The Wire

:

Season 5
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 2, 2002
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 417 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 392 out of 417
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 417
  3. Negative: 16 out of 417
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User Reviews

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  1. Greatbeallo
    May 11, 2013
    9
    The Wire peaks in season four, which is flawless, and then it takes a slight dip in its fifth and final season. Don't get me wrong. This season is still better than almost anything else on television, but there are some unbelievable plot twists, and it feels more rushed than previous seasons. Still amazing, but not perfect.
  2. PaulT.
    Jan 6, 2008
    10
    I thought "Lonesome Dove" was the best I'd seen on TV until "The Wire" came around. This is the only show I watch at broadcast time instead of later on a DVR.
  3. MMMS
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    For those who seek intellectual stimulation and depth, this is the best show on TV.
  4. MarkF.
    Feb 16, 2008
    10
    This show is great on so many levels that it has set the standard to which all other shows are to be compared. The writing is great, and the actors have took ownership of the roles they were cast in. Pure genius. "Woe is to them that call evil good, and good evil" - Prop Joe
  5. GS.
    Jan 16, 2008
    10
    This is the best show, bar none. The Wire is as real as it gets. No predictable, overly dramatized scripts here.
  6. MichaelM.
    Jan 9, 2008
    10
    Best HBO series ever, that's right Sopranos, you heard me. I doubted and naysayed until season 4, but once I started watching I couldn't stop. If you aren't hooked by the end of the third episode in season 1, then I offer a full refund.
  7. MarloS.
    Feb 6, 2008
    10
    As good as ever, particularly the cops and robbers-level plot. McNulty and Marlo eat up the screen.
  8. EricS.
    Jan 14, 2008
    10
    I was born and raised in Baltimore and taught in the Baltimore school system. These first-hand experiences only heighten my respect for this series. While the stories are fictional, the depiction of them is truth. As television struggles to find its future, this series come closer than any other to realizing its potential.
  9. GarrettB.
    Jan 6, 2008
    10
    Just watched the first episode. Brilliant as always. The negative reviewers have their head's shoved far where the sun doesn't shine.
  10. ChrisJ.
    Feb 15, 2008
    10
    As brilliant as the previous seasons, and still far and away the best show on television. We don't get as much of the schools from season 4, but Omar is back with a vengeance as heroic villain, and McNulty is at his best again as tragic hero.
  11. stoner839
    Feb 28, 2011
    10
    If I did a review for all five seasons, well, that seems like a lot of work. So, I'll just say, that this show is, easily, one of the best television series ever. The performances are all great, and the writing and direction in each episode is impeccable with a level or realism that could only be provided by him. Easily the best crime drama ever on television.
  12. Baran34
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    The most realistic thing I ever watched. Can't like any other show after watching The Wire. All the charaters are so real, they are like people you know from somewhere.
  13. blackhills1974
    Dec 19, 2013
    10
    The Wire is in my top 3 favorite shows (Breaking Bad#1 Deadwood #2) Season 5 is a out of control...bad-ass crazy. It was a perfect ending to this classic series which has college courses about it. I can't say any season was better than the other because it all goes together ...Great Great!!! #TheWire
  14. mfrank
    Oct 25, 2015
    3
    Season 5 was an even bigger disappointment than season 2 and honestly a waste of time. You can literally watch the script fall apart as the creator tries to put more and more of his b.s. newspaper writer perspective into the story. Nobody cares about the Baltimore Sun or any of the half dozen poorly developed characters that are introduced for no apparent reason. Maybe if he hadn't spentSeason 5 was an even bigger disappointment than season 2 and honestly a waste of time. You can literally watch the script fall apart as the creator tries to put more and more of his b.s. newspaper writer perspective into the story. Nobody cares about the Baltimore Sun or any of the half dozen poorly developed characters that are introduced for no apparent reason. Maybe if he hadn't spent so much time trying to add the Baltimore Sun, or B.S. perspective into the script, maybe then there would have been a valid conclusion to what could have easily been an overall 9 of a show, but with this season I just don't feel it anymore.… Expand
  15. Justinavery7074
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    Since most said that it was the weakest season, I lowered my standards. And while I was within that mindset, I saw the concluding season. Just marvelous. These characters will be sorely missed.
  16. briank
    Jan 14, 2008
    10
    This is the best show on TV PERIOD Nothing comes close, the Emmy's should be ashamed on themselves for snubbing this show. It crushes every other show on TV even Sopranos because unlike the Sopranos the Wire gets better with each season NOT WORSE! Season 4 was the best and no doubt season 5 will deliver too, so far it is great!
  17. MAKKIE
    Oct 14, 2010
    2
    I thought the WIRE was the best TV I'd ever seen - so it was really a shame to end on a low. The final WIRE season was a great disappointment. A number of well-known characters suddenly became two-dimensional and behaved in ways that were totally at odds with how their behaviour had built over previous seasons. New characters were introduced that did not show any depth (unlike in previousI thought the WIRE was the best TV I'd ever seen - so it was really a shame to end on a low. The final WIRE season was a great disappointment. A number of well-known characters suddenly became two-dimensional and behaved in ways that were totally at odds with how their behaviour had built over previous seasons. New characters were introduced that did not show any depth (unlike in previous seasons, the newsroom crowd did not become real people, compared to say the dock crowd). The plot became unrealistic to the point of farce, and rushed. I wonder how much of this was down to creative exhaustion, and how much of it was down to the reduced series length (in terms of numbers of episodes). Yes, my expectations were very high. But I realise that if I had come to series 5 of the Wire before any of the others, I would have thought it was just another slightly hyper-real gritty cop show.… Expand
  18. RickS
    Aug 3, 2009
    10
    While A FEW of the disparaging posts listed below make at least some relevant and coherent arguments, it's PREPOSTEROUS to give even the last, so-called weakest season of The Wire anything less than a 10/10. The only real fault of this season, all overwrought and haughty criticism aside, is that the show probably tried to do too much, especially given that the season was limited to While A FEW of the disparaging posts listed below make at least some relevant and coherent arguments, it's PREPOSTEROUS to give even the last, so-called weakest season of The Wire anything less than a 10/10. The only real fault of this season, all overwrought and haughty criticism aside, is that the show probably tried to do too much, especially given that the season was limited to ten episodes. The irony is palpable in statements like "the serial-killer storyline was unrealistic"; the show had built so much credibility in the previous seasons that McNulty's transgressions were a bit far-fetched, even though no one would have admitted as much while they watched these brilliant final episodes. In the end, the major themes like the system's immovability and the ultimate triumph of evil despite the existence of nobility all rang true as much as ever. This show takes its rightful place atop all others in that its STORY was so massively complex yet succinctly coherent. It redefined drama, and turned the dial to "eleven".… Expand
  19. MrW.
    Jan 15, 2008
    5
    The show has lost all of its flow with the addition of the "baltimore sun" story line. This is the final season and instead of allowing us to dig in to the characters we've come to love/hate they add in some dry, uninteresting, newsroom crap. It seems to me that HBO is setting up a spin-off show and ruining the wire to use it as a launching pad.
  20. JudyT
    Mar 11, 2008
    7
    Unsatisfying ending to a difficult to watch series. I have really only kept up with it because I love Clarke Johnson and anything he is in.
  21. Aaron
    May 26, 2009
    2
    It was the worst season EVER season four was much better.
  22. BunkM.
    Feb 2, 2008
    10
    New world, new issues. Here's hoping for a strong finish.
  23. RayW.
    Feb 7, 2008
    9
    If you are looking for convention and safety in your tv entertainment you'll be disappointed, the wire offers the sort of hard fought rewards usually found in great novels. it compares well to anything of the last 20 years (including movies), and i think it will stand the test over the next 20 years too.
  24. HarryS.
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    Season five seamlessly integrates yet another beautifully realized, dysfunctional, depressing (and yet often hilarious) aspect of Baltimore city life. And even if you think the newsroom doesn't carry the same emotional punch of the schools story arc from season 4, it's still equally relevant, and further serves the show's purpose, namely, telling the story of the decline of Season five seamlessly integrates yet another beautifully realized, dysfunctional, depressing (and yet often hilarious) aspect of Baltimore city life. And even if you think the newsroom doesn't carry the same emotional punch of the schools story arc from season 4, it's still equally relevant, and further serves the show's purpose, namely, telling the story of the decline of an American city. From the corners to the precincts to the docks to the schools to the newsdesk, "it's all connected." It's not TV. It's not even HBO. Simply put, it's one of mankind's greatest artistic achievements. Okay, have I overhyped it enough for you yet?… Expand
  25. NateS.
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    There's been so much critical hype for this show that people might be skeptical, but it really is fantastic. You also might be fooled into thinking it's preachy or too depressing. It's not at all; it's engrossing and exciting and funny and smart.
  26. BrianB.
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    There's simply never been anything better. Unfortunately, it's complex and it scares away new viewers, but for those who rent the DVDs and get caught up, it will change the way the think about the "art" of television.
  27. AkinA.
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    Greatest show in TV history.
  28. MeyunnD.
    Jan 7, 2008
    10
    Off to a great start!!!! Keep it coming and PLEASE don't end like the Sopranos.
  29. DavidL
    Feb 9, 2008
    10
    Absolutely the best show on television. To be honest, season 4 was such an outstanding season (in a show filled with stellar seasons) that I wasn't sure how good the final season would be once I heard the storyline. To my surprise, after the first 7 episodes it's the same Wire that makes it hard to ever feel good about watching any other show. It just sets the bar so high, that Absolutely the best show on television. To be honest, season 4 was such an outstanding season (in a show filled with stellar seasons) that I wasn't sure how good the final season would be once I heard the storyline. To my surprise, after the first 7 episodes it's the same Wire that makes it hard to ever feel good about watching any other show. It just sets the bar so high, that when you hear about shows like Prison Break, and "Lost" and people talking about how good they are, you can't help but chuckle. I've never found a person who hasn't been hooked on the Wire after watching five or more episodes. It can take that long to get into and comprehend what's going on, but it's absolutely worth it. It's going to be sad once this season ends. I don't know if there will ever be a better show on television anytime in the upcoming decades. It's that good.… Expand
  30. JamesT.
    Mar 16, 2008
    10
    The best of the best that tv ever had to offer, even when measured against season 4, season 5 though not as strong, is just as great
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best TV Season of 2008
8
#8 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008
6
#6 Most Shared TV Season of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    70
    While the police story line has never been stronger, the first seven episodes made available for preview contain nothing that matches the emotional power and sociological insight of the show at its best--namely the classroom scenes from Season 4.
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  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    88
    The episodes that kick off this last 10-show run don't feel perfect. But they almost always feel intuitively right.
    Read full review
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    80
    In these last innings, as The Wire ties up its gnarled threads, it also makes its most daring departure yet, introducing yet another institution, and a brand-new cast of characters to disappoint us.
    Read full review
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