The Wire - Season 5

( 13 )

Overview

For the fifth and final season of this groundbreaking urban drama, series creator David Simon returns to his old stomping grounds at the Baltimore Sun, where he worked for many years as a crime reporter, to examine the media's role in modern society. This fictionalized version of what was once a newspaper of record is experiencing tough economic times, precipitating layoffs and a hollow mantra from management to "do more with less." These marching orders are met with derision by Gus Haynes (Clark Johnson), an ...
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More About This Product

Overview

For the fifth and final season of this groundbreaking urban drama, series creator David Simon returns to his old stomping grounds at the Baltimore Sun, where he worked for many years as a crime reporter, to examine the media's role in modern society. This fictionalized version of what was once a newspaper of record is experiencing tough economic times, precipitating layoffs and a hollow mantra from management to "do more with less." These marching orders are met with derision by Gus Haynes (Clark Johnson), an old-school City Desk editor who encourages eager young journalists such as Alma Gutierrez (Michelle Paress) to hone their craft. The cutbacks at the Sun mirror those at City Hall, where Mayor Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) -- who's too busy angling for a gubernatorial run and convicting corrupt politico Clay Davis (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) to care-slashes the police budget to save money. But the decimation of the department's morale and matériel is too much for Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West). The maverick detective, who is not only back in Homicide but regressing to his tomcatting ways, fabricates a grisly crime that catches the eye of self-serving Sun reporter Scott Templeton (Tom McCarthy). And although his sensational articles about a rampaging serial killer are met with skepticism by Haynes, they're championed by his prize-hungry bosses. McNulty's scheme doesn't sit well with his partner Bunk (Wendell Pierce), but is embraced by Det. Freamon (Clarke Peters) if the means justify the restoration of funding to pursue drug lord Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector). Free of law-enforcement scrutiny, Marlo shields himself with onetime Barksdale attorney Maurice Levy (Michael Kostroff) on a quest to rule the entire city's drug trade, and tempts fate by luring stickup artist Omar (Michael K. Williams) back to town to settle an old score. Meanwhile, former addict Bubbles (Andre Royo) struggles to stay clean, but finds it hard to face his demons at Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
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Special Features

Audio Commentary; Featurette
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Christina Urban
"Competing ambitions. Competing vulnerabilities. Everything's a tangle in the end -- that was the fun of doing the last season." That David Simon quote, taken from the commentary on the 90-minute series finale, "30," puts all of 2008's Season 5 in perspective. The ten episodes are indeed a tangle, from the often inglorious Baltimore Police Department to Marlo Stanfield's (Jamie Hector) citywide drug operation to the Baltimore Sun newspaper to the mayor himself, Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen). But fans of this landmark drama will be satisfied at how Simon and company are able to tie up not just Season 5 but the entire Wire universe. Budget cuts in the Baltimore PD mean the previous season's murders perpetrated by Chris (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and Snoop (Felicia Pearson) are quietly ignored -- but not by Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West). He and Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters) hatch an outrageous plan to shift departmental funds back onto the case, and that sets up one of the major storylines of Season 5. The other focus of the season is City Editor Gus Haynes (Clark Johnson) and his reporters at the Sun, who are told to "do more with less" in a town where crime is running rampant. In government, Mayor Carcetti faces troubles when the money he promised Baltimore schools fails to materialize, and he spends the rest of the season trying to keep up with the cutbacks. On the street, Marlo is now reigning king of Baltimore's drug trade, making enemies at every turn. A modern masterpiece, The Wire -- and native son Simon's exquisitely gritty from-the-heart storytelling -- will be greatly missed.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 8/12/2008
  • UPC: 883929015368

    • Rating:

  • Source: Hbo Home Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Full Frame
  • Presentation: Full Frame
  • Time: 10:30:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 3,019

Menu

Disc #1 -- Wire: The Complete Fifth Season
   Set Up
      Audio
         English 5.1
         Spanish 2.0
      Subtitles
         English
         French
         Spanish
         Subtitles: None
   Episodes
      More with Less
         Seasons One, Two, Three & Four Recap
         Next On
         Play Episode
      Unconfirmed Reports
         Previously On
         Next On
         Play Episode
      Not for Attribution
         Previously On
         Next On
         Play Episode
   Features
      Audio Commentaries
         Commentary On Episode 1 "More with Less" by Joe Chappelle and Wendell Pierce (Bunk): On
         Commentary On Episode 1 "More with Less" by Joe Chappelle and Wendell Pierce (Bunk): Off
         Commentary on Episode 2 "Unconfirmed Reports" by William F. Zorzi and Clark Johnson (Gus): On
         Commentary on Episode 2 "Unconfirmed Reports" by William F. Zorzi and Clark Johnson (Gus): Off
      Series Index
         More with Less
            Episode Summary
               Seasons One, Two, Three & Four Recap
               Next On
               Play With Commentary
                  Commentary on Episode 1 "More with Less" by Joe Chappelle and Wendell Pierce (Bunk): On
                  Commentary on Episode 1 "More with Less" by Joe Chappelle and Wendell Pierce (Bunk): On
            Play Episode
         Unconfirmed Reports
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
               Play With Commentary
                  Commentary on Episode 2 "Unconfirmed Reports" by William F. Zorzi and Clark Johnson (Gus): On
                  Commentary on Episode 2 "Unconfirmed Reports" by William F. Zorzi and Clark Johnson (Gus): Off
            Play Episode
         Not for Attribution
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
            Play Episode
         Transitions
         React Quotes
         The Dickensian Aspect
         Took
         Clarification
         Late Editions
         -30-
Disc #2 -- Wire: The Complete Fifth Season
   Set Up
      Audio
         English 5.1
         Spanish 2.0
      Subtitles
         English
         French
         Spanish
         Subtitles: None
   Episodes
      Transitions
         Previously On
         Next On
         Scene Selection
            At Your Pleasure
            Volatile Times
            This One, On me
            Dead Man Walking
            Give a Gift, Get a Gift
            Breathe Easy
         Play Episode
         Play with Commentary
            Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: On
            Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: Off
      React Quotes
         Previously On
         Next On
         Scene Selection
            A Dependable Man
            Juice
            Don't Ask Don't Tell
            Lift Every Voice
            Ready
            Good to Go
         Play Episode
      The Dickensian Aspect
         Previously On
         Next On
         Scene Selection
            Spiderman
            They Will be Stopped
            It's the Boy
            Clueless
            The Laughing
            Backed Up
         Play with Commentary
            Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: On
            Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: Off
         Play Episode
   Features
      Audio Commentaries
         Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: On
         Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: Off
         Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: On
         Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: Off
      Series Index
         More with Less
         Unconfirmed Reports
         Not for Attribution
         Transitions
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
               Play Episode
               Play with Commentary
                  Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: On
                  Commentary On Episode 4 "Transitions" by Ed Burns and Karen Thorson: Off
         React Quotes
            Previously On
            Next On
            Scene Selection
               A Dependable Man
               Juice
               Don't Ask, Don't Tell
               Lift Every Voice
               Ready
               Good to Go
            Play Episode
         The Dickensian Aspect
            Previously On
            Next On
            Scene Selection
               Spiderman
               They Will Be Stopped
               Clueless
               It's the Boy
               The Laughing
               Backed Up
            Play with Commentary
               Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: On
               Commentary On Episode 6 "The Dickensian Aspect" by George Pelecanos and Seith Mann: Off
            Play Episode
         Took
         Clarification
         Late Editions
         -30-
Disc #3 -- Wire: The Complete Fifth Season
   Set Up
      Audio
         English 5.1
         Spanish 2.0
      Subtitles
         English
         French
         Spanish
         Subtitles: None
   Episodes
      Took
         Previously On
         Next On
         Scene Selection
            Stick to the Script
            Rare Day On the Corner
            What Feels True
            No Proof
            It's Cool, Boss
            I Am Clay Davis
         Play Episode
         Play With Commentary
            Commentary On Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: On
            Commentary On Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: Off
      Clarifications
         Next On
         Previously On
         Scene Selection
            Whatever you Need
            Put it in his Ear
            A Lie is just a Lie
            A Problem with Authority
            It Ain't Right
            A Sourcing Policy
         Play Episode
      Late Editions
         Previously On
         Next On
         Scene Selection
            Map 44, Grid G10
            Caught Up
            My Name is My Name
            Nothin' to be Done
            Get There Early
            Shed No Tears
         Play Episode
   Features
      Audio Commentary
         Commentary on Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: On
         Commentary on Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: Off
      Series Index
         More with Less
         Unconfirmed Reports
         Not for Attribution
         Transitions
         React Quotes
         The Dickensian Aspect
         Took
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
               Play With Commentary
                  Commentary on Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: On
                  Commentary on Episode 7 "Took" by Dominic West (Jimmy) and Kate Sanford: Off
            Play Episode
         Clarifications
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
            Play Episode
         Late Editions
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Next On
            Play Episode
         -30-
Disc #4 -- Wire: The Complete Fifth Season
   Set Up
      Audio
         English 5.1
         Spanish 2.0
      Subtitles
         English
         French
         Spanish
         Subtitles: None
   Episodes
      -30-
         Previously On
         Scene Selection
            Be very Careful
            Outdoors
            To be Continued
            The One Suffering
            A Whole Anecdote
            Payback
         Play Episode
         Play Episode with Commentary
            Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: On
            Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: Off
   Features
      Audio Commentary
         Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: On
         Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: Off
      Series Index
         More with Less
         Unconfirmed Reports
         Not for Attribution
         Transitions
         React Quotes
         The Dickensian Aspect
         Took
         Clarifications
         Late Editions
         -30-
            Episode Summary
               Previously On
               Scene Selection
               Play Episode
               Play with Commentary
                  Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: On
                  Commentary On Episode 10 "-30-" by David Simon and Nina K. Noble: Off
            Play Episode
      The Wire: The Last Word
      The Wire: Odyseey
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 13 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(10)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 13 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    The Wire - Season 4
    The Wire: Truth Be Told
    The Wire - The Complete First Season
    The Wire - Complete Second Season
    The Wire - The Complete Third Season

    The Wire Season 5

    I just finished the fifth and last season of the Wire, and all I have to say is that I have so many feelings about the greatest show ever. Mostly, I feel sadness because the show has ended, but I do plan on watching Treme and I don't think I can live without the Wire, so I will re-watch the DVDs until they break. This season was great and I felt like it was the season with the biggest novelistic feel to it. I love the parallels shown between the newspaper and the police department. I also loved how many characters were shown following in the foot steps of other characters from prior seasons.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 26, 2012

    One of Television's best series ever! Greatly ignored by the pub

    One of Television's best series ever! Greatly ignored by the public, received no awards. Wonderful story telling by Simon. You are truly the Man.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Wire

    I began watching the Wire in HBO in season 2, the story writing was real and riviting. The actors were incredibly believable. The storyline kept you coming back. The Barnes and Noble deal was too good to pass up. 50% off and buy two get one free, and I needed seasons 3, 4, and 5. awesome

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    hello

    It was a gift that I purchased. <BR/><BR/>I don't know how to rate it because, I have not seen the show yet. I just want to say that I purchased this product and received it in no more than three business days. The service was pretty fast. Ordering from barnes and noble was a success. I would order from them again.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    GENIUS!

    There is an ingredient in the human creative process that recognizes the best of the best...Hence all seasons of The Wire. This series should be required viewing for all. Season Five equals and even surpasses the perfection of this video and literary drama. The characters, good and bad, become part of the viewer. Having just finished The Wire, I'm in a state of grieving for what has ended. I'm in a state of gratitude for above and beyond in the world of TV and DVD viewing. Some series, The Sopranos and 24, may equal The Wire. Nothing yet surpasses it. The story is real and flawless. Casting is perfection. I am humbled by the best of creative genius!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Absolute Pinacle of What Modern Serial Television Should Be

    After four unbelievable seasons, with each getting better than the last The Wire, ends on the highest note of any show i've ever seen. Not once in it's ten episode arc does the fifth season let off the perverbial gas peddle. Everything you thought you knew about this ficticious Baltimore comes to a shocking conclusion and gets wonderfully tied together. All the actors are on point with Michael K Williams's Omar, being among the best. If he doesn't at least get a nomination or anything for this season, I declare all awards shows as being discriminatory. New comer to the show, Clark Johnson's, chief editor Gus, is also exceptional. And Johnson directed the series finale. It's great seeing a guy like Clark back on TV. His portrayal of Meldrick Lewis on Homicide was spectacular. By the end of this ten and half hours or so, you will be sitting there wanting to relieve every history making moment of "The Best Show Ever".

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 30, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 19, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 26, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted April 5, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 2, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 9, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 13 Customer Reviews