The Wire is an American television drama set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland. Created, produced, and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series is broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002, with 50 episodes airing over the course of its first four seasons. The fifth and final season, which encompasses 10 episodes, premiered on January 6, 2008.
The plot of the first season centers on the ongoing struggles between police units and drug-dealing gangs on the west side of the city, and is told from both points of view. Subsequent seasons have focused on other facets of the city. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is “really about the American city, and about how we live together. It’s about how institutions have an effect on individuals, and how…whether you’re a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge [or] lawyer, you are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution you’ve committed to.
From the Wikipedia entry on The Wire.
The Wire is a show that is strangely addictive. I really enjoyed how the Barksdale investigation encompassed the first few seasons. This is something that never really happens in TV. The same investigation spanning three seasons? Anyway, the fifth season still uses elements from the first season. I think it’s a great show. I also enjoy how in the fifth season, Simon plans on featuring the media and how it impacts the city.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
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McNulty never left the station. He’s drinking by himself. He shows him the sheets for murders of homeless people from the last four years. Bunk doesn’t want anything to do with this.
Alma goes to the office to find the morning edition. She wants to see her story making the front page. She crosses paths with McNulty. McNulty is still busy fabricating a serial murder. He prepares some signature evidence that he plans on planting on corpses. Alma is pissed when her story didn’t make the front page.
Bunk is observing McNulty. McNulty explains to Bunk his stratagem. McNulty is busy faking the serial murderer.
Commissioner Valchek wants to be in charge temporarily to help Carcetti. Carcetti sees that the crime numbers are jumping. He got advance notice from Valchek.
McNulty plants his evidence. He’s a shifty bastard. The coroner rules homicide by strangulation. McNulty gets what he wanted. The coroner finds the red ribbon. McNulty is in business.
The executive editor gives bad news to the staff of the Sun. He tells them that the bureaus in Beijing, Moscow, Jerusalem, Johannesburg and London will all be closed. Elsewhere in the newsroom, there will be a new round of buyouts.
The mayor can’t believe the numbers he’s been getting from the cops. The murder rates haven’t gone up. He asked the commissioner about this. The commissioner stands by the numbers. The mayor knows that the numbers aren’t real. Burell is gone. The cooked numbers have sealed the deal.
Marlo tries to make a deal with the Greeks. Marlo drops a case filled with money.
It’s time for the grand jury for Clay Davis.
Marlo is talking with Prop Joe. He’s got too much money. He doesn’t know what to do with it.
McNulty shows Bunk his case file.
Gus is being called to the editor-in-chief’s office. The executive editor uses a lot of proactive words. As if that makes a difference. Gus thinks that he’s losing a lot of good people.
Dukie and Michael are hanging out. Dukie wants to go to Six Flags. They meet some girls.
Chris is hanging out. Marlo is having his money cleaned.
Gus meets with Wilson, who gives him the full monty about what’s happening to the police commissioners. Wilson wants to know how viable Daniels is as police commissioner.
McNulty is busy screwing a woman on the hood of his car. Uniforms stop, he shows them his ID. They roll on.
The Greeks don’t want Marlo’s money. They say it’s dirty. Marlo goes to see Prop Joe. Marlo puts a bounty on Omar and his family. He also wants his money laundered. He drops it off at the Greeks. Prop Joe isn’t about to give anything up on Omar. Cheese is. Cheese meets with Chris and gives up the location of Omar. He gets his 50K.
Prop Joe tells Marlo that he has 400K stashed in the Islands. It’s unseizable. Marlo has trouble understanding money that he can’t touch. Prop Joe tells him to fly down there to see for himself. Marlo actually does this and visits the Antilles.
McNulty meets Alma to leak the story.
Michael is in trouble with his crew. He disappeared without telling anyone. Chris is already aware of it.
Burell is contemplating his options. The story broke in the Sun. Rhonda is happy for Daniels. He consults with his ex-wife.
McNulty’s fake serial killer didn’t really work out the way that he planned. He’s told to stay on it for a few days and then get back into the rotation.
Snoop and Chris find Butchie who’s a friend to Omar. They torture him a bit to find out what he knows about Omar. Butchie doesn’t talk. Chris has to kill him. They leave someone alive to tell Omar.
Bunk makes McNulty tell Lester what he did. Lester tells him that he needs to sensationalize it, something bad. It’s got to grip the hearts and minds. Bunk is surprised that Lester wants to participate in this. He leaves.
Omar is in Spain or Mexico. He is told that Butchie has been killed.
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