Unlike most television crime dramas, which neatly introduce and then solve a case all in the space of one hour, HBO's THE WIRE follows one single drug and homicide investigation throughout the length of an entire season. Focused on the drug culture of inner-city Baltimore, the series' ultra-realistic storyline unfolds from the points of view of the criminals lording the streets, the police officers determined to bring them down, and occasionally the politicians who often obstruct the process. Created by writer David Simon (THE CORNER, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET), THE WIRE's multifaceted approach offers a profoundly humane and wonderfully nuanced view of every aspect of the drug trade and the complex morality of its participants. This collection presents all five seasons of the critically acclaimed series that casts its penetrating gaze at the the streets, the waterfront, city hall, and beyond.