The BEST Episodes of The Wire

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.

#1 - -30-

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired Mar 9, 2008

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

8.64

2,630 votes

Directors: Clark Johnson

Writers: David Simon, Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#2 - Final Grades

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired Dec 10, 2006

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

8.43

2,642 votes

Directors: Ernest Dickerson

Writers: David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#3 - Middle Ground

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired Dec 12, 2004

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

8.33

3,007 votes

Directors: Joe Chappelle

Writers: George Pelecanos

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#4 - Mission Accomplished

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired Dec 19, 2004

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

8.33

3,017 votes

Directors: Ernest Dickerson

Writers: David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#5 - The Cost

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired Aug 11, 2002

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

8.26

3,561 votes

Directors: Brad Anderson

Writers: David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#6 - Sentencing

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired Sep 8, 2002

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

8.24

3,535 votes

Directors: Timothy Van Patten

Writers: David Simon, Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

the

Episode Ninja

podcast

EPISODE 23

Ted Lasso

Listen Now

#7 - Late Editions

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired Mar 2, 2008

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

8.21

2,553 votes

Directors: Joe Chappelle

Writers: David Simon, George Pelecanos

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#8 - That's Got His Own

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired Dec 3, 2006

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

8.18

2,709 votes

Directors: Joe Chappelle

Writers: George Pelecanos

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#9 - The Hunt

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired Aug 18, 2002

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

8.15

3,704 votes

Directors: Steve Shill

Writers: Joy Lusco

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#10 - Port in a Storm

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired Aug 24, 2003

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

8.14

2,922 votes

Directors: Robert F. Colesberry

Writers: David Simon, Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#11 - A New Day

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired Nov 26, 2006

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

8.12

2,620 votes

Directors: Brad Anderson

Writers: Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#12 - Bad Dreams

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired Aug 17, 2003

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

8.10

2,942 votes

Directors: Ernest Dickerson

Writers: George Pelecanos

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#13 - Not for Attribution

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired Jan 20, 2008

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

8.07

2,679 votes

Directors: Joy Kecken, Scott Kecken

Writers: Chris Collins, David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#14 - Transitions

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired Jan 27, 2008

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

8.07

2,605 votes

Directors: Daniel Attias

Writers: Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#15 - Clarifications

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired Feb 24, 2008

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

8.05

2,580 votes

Directors: Anthony Hemingway

Writers: David Simon, Dennis Lehane

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#16 - Game Day

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired Aug 4, 2002

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

8.04

3,544 votes

Directors: Milcho Manchevski

Writers: David H. Melnick, David Simon, Ed Burns, Shamit Choksey

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#17 - React Quotes

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired Feb 3, 2008

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

8.03

2,473 votes

Directors: Agnieszka Holland

Writers: Agnieszka Holland, David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#18 - Cleaning Up

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired Sep 1, 2002

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

8.00

3,785 votes

Directors: Clement Virgo

Writers: George Pelecanos

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#19 - Moral Midgetry

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired Nov 14, 2004

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

7.97

3,293 votes

Directors: Agnieszka Holland

Writers: Richard Price

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#20 - Slapstick

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired Nov 21, 2004

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

7.95

2,886 votes

Directors: Alex Zakrzewski

Writers: David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#21 - Took

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired Feb 17, 2008

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

7.93

2,497 votes

Directors: Dominic West

Writers: David Simon, Richard Price

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#22 - Lessons

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired Jul 28, 2002

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

7.92

3,771 votes

Directors: Gloria Muzio

Writers: David Simon, Ed Burns

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#23 - Stray Rounds

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired Aug 3, 2003

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

7.92

3,023 votes

Directors: Timothy Van Patten

Writers: David Simon

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#24 - Back Burners

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Nov 7, 2004

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

7.91

2,904 votes

Directors: Timothy Van Patten

Writers: Joy Lusco

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆

#25 - Margin of Error

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired Oct 15, 2006

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

7.91

2,754 votes

Directors: Daniel Attias

Writers: Eric Overmyer

Watch on Amazon Buy on iTunes

Rate This Episode:( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆( )☆