment it deserves. The second half of the series in particular contains some standout sequences; you’ll be utterly shocked one moment, thrilled the next, and intrigued the moment after that. It’s all delivered with a hefty side of creator David Simon’s signature cynicism. The Wire will work its way into your brain and make you distrust everybody around you, especially the establishment. The Wire really doesn’t like the establishment.
Upon finishing Season One, it will come as no surprise to viewers that several members of The Wire’s cast went on to be familiar faces in the world of television. Of those that did, two in particular stand out: Lance Reddick’s intimidating, complex police chief Daniels is a force to be reckoned with, and Idris Elba’s Stringer Bell is a softly charismatic presence in the background. And although Dominic West is constantly battling his American accent (some of his delivery is hilariously British), he’s also a commanding force.
The negatives are few and far between. My main complaint about this season is the snail’s pace early on, even though Wire fans tend to argue that this is what makes the show so appealing. There’s really no reason the creative team couldn’t have tried to make it a little bit more entertaining, and the occasional plot point is wildly telegraphed, but these are minor, minor quibbles for what is a terrific season of television.
The final frontier: Possibly the best police drama of all time gets off to a fantastic, if trudging start. The hours are long, but the rewards are many.
Top three episodes: 12) Cleaning Up. One of the most chilling moments in the entire series takes place in this blistering, angry, and brilliant entry. 10) The Cost. The slightly ham-fisted foreshadowing of the denouement makes it no less affecting; one of television’s tensest sequences. 4) Old Cases. Possibly my favourite scene of the entire series (consisting pretty much entirely of swearing) takes place halfway through this episode.
Worst episode: 5) The Pager. This is the only instalment of the season I can think of that doesn’t have the kind of standout scene The Wire does so well, but it’s still a pretty good entry in the series. That’s the kind of quality we’re dealing with.
Season MVP: Larry Gilliard Jr. is a fascinating, emotional presence as Avon Barksdale’s nephew D’Angelo, a man torn between a life he thinks he can have and the one reality has forced upon him.
4.5/5
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1. The Target (50m) |  |
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2. The Detail (50m) | |
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3. The Buys (50m) | |
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4. Old Cases (50m) | |
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5. The Pager (50m) | |
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6. The Wire (50m) | |
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7. One Arrest (50m) | |
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8. Lessons (50m) | |
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9. Game Day (50m) | |
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10. The Cost (50m) | |
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11. The Hunt (50m) | |
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12. Cleaning Up (50m) | |
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13. Sentencing (50m) | |
Member Reviews (33)
33 Member
Reviews
says
Fantastic. Absolutely hooked.
says
I'm not usually into drug barons and cop shows, but couldn't stop watching this until I'd got through the whole first series - now keen to get into the second, and hear they're all just as good! A great production - I agree with the person who said it's hard to leave the house! Great story and character development, realistic, the language means nothing, just a culture, and there is real human feelings and relationships here even amongst this mess. A glimpse into another reality, on both sides. Highly recommended!
JPW
says
Only watched part of one disc. Do not recommend !!
says
excellent!
Steve
says
Brilliant. Just need an interpreter for some of the gang chat. Are they speaking English?
Jimmy
says
Brilliant, gritty and apparently realistic.
I'm glad I live in Australia, but I'm also happy there are some Americans smart and reflective enough to critique their own society like this.
Glenda Gartrell
says
Too American. Everyone speaks in smart one-liners and what it says about the US legal system makes be very glad I have not been subject to it.
chali
says
Abosolutely best tv series i've ever seen. Hands down. It doesn't follow the traditional crime series style of a mini-story and resolution each episode (i've heard the wire compared with a modern day version of an classic novel, by Dickens etc) - so it does appear slow to get-going, but once it does, it really does. Brilliant acting, addictive storyline and characters. The only down-side is that it will turn into into a tv-series snob - no other series really seems to cut it now. Have watched all five seasons - wish there was more.
geoff @gol
says
We have watched all four (4) seasons. Fantastic prolonged high quality script writing over 4 seasons. It starts slow , which is necessary to build the characters and overall scene. Absolutely brilliant drama highly recommended. As good as, if not better that The Sopranos and Deadwood. Again the foul language is necessary and most relevant to the overall scenario. What a total mess some American cities & their people are in, so depressing but so real. ( and they won the War !!! ) Do yourself a favour hire the 4 seasons, but have a broad mind when you do.
jeanne watt
says
not impressed
estwayne
says
The Wire is a brilliant ,gritty full on american police series that doesn't pull any punches.The Shield is the only other series that comes close to this sort of storyline acting.
Stringer Bell
says
Best TV Series EVER. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Dee
says
Simply the best TV drama every created!
Maarie R.
says
slow start but interesting. nice range of characters and shading. looking forward to the next episodes.
CJ
says
I found this to be boringly foul mouth. I could hardly make it through 1 episode. Seriously this was rubbish that used bad language to try and impress.
Graham
says
best TV show of all time
Trevor
says
An exemplrary piece of writing, characters are near too perfect, with small exception. Looking forward to the next DVDs.
James S.
says
Extraordinary. This is fine fine television drama. Better than West Wing, The Wire is best enjoyed on DVD with the English sub titles ON (so you pick up as much of the patois as possible, mos def).
This is how cop shows should be made. Truly magnificent
Ross K.
says
This might be very good drama, but because of the language and the accents it is too dificult to follow. The use of the F word is too much, even for a tolerent oldie like me.
John O.
says
How good is this? A must for every scriptwriter.
Nathan P.
says
Its not just my opinion that this is the best show ever made, its a damn fact. Although this is a crime drama, the real crime is that only season 1 (out of 3) is available in AUS.
Samuel G.
says
What a surprise! Not a big fan of cop shows, I endured and quickly became absorbed in complex characters and fascinating ethical and moral situations. What a great TV show should be about. Trouble is now I don't want to leave the house. More please.
John
says
This has got the makings of being a good series. The storyline is simple and straightforward and the characters are interesting and believable. We look forward to the remainder of the discs.
Anne S.
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John R.
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Merily M.
says
Very clever.
Matt E.
says
Possibly the best TV series I've ever seen.
Lisa L.
says
I can see why this series didn't get a prime time airing on TV. It is too complex and intelligent for the free to air networks, which explains why it was only screened in a very late-night time slot.
Because nothing is neatly resolved in a 60 minute time frame, The Wire requires a committment from its audience. We are asked follow its characters and the plotlines for more than one hour! (Yes, some viewers do have a concentration span of more than 60 minutes.)
It took me at least the first two or three episodes to really get a handle on who everyone was and what they were doing.
It is like the writers of 24 got an extra 20 points of IQ each and joined forces with the team responsible for the Sopranos.
I loved every minute of it.
Karel S.
says
I had never heard of THE WIRE until a friend in Europe recommended it. My wife and I watched the entire first season in a week and pre-ordered Season Two as this is the kind of stuff you can watch many times over. Absolutely brilliant writing! The characters feel totally real, as do the Baltimore locations and the issues these people are facing. The strength of this series is the way it plays with the grey area between Good and Evil. A character portrayed as the meanest piece of work in Episode One turns out to become one of those we actually care for in the season final. And just like we can see on our Australian streets today, THE WIRE shows there are no easy solutions to organised crime. My friend was right when he said you don't get much better writing than this, not in the movies or anywhere. One tip: switch the subtitles on so you don't miss the slang subtleties!
Phill D.
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Billy Mc
says
I am in full agreement with the other reviewers so far. Another HBO classic that grows on you so much that you actually miss the characters when the show ends (as if they were real acquantances. Thanks channel 9 for the midnight timeslot. I guess shows like this have to move aside for more re-runs of 'Funniest Home Videos or The Alice' Serioes 2 of this is just as good.
Adrian F.
says
great crime drama, gritty and tough with excellent character development.interweaving storylines that completely suck you in. cant wait for series 2
Lucas T.
says
Without a doubt, one of the best crime dramas ever made. Multi layered plotlines mixed with flawless
acting make 'The Wire' a standout.