The Wire - The Complete Fifth Season
starring: Dominic West, Clark Johnson, Aidan Gillen, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce
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Product Description:
Studio: Hbo Home VideoRelease Date: 08/12/2008Run time: 630 minutes
Amazon.com:
A barroom toast to Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), a one-man good cop/bad cop, offered in The Wire's final episode could very well serve as this series' epitaph: "When you were good, you were the best we had." Season five bears witness to this. The 10 riveting, wrenching episodes focus on yet another beleaguered Baltimore institution, The Baltimore Sun daily newspaper, whose staff, much like the police, is forced to do more with less. One editor (Clark Johnson) struggles to maintain the paper's journalistic standards in the face of declining ad revenues, employee buyouts and bureau closures. An ambitious reporter (Tom McCarthy) undermines him by taking a page out of the Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair playbook, manufacturing sensational quotes, and eventually, whole stories, while bean-counter management encourages its rising star and keeps its eye on the (Pulitzer) prize. Meanwhile, on the streets, the year-long investigation of rising drug lord Marlo Sansfield (Jamie Hector) and the 22 bodies found in "the vacants" has been discontinued and police morale is at an all-time low (the money promised to the department has been diverted to the schools). McNulty manufactures a serial killer case that will have far-reaching repercussions in the mayor's office, where Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) is mounting a run for governor a mere two years into his term. "I wonder what it would be like to work at a real police station," McNulty rages at one point. The Wire, as ever, is all about real. It's a gritty and unflinching look at life in one of roughest districts of a "broke-ass city." There is street justice for some characters, and street injustice for others. Some meet sad, sudden, or shocking ends that defy TV convention. Referring to Marlo, McNulty declares early on, "He does not get to win; we get to win." The hard-earned victories are mostly small, or come with a price. Not that The Wire does not offer glimmers of hope. Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to maintain his sobriety (Steve Earle portrays the leader of his 12-step program and also does the theme song honors this season), and the final episode features a cameo by Jim True-Frost as the once overwhelmed teacher, "Prez," who now seems to have the hang of the job. The ratings-strapped and criminally Emmy-snubbed The Wire has always been a critic's darling with a passionate fan base. To the show's credit, it did not make itself more accessible in its final season (consequently, its send-off did not receive near the fanfare of The Sopranos or Sex and the City). That should not dissuade newcomers to the show. It is heavy lifting, and if you're just joining The Wire, a visit to the show's official website for orientation is recommended. But buy it, watch it, and be patient. It's so worth it. From the masterful storytelling to the peerless ensemble, it just doesn't get any better than The Wire. But that's not exactly news. --Donald Liebenson
Studio: Hbo Home VideoRelease Date: 08/12/2008Run time: 630 minutes
Amazon.com:
A barroom toast to Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), a one-man good cop/bad cop, offered in The Wire's final episode could very well serve as this series' epitaph: "When you were good, you were the best we had." Season five bears witness to this. The 10 riveting, wrenching episodes focus on yet another beleaguered Baltimore institution, The Baltimore Sun daily newspaper, whose staff, much like the police, is forced to do more with less. One editor (Clark Johnson) struggles to maintain the paper's journalistic standards in the face of declining ad revenues, employee buyouts and bureau closures. An ambitious reporter (Tom McCarthy) undermines him by taking a page out of the Stephen Glass/Jayson Blair playbook, manufacturing sensational quotes, and eventually, whole stories, while bean-counter management encourages its rising star and keeps its eye on the (Pulitzer) prize. Meanwhile, on the streets, the year-long investigation of rising drug lord Marlo Sansfield (Jamie Hector) and the 22 bodies found in "the vacants" has been discontinued and police morale is at an all-time low (the money promised to the department has been diverted to the schools). McNulty manufactures a serial killer case that will have far-reaching repercussions in the mayor's office, where Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) is mounting a run for governor a mere two years into his term. "I wonder what it would be like to work at a real police station," McNulty rages at one point. The Wire, as ever, is all about real. It's a gritty and unflinching look at life in one of roughest districts of a "broke-ass city." There is street justice for some characters, and street injustice for others. Some meet sad, sudden, or shocking ends that defy TV convention. Referring to Marlo, McNulty declares early on, "He does not get to win; we get to win." The hard-earned victories are mostly small, or come with a price. Not that The Wire does not offer glimmers of hope. Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to maintain his sobriety (Steve Earle portrays the leader of his 12-step program and also does the theme song honors this season), and the final episode features a cameo by Jim True-Frost as the once overwhelmed teacher, "Prez," who now seems to have the hang of the job. The ratings-strapped and criminally Emmy-snubbed The Wire has always been a critic's darling with a passionate fan base. To the show's credit, it did not make itself more accessible in its final season (consequently, its send-off did not receive near the fanfare of The Sopranos or Sex and the City). That should not dissuade newcomers to the show. It is heavy lifting, and if you're just joining The Wire, a visit to the show's official website for orientation is recommended. But buy it, watch it, and be patient. It's so worth it. From the masterful storytelling to the peerless ensemble, it just doesn't get any better than The Wire. But that's not exactly news. --Donald Liebenson
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Really great, but not as good as the first 4 seasons
By any standard other than being the last season of the Wire, this would be a five-star season. It's incredible, and definitely must-see television for anyone willing to invest the time to understand it. However, I would say that it is clearly the worst of the five seasons, for two reasons. One has to do with the actual story, which in this season takes a slight turn towards the fantastical and unrealistic, with Jimmy McNulty's mildly absurd gambit for additional funding. More importantly though, ... Read More
Rating: 
- Too good for an immature American audience . . .
Why does it take a Brit audience to appreciate, fully, the virtues of this AMERICAN teleseries?
David Simonses' purview and focus on a typical contemporary city ghetto and all its sociopolitical AND socioeconomic significations is surely the truest and the "best" to date. On any media or in any venue.
It is unblinking and unapologetic and unforgiving as well as unforgettably "real." It gives "virtual" reality an authenticity so laughably missing in self-styled "reality" shows.
Even ... Read More
Rating: - The best series since Sex and the City
An engrossing, addictive series. Well written, well acted, well done!Too bad it's over.
Rating: - Compromises and sacrifices
This series was perhaps the series that brought out that final part of some of the characters personas.
The big question that they were asked was "Would you sacrifice your career for the common good?" Some said yes, some said no.
We get the chance to look at the reporter who is struggling with inability and what he is prepared to do to get ahead. We look at characters who when given the chance to compromise their beliefs, refuse to do so.
This series is just brilliant, ... Read More
Rating: - Loved this series
I've been watching The Wire fpr several years now, and now that I've watched the final season I feel like I've graduated or something. I'm sad because this is definitely one of my favorite TV series of all time. It's just so addictive: smart, interesting, very well written and acted. I love The Wire.
- Really great, but not as good as the first 4 seasonsBy any standard other than being the last season of the Wire, this would be a five-star season. It's incredible, and definitely must-see television for anyone willing to invest the time to understand it. However, I would say that it is clearly the worst of the five seasons, for two reasons. One has to do with the actual story, which in this season takes a slight turn towards the fantastical and unrealistic, with Jimmy McNulty's mildly absurd gambit for additional funding. More importantly though, ... Read More
- Too good for an immature American audience . . .Why does it take a Brit audience to appreciate, fully, the virtues of this AMERICAN teleseries?
David Simonses' purview and focus on a typical contemporary city ghetto and all its sociopolitical AND socioeconomic significations is surely the truest and the "best" to date. On any media or in any venue.
It is unblinking and unapologetic and unforgiving as well as unforgettably "real." It gives "virtual" reality an authenticity so laughably missing in self-styled "reality" shows.
Even ... Read More
- The best series since Sex and the CityAn engrossing, addictive series. Well written, well acted, well done!Too bad it's over.
- Compromises and sacrificesThis series was perhaps the series that brought out that final part of some of the characters personas.
The big question that they were asked was "Would you sacrifice your career for the common good?" Some said yes, some said no.
We get the chance to look at the reporter who is struggling with inability and what he is prepared to do to get ahead. We look at characters who when given the chance to compromise their beliefs, refuse to do so.
This series is just brilliant, ... Read More
- Loved this seriesI've been watching The Wire fpr several years now, and now that I've watched the final season I feel like I've graduated or something. I'm sad because this is definitely one of my favorite TV series of all time. It's just so addictive: smart, interesting, very well written and acted. I love The Wire.
