The Wire season 2 explained

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Season Number:2
Network:HBO
Num Episodes:12
Episode List:List of The Wire episodes

The second season of the television series The Wire of 12 episodes first aired in the United States on HBO in 2003 from June 1 to August 24. It introduces the stevedores of the Port of Baltimore and an international organized crime operation led by a figure known only as "The Greek" and continues the story with the drug-dealing Barksdale crew and the Baltimore Police Department who featured in . While continuing the series' central themes of dysfunctional institutions and the societal effects of the drug trade, the second season also explores the decline of the American working class, and the hardship its members endure during the transition from an industrial to post-industrial society.

It was released as a five-disc DVD boxed set in January 2005.

Summary

The second season continued to follow the police and those involved with the Barksdale drug-dealing organization. The returning cast included Dominic West as Officer Jimmy McNulty,[1] whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems continued to overshadow his ability.[2] Lance Reddick reprised his role as Lieutenant Cedric Daniels, who was sidelined because of his placement of case over career, but used his political acumen to regain some status.[3] [4] Sonja Sohn played Kima Greggs, who had transferred to a desk job, but could not resist the lure of a good case.[5] [6] Deirdre Lovejoy continued as assistant state's attorney Rhonda Pearlman, the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse.[7] [8]

Wood Harris and Larry Gilliard, Jr. reprised their roles as newly incarcerated drug dealers Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale.[9] [10] [11] [12] Idris Elba's character Stringer Bell took over the operations of the Barksdale Organization.[13] [14] Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who continued to indulge his drug addiction and act as an occasional informant.[15] [16]

The police were overseen by two commanding officers who are concerned with politics and promoting their own careers: Colonel William Rawls (John Doman) and Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie Faison).[17] [18] [19] [20] Wendell Pierce portrayed homicide detective Bunk Moreland, who became more involved with the core case.[21] [22] Previously recurring guest star Clarke Peters joined the starring cast and his character, veteran detective Lester Freamon, joined the homicide unit as Moreland's new partner.[23] [24]

The new season also introduced a further group of characters working in the Baltimore port area, including Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos (Paul Ben-Victor),[25] Beadie Russell (Amy Ryan),[26] and Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer).[27] Vondas was the underboss of a global smuggling operation,[28] Russell an inexperienced Port Authority officer and single mother thrown in at the deep end of a multiple homicide investigation,[29] and Sobotka a union leader who turned to crime in order to raise funds to save his union.[30]

Also joining the show in season two were recurring characters Nick Sobotka (Pablo Schreiber), Frank's nephew;[31] [32] Ziggy Sobotka (James Ransone), Frank's troubled son;[33] [34] and "The Greek" (Bill Raymond), Vondas' mysterious boss.[35] [36]

Returning guest stars included: Jim True-Frost as Detective Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski;[37] Seth Gilliam as newly promoted Sergeant Ellis Carver;[38] [39] Domenick Lombardozzi as errant Detective Thomas "Herc" Hauk;[40] [41] J.D. Williams as Barksdale crew chief Bodie Broadus;[42] [43] and Michael K. Williams as renowned stick-up man Omar Little.[44] [45]

Cast

Main cast

Episodes

See also: List of The Wire episodes.

Reception

On Metacritic, the second season achieved an aggregate score of 95 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim.[46] On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 95% with an average score of 8.8/10 based on 21 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "An ambitious introduction to a new network of characters allows The Wire to expand its focus on societal ills."[47]

Awards and nominations

20th TCA Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129045438/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/dominic_west.shtml. live.
  2. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071211232901/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/jimmy_mcnulty.shtml. live.
  3. Web site: Cast & Crew - Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129233603/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/lance_reddick.shtml. live.
  4. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Lieutenant Cedric Daniels. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071229093546/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/cedric_daniels.shtml. live.
  5. Web site: Cast & Crew - Sonja Sohn as Shakima "Kima" Greggs. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074259/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/sonja_sohn.shtml. live.
  6. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 30, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071230084158/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/kima_greggs.shtml. live.
  7. Web site: Cast & Crew - Deirdre Lovejoy as Rhonda Pearlman. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080104084432/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/deirdre_lovejoy.shtml. live.
  8. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Rhonda Pearlman. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071211232906/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/rhonda_pearlman.shtml. live.
  9. Web site: Cast & Crew - Wood Harris as Avon Barksdale. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080111164537/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/avon_barksdale.shtml. live.
  10. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Avon Barksdale. HBO. December 19, 2007. January 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080111164537/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/avon_barksdale.shtml. live.
  11. Web site: Cast & Crew - Larry Gilliard, Jr. as D'Angelo Barksdale. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080104084442/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/larry_gilliard.shtml. live.
  12. Web site: 2006. Character profile - D'Angelo Barksdale. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 20, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071220233123/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/dangelo_barksdale.shtml. live.
  13. Web site: Cast & Crew - Idris Elba as Stringer Bell. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. September 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180919002112/https://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/idris_elba.shtml. dead.
  14. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Stringer Bell. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 30, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071230002641/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/stringer_bell.shtml. live.
  15. Web site: Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 20, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080120073430/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/andre_royo.shtml. live.
  16. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Bubbles. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 18, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071218155727/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/bubbles.shtml. live.
  17. Web site: Cast & Crew - Frankie R. Faison as Ervin Burrell. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. December 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071229151448/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/frankie_r_faison.shtml. live.
  18. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Ervin Burrell. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071229093626/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/ervin_burrell.shtml. live.
  19. Web site: Cast & Crew - John Doman as William Rawls. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129233558/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/john_doman.shtml. live.
  20. Web site: 2006. Character profile - William Rawls. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 14, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071214031018/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/william_rawls.shtml. live.
  21. Web site: Cast & Crew - Wendell Pierce as William "Bunk" Moreland. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074304/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/wendell_pierce.shtml. live.
  22. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Bunk Moreland. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 13, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071213171005/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/bunk_moreland.shtml. live.
  23. Web site: Cast & Crew - Clarke Peters as Lester Freamon. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074244/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/clarke_peters.shtml. live.
  24. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Lester Freamon. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071229093638/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/lester_freamon.shtml. live.
  25. Web site: Cast & Crew - Paul Ben Victor as Spiros "Vondas" Vondopolous. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129231923/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/paul_ben_victor.shtml. live.
  26. Web site: Cast & Crew - Amy Ryan as Beatrice "Beadie" Russell. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129233613/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/amy_ryan.shtml. dead.
  27. Web site: Cast & Crew - Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074254/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/chris_bauer.shtml. live.
  28. Web site: Character profile - Spiros "Vondas" Vondopolous. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 2, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080102234215/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/port/spiros_vondas.shtml. live.
  29. Web site: Character profile - Beatrice "Beadie" Russell. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 10, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080110111043/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/beatrice_russell.shtml. live.
  30. Web site: Character profile - Frank Sobotka. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 2, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080102233528/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/port/frank_sobotka.shtml. live.
  31. Web site: Cast & Crew - Pablo Schreiber as Nick Sobotka. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129230129/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/pablo_schreiber.shtml. live.
  32. Web site: Character profile - Nick Sobotka. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115074320/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/port/nick_sobotka.shtml. live.
  33. Web site: Cast & Crew - James Ransone as Ziggy Sobotka. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129233618/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/james_ransone.shtml. live.
  34. Web site: Character profile - Ziggy. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 3, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080103000522/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/port/ziggy_sobotka.shtml. live.
  35. Web site: Cast & Crew - Bill Raymond as The Greek. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129230124/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/port/bill_raymond.shtml. live.
  36. Web site: Character profile - The Greek. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080128175559/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/port/the_greek.shtml. live.
  37. Web site: Cast & Crew - Jim True-Frost as Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski. August 6, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129224626/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/jim_truefrost.shtml. live.
  38. Web site: Cast & Crew - Seth Gilliam as Ellis Carver. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129233634/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/prez_pryzbylewski.shtml. live.
  39. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Ellis Carver. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071211232856/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/ellis_carver.shtml. live.
  40. Web site: Cast & Crew - Domenick Lombardozzi as Thomas "Herc" Hauk. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129224621/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/domenick_lombardozzi.shtml. live.
  41. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Thomas "Herc" Hauk. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 30, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071230090714/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/herc_hauk.shtml. live.
  42. Web site: Cast & Crew - JD Williams as Preston "Bodie" Broadus. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080129045443/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/jd_williams.shtml. live.
  43. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Preston "Bodie" Broadus. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 6, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071206145933/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/bodie.shtml. live.
  44. Web site: Cast & Crew - Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar Little. January 15, 2008. HBO. 2008. January 26, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080126091555/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/actors/michael_k_williams.shtml. live.
  45. Web site: 2006. Character profile - Omar Little. HBO. December 19, 2007. December 30, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071230001007/http://www.hbo.com/thewire/cast/characters/omar.shtml. live.
  46. Web site: The Wire: Season 2 Reviews . Metacritic . January 8, 2017 . October 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019052742/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-wire/season-2 . live .
  47. Web site: The Wire: Season 2 . Rotten Tomatoes . November 14, 2021 . November 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211114225913/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the-wire/s02 . live .