The Wire: Season Three

The Wire, 2004. A backward police department tries to catch a drug kingpin.

Created by David Simon. Directed by Ernest Dickerson (2 episodes), Ed Bianchi (1), Steve Shill (1), Rob Bailey (1), Dan Attias (1), Leslie Libman (1), Tim Van Patten (1), Agnieszka Holland (1), Alex Zakrzewski (1), Christine Moore (1), & Joe Chappelle (1). Written by Simon (3 episodes), Richard Price (2), George Pelecanos (2), Ed Burns (2), Dennis Lehane (1), Rafael Alvarez (1), & Joy Lusco (1). Starring Dominic West, with John Doman, Idris Elba, Frankie Faison, Aidan Gillen, Wood Harris, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Andre Royo, Sonja Sohn, Jim True-Frost, & Robert Wisdom.

Concept: C
Story: B
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: B
Enjoyment: I have to wonder why there are more than three seasons of this show. Everything is neatly wrapped up and resolved at the end of this one. In that respect, it's more satisfying than season two - but, otherwise, not quite as good. A lot of time is spent with a boring political subplot. B

GPA: 2.9/4