In a city that can no longer even recognize its problems, much less begin to solve them, police detectives attempt to bring in one last, worthy case against a violent crew of narcotics traffickers. And when bureaucratic poverty and infighting threatens that case, one detective will risk everything, creating a fraud that will eventually entangle the city's newspaper, which is weakened by declines in circulation and advertising. With journalism itself so vulnerable and desperate, an unscrupulous, ambitious reporter will ride the story wherever it goes - or wherever he wants it to go.

Special features: Disc one: "More with less" audio commentary with director/co-executive producer Joe Chappelle and cast member Wendell Pierce; "Unconfirmed reports" audio commentary with writer/cast member William F. Zorzi and director/cast member Clark Johnson ; Disc two: "Transitions" audio commentary with writer/co-executive producer Ed Burns and producer Karen Thorson; "The Dickensian aspect" audio commentary with producer George Pelecanos and director Seith Mann ; Disc three: "Took" audio commentary with director/cast member Dominic West and editor Kate Sanford ; Disc four: "-30-" audio commentary with creator David Simon and executive producer Nina K. Noble; "'The wire' : the last word" : a documentary exploring the role of the media; "'The wire' odyssey" : a retrospective of the first four seasons.