This is kind of like picking the best solo Wu Tang albums because the fifth season on the list does not mean its bad but I will give it a shot with a brief description of each.

1) Season 4 - The rise of Marlo's crew mixed with the kids story line made this the most gripping and thought provoking season of the five.

2) Season 1 - I was hooked from the first scene with McNulty asking why they let him keep playing in the game. The response "Its America". It gives me the chills to this day.

3) Season 3 - Struggles of Bodie and Stringer to keep the crew going while Marlo makes his moves provided a classic power struggle through out. Once Avon gets out of prison he and Stringer have some of the best scenes of any season. The balcony looking over the water was the best.

4) Season 2 - No other show could change directions the was The Wire did in season 2 and keep me hooked but i loved seeing the other side of the drug trade.

5) Season 5 - I felt the homeless murder dragged the story down but the season was saved with the last few episodes.

Thoughts????

i would agree 100% with ron
4 1 3 2 5

Season 4 - The perspective of the 4 kids made this season the most compelling and engaging on an emotional level.

Season 2 - The Docks is an underrated and underappreciated season. I thought it was just as fascinating as any other.

Season 3 - This season proved that unlike other shows that stretch out plots and characters, The Wire was willing to write realistic fates regarding the characters (which made them all the more shocking).

Season 1 - No complaints whatsoever. Even at the fourth spot on the list, it is still better than 96% of what is on tv right now.

Season 5 - As I stated in another group, I thought the serial-killer plotline was not believale and strained credulity the minute it started. The newsroom setting would also have benefitted from more critical writing and an additional 2-3 episodes, to get a better understanding of the characters and their group dynamics. Still, Marlo's crew, Omar, City Hall, and the West Baltimore PD were all enjoyable to watch.

I agree too - although I think season 3 and 2 are interchangeable. By far, Season 4 was the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!!

Season 4 was the funniest, especially with the kids.

Season 3 was the most political

Season 1 was absolutely hilarious, especially the opening with McNulty asking about the dead kid and getting the "This America" response.

Season 2 was perhaps the most serious and the only one where they really didn't solve the case (abt the greek and his drug shipments), but it had its moments with McNulty.

Season 5... I haven't watched yet.

I need to watch all five seasons again, I think.
But I think season 4 was the best, followed by season 1, season 3, season 5, then season 2.

With My new Titles! (lol)
S#1 - Avon The King - What?
S#4 - The Kids - How they become.
S#3 - Marlo - Coming for the Throne
S#5 - The Fall of it All - Read About It
S#2 - The Ports and the Workers

1. season 3- loved the politics side and the ending was amazing.
2. Season 1- just gripping all the way.
3. Season 2- a bit slow to start but got really great towards the end.
4. season 5- some of it seemed a bit implausible and the montage at the end seemed mildly contrived.
5. season 4- this series just depressed me and had quite a few annoying plot points with Herc turning into a bastard and the introduction of Marimow.

Season 3 - The culmination of a 3 season story-line detailing the power struggle within the barksdale crew is bloody amazing. Stringer's death was predictable but still shocking. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Season 3 also sheds a lot more light on the political side of things and how that governs everything below it highlighting the existence of a domino effect within the power structure, with all the dominoes ultimately falling downwards.

Season 4 - The kids were sick and the introduction of michael added some new energy to the programme plus marlo, snoop and chris become increasingly prevalent.

Season 5 - I enjoyed seeing the media side of things but agree that some of the relationships within the news team should have been explained a bit more, but hey, this is the wire, since when has it ever held your hand. Whole season was tinged with sadness though, knowing it was the last.

Season 2 - Not as big a fan of the Labour Union side of things but interesting nevertheless. Ziggy was an outstanding character played brilliantly by that guy that had an asphixywank whilst watching women's tennis in ken park, plus method man got introduced. brap.

Saeson 1 - bloody brilliant, though it is at the bottom of the pile it is still better than shit like 24 in its entirety. only reason it is last is cos it takes a while to get into the swing of things and know who's who and what's what and although this is a reflection of the wire's brilliant complexity it just wanted half as enjoyable as when you know exactly what the fuck everyone is talking about and why they do the things they do.

I co-sign on Anthony's pics 1,4,3,5,2.

Season 1
Season 4
Season 5
Season 3
Season 2

Series 3
Series 4
Series 1
Series 2
Series 5

season 4
season 3
season 1
season 2
season 5

I think each season played beautifully in the sequence David Simon and Ed Burn intended - and each season is strong enough to stand on it's own. One of the only characters I felt absolutely no compassion for was the bent cop in season 4, unusual in telly viewing, as normally the good guy bad guy scenario is so easily spelled out and dumbed down.The Wire - as good as television viewing gets, cheers, Bron

Season 1
Season 3
Season 4
Season 2
Season 5

I adore the first season, it's a great introduction into the show, the way it builds and builds is classic Wire. Season 3 has probably the best main plot, and the fantastic ending with Stringer being killed and the Barksdale organisaion being destroyed. Season 4 the politics thread is outstanding, Carcetti is a magnificent character, as is Chris Partlow, and the making of Prez is great feel-good stuff. Season 2 is till very good, but the docks doesn't have the impact and power of the street. Season 5 works perfectly on the street, but the paper just doesn't really work, it's too simular to the police department.

I agree with Brian: 4, 3, 1, 2, 5

I'd say 4 was the best.
Simply stunning TV.
1,2,3 all equally good in 2nd place.
5 the weakest (but still good) but how was it supposed to live up to season 4?

My list..

S2: Yup I said it! Season 2 baby!!!The scene where Omar testifies in the Bird trial was bloody amazing. That scene alone was Emmy worthy.. Method man was also amazing.. plus it showed the other side or the 'white' side of the drug trade. FUCKING BRILLANT!!! I'm really shock sooo many of you have this season so low on your list.

S1: Amazing!!

S3: I love this season.. the whole 'hamspterdam' storyline was just dope. loved it!!!

S4: I'm sorry I know i'm probably the only sista in America who wasnt feeling this season like the rest of the world. I appreciate the change in direction w/ the story-line but I didn't fall in love w this season. Plus I wanted to see my man Avon.

S5: first off 10 episodes?!! What the?!!! This season felt insanely rushed!! Naa man that pissed me off. The whole serial killer mess just wasnt believable. McNulty was my dude.. I hated to see him go down the way he did. Then they had KIMA SNITCH ON HIM?!!! I have issues w/ this season for real but there were still pretty great scenes.

yeah I agree.. When i started writing out my list I realized I loved the show in the sequence Simon and Burn intended.. It was great seeing someone say the same. I'm soooooo bum this show is over.

4- Marlo come up and the kids were sick with it
3- Avon put the hit on stringer
1- Where it all started
5- Like the way the tried to tie media in
2- never really felt the docks

Season 3 - Unlike the first two, which take a little while to get truly exciting the first time around, this one is fun from the get-go.

Season 1 - The Wire at its simplest, and ultimately, most satisfying.

Season 5 - Watching those scenes in the Sun newsroom makes me want to be a writer. You know, attributing quotes correctly.

Season 2 - I like this season a lot, but the international side of it made me think of "Eastern Promises," which was a bit distracting.

Season 4 - The only season I don't like watching. Without McNulty, and with a focus on the kids (whose characters I don't like a lot), it's not worth it.

Season 4 - Best. Kids are unbelievable actors and all of the other plots are still goin on

Season 1 - Great. Hooked me in from day 1

Season 3, then Season 5, then Season 2

But the least (Season 2) is still better than most any other season of most any other show.

All ARE GREAT!

Season 1
Season 3
Season 2
Season 5
Season 4

Season 2 - I loved how they showed the smuggling and wholesale side of the drug trade and it contains some of my favourite characters, the Sobotkas and the Greeks.

Season 4 - Flat out brilliance from end to end with the mayoral campaign, prezbo and colvin in the school, the 4 kids seperate stories and the revelation when Freamon finally realises where Marlo's bodies are. Plus the brilliant hilarity of the MCU's commander.

Season 5 - A fine conclusion to everything and I loved the references to previous series, especially Nick Sobotka heckling Carcetti. I think this series showed as well as any of them how everything trickles down to the street. Also one od the best little moments of the series when Omar's death doesn't even make it into the paper. It still staggers me the sheer number of characters the show has at this point.

Season 1 - Established what kind of show we were watching and introduced an incredible range of characters. When I watch it now I cant believe how far the characters have come and how naturally its been portrayed, esp freamon, carver and prez.

Season 3 - Probably the only season that felt a little weak to me. I think it tried a little too hard to introduce a huge number of new characters and locations whilst also driving a major storyling to its conclusion. I always felt a little disappointed at Bell and Barksdale's endings.

you definitely got it ritght. season 4 is the best because it tells the story of how these young hoppers and crack heads get started in the game. The writing is phenomenal and as someone who works in the department of Education i see the similarities even though i don't work in Baltimore. Great stuff.

3 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 2

LOL - Out of curiousity, what about the storyline did not draw you in and engage you?

And you are absolutely right about Season 5. I think that if they had taken the time to make the fifth season another two to three episodes longer, it would have felt less rushed and more developed.

First off, I think its not possible to compare season 1 to any other season, beinig that its too original and uncomparable. Making it the best season. If it wasnt great, then no other seasons would have been made.
From there, I'd have to say:
Season 3 - Finally having Avon back in the picture, Omar becoming a more prominent figure
Season 2 - Introduction of new characters, bold change to the unioned stevedores, introduction of prop joe. Omar court case against bird
Season 5 - Most unrealistic season, feel as it the show sold out a little, nonetheless incredible television
Season 4 - By far the worst. This is a character show, and when the best character (mcnulty) is barely in any episodes, it loses its appeal.

4 - great acting by the youngsters, tragic
2 - Franks Sobotka going down, tragic
1 - We're still police, right?
3 - loved the politics, both in city hall and in the streets
5 - most far-fetched maybe, still brilliant

4
1
3
5
2