18 Years Later, HBO’s Crime Drama Masterpiece Is Still Essential Viewing

HBO has developed a reputation for making must-see television that becomes monocultural, but one of its greatest shows ever was never a major awards contender. Despite the praise that it received from television critics, The Wirewas underrated throughout its entire runand had to be fought to get renewed. It received only two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its five seasons, and (at the time) had no major stars involved. The Wire isn’t just a great work of television but a groundbreaking leap forward in modern storytelling, offering sharp sociopolitical critiques through brilliantly written drama. The fact that The Wire exists is a miracle, as is the fact that the series is still so relevant 25 years after its debut.