The Wire (TV series)
"The Wire" is a critically acclaimed television series that aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008, spanning five seasons and sixty episodes. Created by journalist David Simon and former detective Ed Burns, the series offers a gritty and realistic portrayal of the drug trade in urban America, exploring its multifaceted impact on various social institutions, including law enforcement, education, and politics. Each season focuses on different aspects of Baltimore, such as the drug dealers, police officers, the shipping industry, and the media, with the central storyline revolving around the Barksdale Organization, a fictional drug operation led by Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell.
The series is notable for its ensemble cast of lesser-known actors, including Michael K. Williams as the iconic character Omar Little, who navigates the streets as a thief targeting drug dealers. "The Wire" is recognized for its unflinching examination of corruption and moral ambiguity within characters from all walks of life, including law enforcement and politicians. Despite its lack of major awards and lower ratings during its original run, many critics regard it as one of the greatest television series, prompting discussions on the social issues it addresses and the broader implications for American society. The show's impact continues to resonate, highlighting ongoing challenges related to drugs, crime, and institutional reform.
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The Wire (TV series)
Identification: Television drama set in Baltimore, Maryland
Executive Producer: David Simon (b. 1960)
Date: June 22, 2002–March 9, 2008
Although it never won any major awards and did not receive high ratings, many critics consider The Wire to be a landmark television series. Some have called it the greatest television series of all time. The Wire is celebrated for its realist portrayal of the drug trade in urban America, and its effects on public institutions. The Wire aired in sixty episodes over five seasons on HBO, ending in March 2008.
Journalist and author David Simon teamed up with former Baltimore homicide detective Ed Burns to create The Wire. The two had formerly collaborated to produce the 2000 HBO miniseries The Corner, based on a book they had written about a poor family living in West Baltimore and how their lives are impacted by illegal drugs. For The Wire, Simon and Burns extended their scope, exploring how the illegal drug trade affected neighborhoods, schools, law enforcement agencies, and government.
The Wire was shot on location in Baltimore. The cast was comprised of character actors who were relatively unknown when filming began. Each of the series’ five seasons highlighted a different aspect of Baltimore: the drug dealers and police officers, the stevedores and the shipping industry, politics, the public education system, and the media—specifically The Baltimore Sun newspaper. Through all of the seasons, the fictional drug operation known as the “Barksdale Organization” remains central to the story. Led by Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) and Russell “Stringer” Bell (Idris Elba), the gang is the target of a special police detail that includes detectives James McNulty (Dominic West) and William “Bunk” Moreland (Wendell Pierce). One of the series’ most popular characters is Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), an openly gay man who survives on the streets by robbing drug dealers. The show also cast ex-felons for roles, such as Felicia Pearson, who played a Barksdale Organization soldier named Snoop.
Corruption is a key theme in The Wire. The story explores the presence and impact of corruption in institutions such as law enforcement and politics. Other themes addressed in the series include the decline of American industry, the struggle to reform corrupt institutions and individuals, and the reciprocity of crime.
Impact
Each character in The Wire, including drug dealers, cops, and politicians, are depicted as unglamorous, morally conflicted people. The show presents a challenging, realistic look into the world of drugs, violence and law enforcement that exists in many cities in the United States. The show helped bring attention to the drug-related issues and crime in Baltimore, as well as the rest of America, engendering discussion about how social problems might be effectively addressed.
Bibliography
Alvarez, Rafael. The Wire: Truth Be Told. New York: Simon, 2010. Print.
Bruhn, Jørgen, and Anne Gjelsvik. "David Simon's Novel Cop Show." New Review of Film & Television Studies. 11.2 (2013):133–153. Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Potter, Tiffany, and C. W. Marshall, eds. The Wire: Urban Decay and American Television. New York and London: Continuum, 2009. Print.
Vannatta, Seth, Joanna Crosby, and David Bzdak. The Wire and Philosophy. Chicago: Open Court, 2013. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Wilson, Galen. "'The Bigger the Lie, The More They Believe': Cinematic Realism and the Anxiety of Representation in David Simon's The Wire." South Central Review: The Journal of the South Central Modern Language Association. 31.2 (2014): 59–79. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.