The Wire

This is the singularly most important piece of narrative fiction made in the 21st Century, it transcends the medium, being not just a television show, but a sociological survey on the paralyzing effects of poverty in America; a neo-Dickensian novel about the state of the 21st century city; an ancient Greek tragedy where, instead of Gods, our epicurian protagonists are pitted against the bureaucratic institutions that make up contemporary society. It's goes above and beyond anything else on TV.

In its breadth, depth, and scope, an unparalleled accomplishment in American political art. Equal turns heartbreaking, infuriating, and entertaining, deftly criticizing the ineffectual nature of bureaucracy and the pitfalls of political accountability while giving us more great characters and storylines than any one show ever has.

Easily lives up to many people, myself included, calling it "the best TV show of all time". Favorite season: S4 - Favorite characters: Omar and Snoop - Favorite scene: Snoop buys a nail gun - Favorite intro music: S1 (The Blind Boys of Alabama) - What pulls it down from 100 to 99, you ask? S5 is good, not great.

Despite a somewhat weak 5th season, which is still miles ahead of almost anything out there have you, The Wire is the king, and when you come at the king you best not miss. Nothing I've seen before or after has come close to The Wire. A multi layered story about a city and a society on the brink of failure. Where it's hard to tell the cops from the criminals. No black and white, but all grey areas. All the while doing this making us care for each and every character. A masterpiece of tv history.

Good sociological fiction that often imagines some highly improbable idealistic project as a means of exposing the systemic deficiencies of various institutions. In so doing, it is concerned to explode not just obvious myths such as the war on drugs or the virtue of unfettered markets, but some of the myths of sociology too. Characterisation is generally superior for television, as is the complexity and cohesiveness of the narrative across a long span of running time. Cannot fault the ambition.

An incredible achievement of layered storytelling from all points of view. Rarely does one see this level of detail surrounding what one thinks is a singular problem, that branches out into all it touches. For new viewers it is definitely a bit of a slow burn for the first half of season one, but so , so rewarding if you stick it out.

I'll hear out an opinion that this isn't the best or most entertaining series but disregard someone who doesn't consider this TV's finest example. The Wire expects you to be an intelligent, introspective, and active viewer to a degree you'd never expect from modern storytelling, much less anything else on TV. The next Voyager probe should launch with Seasons 1, 3, and 4.

Not only the best show ever made (tm), but probably one of the few cultural products to come out of America in resent years, to be remembered through the ages.

This is likely the best TV show ever made, and the fact that I can't give it a perfect score is a testament to the problem with not splitting into individual seasons. Season three is the most intelligent handling of difficult subject matter I've ever seen, TV or otherwise. One is good, two is great, four is just below three, and five is better than people give it credit for. But it's not perfect, because perfect TV is a dragon that has been chased for nearly a century, and remains uncaught.

An excellent series where each season has a different setting/viewpoint. Recommended.