Wire (Complete First Season) (2002)

From David Simon, creator and co-writer of HBO's triple Emmy winning mini-series The Corner, this unvarnished, highly realistic HBO series follows a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore. Told from the point of view of both the police and their targets, the series captures a universe of subterfuge and surveillance, where easy distinctions between good and evil, and crime and punishment, are challenged at every turn.

This five disc collection includes all 13 episodes from The Complete First Season of The Wire!
 
"...one of the most demanding and thought-provoking series ever to grace television."  Brian Lowry, Variety
"...I loved every minute of The Wire..."  Elizabeth Skipper, DVD Verdict
"One would be hard-pressed to find another series that blends the personal and the political in such a kinetic yet thoughtful way."  Entertainment Weekly
"...so magnificently executed, so fascinating in its evolution, so frequently bracingly profound that it does no less than elevate the medium of television itself."  Movieline's Hollywood Life
"...the best show on television, period."  Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle
"As challenging social commentary, compelling character study and magnificently detailed drama, The Wire is peerless."  Ultimate DVD
"Four stars. Brilliant."  USA Today
 


Editor's Note

Unlike most television crime dramas, which neatly introduce and then solve a case all in the space of one hour, HBO's THE WIRE follows one single drug and homicide investigation throughout the length of an entire season. Centered on the drug culture of inner-city Baltimore, the series' storyline unfolds from the points of view of both the criminals lording the streets and the police officers determined to bring them down. This first season introduces detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and his supervisor, Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick), as they begin to pursue evidence against drug kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris). Meanwhile, Barksdale and his henchmen Stringer (Idris Elba) and Wee-Bey (Hassan Johnson) concern themselves with a rival drug dealer (Michael K. Williams) who's been cutting into their profits. Created by writer David Simon (THE CORNER, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET), THE WIRE's multifaceted approach offers a nuanced overview of every aspect of the drug trade and the complex morality of its participants.