The Wire is one of those rare shows that will change the way you view the world. Its gritty realism is striking. Showrunner David Simon, a former journalist for the “Baltimore Sun,” has an intimate relationship with the city of Baltimore that makes this show genuine in a way that is often strived for but difficult to accomplish.
It is his love song to Baltimore, so to speak. Philadelphia has “Rocky.” New Jersey has “The Sopranos.” “The Wire” belongs to Baltimore.
Where to Watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO on Demand via your cable provider
Seasons: 5 Episodes: 60
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
THE WIRE IS ONE OF THOSE RARE SHOWS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU VIEW THE WORLD
With a (before-they-were-stars) star-studded cast, “The Wire” takes place on the mean streets of Baltimore, where drug dealers and police clash daily.
We open The Wire with control of the West Side captured by The Barksdale Organization. Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) and Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) came up on the West Side and worked their way up the chain. Now they run the streets, they run the people and they run the police in circles.
Avon and Stringer keep their game tight. They never touch the product. They do not sell product: That’s what the hoppers are for. And they certainly don’t talk on the phone. In order to stay below the radar, Avon develops a system of beeper codes so that everyone within the chain of distribution can understand it (and the cops can’t). They switch the location of the stash daily. There are very specific rules to the game, the first one being: don’t get caught.
We begin this series with Avon working undetected, the king of the west side until homicide detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) takes a special interest in him. McNulty, who has a particular knack for pissing off his superiors, convinces a local judge to call for a special task force to bring down the Barksdale organization. A virtual ghost to the police (they have no ID on Avon), McNulty gets his wish, and just like that, Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell are on the radar.
CHARACTERS
There are a lot of characters on The Wire. A LOT. It can get confusing, so we break down the standout characters to help you get familiar.
THE BARKSDALE ORGANIZATION
AVON BARKSDALE (WOOD HARRIS)
STRINGER BELL (IDRIS ELBA)
THE HOPPERS
OMAR LITTLE
Some critics have deemed Omar Little as one of the best characters in television history. Cult Status agrees. What is fascinating about Omar is the synthesis of his opposing personal traits: he is a dangerous criminal who has gained a legendary reputation on the streets, yet he lives his life by a code. He will rob and pillage, but only those who are “in the game“. Omar does not harm innocent civilians. He robs drug dealers, and it is this moral relativism that makes him fascinating to watch.
A MAN HAS TO HAVE A CODE
Omar is also an openly gay man in the hyper-masculine world of the drug trade. He can be openly gay because he answers to no one. Omar lives on the outskirts of the drug trade. He is a dangerous enough predator that few dare challenge him, and those who do underestimate him live (or die) regretting it.