1/5 Awful, awful packaging
  by Thomas R. Hayes
Stay *away* from this set. These discs are packaged in the worst way that I've ever seen any disc set packaged.

Shame on HBO for putting out such a horrible package.

Your discs *WILL BE DAMAGED* when you get them. Mine were individually wrapped in plastic in the cardboard sleeves and many discs were scratched.

And to HBO : What's wrong with packaging the discs in normal DVD cases, or in CD cases, or any any of the proven disc storage technology developed over the last 25+ years??

5/5 What can I say?
  by Mary Metzger
What can I say that hasn't already been covered by these reviews? The Wire is by far the most complex and thought provoking show in recent (perhaps all) television history. It's painfully realistic sometimes, the characters are nuanced and engaging, and the story itself is alternately frustrating and gratifying (much like life itself).


The first time I saw this show, my husband was watching an episode on TV. I watched a few minutes and turned away, completely bored and having no idea what it was even supposed to be about. A year or so later, we rented the DVD and started from the very first episode and by the end of the episode, I was totally hooked.

The best way I've heard this show described is that it's a visual novel. You have to watch the whole thing and pay attention the whole time. You wouldn't pick up a novel, read just the fifth chapter and expect it to make sense, would you? The Wire is the same way - you can't catch an episode in the middle, as they're all part of a larger storyline that needs to be experienced in order.

This set brings together all five seasons and trust me, once you get hooked, you'll want to watch all five. Unlike many shows which tend to decline over time, The Wire remains strong until the very end. The weakest season, IMO, is the second one, but even that one is still tremendous.

4/5 dvd quality great - case, not so much
  by J. Fales (DC)
The product arrived on time and so far all the dvd's have played without issue. The casing that they come in and are to be stored in were NOT in good condition, even though they looked to be brand new as the package arrived still sealed. But after no use at all, the place where you insert the dvd into the case does not work properly and the dvd's fall out. It is not a big deal, but could easily lead to damage in the future.

5/5 It's the best American drama in the history of television
  by Brent Goodwin
You can't really extol this masterpiece anymore than it already has been. Taught, resonant, and riveting, this show starts off in a gear far surpassing other crime dramas and accelerates from there. Covering all aspects of the city of Baltimore over its 5 seasons in sequence: the drug trade, the ports, the political faction, the schooling system, and the media, The Wire examines the different spokes of the wheel and how this wheel affects those who have to dwell within it. Heartbreaking and bleak, this show pulls no punches.

5/5 Corruption, disintegration, and chaos.
  by Bawlmer (York, Pa)
This series is terrific; I'm on my third viewing. Not for the faint of heart; nor is it for those who don't appreciate police drama.

The protagonists are flawed and the antogonists range from good-hearted bad guys to psychopaths. "The Wire" is thought-provoking in that it allows the viewer to carefully examine his or her views on racism and urban blight. In its broadest sense, "The Wire" shows the slow disintegration of a once-important port city and the frightening reality of what faces the city's youth; that they are not just forgotten or lost, but have become like the "untouchables" of India. Indeed, few are saved from this inevitability.

As for the diaglog, suffice it to say that I learned many new words as well as creative ways to use old ones!

"The Wire" is a deeply-disturbing drama on one level; a 5-season friendship with an intriguing cast of characters, on another. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.