THE WIRE's gripping storytelling makes it unforgettable. Between 2002 - 2008, five HBO seasons delivered a forensic view of Baltimore: police, criminals, dock workers, politicians, teachers and newspaper reporters all intersect but discover "the system" always wins.
Homicide detective Jimmy McNulty triggers an investigation when drug dealer D'Angelo Barksdale's murder trial collapses due to witness intimidation. McNulty knows D'Angelo is nephew to drug overlord Avon Barksdale who has proved untouchable.
McNulty is loathed by his superiors, but they allow Lt. Cedric Daniels a surveillance team to run a basic investigation.
But the unit - including narcotics officer Kima Greggs and the analytical Lester Freamon - realize that Barksdale's complex operations demand deeper surveillance. Kima's junkie informant, Bubbles is also enlisted.
Avon with his deputy Stringer demote D'Angelo to running young pushers but he now is conflicted about "The Game"...
Everything changes when Barksdale's operations are targeted by maverick hood drug thief Omar Little.
Shelf or charity shop? SHELF!! Writers David Simon and Ed Burns - one an ex-newspaper police correspondant, the other a former policeman/teacher - based THE WIRE on the Baltimore institiutions they knew and created an astonishing television experience, using a pool of script writers and directors. Over 13 hours their characters come alive, illustrating the internicine power struggles within both the police and criminal worlds. The scripts are masterpieces of long-form narrative which drew complaints from US audiences about the complex story. Dominic West leapt to stardom as McNulty and he was well teamed with Wendell Pierce as Homicide colleague Bunk Moreland - the scene where they investigate a crime scene using every permutation of the work 'fuck' is tv gold. The always excellent Clarke Peters shines as Lestor Freamon, languishing in police admin hell until given a second chance through the case, as is Sonja Sohn as the empathetic narcotics officer Kima. Idris Elba was launched to fame as Stringer Bell, the cool but dangerous deputy of the Barksdale crew, well-cast opposite the intense Wood Harris as Avon Barksdale. Lawrence Gilliard Jr. is unforgettable as D'Angelo, the loyal Barksdale foot-soldier who realizes the devastating impact of "The Game" and there is a memorable performance from Michael B Jordan as the tragic Wallace. Dependant on both sides is Andre Royo as the police informant junkie Bubbles and lurking in the shadows is the unforgettable Omar Little played to charismatic perfection by Michael K Williams.
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