It's loose and rambling; its dramatic climaxes don't coincide neatly with the conclusion of any given episode. Its dialogue, overseen by creator David Simon ... is so good it often sounds improvised. One criticism of the show I've read is that it's repetitive (in showing the slow process of how the police bring down bad guys). But what those critics don't get is that those qualities are exactly what make 'The Wire' the funkiest cop show on TV.

It's to the network's credit that it undertakes projects that aren't necessarily big crowd-pleasers but have a palpable artistic integrity and social significance. [1 June 2002, p.C01]

Their ear for dialogue is exceptional, and there's no doubt they know their characters. HBO is well aware, too, which is why the network left the authors to their work. [1 June 2002, p.9]

Though it's extremely well done, The Wire lacks the signature HBO kick of discovering something brand new, that giddy feeling of freshness that immediately attached itself to "The Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under." With The Wire, there's a less-exciting echo: Same old, same old. Been there, done that. [31 May 2002]

The Wire is by no means a worthless enterprise, and Episode 2 is an improvement over Sunday's comparatively off-putting premiere. It'll be tough to go the distance with this one, though, and far easier to look away. [1 June 2002, p.1C]

The language is supposed to be realistic and maybe it is realistic, but it often feels self-conscious, like an overly thick Southern accent. That's too bad, because when Mr. Simon and Edward Burns, who are credited with the writing of the first five episodes, pull back a bit, they sometimes achieve a rough eloquence.

After watching five hours of preview tapes, I'm interested to see how The Wire turns out. But without characters to care for, much less root for, I'm not exactly burning with curiosity -- the way I am with most of HBO's other series...When it comes down to The Wire, this show falls short.

This right here is fine storytelling. One of the best shows I ever watched.

I have watched so many wonderful tv shows in my life. I would have a hard time separating many of these great shows and choosing the best. With one exception: The Wire is simply the best show ever created. Once you get into the show you will not want to stop watching it. It is totally engrossing and it is almost impossible not to love this work of perfection!

Best show ever made. No show can capture the reality of the characters as this show managed to do and no show ever will.

Still relevant today SADLY, This show is one of the best TV shows of them all, if not the best ever. Shows this corrupt broken, greedy insane system for what it is. **** of the greatest charcacters to appear on TV... and Bunk!! and Lester and Stringer, Bodie, D'Angelo,Avon, Snoop,Bubbles, etc. . What excellent acting. The Golden Age Of Television could have been claimed on the laurels of this series alone. Thank the muses that David Simon had very good politics and that the other idiots who didn't like the politics didn't get their way. SUPERB!

This TV Show has earned it's place on my honors list. With it's in depth portrayal of the criminal underworld, from the shady street corner gangs to the murky depths of politics, it touches on a variety of topics. Each of the five seasons showcases a segment of the criminal underworld, while demonstrating how they all, in one way or another, share the same immoral underpinnings. You can't help but get attached to some of the characters if not all of them, drawing you deeper into the story. I can't lay enough praise at the feet of this show, if you haven't done so, go watch it.