Consider This from NPR

Does HBO's 'The Wire' still hold up after 20 years?

Jun 25, 2022

Join Kurt Schmoke, former mayor of Baltimore and current president of the University of Baltimore, as he reflects on the lasting impact of HBO's 'The Wire' after 20 years. He discusses how the show shaped perceptions of Baltimore, balancing its gritty realism with concerns about its influence on the city's image. The dialogue also explores evolving narratives around policing and substance abuse, highlighting the relevance of the series in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement and the complexities of representation in media.

20:34

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Episode guests

Kurt Schmoke

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Cultural Reflections: 'The Wire' at 20

4min

Baltimore and 'The Wire': A Complex Portrait

3min

The Evolving Narrative of Substance Abuse in Society

2min

Examining 'The Wire': Complexity and Representation

8min

Exploring Representation and Social Themes in 'The Wire'

3min

Omar Little, Jimmy McNulty, Stringer Bell, Snot Boogie. If you recognize these names, you are probably a fan of the HBO series The Wire.

This month marks 20 years since the series premiere. It ran for five seasons, following the lives of the cops, criminals, political players, and everyday folks caught up in Baltimore's often futile war on drugs.

Many argue that The Wire is the best television show ever created and has earned praise for its realistic, humanizing, multi-dimensional portrayal of Black characters. But 20 years on, the conversation about policing in Black communities has changed. The deaths of Freddie Gray, George Floyd, and many others after encounters with police and the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement have brought about more public scrutiny, debate, and criticism of the police.

As social commentary, is The Wire still relevant? We speak with NPR TV critic Eric Deggans and Ronda Racha Penrice, editor of the essay collection, Cracking The Wire During Black Lives Matter.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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