Description: In the projects. On the docks. In City Hall. In the schools. And now, in the media. The places and faces have changed, but the game remains the same. Times are tough for the detail. Mayor Carcetti has slashed the departments budget to the bone. Police are operating without overtime some without cars and radios. Angered, McNulty is off the rails again and headed down a dangerous path of deception and lies that will ally him with an unscrupulous reporter. The drug trade still rules the corners, all you have to do is read between the lines.
DVD Features: Audio Commentary Featurette
Amazon.com: A barroom toast to Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), a one-man good cop/bad cop, offered in The Wire's final episode could very well serve as this series' epitaph: "When you were good, you were the best we had." Season five bears witness to this. The 10 riveting, wrenching episodes focus on yet another beleaguered Baltimore institution, The Baltimore Sun daily newspaper, whose staff, much like the police, is forced to do more with less. One editor (Clark Johnson) struggles to maintain the paper's journalistic standards in the face of declining ad revenues, employee buyouts and bureau closures. An ambitious reporter (Tom McCarthy) undermines him by taking a page out of the Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair playbook, manufacturing sensational quotes, and eventually, whole stories, while bean-counter management encourages its rising star and keeps its eye on the (Pulitzer) prize. Meanwhile, on the streets, the year-long investigation of rising drug lord Marlo Sansfield (Jamie Hector) and the 22 bodies found in "the vacants" has been discontinued and police morale is at an all-time low (the money promised to the department has been diverted to the schools). McNulty manufactures a serial killer case that will have far-reaching repercussions in the mayor's office, where Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) is mounting a run for governor a mere two years into his term. "I wonder what it would be like to work at a real police station," McNulty rages at one point. The Wire, as ever, is all about real. It's a gritty and unflinching look at life in one of roughest districts of a "broke-ass city." There is street justice for some characters, and street injustice for others. Some meet sad, sudden, or shocking ends that defy TV convention. Referring to Marlo, McNulty declares early on, "He does not get to win; we get to win." The hard-earned victories are mostly small, or come with a price. Not that The Wire does not offer glimmers of hope. Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to maintain his sobriety (Steve Earle portrays the leader of his 12-step program and also does the theme song honors this season), and the final episode features a cameo by Jim True-Frost as the once overwhelmed teacher, "Prez," who now seems to have the hang of the job. The ratings-strapped and criminally Emmy-snubbed The Wire has always been a critic's darling with a passionate fan base. To the show's credit, it did not make itself more accessible in its final season (consequently, its send-off did not receive near the fanfare of The Sopranos or Sex and the City). That should not dissuade newcomers to the show. It is heavy lifting, and if you're just joining The Wire, a visit to the show's official website for orientation is recommended. But buy it, watch it, and be patient. It's so worth it. From the masterful storytelling to the peerless ensemble, it just doesn't get any better than The Wire. But that's not exactly news. --Donald Liebenson
Where The Wire stopped being real I loved the first four seasons of The Wire. Nearly even moment of the series felt true to me. This made the highly improbably developments in season five even harder to stomach. I actually felt a bit betrayed by the writers of this program. McNulty hatches a plan that no sane person would carry out, and actually enlists the help of several others. Unfortunately this nutty scheme becomes central to the entire fifth season. Couple this with a miraculous escape when a particular character faces trouble and I just found the entire season quite hard to stomach.
I actually wish I never watched season five. I left a bad taste in my mouth for the series as a whole.
Let me just say one last thing: season 5 is still better than pretty much anything you'll see on TV or in the movie theater. The two star rating is only relative to the previous seasons. However, if you are a logical thinking person who craves realism this season will let you down.
One of the best ever, seriously I had heard about the wire for quite a while, but i wasnt sure what channel it was on and i figured it was just another cop show. I had grown up watching random episodes of cop shows and i got tired of them starting and finishing a case in each episode. Luckily, the Wire is not one of those cop shows. Nothing gets solved in a single episode. Everything builds up to a fulfilling finish. You can't miss any episodes or else certain things wont make sense. And the realism with which this show was made really stands out. I bought Season 1 without ever watching an episode, and by that time the series was already over. I ended up watching all 5 seasons in less than 2 months and the feelings and emotions and excitement that i felt when i watched it are coming back to me now just from talking about it. This is not just a show for people who like cop shows. This is not a show just for people who like drama. This is a show for people who want to see society for what it really is, while getting some thrills at the same time. Truly a masterpiece. easily one of the 10 best shows of all time.
From Strength to Strength This series is quite simply the real deal. Its attention to detail and fine tuning in terms of character, environment and the politics and sheer grittiness of modern life could not be better rendered... or could they? I'd be curious to know, but not easily persuaded. This is modern American life laid bare. If you've only just come across the series, I recommended you go back and start from series one and work your way through, I'd be surprised if you were disappointed that you'd done so. It's TV at its current best. The Wire - The Complete First Season The Wire: The Complete Series
Disappointed My husband and I have both loved this series, but we are about 1/2 way through Season 5 and feel very disappointed with it. I find the McNulty serial killer plot to be very far-fetched and I don't like what happens with the McNulty character. A downward spiral back into his drinking etc. I can understand, but not the unbelievable serial killer arc. And I especially find it unbelievable that Freamon would go with him on this, no matter how much he wants funding for his Marlo investigation.
I'm also disappointed somewhat in the newspaper plot. They are bringing out a lot of the problems faced by big city newspapers, but not with the same expertise that made me buy into the school situation, the political situation, or even the story line revolving around the docks.
If this were any other show, I'd probably rate it higher. Part of my disappointment is that I think every other season improved on the previous season. IMO, Season 5 does not do that.
wasnt as described the case was pratically destryed when i recieved it. it was a gift for someone and when i saw the case i had to find another gift. i was very disappointed. will never purchase from then again.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
