The Wire: The Complete Series

Reviewed by:
Eric Alt

The Skinny: Another HBO series, another must-see. Hailed as one of the greatest dramas on TV, The Wire follows twisting storylines threaded through cops, drug dealers, journalists, and others on the mean streets of Baltimore.

The Good: Again, this is a dream come true for people who either missed out on the first few seasons and were reluctant to jump in mid-stream, or for those who don't get HBO and have been waiting anxiously for their chance to get in on the action. This is a massive box set with every episode from the five-season run.

The Bad: Hmmmm…we're thinking, we're thinking…

Best Extra: We give the nod to the two new features—a gag reel and three prequels that explore select character's lives before the start of the series—because the other featurettes and commentaries are carry-overs from the individual season sets.

Buy, Rent, or Ignore: The two new features aren't strong enough to warrant a buy for those who already have a shelf-load of Wire sets, but everyone else should get their hands on this.