The BEST episodes of The Wire season 2

Every episode of The Wire season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Wire season 2!

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: 11/24/2025Network: HBOStatus: Ended
Port in a Storm
star
8.13
3168 votes

#1 - 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
Bad Dreams
star
8.12
3190 votes

#2 - 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
Stray Rounds
star
7.90
3232 votes

#3 - 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
3367 votes

#4 - 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
All Prologue
star
7.87
3397 votes

#5 - All Prologue

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/6/2003

Trying to let go of police work and return to his marriage, McNulty gives up on identifying his Jane Doe.

Directors: Steve Shill
Writer: David Simon
Backwash
star
7.82
3343 votes

#6 - Backwash

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/13/2003

Russell tells Sobotka the investigation is over, but a computer is cloned, and when a container goes missing, the cops follow.

Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Duck and Cover
star
7.79
3380 votes

#7 - Duck and Cover

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/27/2003

McNulty is back to his old self, on a drunken binge of legendary proportions.

Directors: Daniel Attias
Undertow
star
7.73
3697 votes

#8 - Undertow

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/29/2003

Ziggy loses his prized Camaro to drug dealers who aren't buying his alibis about not paying up.

Directors: Steve Shill
Writer: Ed Burns
Hot Shots
star
7.71
3586 votes

#9 - Hot Shots

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/15/2003

Bunk and Freamon chase their crime scene, a container ship, to Philly.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: David Simon
Collateral Damage
star
7.69
3556 votes

#10 - Collateral Damage

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/8/2003

Major Valchek gets back at Sobotka for the church gift fiasco and a feud begins.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: David Simon
Hard Cases
star
7.68
3580 votes

#11 - Hard Cases

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/22/2003

Sobotka reprimands his nephew Nick for stealing the cameras and orders him to bring the cargo back.

Directors: Elodie Keene
Writer: Joy Lusco
Ebb Tide
star
7.57
3645 votes

#12 - Ebb Tide

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/1/2003

Det. McNulty—exiled to police-boat duty—makes a shocking discovery in the Baltimore harbor.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: David Simon