The BEST episodes of The Wire

Every episode of The Wire ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of 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.

Last Updated: 2/14/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
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-30-
star
8.64
2773 votes

#1 - -30-

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/9/2008

McNulty and Freamon face the consequences of their actions, while Carcetti tries to save face.

Directors: Clark Johnson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Final Grades
star
8.45
2764 votes

#2 - Final Grades

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/10/2006

Namond, Randy and Dukie adjust to new realities; Michael is promoted; Omar makes Prop Joe an offer.

Writer: David Simon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Middle Ground
star
8.35
3137 votes

#3 - Middle Ground

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/12/2004

The wire begins to yield info about the Barksdale organization, though links to the top are elusive.

Directors: Joe Chappelle
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mission Accomplished
star
8.33
3136 votes

#4 - Mission Accomplished

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/19/2004

A reticent Avon readies his troops for a seemingly endless war against Marlo.

Writer: David Simon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Cost
star
8.26
3708 votes

#5 - The Cost

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/11/2002

With Wallace in custody, McNulty and Daniels must figure out what to do with him in the time before he testifies.

Directors: Brad Anderson
Writer: David Simon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sentencing
star
8.23
3685 votes

#6 - Sentencing

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/8/2002

Daniels and McNulty turn to a higher authority to crack the case.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Late Editions
star
8.22
2657 votes

#7 - Late Editions

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/2/2008

Freamon's hard work pays off with a promising lead, though McNulty isn't in the mood to celebrate.

Directors: Joe Chappelle
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
That's Got His Own
star
8.19
2827 votes

#8 - That's Got His Own

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/3/2006

Freamon seeks help in City Hall; Bubbles gets desperate; Michael rejects his past; Omar strikes again.

Directors: Joe Chappelle
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Hunt
star
8.14
3822 votes

#9 - The Hunt

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/18/2002

Burrell orders Daniels to hit dealers for results that will impress the media. Meanwhile, Greggs is in the ICU.

Directors: Steve Shill
Writer: Joy Lusco
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Port in a Storm
star
8.13
3053 votes

#10 - Port in a Storm

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/24/2003

The Detail suffers a setback, while Russell and Bunk revisit Philly to look for evidence.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A New Day
star
8.12
2740 votes

#11 - A New Day

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/26/2006

Carcetti faces a dilemma; Randy gets the cold shoulder; Omar makes a power play; Freamon has a revelation.

Directors: Brad Anderson
Writer: Ed Burns
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Dreams
star
8.11
3072 votes

#12 - Bad Dreams

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/17/2003

With the clock ticking, the Detail makes a desperate move. Daniels reams out Landsman for dropping the ball.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Not for Attribution
star
8.07
2801 votes

#13 - Not for Attribution

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/20/2008

Carcetti's police plans are leaked to the press; Marlo cleans up his cash.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Transitions
star
8.06
2721 votes

#14 - Transitions

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/27/2008

The police brass changes; McNulty and Freamon look for bodies; Prop Joe pays his last respects.

Directors: Daniel Attias
Writer: Ed Burns
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Clarifications
star
8.04
2687 votes

#15 - Clarifications

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/24/2008

Bunk returns a McNulty favor; Carcetti is forced to make deals; Hayes asks Templeton about his sources.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Game Day
star
8.04
3681 votes

#16 - Game Day

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/4/2002

Barksdale plays an expensive game of one-upmanship with an east-side rival.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
React Quotes
star
8.01
2581 votes

#17 - React Quotes

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/3/2008

Marlo's new alliance gives Freamon and McNulty a fresh lead; the press turns to a breaking story.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cleaning Up
star
8.01
3934 votes

#18 - Cleaning Up

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/1/2002

With the detail's future hanging in the balance, Daniels faces off against Burrell and his political allies.

Directors: Clement Virgo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Moral Midgetry
star
7.97
3415 votes

#19 - Moral Midgetry

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2004

With Amsterdam running full-tilt, Carver and Truck discover there really is no honor among thieves.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Slapstick
star
7.95
3003 votes

#20 - Slapstick

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/2004

Responding to an officer's call for help, McNulty and Prez turn down the wrong alley, with unexpected results.

Directors: Alex Zakrzewski
Writer: David Simon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Stray Rounds
star
7.92
3133 votes

#21 - Stray Rounds

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/3/2003

Bodie's effort to improve sales ends disastrously, forcing Bell to rethink his strategy.

Writer: David Simon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Took
star
7.91
2619 votes

#22 - Took

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/17/2008

An unexpected call puts Templeton and the paper back in the spotlight--and gets McNulty unwanted extra attention.

Directors: Dominic West
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lessons
star
7.90
3904 votes

#23 - Lessons

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/28/2002

An unlikely source gives McNulty the tag of Stringer Bell's car. Later, Omar earns his 'loose cannon' reputation.

Directors: Gloria Muzio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Back Burners
star
7.90
3026 votes

#24 - Back Burners

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/2004

Herc discovers a blast from the past, which he belatedly reveals to his ex-colleagues.

Writer: Joy Lusco
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Margin of Error
star
7.90
2872 votes

#25 - Margin of Error

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/2006

Carcetti responds to a campaign smear; Randy makes a startling revelation; Marlo proves elusive.

Directors: Daniel Attias
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV