Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Season 2 – The Wire

Play trailer Poster for Season 2 – The Wire 2003 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
This series looks at the narcotics scene in Baltimore through the eyes of law enforcers as well as the drug dealers and users. Other facets of the city that are explored in the series are the government and bureaucracy, schools and the news media. The show was created by former police reporter David Simon, who also wrote many of the episodes.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Wire — Season 2

The Wire — Season 2

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An ambitious introduction to a new network of characters allows The Wire to expand its focus on societal ills.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (22) Critics Reviews
Bill Wyman NPR Where many shows toss in character actors for flavor, The Wire features nothing but character actors -- humanity has rarely been shown in so many sizes, shapes, colors and varieties of lumpiness. Oct 22, 2019 Full Review Devin Gordon Newsweek If neat and tidy McMysteries are your bag, there'll be around-the-clock repeats of Law & Order this summer. But if you're looking for new episodes of the best cop show on television, well, we won't say it. Enough is enough, right? Oct 21, 2019 Full Review Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel The Wire doesn't receive the attention of other HBO dramas, but it should. It often surpasses them in the chances it takes and the stories it tells. Oct 21, 2019 Full Review Martin Carr CBR Even after over 20 years old The Wire Season 2 still feels contentious. At a time when immigration is still an inflammatory topic due to the incoming president, it remains extremely relevant. Rated: 10/10 Dec 31, 2024 Full Review David Zurawik Baltimore Sun Television rarely dares to be this deep or wise, particularly when telling stories about folks who are essentially dispossessed. Oct 21, 2019 Full Review Terry Kelleher People Magazine The show moves methodically from one story line to another, progressing by inches yet holding our interest with its finely drawn characters and a rare ability to illuminate the gray areas of city life. Oct 19, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (38) audience reviews
Jo M Puzzled by the scale of praise on this. Some great lines and performances but also a number of clunking scenes- the absurdly contrived Irish-Polish rivalry storyline was a v weak platform for the story, the clowning performance of the ‘Irish’ police commander was unpleasant to watch, utterly unbelievable, like a cringeworthy 1950s comedy. The city drug scenes were always much stronger. As a Brit, I found Dominic West amazing, Idris Elba looks v limited tho, he doesn’t have the fluidity of West. The Omar character is mesmerising. Not a single weak performance among the police team, astonishing consistency, brilliant casting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/06/25 Full Review Daniel J A spectacular follow up to the first season, which is accomplished by simultaneously moving in a different direction and weaving things together. Brilliant story telling and arc. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/25/24 Full Review Max W The addition of a new main storyline cleverly masks the potential quality drop as the first season's main plot transitions, while also expanding the show's network, giving the upcoming third season more room to explore. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/26/24 Full Review JOAQUIM L Not as good as season 1, but it's The Wire, every season matters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Frederick T Wauw this show just seems like it can't miss. Great development to the story with the introduction of the docks, the greeks and the slow rebuild of The Barksdale crew, that lays the viewer up for an exciting season 3. As the season 2 didn't have the same x factor as season 1 did, it was surely not one to be slept upon. What hindered this season was the tempo, as it at points through the season was off, and it just lacks a bit of the thrill that was seen in the first season. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/16/24 Full Review Guillermo P This season hit so freaking hard Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Wire — Season 2

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

John Doman

William A. Rawls

Idris Elba

Russell "Stringer" Bell

Domenick Lombardozzi

Det. Thomas "Herc" Hauk

Deirdre Lovejoy

Rhonda Pearlman

Wendell Pierce

Det. William "Bunk" Moreland

Lance Reddick

Lt. Cedric Daniels

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 1, 2003 Ebb Tide Detective Jimmy McNulty finds a body in the Baltimore harbor; Bodie drives to Philadelphia to make a connection for the Barksdale crew. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 8, 2003 Collateral Damage Valchek seeks revenge for the church gift fiasco; Barksdale runs his empire from his prison cell; police officers investigate the contraband found in The Greek's container. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 15, 2003 Hot Shots Bunk and Freamon chase a container ship to Philadelphia; Lt. Cedric Daniels is unhappy with his assignment; McNulty pursues the identity of his Jane Doe. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 22, 2003 Hard Cases Sobotka reprimands Nick for stealing cameras; Burrell asks Daniels to lead the detail investigating Sobotka; McNulty begins courting his estranged wife. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 29, 2003 Undertow Ziggy loses his prized Camaro to drug dealers; Col. Rawls puts pressure on Bunk to solve the homicide investigation; Bodie gets heat for weak product. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 6, 2003 All Prologue McNulty gives up on identifying his Jane Doe; Sobotka tries to play a political game on behalf of his union; D'Angelo wants to live outside of Barksdale's umbrella. Details Episode 7 Aired Jul 13, 2003 Backwash Sobotka gives his lobbyist grief over the status of port legislation; Greggs and Prez tap into a circuit of Russian prostitutes; Bell tries to hold it together in the wake of a recent tragedy. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 27, 2003 Duck and Cover McNulty is back to his old self; Bunk tries to get Daniels and Rawls to look after McNulty; Sobotka meets with the Greek and Vondas; business dries up for Bodie and Poot. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 3, 2003 Stray Rounds Bodie's effort to improve sales ends disastrously; Ziggy pulls Johnny Fifty into a new caper; McNulty goes under cover in the brothel. Details Episode 10 Aired Aug 10, 2003 Storm Warnings The Detail uses satellite technology to its advantage; Valcheck visits the FBI; Ziggy's deal goes bad. Details Episode 11 Aired Aug 17, 2003 Bad Dreams The Detail makes a desperate move; Omar's suspicions are validated; Sobotka is forced to make a difficult choice. Details Episode 12 Aired Aug 24, 2003 Port in a Storm The detail suffers a setback; Russell and Bunk return to Philadelphia in search of evidence; Brother Mouzone talks with Stringer Bell regarding their agreement. Details

More Like This

View All Popular TV on Streaming
We Own This City 93% 78% We Own This City Watchlist TRAILER for We Own This City The Sopranos 92% 96% The Sopranos Watchlist Boardwalk Empire 92% 95% Boardwalk Empire Watchlist True Detective 79% 59% True Detective Watchlist TRAILER for True Detective The Night Of 94% 93% The Night Of Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related TV News

View All Related TV News
Everything You Need to Know Before You Binge-Watch The Wire
View All The Wire — Season 2 photos

The Wire — Season 2

The Wire The Wire The Wire The Wire View more photos

Season Info

Director
Elodie Keene, Ed Bianchi, Steve Shill, Ernest R. Dickerson, Thomas J. Wright, Timothy Van Patten, Rob Bailey, Robert F. Colesberry, Dan Attias
Screenwriter
David Simon, Ed Burns, George Pelecanos, Joy Kecken
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 1, 2003