The Wire - The Complete Fifth Season

By any standard other than being the last season of the Wire, this would be a five-star season. It's incredible, and definitely must-see television for anyone willing to invest the time to understand it. However, I would say that it is clearly the worst of the five seasons, for two reasons. One has to do with the actual story, which in this season takes a slight turn towards the fantastical and unrealistic, with Jimmy McNulty's mildly absurd gambit for additional funding. More importantly though, this is the first season in which the show seems to have an axe to grind, in this case against the Baltimore Sun. The first four seasons are gorgeously balanced in their presentation of everything. This one is merely well-balanced, if that makes sense. Nevertheless, I absolutely recommend it.

Why does it take a Brit audience to appreciate, fully, the virtues of this AMERICAN teleseries?
David Simonses' purview and focus on a typical contemporary city ghetto and all its sociopolitical AND socioeconomic significations is surely the truest and the "best" to date. On any media or in any venue.
It is unblinking and unapologetic and unforgiving as well as unforgettably "real." It gives "virtual" reality an authenticity so laughably missing in self-styled "reality" shows.
Even the finest of the likes of "The Sopranos" must appear fictional next to this depiction of a virtual Baltimore, which make "life" but a reflection of this mirror image.
Oh, and how many in the audience recognize the difference/resemblance to those daily briefings we watched and loved in "Hill Street Blues"?
"Be careful out there . . ." Fpr sure.

An engrossing, addictive series. Well written, well acted, well done! Too bad it's over.

This series was perhaps the series that brought out that final part of some of the characters personas.

The big question that they were asked was "Would you sacrifice your career for the common good?" Some said yes, some said no.

We get the chance to look at the reporter who is struggling with inability and what he is prepared to do to get ahead. We look at characters who when given the chance to compromise their beliefs, refuse to do so.

This series is just brilliant, very deep and full of issues.

Loved it.

I've been watching The Wire fpr several years now, and now that I've watched the final season I feel like I've graduated or something. I'm sad because this is definitely one of my favorite TV series of all time. It's just so addictive: smart, interesting, very well written and acted. I love The Wire.