Since the hit HBO series The Wire wrapped in 2008 it has been regarded as one of the best television shows of all time. The show is studied in the classrooms at some of the country’s top institutions including Harvard College and Johns Hopkins University and lies at the top of a number of media critics lists. It has been lauded for its accurate depiction of the social and political issues that surrounded Baltimore at the time. Its literary themes and showcase of life in the inner city have been commended by everyone from historians to the local Baltimore residents. Now that’s some high praise!
The series was created by David Simon after he worked as a beat reporter covering the Baltimore Police Department for The Baltimore Sun. While covering the police he watched as they monitored a slew of criminals and studied their surveillance methods as well as their internal dramas at the precinct. After a few years of this he had an idea for a series about the inner workings of a busy police department in Baltimore. He pitched the idea for the show to HBO who was reluctant to add another police drama to the roster. Eventually they gave in and good thing they did.
Each season introduces a different institution of Baltimore and how it affects law enforcement in the big city. The gritty police drama follows the illicit activity within the inner city and the police that try to crack down on the violence and devastation. The show put stars Dominic West, Lance Reddick, and Amy Ryan on the map as ones to watch. Many of the show’s stars and guest stars have gone on to headline their own films and series. It was one of the first series Method Man appeared in as an actor and it showcased now-superstar Michael B. Jordan before he landed the lead in Black Panther.
Although the show wasn’t a commercial success in the beginning it has developed a passionate cult following. The Peabody Award-winning series may not have been nominated for a single Emmy but television experts across the world name it as one of the best shows of all time.The public continues to discover the series on HBO’s streaming platform and on DVD. So whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the show for the first time, we have your look at the characters that stole the show and the incredible actors who embodied them.
[post_page_title]Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West)[/post_page_title]
McNulty is a police detective with the Baltimore Police Department. Although he is highly competent and respected in the field, his ethics have been called into question throughout the series. He struggles to manage his impulses and off the force he has incredible difficulties managing his personal life. His self-destruction seeps into his work from time to time and much of his conflicts are of his own making. Throughout the show critics have called McNulty the show’s “anti-hero.”
