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Season 1

13 episodes · 2nd June 2002

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.

Season details

Details

Episode guide

Episodes

01 The Target still The Target Episode 12nd June 2002 "... 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. 02 The Detail still The Detail Episode 29th June 2002 "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. 03 The Buys still The Buys Episode 316th June 2002 "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. 04 Old Cases still Old Cases Episode 423rd June 2002 "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. 05 The Pager still The Pager Episode 530th June 2002 "..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. 06 The Wire still The Wire Episode 67th July 2002 "..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. 07 One Arrest still One Arrest Episode 721st July 2002 "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.' 08 Lessons still Lessons Episode 828th July 2002 "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. 09 Game Day still Game Day Episode 94th August 2002 "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. 10 The Cost still The Cost Episode 1011th August 2002 "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. 11 The Hunt still The Hunt Episode 1118th August 2002 "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. 12 Cleaning Up still Cleaning Up Episode 121st September 2002 "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. 13 Sentencing still Sentencing Episode 138th September 2002 "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.
Talent

Cast & Crew

01 Dominic West profile Dominic Westas Jimmy McNulty 02 Lance Reddick profile Lance Reddickas Cedric Daniels 03 Sonja Sohn profile Sonja Sohnas Kima Greggs 04 Wendell Pierce profile Wendell Pierceas Bunk Moreland 05 Michael Kenneth Williams profile Michael Kenneth Williamsas Omar Little 06 Deirdre Lovejoy profile Deirdre Lovejoyas Rhonda Pearlman 07 Andre Royo profile Andre Royoas Bubbles 08 John Doman profile John Domanas William Rawls 09 Clarke Peters profile Clarke Petersas Lester Freamon 10 Jamie Hector profile Jamie Hectoras Marlo Stanfield 11 Aidan Gillen profile Aidan Gillenas Tommy Carcetti 12 Seth Gilliam profile Seth Gilliamas Ellis Carver 13 David Simon profile David SimonCreator
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