The Wire: Complete HBO Season 3

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Corruption is rife throughout The Wire: The Complete Third Season, which picks up the further adventures of the Baltimore Major Crimes Unit as they continue to wage war on drugs. Only as this is The Wire, that’s just the beginnings of their problems. Once again, the show that’s rightly being acclaimed as one of America’s finest and most intelligent dramas covers the story from all areas. There’s the investigating cops on one hand, their targets on the other, and the small matter of heavy political influence both with the Police Department itself, and from the Mayor’s Office too.

Cleverly sowing the seeds for the series that’ll follow, while lacing the narrative with a wealth of challenging ideas to deal with there and then, season three isn’t perhaps the finest of The Wire to date, but it sure does run things close. From its willingness to explore a solution of tolerance to the problem in hand, through to the political ambitions of one man determined to make a name for himself, and the small matter of a drugs operation riddled with in-fighting, it’s compelling drama.

It’s also unequalled in recent times, courtesy of its outstanding writing, measured performances and willingness to take some bold gambles. Put bluntly, The Wire: The Complete Third Season is a quite brilliant piece of television drama, and easily rewards a purchase. --Simon Brew

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Synopsis
In the third series of hit U.S. TV show THE WIRE, Baltimore's police department struggles to crack down on a criminal drug ring that's sweeping the city. Bodies are piling up and a desperate mayor wants the tide turned before the upcoming election. But defeating the nefarious Barksdale crew is proving harder than they had anticipated; wiretaps have failed, as have stakeouts and street busts. The demolition of Franklin Terrace Towers--the crew's headquarters--proves a temporary thorn in the side of Stringer Bell and the Barksdale crew, forcing them to improvise. But no matter how hard McNulty and company try, the dealers always seem to be one step ahead of the game.

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Customer reviews

review by: justwilliamsluck.blogspot.com date: 2008-08-28 rating:
back in the game
Take a close look at the cover of the season three dvd and you will notice something: Avon and Stringer, together in the same car, but looking in different directions. That tells you all you need to know about these two 'brothers' in season three of The Wire. Whilst Stringer is greasing palms to make the most of the properties they control Avon is glad to be back in the game, keeping control of the corners, and regaining his place on the street. Season three brings us back to the problem of drugs in Baltimore and one man's plan to combat the problem. Major Colvin jokes at one stage that to meet the crime reduction targets he has been set he is going to legalise drugs. But his throwaway comment isn't too far from the truth. By creating zones where a blind eye will be turned on drug dealing and use, he hopes to clean up the corners, concentrate the problem in specific areas and make it easier to target those wrongdoers when the time is right. What it allows the series to explore is the wide web that drugs cast in society, how it affects those directly involved in their production, selling, use and abuse; everyone from the kids used as lookouts to the lone elderly woman who finds herself the only resident in one of these 'free zones'.

Daniels and his now permanent detail have a much harder task to gain any useful information from a wire as the drug crews have become far more cautious about how they use phones, and with their communication in general. This means that we get to enjoy the complications of the police work again, just as in the first series, but with added layers. In fact layers are being added in all aspects of the programme allowing the series to show what TV can do better than any other medium. Given the extended time of several hour-long episodes we are seeing characters rendered in the kind of detail which is usually the reserve of the novelist. It isn't simply time that allows this, but the amazingly high standard of writing and performance. Characters aren't given vast speeches to show personality, just the right words; and the actors deliver them perfectly. Relationships within the police team and the implications of the work on their personal lives (and vice versa) create wonderful tensions. These are mirrored on the other side of the legal divide with the drug crews.

On top of all of that we have the character of the city itself. Baltimore is depicted in great detail; the various districts feel very different to one another, requiring differing approaches from the police. The interplay between politics, policing, media and residents is given great prominence in this series. Everyone is checking their back, as an air of intrigue and suspicion worthy of Shakespeare hangs over proceedings. The introduction of Aiden Gillen (another actor from this side of the water) as Tommy Corcetti, a young and ambitious council man, is significant. I just hope he relaxes into his role. His reptilian stare is right but he looks a little nervous at the moment, like he's really concentrating on getting the accent right. He's a fantastic actor though so I'm not too concerned. The skullduggery is also obvious amongst, and indeed within, the drug crews too of course and it is that increasing body count which keeps the heat on the police and the wind in the sails of this superlative series. Bring on season four.

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review by: Luther date: 2008-05-09 rating:
"Adjourn your asses"
Having watched the first three series, I would say that this one is my favourite and series 2 is my least favourite (although still worthy of five stars). Having said that, without a lot of important build up in series 2, especially within the Barksdale empire, series 3 couldn't have had the same impact. On a general note, and this applies to all the series, the viewing experience is extraordinary and I think a lot of that is down to the fact that we've been blessed with so many hours with these characters. A particular standout scene for me was when McNulty confronts D'Angelo's mother. Amazing acting, with the emotional force that only plot markers planted long before can create. Just watched the first 3 episodes of series 4, and if it stays on the same form it's going to be my favourite of all the series.

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review by: Reef date: 2008-03-26 rating:
Great but Sad &True
On a recent visit to one of the Caribbean islands I say a lot of kids dressed in white T-shirt and denim trousers in an area near the city wondering what it was all about only later to find out this is how the drug dealers pawns are identified. Turf control I suspect. I saw exactly the same thing here in the 3rd series. It's like reality TV. There are few honest people in this show but my gosh its the best thing you will ever watch. Have an open mind and think deep and tell me if this is not real life situations.

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review by: date: 2008-03-26 rating:
"This look like the dawn of a new day to you?"
After watching the frst two seasons of The Wire (which is essential to understanding the third) I was prepared for a further excellent season with the third, what I wasn't prepared for was that this season is not only the best of the three but that it's by far the greatest season of any cop show I've ever seen.
All the series' staple characters are here, with lots more screen time for Omar and Bubbles (both sadly absent for much of season 2) as well as a more McNulty-centred plotline which grounds the season well while still managing to keep track of an extraordinary number of characters all of whom are given a great deal of depth normally so missing in modern TV police drama.
Season three concerns itself primarily with two things; firstly with an exploration of the political structure which has previously been little more than a looming malevolent presence in the background as well as the upper ranks of the police force, secondly with trying to round off some of the series' long-standing conflicts. That second point makes this by far the most dramatic season of The Wire so far.
The new characters this season are absolutely brilliant, particularly Major Colvin and ex-con Dennis. They lend an enourmous amount to the show and are magnificently acted, written with a great deal more depth than was given to the dockyard workers in season two.
Season Three of The Wire is not just the best season of the show, but is the most incredibly dramatic and powerful cop show ever made. I've yet to see season four, but if it's even half as good as this one then it should be absolutely brilliant.


review by: date: 2008-03-25 rating:
More than a few surprises
If you have watched the other series of The Wire, don't worry that this season will let you down - it wont! All the hallmarks of the earlier series are there, great characters, complex plots and fantastic dialogue. But it also maintains the pace and underlying philosophy of no-one is all good or all bad. Bubbles features large, and as the boys on the corner grow up their lives develop in all sorts of ways. At the same time, the Avon and Stringer story gathers pace. Fantastic drama

If you haven't seen the earlier series I would recommend you go back and watch them first, as this season will mean so much more if you do. Either way this is first class drama

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