It makes you care about characters you initially couldn’t stand.

You start watching for the drug trade and the police investigations. Then suddenly you’re invested in dockworkers fighting to survive, teachers trying to reach difficult kids, and journalists struggling to do their jobs.

The show slowly makes you realize that every person has a story worth telling.

That’s what separates great television from entertainment you forget a week later.

Which character grew on you the most throughout the series?

i love that they hint at great depths of intellect or private curiosity you would not expect using only superficial judgement. nothing is explained—only hinted at: d is deeply sensitive; bodie has subtle philosophies; herc somehow knows about theatrical “props”; relationships like mcnulty and russell’s are made on points of shared values, like the look she gives him very early over his touchiness about the fate of the body of the jane doe…

anything that stood out to you?

I have several but my top 2 are when Kima gets shot and when Omar testified. There are so many good scenes I can put up but off the top of my head I think of those.

Edit: had to add 2 more, when Bubbles is talking about Sherod in the meeting and when Ziggy killed the greeks(?)

Man I felt so bad for Johnny when Bodie, Poot, and Wallace jumped him. The stunt he tried to pull was definitely stupid but damn. Had that man in the hospital. What y’all think though?

Ive been arguing about The Wire for half of my life now. So discussing or arguing about The Wire is a sport. I love to argue bc I love to see others perspectives. Because many arguments can be made. Two arguments that I don't understand other people's side is that Wallace and D Angelous deaths were "unfair" or "undeserving".

Here's my thing about Wallace:

Wallace "deserved" to die in every way EXCEPT for the fact that he is a child. (15/16 correct me if I'm wrong). I understand that hes young and takes care of other kids which fuels people's anger at his death. HOWEVER if he was an adult where is the argument that he didn't get what was coming to him?

1. He started getting high on his own supply and lied about it.
2. He was short on the count and lied about why.
3. He asks to get out the game. And claims he wants to go back to school due to being traumatized by Brandon's death (which shows his unfit for the game).
4. He snitches on the two top dogs Stringer & Avon but ALSO snitches on D Angelo for NO APPARENT REASON. If I remember right he offered up the murder D Angelo lied and said he did without being provoked to share. Meanwhile D Angelo is the ONLY one that looked out for him.
5. Then he runs away to the Eastern Shore MD comes back and lies to D about why he was gone and of course never mentions snitching on him.

As far as D Angelo much like Wallace it took me about three watches to realize they were completely asking for it. I assume in 2026 people have rewatched several times. Here my thing with D Angelo:

1. He was unbearably unfit for the game from the first episode. Bragging about Avon and Stringer taking out the security which they only did to protect him from jail meanwhile he's giddy about it bragging like a sucker tbh.
2. When he wasn't getting his way he tried to start his own operation with someone who works for Avon which was an idiotic sneaky move. Why not leave the game or stop using the things your uncle has provided when you need them.
3. He bragged to Bodie Wallace and Poot about killing a woman that he DIDNT EVEN KILL to make himself look cool. Which is one of the goofiest things I've seen someone do on the show. (The murder Wallace told the police about). And notice Bodie didn't even believe D when he told the story.
4. When D goes to jail he decides to get high. In the game if you're doing drugs and you've been in hot water about loyalty at one point it's almost an automatic knock out bc you're not trustworthy. And he was lying to Avon about it.
5. He snitched on EVERYONE even his MOTHER. And while one would say that was the "right" thing to do I don't think many people would offer up their own mother when she's already not a face in the game she's just apart of it. Once again you can say he didn't testify but AS YOU SEE all they need is a statement to start putting their own pieces together.

D Angelo could've taken the same advice he gave Wallace and done something more with his life even in jail. He started doing better but only because of the hot shot situation. But it was still a character arc nonetheless.

Some people's arguments are that Wallace and Ds statement didn't go to trial or he wouldn't have testified. But once you give a statement the police are going to use that to help their investigation even though they cannot legally use the information until they put the pieces together. As you can see time and time again in the show.

What are your thoughts bc this is one thing I never quite understood why people don't see clearly like me?

(Ps I made a mistake and put the spoiler on. Don't be miserable and weird 😂 I forget that people join the community without watching the show that is over 20 years old)