HBO's legendary series The Wire reached the milestone of its 20th anniversary on June 2, 2022, causing many fans to join together on the internet to celebrate the legacy of the series. The show, which ran from 2002 to 2008, was filled with dozens of unique and true-to-life characters.
Known for its diverse cast of talent, The Wire had five terrific seasons, never quite earning in its time the recognition many fans believe it deserved in retrospect. Fans on Ranker decided on their favorite characters from the series.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Dennis "Cutty" Wise
Released from prison in Season 3, Cutty is close to returning to his old life as a member of Avon Barksdale's crew, before realizing that it's no longer his path. Cutty is respectfully dismissed and begins his new life, hoping to better the community of the neighborhood children with his boxing gym.
Season 4 of The Wire is all about how urban life and corruption effect children, further perpetuating the cycle. In the ecosystem of people trying to make a difference, for better or worse, in Baltimore, Cutty is one of the people that has a direct effect on bettering the lives of those around him, all while possessing a lovable swagger.
Slim Charles
The Wire is filled with great criminal characters, of varying morals, competency and devotion to their group. Slim Charles above all is the ideal second hand man. He's incredibly loyal, has a code that he lives by, and never seems to fail to get the job done.
In the later seasons, as Marlo Stanfield's criminal organization expanded, the word on the street was that the game was changing. Slim Charles' character made him a sort of reflection of the idealized older way, rather than the ruthless, lawless organizations rising in Baltimore.
Howard Colvin
Howard "Bunny" Colvin is introduced to audiences in Season 3, as he orchestrates a risky experiment called "Hamsterdam." In an effort to direct crime to a contained area, Colvin unofficially legalizes drug sales on one street of his sector. The experiment results in the ending of his career in law enforcement.
In the following seasons, Colvin makes an effort to help out troubled and misguided kids in the education system. He's one of the few characters who's able to directly effect someone's life in a positive manner, as he becomes a foster parent to Namond.
Jimmy McNulty
In a show filled with great characters, McNulty is essentially the "main character," though he's more of a controversial figure in the fan base. His actions in Season 5, where he fabricates a serial killer in order to gain funding to take down Marlo Stanfield are the reason for his controversy.
McNulty is a likeable character in many ways. He's charming, funny, and has a strong sense of morals. But he is far more flawed than the typical series lead, as his overall mission for good causes him to be rebellious and at times harmful, in ways many would attribute to his ego and sense of self righteousness. With that having been said, McNulty is still a well-written, complex character and makes for an interesting tour guide in Baltimore.
Lester Freamon
Remaining quiet for the first few episodes of the series, when Lester finally opens his mouth, he instantly impresses his peers, and the audience. Lester is true police, with the smarts to work cases great and small. His abnormal hobbies give him the reputation of being an outcast, making him perfect for the band of misfits the show follows in the first season.
Lester becomes more loveable yet in Season 2 in his pairing with Bunk Moreland, as the two have some of the best banter in the series. Lester remains consistent throughout the series, and is beloved by fans of the show.
Bodie Broadus
Bodie is one of the first criminal characters met in the show, starting as a child, low-level dealer. Overtime, Bodie shows a ton of growth, aging into a mature and very intelligent young man as he rises through the ranks. Bodie develops a sense of a code like many of the characters in Barksdale or Proposition Joe's organization, causing him to despise the actions of Marlo Stanfield in Season 4.
Bodie is unfortunately caught chatting with McNulty, leading to his tragic ending in Season 4. In a season all about how the gang activity effects the lives of the children, many fans were left hoping Bodie could've led a better and longer life, as he definitely could have found success.
Bunk Moreland
With so many hilarious quotes, and great banter with a variety of characters, it's easy to pass off Bunk as being a mainly comedic character. His conversation with Omar Little is possibly his most emotional scene, as Bunk expresses his rage towards the criminals and murderers ruining the area of Baltimore in which he grew up.
Bunk is a passionate character and a very competent detective, and though he isn't as willing to stick up to the man like McNulty or Lester, he does consistently aim to do strong police work and bring justice to murderers.
Stringer Bell
Being played by the talent of Idris Elba can take a character pretty far on its own, but it helps that Stringer Bell is also a very interesting character. As the second fiddle to Avon Barksdale, Stringer is a tactically minded man, looking to turn their drug empire into a legitimate business. Stringer even has some of Idris Elba's best character quotes.
It's fascinating seeing Stringer in his economics class for the first time, taking notes and carefully learning, while knowing he's one of the most powerful criminals in the city. His intuition and desire to legitimize makes for an interesting duality between him and Avon in Season 3, leading to some of the show's best confrontations.
Bubbles
One of the most heart-wrenching stories in The Wire is the fluctuating battle Bubbles faces with addiction. His story is one of the most grounded in all of television, and doesn't pull any punches with its realism. Around Bubbles, people die and get hurt, yet he remains strong willed and good natured throughout.
Bubbles is truly a victim of his world, working hard to keep himself afloat and sharing what little he can with those around him. By Season 5, he's cleaned up and devotes himself to helping others recover like he did.
Omar Little
Played by the late Michael K. Williams, Omar Little is one of the strongest characters in the show. Never appearing as a regular, The Wire has long gaps without Omar, making his appearances far more memorable. In the mythology of the streets, Omar is a lone ranger praying on the blind spots of drug organizations.
The reaction of the neighborhood kids when Omar approaches says enough about his reputation, as he's a very deadly character. He also gained recognition as a character for being ahead of its time with LGBTQ+ representation. The role is considered one of Michael K. Williams' best.