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Season 1 – The Wire

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Wire 2002 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This series looks at the narcotics scene in Baltimore through the eyes of law enforcers as well as the 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.
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The Wire — Season 1

The Wire — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Though it takes its time getting started, The Wire is worth the wait, spinning a connective web of characters and delivering no-holds-barred commentary on some of America's unsettling societal problems.

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Critics Reviews

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Graeme Blundell The Australian ...it's a drama that gradually teaches you how to watch it, in the same way a great novel lets you know how to read it. Mar 28, 2020 Full Review Belinda Acosta Austin Chronicle Because the ensemble cast is so huge, it's initially difficult to keep track of who is who, but the show is slowly, deftly defining characters and in the process showing that what separates the good guys from the bad guys is not so distinct. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Nathan Rabin AV Club The Wire's first season is methodical and deliberate to an almost perverse degree. Like the Avon Barksdale investigation, it's built piece-by-piece. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Martin Carr CBR The Wire Season 1 establishes believable foundations through convincing characters, that let things happen naturally. No one thing makes this debut extraordinary, and yet its characters and events come together and make bold creative choices. Dec 3, 2024 Full Review Jorge Fernández Mencías Fotogramas If something stands out in the series starring Dominic West, Idris Elba, and Michael K. Williams, is its truthfulness and realism, which introduces us to the streets of Baltimore... [Full review in Spanish] Aug 20, 2024 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [A] compelling tale of cops, crooks, and the social and bureaucratic forces that both divide and bind them, and... an epic series that set the high water mark for television drama. Apr 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (92) audience reviews
james o HBO's calling it superior to better-known flagship drama series such as The Sopranos. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/05/25 Full Review Johannes K Best series ever! Simply legendary Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Felipe N It really shows the reality of the series. Excellent to comprehend all its struggles Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/25 Full Review Audience Member I've watched season 1 multiple times. Each viewing reveals something new. Fist time was a bit of challenge to break into it but once you do, the pay off is brilliant. Hard to put on words just how great this show is. It's got drama, humour, philosophy, political and social commentary, heartwarming and heartbreaking stories. It's every educational about how "the system" works. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/05/25 Full Review Bill K As a retired police officer, I'll go on record with my s-claim that this is the best cop show ever produced. The entire cast is stellar, the dialog is perfect, and the characters are unforgettable. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Daniel J Super strong first season for a series. And this is a GREAT series. IMHO, this is among the top 5 series ever made. Personally, I have it ranked as #2 overall on my 3/5/7 GOAT series pyramid (1st tier, but second on that first row). Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Wire — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Dominic West

Det. James "Jimmy" McNulty

John Doman

William A. Rawls

Idris Elba

Russell "Stringer" Bell

Frankie Faison

Comm. Ervin H. Burrell

Lawrence Gilliard Jr.

D'Angelo Barksdale

Wood Harris

Avon Barksdale

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 2, 2002 The Target McNulty (Dominic West) is assigned to a team of outcasts assigned to probe drug lord Avon Barksdale's (Wood Harris) operations. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 9, 2002 The Detail A witness who testified against D'Angelo is found murdered; Greggs is briefed on the Barksdale probe. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 16, 2002 The Buys Detectives' inquiries spark a minor riot, causing a boy to lose an eye and giving police a black eye publicity-wise. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 23, 2002 Old Cases Gang members arrested in the raid face arraignment; Greggs and McNulty try to turn Hardcase into an informant. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 30, 2002 The Pager McNulty's detail tries breaking the code on the gang's pagers; Bell teaches D'Angelo how to train lookouts. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 7, 2002 The Wire Rawls' demands create strange allies; Wallace and D'Angelo wrestle with their consciences; Omar turns witness. Details Episode 7 Aired Jul 21, 2002 One Arrest A tip-off prompts arrest, but Avon and Stringer grow suspicious; another witness to the Grant murder emerges. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 28, 2002 Lessons McNulty gets Stringer's license-plate number; Omar engages in a violent street encounter. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 4, 2002 Game Day Barksdale plays games with an East Side rival; Herc and Carver take cash from Wee-Bey; Omar resurfaces. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 11, 2002 The Cost McNulty and Daniels try to figure out what to do with Wallace; Sydnor and Carver track down one of Barksdale's stash houses. Details Episode 11 Aired Aug 18, 2002 The Hunt After a drug bust goes awry, Greggs winds up in intensive care; the police step up the hunt for Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Details Episode 12 Aired Sep 1, 2002 Cleaning Up McNulty and Daniels wire Barksdale's back office; Wallace returns to the projects; D'Angelo makes a run to New York. Details Episode 13 Aired Sep 8, 2002 Sentencing Daniels and McNulty attempt to continue the case; Freamon and Bunk try to trace a crucial call; Pearlman and McNulty celebrate a break in the case. Details

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The Wire — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Clark Johnson, Clement Virgo, Joe Chappelle, Gloria Muzio, Brad Anderson, Steve Shill, Ed Bianchi, Milcho Manchevski, Peter Medak, Timothy Van Patten
Screenwriter
David Simon, Ed Burns
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 2, 2002