The Wire (2002)

Name: The Wire
Released: 2002
Rating: 8.1
Cast: Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kenneth Williams

TV-MA 8.1/10 IMDb

Crime Drama

Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.

Creator: David Simon

Cast: Dominic West, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kenneth Williams

Content Warnings

Identity & Discrimination

Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) Racial slurs / racism (depicted)

Mental Health & Emotional

Death of a child Grief / bereavement (major focus) Suicide (discussed or ideation)

Other

Gaslighting / emotional manipulation Kidnapping / abduction Wrongful imprisonment

Phobias & Sensory

Drowning / underwater scenes

Sexual Content

Explicit sexual content / nudity Sex trafficking

Substance Use

Alcohol abuse (depicted) Drug use (depicted) Overdose scenes

Violence & Physical Harm

Child abuse / harm to children Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse Gore / graphic violence Gun violence Police brutality Self-harm / suicide (depicted) Sexual assault / rape (referenced)Torture

View full breakdown

Does It Get Worse?

Stays Consistent Content intensity remains similar across seasons.

10 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.

Season 1 11 warnings

Avg severity:(3.8)

Homophobia / transphobia (depicted)Racial slurs / racism (depicted)Death of a childGaslighting / emotional manipulationAlcohol abuse (depicted)Drug use (depicted)Overdose scenesGore / graphic violenceGun violencePolice brutalityTorture

Season 2 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.6)

Racial slurs / racism (depicted)Drowning / underwater scenesSex traffickingAlcohol abuse (depicted)Drug use (depicted)Overdose scenesGore / graphic violenceGun violencePolice brutalitySexual assault / rape

Season 3 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.8)

Homophobia / transphobia (depicted)Racial slurs / racism (depicted)Gaslighting / emotional manipulationAlcohol abuse (depicted)Drug use (depicted)Overdose scenesGore / graphic violenceGun violencePolice brutalityTorture

Season 4 11 warnings

Avg severity:(4.2)

Racial slurs / racism (depicted)Death of a childGrief / bereavement (major focus)Alcohol abuse (depicted)Drug use (depicted)Overdose scenesChild abuse / harm to childrenDomestic violence / intimate partner abuseGore / graphic violenceGun violencePolice brutality

Season 5 10 warnings

Avg severity:(3.8)

Homophobia / transphobia (depicted)Racial slurs / racism (depicted)Grief / bereavement (major focus)Gaslighting / emotional manipulationAlcohol abuse (depicted)Drug use (depicted)Overdose scenesGore / graphic violenceGun violencePolice brutality