The strength of the series begins with the writing led by Simon and Burns. The staff, which includes noted authors Richard Price, Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos, presents realistic characters that are complex, allowing their actions to be believable in the situations they find themselves in. The viewer develops rooting interests regardless of whether the character is a cop or criminal. The harsh reality of the effects of crime and drugs is rough, but is occasionally offset by a twisted sense of humor required by those who deal daily with such grim circumstances.

The depth of the writing also requires the viewer to pay attention, not just to an episode where there’s no telling when a moment in a scene is going to come back and have relevance, but also to the larger story, the actual story taking place in our lives. There’s no direct preaching, but the message about the corruption of institutions, the War on Drugs, and No Child Left Behind rings through loud and clear.

The cast is fantastic, some of the best acting on television. There are no leads as it is one giant supporting ensemble, interacting with one another as these characters lives intersect throughout the city. The series has been a great showcase for African American actors.

The bonus features include six commentary tracks by crew and cast members and two documentaries about the show. All provide great insight to the creation and execution of the show from pre- to post-production.

It’s a shame that season five of The Wire, starting Jan. 6th on HBO and Dec 31st on HBO On Demand, is the last time we will be visiting this world. Thankfully, it can be revisited at leisure on DVD, which would be equally at home in your video or book library.