A Beginner's Guide To The Wire

Most everyone knows of, or at least heard of, all the TV shows on the major networks. You all know C.S.I., 24, Lost, The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Veronica Mars, etc. But what about shows on channels other than the major networks? What about shows that appear on premium channels like HBO or SHOWTIME? These channels have “Original Programming” and over the last few years, many have said that HBO and SHOWTIME have blown the major networks out of the water with their “scripted” television programs. HBO has been the most-nominated network for the Primetime Emmy Awards in the last few years as well, so that’s got to say something right there.

One of the best shows on HBO right now is The Wire. The fourth season premiered on Sunday, September 10. One of the biggest fans of The Wire has been Mathan Erhardt, a regular PrimeTimePulse writer. In this special piece, he attempts to convince you why EVERYONE should watch The Wire. Check it out…

The Wire is probably the best written show on television and certainly one of the most acclaimed. It’s often compared to a novel, which is appropriate. However like most novels, it’s dense in cast and connections. Now in it’s fourth season, some of those connections go back years.

Thus I’ve taken it upon myself to provide a barebones edition of “who’s who” and “how they connect” for The Wire. I’ve done my best to avoid most of the major spoilers, while still providing some of the info needed to appreciate the nuance of interactions and relationships between characters.

This is my attempt to convince you to, not only watch the fourth season, but to track down the first three seasons as well.

THE LAW

Major Cedric Daniels – He used to oversee the surveillance unit (Seasons 1-3) but has been promoted to Major. His estranged wife is running for office, while he’s engaging in an affair with Assistant State’s Attorney Pearlman. He’s been tainted by corruption in the past but played the game well enough to become a Major.

Detective “Kima” Greggs – She’s worked the surveillance since the first season (where she got shot). She gets regular information from Bubbles and is coping with domestic life with her female love and their new child.

Detective Leander Sydnor – He’s worked the wire since the first season. He’s been known to go undercover occasionally.

Detective Lester Freamon – He’s also worked the wire since the first season. He’s recognized “good police”, so much so that he’s put his career in jeopardy in the search for justice. He always wants to take the case to the natural conclusion, no matter how far it reaches.

Officer Jimmy McNulty – He worked the wire for the first three seasons, much to the detriment of his career. He’s burned many bridges in the pursuit of justice and has a failed marriage under his belt. He’s been known to enjoy a drink and the company of women, however he seems to have turned a corner and become a family man after settling down with fellow officer of the law.

Detective William “Bunk” Moreland – McNulty’s former partner. He works Homicide, which occasionally intersects with the surveillance detail. He finds the bodies that they link to their subjects. He attended the same high school as Omar which makes their relationship, on opposite sides of the law, tenuous.

Sergeant Ellis Carver – He worked the wire for the first two seasons and partnered with Herc. Because of his working the cases, he’s built up a relationship with Bodie that’s adversarial but built on a modicum of respect. He tried to support “Hamsterdam” which caused a rift between he and Herc.

Officer Thomas “Herc” Hauk – He worked the wire for the first two seasons and was partnered with Carver. He also built up a relationship with Bodie. Herc was opposed to “Hamsterdam” and helped bring it to the medias attention, causing it’s downfall. He’s currently assigned to a detail protecting the Mayor.

Police Commissioner Ervin Burrell – While he’s the Police Commissioner, he’s playing a political game moreso than protecting and serving. He views crimes in terms of percentages and numbers as opposed to people.

Deputy Commissioner for Operations William A. Rawls – He used to run the Homicide division as the supervisor for McNulty and Bunk. However he’s played the game well enough to move up the ranks. There’s also the indication that he prefers the company of men.

Assistant State’s Attorney Rhonda Pearlman – She files all of the motions, subpoenas, and warrants for the wire taps and what the cases they result in. While during the first two season she was hooking up with McNulty, she’s most recently been involved with Major Daniels.

THE STREET

Preston “Bodie” Broadus – Bodie loyally worked for the Barksdale crew (seasons 1-3). His hands are far from clean and he won’t back down from a fight. He’s been resourceful enough to avoid being incarcerated, though he’s had numerous run ins with the law. With the Barksdale organization shattered, Bodie’s found his role (and real estate) diminished, but he refuses to align himself with Marlo

Omar Little – Omar is almost as notorious as a stick up artist, who specializes in drug dealers, as he is for his homosexuality. His infamy has cost him quite a bit, including a lover and the safety of his grandmother. He vowed to bring down the Barksdale organization, even going as far as to testify against them. While he’s a criminal, he does have a code that he lives by. When he was seen last, at the end of season three, he appeared to have entered a new chapter in his life, but that remains to be seen.

Marlo Stansfield – Marlo is the current drug kingpin of Baltimore. His ruthlessness and intelligence helped him claim territory that once belonged to the Barksdale organization. While he’s gained the attention of the police, he’s resourceful enough to maintain his control of the streets, while staying out the law’s attention.

Snoop – One of Marlo’s enforcers. She’s vicious.

Chris – Snoop’s partner in crime. He’s efficient.

Proposition Joe – Prop Joe is a business man, whose business happens to be supplying drugs. His only allegiance is to profit. He’ll broker deals between warring factions, so long as it keeps his take healthy.

Slim Charles – Slim was a lieutenant in the Barksdale organization. With it’s dissolution, he’s continued to stay on the streets, but sans the power that he once had. He’s supplying Bodie with his product.

Avon Barksdale – Avon was the head of the Barksdale organization. When he was sent to prison his partner, Stringer Bell, oversaw the operations. However as a result of the wire investigation in the third season Avon has returned to prison with his empire in shambles.

Wee-Bey – One of the enforcers in the Barksdale organization. As a result of the first season, and Omar’s testifying, he was convicted of murder. His son, Namond is a main character in the fourth season.

Bubbles – Part-time police informant, full-time heroin addict. He tried to get clean in the first season, but due to the shooting of Kima his efforts fell short. He tries to make an honest buck, but he’ll also steal if he has to, to get his fix.

Dennis “Cutty” Wise – He was a feared enforcer, introduced in the third season, who was serving time with Avon and Wee-Bey. He was released before Avon and tried to leave the life of crime behind. However he soon fell back into the game. But, when the moment came for him to take a life, he didn’t. He walked away from the streets. He worked on setting up a gym to train the kids of the streets about boxing as an alternative to life of crime found in the streets.

THE HALL

Councilman Tommy Carcetti – Tommy is a City Councilman, who is running for Mayor. He knows it’s an uphill battle, but he thinks that he can help the city. He tried to taint Mayor Royce by exposing Hampsterdam, but it barely worked.

Mayor Clarence Royce – The current Mayor of Baltimore. He’s more concerned with image and politics than the actual well being the city and it’s citizens. He’s arrogant enough to believe that there’s no threat to his position.

Councilman Anthony Gray – The third candidate for Mayor. He used to be friends with Tommy, but feels betrayed by him at this point.

State Senator Clay Davis – Davis is a career politician who’s about as crooked as you’d expect a politician to be. He’s accepts donations no matter where the money comes from, even the Barksdale organization. However Detective Freamon’s investigation could prove disastrous to Davis’s reputation.

Marla Daniels – The wife of Major Daniels. She stood by him during the dark days of his career (season one), and even when he decided against retirement (season two). They’ve since separated, though when she began to pursue her political career, it was he who stood by her.

THE SCHOOL

Prez – Prez worked on the wire during the first season. His brashness and recklessness resulted in the crippling of a child and his being relegated to desk duty. However that duty exposed his prowess for deciphering codes received via surveillance. He continued to work with the squad until the end of the third season, when during a chase he shot a plain clothes Black police officer. That action cost Prez his badge. He’s currently teaching a Baltimore Public School.

Howard “Bunny” Colvin – As a Major in the Baltimore Police Department, Colvin was in a quandary; the Commissioner dictated that crime rates needed to drop across the board. In an effort to “fix” his numbers he created “Hampsterdam”; an area of his district where drugs would be tolerated and not subject to police action. By legalizing drugs, Colvin saw his crime numbers drop and was praised for his work by his superiors, now knowing what action he took. Once his plan was exposed he was relieved of duty and forced into retirement. He now finds himself working in the Public School system.

And there you have it. Those are the basic bios for some of the characters that’ll be appearing in the fourth season. The four children who are the focus of the fourth season are clean slates in that this marks their first appearance in The Wire.

So watch The Wire and use this as a helpful guide to aide in your enjoyment of the best show on television.

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