The Wire: Season 1

2002 · 13 episodes · ★ 8.1

What Season 1 of The Wire

On the drug-infested streets of West Baltimore, there are good guys and there are bad guys. Sometimes you need more than a badge to tell them apart. Season 1 follows a single sprawling drug and murder investigation in Baltimore — one that culminates in a complex series of dangerous wiretaps and surveillance.

13episodes

Jun 2, 2002released

Sep 8, 2002last episode

12.8 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 The Target
Jun 2, 2002 · 63 min · ★ 7.4
"... when it's not your turn." - McNulty.Baltimore homicide detective Jimmy McNulty gets into hot water and winds up assigned to a detail of narcotics outcasts charged with investigating drug lord Avon Barksdale and his powerful operation in Franklin Terrace. Meanwhile, Avon's nephew D'Angelo is fresh off beating a murder rap, but he finds himself demoted upon his return to the gang.
Directing: Clark Johnson · Writing: David Simon · Starring: J.D. Williams, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi, Michael Kostroff
1x02 The Detail
Jun 9, 2002 · 58 min · ★ 7.9
"You cannot lose if you do not play." - Marla Daniels.McNulty feels the heat when a witness who testified against D'Angelo is found murdered. Meanwhile, Greggs is given the lay of the land regarding Avon Barksdale's key players, and Herc, Carver and Prez find big-time trouble at the towers.
Directing: Clark Johnson · Writing: David Simon · Starring: J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi
1x03 The Buys
Jun 16, 2002 · 56 min · ★ 7.8
"The king stay the king." - D'Angelo.The early-morning 'field interviews' by Herc, Carver and Prez result in a minor riot, a boy losing an eye and some bad publicity for the department. On the other side of the law, D'Angelo teaches Wallace and Bodie how to play the game (chess) and later impresses Bell with his 'take' from the low-rises.
Directing: Peter Medak · Writing: David Simon · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x04 Old Cases
Jun 23, 2002 · 60 min · ★ 7.8
"It's a thin line 'tween heaven and here." - Bubbles.Greggs and McNulty try to get Hardcase to turn informant as arraignment begins for those caught in the raid. Barksdale places a bounty on the head of rival gang leader Omar. Meanwhile, McNulty takes Bubbles on a cultural field trip, and Herc and Carver try to track down Bodie.
Directing: Clement Virgo · Writing: David Simon · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x05 The Pager
Jun 30, 2002 · 60 min · ★ 7.9
"..a little slow, a little late." - Avon Barksdale.McNulty's detail finally gets 'clone' pagers to track Barksdale and his gang, but nobody can crack the codes used by the callers. Meanwhile, Bell instructs D'Angelo on how to school his lookouts while simultaneously flushing out a possible snitch. Later, Carver and Herc find Bodie, but their interrogation doesn't turn up results.
Directing: Peter Medak, Clark Johnson · Writing: Ed Burns · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x06 The Wire
Jul 7, 2002 · 60 min · ★ 8.2
"..and all the pieces matter." - Freamon.When Rawls looks to make a premature arrest for three murders that are linked to D'Angelo and Avon Barksdale, McNulty and Greggs must argue for a delay in order to preserve the valuable wiretap gains they have made. Meanwhile, Wallace and D'Angelo struggle with their consciences after Avon pays them blood money.
Directing: Ed Bianchi · Writing: David Simon · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x07 One Arrest
Jul 21, 2002 · 60 min · ★ 8.3
"A man must have a code." - Bunk.Tipped off by the wire, Greggs, Herc, Carver and Freamon make a bust, but the incident makes Avon and Stringer suspicious, leading them to close shop in the Pit. Meanwhile, Bunk and McNulty look for another witness in the Gant slaying and hunt a suspect known as 'Mr. Bird.'
Directing: Joe Chappelle · Writing: Rafael Alvarez · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x08 Lessons
Jul 28, 2002 · 57 min · ★ 8.0
"Come at the king, you best not miss." - Omar.An unlikely source gives McNulty the tag of a car driven by Stringer Bell. Meanwhile, Greggs and Carver bust a congressional aide carrying dirty cash, but are forced to let him go. Omar earns his 'loose cannon' moniker.
Directing: Gloria Muzio · Writing: David Simon · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi
1x09 Game Day
Aug 4, 2002 · 57 min · ★ 8.4
"Maybe we won." - Herc.Barksdale plays an expensive game of one-upmanship with an east-side rival. Meanwhile, Herc and Carver take some cash off of Wee-Bey's hands, and Omar resurfaces with a bang.
Directing: Milcho Manchevski · Writing: David H. Melnick, Shamit Choksey · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam
1x10 The Cost
Aug 11, 2002 · 56 min · ★ 8.4
"And then he dropped the bracelets..." - Greggs.With Wallace in custody, McNulty and Daniels try to figure out what to do with him in the months before he testifies. Sydnor and Carver track down one of Barksdale's stash houses, and Prez shows off his 'gift for the paper trail.' McNulty's estranged wife Elena takes desperate measures after learning that he had their kids follow Stringer Bell.
Directing: Brad Anderson · Writing: David Simon · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Corey Parker Robinson
1x11 The Hunt
Aug 18, 2002 · 57 min · ★ 8.6
"Dope on the damn table." - Daniels.The police turn up the heat on tracking down Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Burrell orders Daniels to hit drug dealers for results that will impress the press. Barksdale sees his ranks thinning after the hit on Orlando. Bubbles tries to stay sober while scoping out the projects for McNulty; and Freamon determines there's a rat in the detail.
Directing: Steve Shill · Writing: Joy Kecken · Starring: J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi
1x12 Cleaning Up
Sep 1, 2002 · 57 min · ★ 8.4
"This is me, yo, right here." - Wallace.The low-rise pay phones are out of service, so McNulty and Daniels try to keep pace by tapping Barksdale's office. Bodie gets new responsibilities from Stringer; Freamon gives Shardene a 'new look'; and D'Angelo goes to NYC on an errand for his uncle. With the detail's future hanging in the balance, Daniels faces off against Burrell and his political allies.
Directing: Clement Virgo · Writing: George Pelecanos · Starring: J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Domenick Lombardozzi, Corey Parker Robinson
1x13 Sentencing Season Finale
Sep 8, 2002 · 66 min · ★ 8.7
"all in the game..." - Traditional West Baltimore.Every crew has weak links--including Avon Barksdale's. With the heat turned up in the high-rises, Daniels and McNulty turn to a higher authority in an effort to crack the case wide open. Season finale.
Directing: Tim Van Patten · Writing: David Simon, Ed Burns · Starring: Michael Kenneth Williams, J.D. Williams, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam