David Simon's riveting drama The Wire was years ahead of its time, and unfortunately it didn't get the awards recognition that it deserved. That did not stop both critics and fans from heaping praise on what many consider the best show ever. No show has documented nearly every layer of a society in such depth quite like The Wire. This show follows seemingly everyone involved in the drug scene in Baltimore: the low level dealers, the enforcers, the dock workers, the crime lords, the police officers, the detectives, the politicians, the members of the media, and of course, the civilians caught in the crossfire. The show features an outstanding ensemble cast and follows a series of storylines that unfold and converge over the course of episodes, seasons, and even the entire series, leading to a multifaceted crime saga played out on a grand scale. Only one element holds The Wire back from being the number one show of the millennium, the unsatisfactory and surprisingly unrealistic fifth season. For such a brilliant show which peaked in seasons three and four, the final season decline was very disappointing. To be clear, the fifth season was not bad; it just did not live up to the tremendous expectations of its predecessors.
