The Wire: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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The Wire — Season 1

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The Wire — Season 1

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Critics Reviews

Graeme Blundell The Australian ...it's a drama that gradually teaches you how to watch it, in the same way a great novel lets you know how to read it. Mar 28, 2020 Full Review Belinda Acosta Austin Chronicle Because the ensemble cast is so huge, it's initially difficult to keep track of who is who, but the show is slowly, deftly defining characters and in the process showing that what separates the good guys from the bad guys is not so distinct. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Nathan Rabin AV Club The Wire's first season is methodical and deliberate to an almost perverse degree. Like the Avon Barksdale investigation, it's built piece-by-piece. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [A] compelling tale of cops, crooks, and the social and bureaucratic forces that both divide and bind them, and... an epic series that set the high water mark for television drama. Apr 8, 2023 Full Review Anne Stockwell The Advocate Michael K Williams is also extraordinary as Omar, a legendary bandit who likes to rob Baltimore's drug dealers. (Talk about your high-stress occupations.) Apr 5, 2022 Full Review Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel The lack of a prominent face in the ensemble further complicates keeping track of who is who, and while the actors work hard, the lackluster material makes it difficult for anyone to shine. Oct 21, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 2, 2002 The Target McNulty (Dominic West) is assigned to a team of outcasts assigned to probe drug lord Avon Barksdale's (Wood Harris) operations. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 9, 2002 The Detail A witness who testified against D'Angelo is found murdered; Greggs is briefed on the Barksdale probe. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 16, 2002 The Buys Detectives' inquiries spark a minor riot, causing a boy to lose an eye and giving police a black eye publicity-wise. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 23, 2002 Old Cases Gang members arrested in the raid face arraignment; Greggs and McNulty try to turn Hardcase into an informant. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 30, 2002 The Pager McNulty's detail tries breaking the code on the gang's pagers; Bell teaches D'Angelo how to train lookouts. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 7, 2002 The Wire Rawls' demands create strange allies; Wallace and D'Angelo wrestle with their consciences; Omar turns witness. Details Episode 7 Aired Jul 21, 2002 One Arrest A tip-off prompts arrest, but Avon and Stringer grow suspicious; another witness to the Grant murder emerges. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 28, 2002 Lessons McNulty gets Stringer's license-plate number; Omar engages in a violent street encounter. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 4, 2002 Game Day Barksdale plays games with an East Side rival; Herc and Carver take cash from Wee-Bey; Omar resurfaces. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 11, 2002 The Cost McNulty and Daniels try to figure out what to do with Wallace; Sydnor and Carver track down one of Barksdale's stash houses. Details Episode 11 Aired Aug 18, 2002 The Hunt After a drug bust goes awry, Greggs winds up in intensive care; the police step up the hunt for Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Details Episode 12 Aired Sep 1, 2002 Cleaning Up McNulty and Daniels wire Barksdale's back office; Wallace returns to the projects; D'Angelo makes a run to New York. Details Episode 13 Aired Sep 8, 2002 Sentencing Daniels and McNulty attempt to continue the case; Freamon and Bunk try to trace a crucial call; Pearlman and McNulty celebrate a break in the case. Details

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Season Info