10 Things The Wire Fans Couldn’t Get Enough Of
6. It's NOT A Cop Show
While the show focuses heavily on a particular unit of law enforcement in their pursuit and eventual usage of a wire tap, the series is most definitely NOT a cop show. The wiretap investigations act as the foundation of season 1, but the lifeblood of the show comes in the form of individual characters and how they serve their own unique purpose to the story.
The Wire opts to subvert normal police dramas, often drawing attention to the tiresome leg work of a case rather than delivering a Hollywood-style car chase or even many of its dramatic climaxes to the pursuit of suspects. The arrests, chases and most action sequences take a back seat to the true star of the story - the development of the characters and how they are affected by the events themselves.
Each season of The Wire introduces a new element to the fray, showcasing another perspective on the failing system this universe is built upon. Season 1 begins with the corrupt institution of the Police Department, followed by a struggling Union on the docks in season 2. Season 3 leans into the Political Realm while seasons 4 and 5 introduce the school system and the journalistic take on the world.
This means that while the show offers a collection of hard working, true "Po-Lice" detectives working tirelessly against the tide of a failing system, there is a living universe that fans can understand and empathise with.