"The Wire" was one of the defining shows of the 2000s, and captured like no other, the brilliance with which television can tell a truly nuanced story and create an unflinching depiction of modern life. In its final season, "The Wire" pulls together all of its storylines - the police, the streets, the politics, the docks, the school system, and those affected by the drug culture - of Baltimore and brings them, together with a new storyline about life at the Baltimore Sun newspaper, to show its crushing final thoughts on the decay of the American city. The fifth season is not quite as good as the four that preceded it but it is in many ways a perfect finale for such an iconic series. This show is, in my opinion, the best of all time and more people need to see it. Start from the start, pay attention to all the little pieces, and you will be rewarded with an experience like no other.

The final season of The Wire wasn't quite up to the very high standard the show had set over the first four years. You can't help but think the writers were forced to make a few compromises in order to bring the curtain down on this generally excellent series. That said, for fans of The Wire this is a must see.