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: 2/17/2026Network: HBOStatus: Ended
-30-
star
8.64
2928 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:Amazon
Final Grades
star
8.45
2916 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:Amazon
Middle Ground
star
8.35
3262 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:Amazon
Mission Accomplished
star
8.32
3274 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:Amazon
The Cost
star
8.25
3889 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:Amazon
Late Editions
star
8.22
2788 votes

#6 - 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:Amazon
Sentencing
star
8.22
3849 votes

#7 - Sentencing

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

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

Watch Now:Amazon
That's Got His Own
star
8.20
2971 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:Amazon
Port in a Storm
star
8.13
3191 votes

#9 - 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:Amazon
The Hunt
star
8.12
3985 votes

#10 - 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:Amazon
Bad Dreams
star
8.12
3215 votes

#11 - 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:Amazon
A New Day
star
8.11
2872 votes

#12 - 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:Amazon
Transitions
star
8.05
2856 votes

#13 - 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:Amazon
Not for Attribution
star
8.05
2932 votes

#14 - 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:Amazon
Clarifications
star
8.03
2821 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:Amazon
Game Day
star
8.01
3853 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:Amazon
Cleaning Up
star
8.01
4084 votes

#17 - 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
React Quotes
star
8.00
2718 votes

#18 - 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:Amazon
Moral Midgetry
star
7.97
3545 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:Amazon
Slapstick
star
7.94
3133 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:Amazon
Stray Rounds
star
7.91
3255 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:Amazon
Storm Warnings
star
7.90
3392 votes

#22 - Storm Warnings

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/10/2003

Bodie is unhappy that Proposition Joe's people are slinging on his turf.

Directors: Rob Bailey
Writer: Ed Burns
Watch Now:Amazon
Margin of Error
star
7.89
3000 votes

#23 - 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:Amazon
Back Burners
star
7.89
3153 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:Amazon
Lessons
star
7.89
4075 votes

#25 - 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:Amazon