Okay first off, when I watched the pilot episode I really didn't get what all the fuss was about considering what everyone had been telling me: “The greatest TV show ever!”, “You have got to watch this show!” and “Better than The Shield, dude.” Straight off the bat it was dense, murky, with unlikeable characters and by the end of the episode I still didn't know what the hell had gone on. I gave up on it for about 2 months before deciding I hadn't given it a proper go. Though by the time I finished the third episode I was totally hooked and glad I was so completely wrong! I'm now well on my way through season 5.

The Wire is unlike any crime television show you've ever seen. It inverts so many police drama cliches and constantly overthrows your expectations. Set in Baltimore, Maryland Season 1 focuses on the formation and operation of a wiretapping unit which aims to bring down a criminal empire; although this description doesn't really do it justice as it is much more subtle and intriguing than just that. Each of the five seasons show different aspects of Baltimore such as the docks, city administration, the school system and the newspapers. This keeps the series fresh although it never strays from its overall theme of administrative failure.

If there is a disadvantage to watching The Wire is it will make every other crime drama you watch seem shallow, obvious and dull. So believe the hype, buy this DVD, get hooked and be glad that you still have another 4 excellent seasons to watch of this unique and gripping show.

The first chapter in the story of an American city that has more than its fair share of problems. The first season of The Wire is compelling and essential viewing if you plan on getting into this series. It is the kick-off point for the story threads that build in the following seasons, key characters get their introductions and some important themes such as surveillance (as alluded to in the series name), class struggle, police corruption etc. The series starts very strongly- the acting is excellent, direction tight and creative and the characters are very well defined and multi faceted. Great television.

Unlike most television crime dramas, which neatly introduce and then solve a case all in the space of one hour, HBO's THE WIRE follows one single drug and homicide investigation throughout the length of an entire season. Centered on the drug culture of inner-city Baltimore, the series' storyline unfolds from the points of view of both the criminals lording the streets and the police officers determined to bring them down. This first season introduces detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and his supervisor, Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick), as they begin to pursue evidence against drug kingpin Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris). Meanwhile, Barksdale and his henchmen Stringer (Idris Elba) and Wee-Bey (Hassan Johnson) concern themselves with a rival drug dealer (Michael K. Williams) who's been cutting into their profits. Created by writer David Simon (THE CORNER, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET), THE WIRE's multifaceted approach offers a nuanced overview of every aspect of the drug trade and the complex morality of its participants.