It goes without saying that a conversation about the greatest cop dramas ever made would be incomplete without a mention of The Wire, a show that is considered by many to be one of the greatest series ever made due to its focus on realism and the gritty life on the drug-fuelled streets of Baltimore. The show takes a balanced look at the work of the cops and one of the many institutes of Baltimore in each season, with this heavy focus allowing for some truly excellent storytelling that feels grounded in reality and extremely entertaining to watch, as a result.
A major reason why The Wire has become such an excellent show is mainly due to the massive cast of lovable characters, who add their own flair into the mix and turn every scene into an engrossing one. The main characters of the show definitely have some interesting character arcs in this regard, even though one can argue that some people had it better than the rest. Keeping this in mind, here are the main characters of The Wire ranked on the basis of how compelling their character arcs are.
Thomas Hauk
The brawn of the police force doesn't necessarily need to have an interesting story, which is why Herc ultimately suffers as a character.
Apart from a few quips thrown into his character's dialogue, there's literally no other reason to be attached to him.
William Rawls
The despicable and manipulative nature of William Rawls as he tries to dress up the statistics of his police department remains consistent for the majority of The Wire.
While there's a small moment where his character is somewhat redeemed by the end of the series, it's still nearly not enough to gloss over all the horrible things he's done.
Ervin Burrell
Ervin is pretty much similar to William Rawls, in the sense that he was pretty driven by statistics as opposed to actual police work.
However, his obsession in this regard was so immense that he even went so far as to falsifying police records — a move that eventually got him fired.
Clay Davis
Another part of the corruption of Baltimore is Clay Davis, a senator who is more than happy with taking bribes and allowing illegal activities to ruin Baltimore.
Even his comical swearing isn't enough to redeem himself in the eyes of the audience.
Ellis Carver
Initially being nothing more than a copy-pasted character similar to that of Herc's, Ervin quickly distances himself from his partner by displaying solid morals and ethics in his job.
It's this small addition to his character that makes a world of difference indeed.
Avon Barksdale
While Stringer Bell and Avon work in tandem, the former is just way more competent than the latter in every regard.
While that doesn't stop Avon from being a compelling antagonist, he definitely falters in the face of some of the better-written characters on the show.
Tommy Carcetti
A mayor in Baltimore who actually shied away from corruption and tried to make the city a habitable place, Tommy Carcetti is a person people can look up to in The Wire.
His efforts to keep the city clean and appreciate the people who strive to accomplish the same should definitely be lauded.
Marlo Stanfield
A cold-hearted person who strived for respect above everything else, Marlo Stanfield was not someone to be messed with.
Even after his incarceration, Marlo never stops asking for respect, even going so far as to accosting two corner boys and demanding the same from them.
Augustus Haynes
While his introduction might've been a bit too late in The Wire, there's still no denying how impactful Augustus Haynes is to the overall narrative.
It certainly helps that his ethics and morals are pretty sound, making him an easy character to support in the final season.
D'Angelo Barksdale
The first season of the show focused heavily on the life of D'Angelo Barksdale — a member of the Barksdale family who gets enamored with the life of crime... only to realize how fallacious and meaningless the entire game really is.
However, the evolution of his moral compass puts him at odds with Stringer Bell, who decides to end the man's life in prison out of fear that he would've told on them.
Bunk Moreland
A no-nonsense detective with a heart of gold is the best way to describe Bunk.
Unlike most of the people on the police force, Bunk actually manages to get some great work done without having to skirt around the rules... too much.
Kima Greggs
A police detective who ends up in some fairly sticky situations throughout the series, Kima has certainly gotten her fair share of action on the police force.
Thankfully, her headstrong nature allows her to persevere and excel in her role.
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon might seem like someone weary with the world, but he's so much more than that particular character trait.
His calculated movements and human nature turn him into a highlight in the Baltimore Police Department.
Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell was one of the foremost characters in the drug trade who ended up orchestrating a ton of activities behind the scenes.
However, his foray into more profitable avenues outside the drug trade and his two-faced nature inevitably led to his downfall.
Michael Lee
Season 4 was easily The Wire's greatest season, featuring some excellent new characters that reflected how different generations exhibit the same patterns in Baltimore.
Michael Lee is a great example of this — a child with a ton of promise, whose tough upbringing and childhood trauma eventually leads to him succumbing to a life of crime.
Jimmy McNulty
Most of The Wire definitely focuses heavily on the personality of Jimmy McNulty, and it's a testament to the brilliant writing of this show that this never gets overbearing... even when Jimmy proves to be incredibly overbearing, which is quite frequent.
However, one can't deny that his character is certainly quite complex regardless, and perfectly personifies The Wire — he might not make viewers feel good, but it's still hypnotizing to witness his life regardless.
Namond Brice
Another teenager introduced in Season 4 who could've very much gone off the deep end, it's great to see that Namond ends up living out a good life instead.
This is mainly due to the person who ends up taking him in...
Howard Colvin
Bunny Colvin is one of the most interesting characters on the show, mainly because of how empathetic and wise his character really is.
From expanding the worldview of officers to giving young people a second shot at life — his character is quite admirable and something that can be looked up to.
Roland Pryzbylewski
There was a time when Pryzbylewski was easily one of the more annoying characters on the show, mainly since he was a pretty incompetent police officer.
However, after leaving the force, he gets a new calling as a teacher at Baltimore's middle school. He's an excellent and supportive guardian... even though his efforts ultimately were for naught.
Duquan Weems
Dukie's character is pretty saddening, depicting the consequences of bullying coupled with the fractured nature of his neighborhood.
The fact that Pryzbylewski never managed to save him and even realizes this fact is quite a punch to the gut indeed.