Twenty years ago this week, HBO debuted a provocative new cop show called The Wire. Created by David Simon, a former police reporter in Baltimore, it was based on the experiences of his writing partner, Ed Burns, a former homicide detective from the same city. While viewing figures were low, the lucky few who tuned in were treated to the first stages of one of the great American masterpieces: a fable that shone a light on a world we’d rather pretend didn’t exist.
Simon and Burns made it relatable to everyone by not focusing solely on crime. Over the course of the show’s five seasons, stories touched on bureaucracy, economics, politics, education and the media. These bold concepts weren’t played out with boring exposition, but through the stories of the show’s many complex characters, each of whom represented American institutions, and tended to be based on real individuals.
