Season 1

Detective Jimmy McNulty attends a trial where a drug dealer, D'Angelo Barksdale, is acquitted after a witness recants their testimony. Frustrated by this systemic failure, McNulty brings the case to the attention of his superiors, leading to the formation of a new task force under the command of Lt. Cedric Daniels to investigate the Barksdale crime family.

The new unit struggles for resources and respect as Barksdale’s crew tightens up; McNulty and Greggs lean on a murder case for leverage.

A chaotic street sweep backfires; D’Angelo schools his crew on the game while the detail explores buys to build its case.

Wiretap hopes grow as Greggs and McNulty chase leads; Bunk and McNulty pick apart a cold crime scene wordlessly.

Cloned pagers start to map the Barksdale network while Stringer and Avon adjust their tactics.

The unit pushes to keep the taps alive as a looming bust threatens the surveillance.

A wire-driven grab nets bodies but not answers; the political heat on the case rises.

Omar strikes back and delivers intel; the detail learns the cost of “coming at the king.”

Stakes climb on and off the court as a Westside–Eastside basketball bet mirrors the street war.

An undercover push carries a heavy price, rattling the unit and the streets.

The department mobilizes after a shooting; the detail scrambles to protect fragile witnesses.

Stringer shifts the organization, undercutting the wire as the bosses look to shut the case down.

Arrests land but justice is uneven; the fallout resets the board for everyone.

McNulty is reassigned to the marine unit and discovers a body in the harbor while the detail struggles with new posts.

The discovery of multiple bodies leads to tension between police jurisdictions as the port union faces pressure.

The Greeks tighten their smuggling operations while D'Angelo reflects on prison life and Avon keeps influence inside.

The detail reconnects as Daniels takes control and the port workers grow uneasy with mounting scrutiny.

The smuggling ring faces increased attention while police pressure mounts and relationships fray inside the docks.

A courtroom drama impacts D'Angelo while Omar makes a memorable stand and the union's future dims.

Ziggy makes reckless choices, the union feels the squeeze, and the investigation gains traction.

McNulty spirals into self destruction while the detail works around new obstacles in the case.

A street shooting causes chaos while Frank Sobotka wrestles with choices that impact his family and union.

The net tightens around the smuggling ring as trust erodes among the dock workers.

Frank makes a desperate decision while the detail prepares its final moves and loyalties are tested.

The case comes to a head as arrests shake the docks and the fallout reshapes lives on both sides.

Avon regains his position while Stringer pushes business forward and the police focus on new strategies.

Turf disputes escalate, the detail rebuilds, and reform efforts clash with old habits.

Carcetti emerges in politics while the drug war intensifies and old alliances strain under pressure.

Colvin experiments with a radical approach that shocks his officers while Avon plots his return.

Stringer juggles business interests, Avon reasserts dominance, and the detail observes from the shadows.

Avon pushes back against rivals while Stringer seeks legitimacy and the detail sharpens its aim.

The experiment on the streets grows while the Barksdale organization faces unexpected pressure.

Stringer makes bold moves in business, Avon clashes with Marlo, and reform reaches a crossroads.

A bloody ambush changes the balance of power while the police close in on key players.

Loyalties fracture in the Barksdale crew, Colvin confronts consequences, and the case gains urgency.

Stringer and Avon face hard truths while Omar and Brother Mouzone form a surprising alliance.

The war reaches its endgame as police strike, alliances dissolve, and the streets shift again.

A new school year begins for West Baltimore kids while Carcetti pursues political power and the police shift focus.

Prez struggles as a new teacher, Marlo asserts control, and the detail confronts changing priorities.

The school experiment expands, political maneuvering intensifies, and corners reflect Marlo's reach.

The students face harsh realities while Herc stumbles into responsibility and Carcetti plays the game.

Cutty mentors youth, Prez tries unconventional methods, and the mayoral race heats up.

Election day reshapes the city's leadership as Marlo secures dominance and the kids drift.

Political fallout begins, Prez seeks better teaching methods, and the streets test friendships.

The school struggles to reach its toughest students while Marlo's tactics spread fear.

Carcetti adjusts to victory, the kids face difficult choices, and the police hit bureaucratic walls.

Betrayals shake both the streets and politics while the students grow more vulnerable.

Carcetti moves reforms forward while the kids' lives spiral in different directions.

Personal struggles mount for the students as the police case edges forward and politics grind on.

The season closes on heartbreak in the schools, shifting alliances in politics, and brutal lessons on the corners.

Newsrooms face cutbacks while the police cope with reduced resources and Marlo consolidates power.

McNulty crosses a dangerous line while the Sun struggles with stories and Marlo tests loyalty.

The fabricated case takes shape while the newsroom bends truth and politics apply pressure.

Leadership changes across institutions while Marlo schemes and the fake investigation grows.

The police manipulate the press, Scott struggles with credibility, and the corners simmer.

McNulty deepens the deception while the paper amplifies the story and the streets react.

Omar returns on a mission, the case spins further out, and the Sun faces internal doubts.

Omar's fate reverberates, the newsroom buckles, and the investigation nears collapse.

Final moves are made as truth unravels in both the police case and the newspaper.

The story concludes as institutions expose their flaws, characters face reckonings, and the cycle continues.