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The Wire

The Wire: Season 1

  • 2002
  • 13 episodes

On the drug-infested streets of West Baltimore, there are good guys and there are bad guys. Sometimes you need more than a badge to tell them apart. Season 1 follows a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore — one that culminates in a complex series of dangerous wiretaps and surveillance.

Season 1 of The Wire premiered on June 2, 2002 and has 13 episodes, from "The Target" to "Sentencing". The last episode aired on September 8, 2002.

Where to watch The Wire

In the United States, you can stream The Wire on HBO Max. You can also buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home. It is on streaming services in 97 countries.

Where to watch

Episodes

  1. Episode 1The TargetAired June 2, 2002

    "... when it's not your turn." - McNulty. Baltimore homicide detective Jimmy McNulty gets into hot water and winds up assigned to a detail of narcotics outcasts charged with investigating drug lord Avon Barksdale and his powerful operation in Franklin Terrace. Meanwhile, Avon's nephew D'Angelo is fresh off beating a murder rap, but he finds himself demoted upon his return to the gang.

    • 1h 3m
    • Directed by Clark Johnson
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Michael Kostroff Maury Levy
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
    • Clayton LeBouef Wendell 'Orlando' Blocker
    • Peter Gerety Judge Daniel Phelan
    • Leo Fitzpatrick Johnny Weeks
  2. Episode 2The DetailAired June 9, 2002

    "You cannot lose if you do not play." - Marla Daniels. McNulty feels the heat when a witness who testified against D'Angelo is found murdered. Meanwhile, Greggs is given the lay of the land regarding Avon Barksdale's key players, and Herc, Carver and Prez find big-time trouble at the towers.

    • 58m
    • Directed by Clark Johnson
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Michael Kostroff Maury Levy
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
  3. Episode 3The BuysAired June 16, 2002

    "The king stay the king." - D'Angelo. The early-morning 'field interviews' by Herc, Carver and Prez result in a minor riot, a boy losing an eye and some bad publicity for the department. On the other side of the law, D'Angelo teaches Wallace and Bodie how to play the game (chess) and later impresses Bell with his 'take' from the low-rises.

    • 56m
    • Directed by Peter Medak
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
  4. Episode 4Old CasesAired June 23, 2002

    "It's a thin line 'tween heaven and here." - Bubbles. Greggs and McNulty try to get Hardcase to turn informant as arraignment begins for those caught in the raid. Barksdale places a bounty on the head of rival gang leader Omar. Meanwhile, McNulty takes Bubbles on a cultural field trip, and Herc and Carver try to track down Bodie.

    • 1h
    • Directed by Clement Virgo
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
  5. Episode 5The PagerAired June 30, 2002

    "..a little slow, a little late." - Avon Barksdale. McNulty's detail finally gets 'clone' pagers to track Barksdale and his gang, but nobody can crack the codes used by the callers. Meanwhile, Bell instructs D'Angelo on how to school his lookouts while simultaneously flushing out a possible snitch. Later, Carver and Herc find Bodie, but their interrogation doesn't turn up results.

    • 1h
    • Directed by Peter Medak and Clark Johnson
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
    • Clayton LeBouef Wendell 'Orlando' Blocker
  6. Episode 6The WireAired July 7, 2002

    "..and all the pieces matter." - Freamon. When Rawls looks to make a premature arrest for three murders that are linked to D'Angelo and Avon Barksdale, McNulty and Greggs must argue for a delay in order to preserve the valuable wiretap gains they have made. Meanwhile, Wallace and D'Angelo struggle with their consciences after Avon pays them blood money.

    • 1h
    • Directed by Ed Bianchi
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Michael Kostroff Maury Levy
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
  7. Episode 7One ArrestAired July 21, 2002

    "A man must have a code." - Bunk. Tipped off by the wire, Greggs, Herc, Carver and Freamon make a bust, but the incident makes Avon and Stringer suspicious, leading them to close shop in the Pit. Meanwhile, Bunk and McNulty look for another witness in the Gant slaying and hunt a suspect known as 'Mr. Bird.'

    • 1h
    • Directed by Joe Chappelle
    • Written by David Simon, Ed Burns and Rafael Alvarez

    Guest stars

  8. Episode 8LessonsAired July 28, 2002

    "Come at the king, you best not miss." - Omar. An unlikely source gives McNulty the tag of a car driven by Stringer Bell. Meanwhile, Greggs and Carver bust a congressional aide carrying dirty cash, but are forced to let him go. Omar earns his 'loose cannon' moniker.

    • 57m
    • Directed by Gloria Muzio
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Donnell Rawlings Damien 'Day-Day' Price
    • Clayton LeBouef Wendell 'Orlando' Blocker
  9. Episode 9Game DayAired August 4, 2002

    "Maybe we won." - Herc. Barksdale plays an expensive game of one-upmanship with an east-side rival. Meanwhile, Herc and Carver take some cash off of Wee-Bey's hands, and Omar resurfaces with a bang.

    • 57m
    • Directed by Milcho Manchevski
    • Written by David Simon, Ed Burns, David H. Melnick and Shamit Choksey

    Guest stars

    • Michael Kenneth Williams Omar Little
    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Clayton LeBouef Wendell 'Orlando' Blocker
  10. Episode 10The CostAired August 11, 2002

    "And then he dropped the bracelets..." - Greggs. With Wallace in custody, McNulty and Daniels try to figure out what to do with him in the months before he testifies. Sydnor and Carver track down one of Barksdale's stash houses, and Prez shows off his 'gift for the paper trail.' McNulty's estranged wife Elena takes desperate measures after learning that he had their kids follow Stringer Bell.

    • 56m
    • Directed by Brad Anderson
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

  11. Episode 11The HuntAired August 18, 2002

    "Dope on the damn table." - Daniels. The police turn up the heat on tracking down Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Burrell orders Daniels to hit drug dealers for results that will impress the press. Barksdale sees his ranks thinning after the hit on Orlando. Bubbles tries to stay sober while scoping out the projects for McNulty; and Freamon determines there's a rat in the detail.

    • 57m
    • Directed by Steve Shill
    • Written by David Simon, Ed Burns and Joy Kecken

    Guest stars

    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Seth Gilliam Ellis Carver
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Michael Kostroff Maury Levy
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Delaney Williams Jay Landsman
  12. Episode 12Cleaning UpAired September 1, 2002

    "This is me, yo, right here." - Wallace. The low-rise pay phones are out of service, so McNulty and Daniels try to keep pace by tapping Barksdale's office. Bodie gets new responsibilities from Stringer; Freamon gives Shardene a 'new look'; and D'Angelo goes to NYC on an errand for his uncle. With the detail's future hanging in the balance, Daniels faces off against Burrell and his political allies.

    • 57m
    • Directed by Clement Virgo
    • Written by David Simon, Ed Burns and George Pelecanos

    Guest stars

    • J.D. Williams Bodie Broadus
    • Clarke Peters Lester Freamon
    • Domenick Lombardozzi Herc Hauk
    • Corey Parker Robinson Leander Sydnor
    • Isiah Whitlock Jr. Clay Davis
    • Jim True-Frost Roland 'Prez' Pryzbylewski
    • Michael B. Jordan Wallace
    • Michael Hyatt Brianna Barksdale
  13. Episode 13SentencingAired September 8, 2002

    "all in the game..." - Traditional West Baltimore. Every crew has weak links--including Avon Barksdale's. With the heat turned up in the high-rises, Daniels and McNulty turn to a higher authority in an effort to crack the case wide open. Season finale.

    • 1h 6m
    • Directed by Tim Van Patten
    • Written by David Simon and Ed Burns

    Guest stars

Season cast