I already had a lot to say about this series earlier, but didn't get into the terrific cast of characters both because my article was already long, and I had this one in mind. If you've never watched the show, you may think a list of 25 characters is a touch of overkill. However, if you have watched it, you're probably thinking to yourself: only 25?
There's never been an ensemble as deep as that of The Wire, which completely eschewed stars and delved into the lives of dozens of characters and how they affect, and are affected by, the city of Baltimore. The cast grew exponentially as the seasons went on, with the show introducing several new characters at once in an attempt to expand the scope of the show and the picture of Baltimore.
Managing all these characters was a Herculean task, one that the show managed on an incomparable level. All the characters mattered, and each fit into the puzzle perfectly. When you consider that other shows have difficulties managing casts of less than ten, you start to get an appreciation of what The Wire did with five times that amount. When putting together this list, I came up with a list of over 50 names of characters I enjoyed that were vital to the show, so that should give you an idea of why a list of 25 top characters is a perfectly acceptable number.
By "top 25", I'm taking a few things into consideration. "Best" is too abstract an idea to apply to any type of standard, but I did try and decide which characters were the most unique, which actors performed the best in their roles, which characters were most significant for the show, who was the most memorable, etc. Then my personal tastes and favourites were factored in, and viola, a "Top 25" is made.
A Note on Spoilers: Because I know not everyone is caught up on all five seasons of this show, but I still want as many people to read this as possible (I'm vain that way), this list will be as spoiler-free as possible. I will have to reference some events in order to talk about the characters, but no major events will be discussed (especially the ultimate fate of any character). Also, since characters move up and down their career fields throughout the series, I'll avoid referring to character by title as much as possible. When it is needed to refer to a character by their job title (i.e., Lieutenant, Judge, Mayor, etc), I'll only refer to the job title the character holds when we are first introduced to them. That said, if anyone wants to get into spoilers, I'll gladly do so via comments (with spoiler warnings).
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
You could have everyone tied for first. Great job--wait a sec...no Rawls? Come on. Compared to everyone else, he may have been the smartest in dealing within the system, and that includes Clay Davis. Everyone else bucked the rules, but he masterfully worked within them.
Plus, one throwaway moment in a scene forever changed his character for the audience without any predictable heavy-handedness that would have plagued any other drama. Keep your johnny cakes, David Simon. I'll take Rawls flipping through Landsmann's girlie magazine.
Thanks for reminding me I have nothing to watch on Sunday nights.
2 - Ajay Srikanth
How in the world did you manage not to include Bunny Colvin on this list? He is a top 5 character for me. He created the brilliant idea of Hamsterdam, was able to send the corner kids out so the stoop kds could learn, and generally spoke his mind without fear. He represents the brutal honesty which is needed to make real change. Unfortunately he is forced to fall on his sword and shut up because he is believed to be too much of a radical. What a show
3 - Andy Sayers
Rawls and Colvin were two characters I expected to hear about leaving out, and believe me, it wasn't easy. Rawls probably missed out due to my desire to fit in personal favourites. Rawls is too much of an asshole to be a favourite, even though he's the best asshole on the show. I'm guessing if Colvin would have had more of a role in season five, he'd have made it for sure.
For the record, if the list were bigger Rawls would come in at #27, and Colvin at #28 (with Prop Joe at #26). Not that this list isn't plenty big as it is.
4 - El Bicho
Taken the series a whole, I don't see how Rawls is an asshole. Please give an example. He's the smartest guy in the series. He always moving on and moving up. Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
5 - Andy Sayers
The fact that he'll always step on others to help out himself makes him an asshole. A politically-wise one, no doubt, but he's still the guy who will pass the buck at Com Stat to dress down a Major.
That said, he had his moments; particularly when he refused to let McNulty beat himself up at the hospital in season one, or when he offered to transfer Freamon after tearing apart the MCU (that said, he still tore up the MCU... just as he was ready to tear up the Barksdale investigation just to get four murders to black a few weeks early).
6 - El Bicho
"The fact that he'll always step on others to help out himself makes him an asshole."
You have identified nearly every character on the show.
7 - Andy Sayers
I disagree. In fact, I'd say that only describes 6 out of my top 25 characters.
Who would Daniels step on to get ahead? Kima? Bubbs? McNulty? Carver? Freamon? That doesn't even identify Bodie, Omar, or Sobotka.
8 - El Bicho
Are we talking about the same show? That's all McNulty did. Forget the women in his life, he didn't care who got in his way and what rules he broke to get what he wanted. Just because the viewer usually rooted for him to succeed doesn't mean he didn't act like an asshole, according to your definition.
And you can't really be claiming Omar didn't step on anyone. Sure, it was only people in the game, but that don't change a thing. Just because characters we don't like or root for are the ones who get stepped on doesn't mean the result isn't the same.
I am out the door, so I can't deal with any others right now.
9 - Andy Sayers
I don't think McNulty stepped on others though, and not to get ahead. He certainly fucked people over, but that was more out of an obliviousness to the consequences of his actions (which makes him a different kind of asshole). He pursued what he thought was right, consequences be damned. When did Bill Rawls ever do what he thought was right?
McNulty never shoved anyone under the bus to move ahead; in fact, getting ahead wasn't anything he was ever concerned about. Being right is what drove Jimmy McNulty, and if it meant someone looking bad, then so be it.
As far as Omar goes, I admit, I messed up when I typed the original sentence about Rawls and forgot to recheck it. Going by "The fact that he'll always step on others to help out himself makes him an asshole", then of course, that's Omar's M.O. What I meant to say was ""The fact that he'll always step on ANYONE to help himself GET AHEAD makes him an asshole". That's what I was getting at with Omar, that he proved that there are some people he won't push down so that he can rise up. So I guess I was arguing a completely different point there, my bad.
In any case, I can't believe I'm trying to defend the position that William Rawls is an asshole. Here's a good reason why I think that: every character on the show that's ever dealt with him thinks he's an asshole. I'd say that the onus is on you to prove that he wasn't one.
10 - Sam
The Cheese stands alone.
11 - Christopher Wallace
A great list. I guess we all have our favorite characters, a couple of mine that were left off the list would include Brother Mouzone and Bunny Colvin. I still hope that one of these days they will announce plans for a season six
12 - Common Cents
Prez is higher on the list than Avon?
You trippin
13 - charlie
what about slim charles?
14 - Andy
Slim Charles was a strong contender. He probably ranks in the 30-28 range.
15 - Neeeneee
Hey, great list, very well thought out and compiled. I agree for the most part, and I couldn't stand Rawls. I liked Rhonda Pearlman and thought Levy was such an interesting white collar version of a member of the game - if not worse! Anyway, maybe not for the top 25. It's a shame the last season wasn't a few episodes longer, I would have liked to have gotten to know the newspaper staff. Thanks for your contribution!
16 - johnfisher
good list...but no Prop Joe!!!!!??....come on now....
17 - Andy
Prop Joe was another very tough omission.
18 - KevDog
Impossible task limiting it to 25. That's how amazing the show was. For me top 5.
1. Omar
2. Bubbles
3. Bunk
4. Lester
5. Stringer
19 - rich c
nice list man... i feel what you said about dukie too... that shit tears me up every time i see it.
i catch alot of shit for this.. but prez is definitely top 5 for me... if not top 2 [with omar n.1]..