The Best Seasons of 'The Wire'
The gripping crime drama The Wire aired five seasons from 2002 to 2008, telling stories about everything from the seasport system to print news and how it related to law enforcement in Baltimore, Maryland. Fans of The Wire are very passionate about the series, so it's no surprise that arguments are often had over which is the best season of The Wire, which is exactly why this ranked list of all The Wire seasons was created. This ranking of all The Wire seasons has been voted on by many fans of the show, so this list isn't just one person's opinion. Some of the greatest episodes of The Wire come from different seasons, so determining what the best The Wire season is can be challenging.
If you're wondering, "What is the best season of The Wire?" and "Which season of The Wire is the best?" then this list will answer your questions. Â And if you are already a fan, please add your votes and help out newbies! It can be tough to put one The Wire season over the other when there are so many good ones, which is why you can vote on however many seasons you like.
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- 1440 VOTES
The fourth season of The Wire premiered on September 10, 2006 and contains 13 episodes. This season introduces Baltimore's school system and several middle school students while continuing to examine the remnants of the Barksdale Organization, the ascendant Stanfield Organization, the Baltimore Police Department, and politicians.
This season features several unforgettable episodes including: "Boys of Summer," "Alliances," and "A New Day."
Memorable moments from Season 4 include:
- Carcetti wins the mayoral primary.
- Bubbles takes Sherrod under his wing.
- Freamon makes a grizzly discovery.

- 2312 VOTES
The third season of The Wire premiered on September 19, 2004 and contains 12 episodes. This season focuses on Baltimore's local politicians and the upstart drug dealing Stanfield organization while continuing to examine the Barksdale Organization and the Baltimore Police Department.
This season features several unforgettable episodes including: "All Due Respect," "Reformation," and "Mission Accomplished."
Memorable moments from Season 3 include:
- Drugs and prostitution are allowed in "Hamsterdam."
- Mouzone and Omar shoot Stringer.
- Avon gets arrested.
- 3291 VOTES
The first season of The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002 and contains 13 episodes. This season introduces viewers to the drug-dealing Barksdale organization and the police detail that is investigating them.
This season features several unforgettable episodes including: "The Target," "One Arrest," and "The Cost."
Memorable moments from Season 1 include:
- D'Angelo Barksdale is acquitted of murder.
- Greggs gets hurt during a sting operation.
- Stringer Bell orders Wallace's murder.
- 4298 VOTES
The second season of The Wire premiered on June 1, 2003 and contains 12 episodes. This season follows the stevedores of the Baltimore port and an international smuggling organization led by a figure known only as "The Greek", while continuing to examine the drug-dealing Barksdale Organization and the Baltimore Police Department.
This season features several unforgettable episodes including: "One Arrest," "The Cost," and "Sentencing."
Memorable moments from Season 2 include:
- McNulty gets reassigned to the marine unit.
- Sobotka gets arrested.
- D'Angelo's murder is made to look like suicide.
- 5224 VOTES
The fifth and final season of The Wire premiered on January 6, 2008 and contains 10 episodes. This season continued to examine the Baltimore police department, the Stanfield organization, and city hall while introducing a fictionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom.
This season features several unforgettable episodes including: "More with Less," "Transitions," and "–30–."
Memorable moments from Season 5 include:
- McNulty returns to the Homicide unit.
- Omar is shot and killed.
- Daniels resigns.
