(This list was compiled by The Chronicles of Scott’s own Scott Tunstall and The Best View’s Adam Best, two die-hard fans of The Wire who watched the entire series. Both are contributors to the brand new FanSided Sports Blog here on FanSided.com. You can follow Scott on Twitter here and Adam on Twitter here.)
50. Leander Sydnor – Show creator David Simon has stated that Sydnor was the only character who, for the most part, comes out clean at the end of the show. That is about to change, however, as we see him taking up with Judge Phelan at the end, a la Jimmy McNulty.
49. “The Greek” – The money-hungry mastermind behind the international drug and human trafficking pipeline that supplied East Baltimore with the lion’s share of its narcotics and whores. Crossing The Greek was a mortal mistake. Without his connections, the streets of Baltimore would have been a lot cleaner.
48. Augustus “Gus” Haynes – A veteran newspaper man for The Baltimore Sun, Gus grew increasingly disenchanted with his profession after cutbacks ravaged the paper. A character who tried to do the right thing only to be suffocated by red tape and those who wanted to look the other way.
47. Roland “Prez” Pryzbylewski – Prez sucked as a cop, but made a difference as a teacher, or at least tried to. He learned a valuable lesson, which many denizens of The Wire failed to: being part of the problem is much easier than being part of the solution.
46. “Ziggy” Sobatka – Poor Ziggy was a sad sack. He wanted to be like his cousin Nick, but was too damn stupid. A sharp wit bailed him out of some tight spots, but his desire to be a big time drug dealer was his undoing. For all his faults, Ziggy was one funny dude.
45. Spiros “Vondas” Vondopoulos – “The Greek’s” underboss was responsible for recruiting local kingpins and union workers to push all matter of illegal paraphernalia onto the streets. Be it whores or drugs, Vondas was the go-to guy. Damn, if that wasn’t a good hat, too.
44. Kenard –The evil little tyke who pretended to be Omar while playing, ironically ended up being the one who killed the legendary stick-up man. Kenard was the frightening product of a society beset by crime. Sadly, he never had a chance to be anything but a hood.
43. Shardene Innes – The stripper with a heart of gold and the eyesight of a mole. Her relationship with Lester Freamon was vital to incriminating Avon Barksdale. She was one of the few characters who actually improved her condition as the series progressed
42. Judge Daniel Phelan – A confidante of Jimmy McNulty, Phelan authorized many of the wiretaps throughout the course of the series. He had his own agenda, but for the most part, he did what he could to help the cops.
41. Nareese Campbell – This President of the City Council was as slick as she was attractive. Sure, she was a ballbuster, but we enjoyed the hell out of her busting those balls as she ascended to become Mayor of Baltimore during the series’ final montage. Here spirited arguments with Thomas Carcetti always made for good drama.
40. Nick Sobatka – Season two’s moral compass, Nick served as a go between for his Uncle Frank and Spiros. Nick wanted more for his family, but the deeper he delved into the criminal world, the more regret he felt. The final shot of him staring through the fence at the docks in the season finale is one of the most resonating moments in the entire series.
39. Scott Templeton – The scumbag reporter for the floundering Baltimore Sun newspaper in season five who embellished stories in order to garner more interest from his editors. His “winning” of the Pulitzer Prize in the series finale reinforced a recurrent series’ theme that lying and corruption was a sure-fire way to reach the top.
38. Malik “Poot” Carr – Poot was one of the few street level dealers to survive the duration of the show. He cut his teeth in the Barksdale crew and was best buds with “Bodie.” Poot was always more interested in girls than the game, and got burned on many occasions by both. He spent 15 months in the pokey, but rehabilitated himself by series’ end.
37. Dennis “Cutty” Wise – After serving 14 years for the Barksdale Organization, Cutty returned home and opened a neighborhood boxing gym to provide young men an alternative to slinging crack. He was a true success story among a bevy of failures. He literally took a bullet in attempt to save his fallen apprentice, Michael Lee.
36. Stanislaus Valchek – Valchek was a self-serving Police Commander who used his name, connections and rank to further his career within the department. Despite having zero interest or knowledge of real police work, he was named Acting Police Commissioner in the final episode of the series. The guy was a complete hack, but a rather enjoyable one if we’re talking sheer entertainment value.
35. Thomas “Herc” Hauk – What Herc lacked for brains he made up for in brawn. The big galoot loved being a cop, even though some of his behavior was unbecoming. Such as “misplacing” a surveillance camera and roughing up a minister.
34. Beatrice “Beadie” Russell – Port Authority officer Beadie was one of the stand-out principals of season two. Her discovery of a container filled with dead bodies unleashed a full-scale investigation into the stevedores. Eventually, she got involved with McNulty and helped him clean up his act, well, to some extent. Amy Ryan was superb as always.
33. Maurice Levy – Levy was the epitome of a scumbag lawyer. He represented both the Barksdale and Stanfield organizations, and tirelessly defended their illegal lifestyles. Needless to say, he traversed through life with a paper-thin moral code. His smug smile and arrogant disposition made him more unlikable than most of the murderous gangsters he helped keep out of jail.
32. Ex-Mayor Clarence Royce – Royce embodied everything wrong with politics in America. His only ambition was to stay in power. An adept politician well-versed in all matter of political maneuvering, he used patsies like Commissioner Burrell to deflect blame away from his office. He also displayed some Clintonesque behavior with an intern.
31. Namond Brice – Just when you all but lose hope in humanity because a good seed like Dukie Weems, someone like Namond Brice comes along and restores the faith. His transformation from bad seed to debate champion was one of the most positive storylines of the series.
30. Ervin Burrell – A corrupt Police Commissioner who used every advantage and under-the-table deal to secure his job. As long as the crime stats looked promising to the press and the public, he stayed in power. Even if he wanted to clean up Baltimore, he never would have been allowed.
29. Slim Charles – Slim was the definition of a warrior. When it came to enforcing, this deep-voiced hood was top dog. He should have been killed at least three times, but his uncanny survival instincts and street smarts helped him ascend to leader of the Baltimore drug kingpins Co-Op. His execution-style murder of Cheese Wagstaff definitely made our highlight reel.
28. Sgt. Jay Landsman – AKA, the “Fat Man,” Landsman’s role was as mediator between the police brass and rank-and-file detectives. He kept everyone in the department at arm’s length in an attempt to dissuade favoritism. Fond of junk food and sleazy porno mags, Landsman provided needed comic relief amidst heavy drama. His speeches at officer’s wakes provided some of the more geniune moments of the series.
27. Rhonda Perlman – Rhonda was one of The Wire’s few prominent female characters. Her position as Assistant State’s Attorney was invaluable to all the wiretap cases. Her ethics and unwillingness to give in to the corrupt system that employed her made her very likable. She definitely traded up by going from an affair with Jimmy McNulty to a monogamous relationship with Cedric Daniels.
26. William Rawls – Rawls was the guy you loved to hate. He was a self-serving, career-oriented police Major who began the series in charge of Homicide Division and ended as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. He carried out Ervin Burrell’s agenda, but only to solidify his own advancement up the ladder.
25. Brother Mouzone – Don’t let the quiet demeanor, thick glasses, and bowtie fool you. He might have dressed like Pee Wee Herman, but he was closer to Pee Wee Kirkland. Brother Mouzone was a vicious New York hitman who ensured all loose ends were met with a bullet from his gun. He only appeared in seven episodes, but left a lasting impression each time. He also was involved in the biggest scene of the series — Stringer Bell’s death.
24. Frank Sobatka – The central figure in season two, Frank was a secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores. Under pressure to improve the financial outlook of the longshoreman’s union and provide the necessary funds to bribe influential politicians, Frank arranged a deal with “The Greek” to smuggle contraband through the docks. He was a sterling example of a good man destroyed by corruption and greed. As far as acting goes, the stark difference between the ultra-dependable Sobatka and the comically unreliable Andy Bellefleur from HBO’s True Blood shows what kind of range Chris Bauer possesses.
23. Kima Greggs – Kima was a hit-or-miss character. She shined in seasons one and five, but seemed to disappear in the middle seasons. An open lesbian, she faced extra scrutiny within the department. Her near death in the stunning season one climax ranks as one of the series’ most compelling sequences.
22. Cedric Daniels – Daniels was the guy you constantly rooted for, no matter how many time he was screwed over. He often feuded with superiors about a lack of resources, and never seemed to be on the same page with Jimmy McNulty. However, he gained the respect of his detectives while running the Major Crimes Unit.
21. Mayer Tommy Carcetti – The young, ambitious city councilman whose charm and idealistic vision earned him the Mayor’s seat. Carcetti’s plans to clean up the drug-infested streets of Baltimore were squashed once he discovered the schools were in rapid decline. He wanted to do the right thing, but was forced to adhere to a broken system fueled by long-standing relationships, under-the-table bribes and the lure of personal gain.
20. Duquan “Dukie” Weems – Of all the kids from season four, Dukie was easily the most sympathetic. His turbulent surroundings prevented him from becoming anything more than a heroin-addicted junk dealer. The final scene of him shooting up in a garbage-strewn back alley might be the saddest in the entire series. If Wallace’s story woke us up to the cutthroat world of the corners, Dukie’s served as a stark reminder as the series was put to rest.
19. Wallace - When Bodie and Poot gunned down their buddy Wallace on behalf of Stringer Bell, we got our first glimpse of just how savage the streets of Baltimore really are. Wallace made our hearts ache, as we saw an good-natured kid with a big heart fall victim to the game, pretty much out of necesity.
18. “Wee-Bey” Brice – The number one soldier in the Barksdale syndicate, Wee-Bey was responsible for multiple killings during his years of service. He received life in prison for his crimes, but didn’t blink once. He gained respect for falling on his sword and taking his punishment like a man.
17. Preston “Bodie” Broadus – Bodie was a true soldier of the street. He was loyal to those above him and never backed down to police intimidation. His innate instincts made him an effective corner boss. Unfortunately, his luck ran out at the conclusion of season four. Up until that point, Bodie cracked us up, displayed some serious grit and showed us how to spit.
16. Chris Partlow – As Marlo Stanfield’s trusted button man, Partlow was responsible for countless deaths. His quiet demeanor was deceiving. Of all the monsters who roamed the streets of Baltimore, he was one of the scariest. Gebenga Akinnagbe brought a fierce energy to the role and delivered one of the finest performances in the series. His lethal beatdown of Michael Lee’s stepfather might have been the most gruesome moment of the series.
15. Avon Barksdale – The king of drug kingpins, Avon ruled West Baltimore with an iron fist, aided by the sage legal advice of Maury Levy and the precise management skills of second-in-command Stringer Bell. Avon’s grip on the drug trade began to slip after his first incarceration. As the series wrapped, the Barksdale Organization had all but disappeared with Avon doing a second, longer prison stretch.
14. Ellis Carver – He started as a hot-head narcotics detective willing to cut corners, but evolved into one of the finest officers on the force. Carver flew somewhat below the radar and was overshadowed by meatier characters, but actor Seth Gilliam was solid from beginning to end. He was also one of the few characters who had a positive character arc over the course of the series. In addition to frequently providing comic relief, his meltdown over troubled middle school student Randy Wagstaff was one of the finest examples of acting the series saw.
13. Michael Lee – Michael was another of the boys from season four to head down a perilous path. He was driven by a desire to supply a better life for Bug, even if it meant sacrificing his future. His friendship with Stanfield enforcer Chris Partlow led to a position on Stanfield’s crew. Michael’s story was hard to stomach, because he was a good-looking, talented kid and a fantastic big brother to little Bug. He could have been anything. In the end, he was a stick-up boy, fending for himself after he had been abandoned by both his drug addict mother and the dismantled Stanfield crew.
12. Howard “Bunny” Colvin – Colvin stood out from the pack because of his unconventional thinking. Fed up with being asked to “alter” crime stats, Bunny established police supervised “free zones” where dealers and addicts could operate without threat of arrest. His refusal to give up on “lost causes” like Namond Brice endeared him to viewers.
11. Proposition Joe – The East Baltimore kingpin, Prop Joe possessed an unrivaled business acumen. His dealings with “The Greek” ensured a steady flow of heroin hit the streets annually. He also established the New Day Co-Op, a sort of profit sharing union for drug dealers. He was a master manipulator able to see and play all the angles. It was damn hard to keep B-More’s version of Jabba the Hut out of the top 10. His distinctive dialogue and delivery made him one of The Wire’s most vivid, and dare we say authentic feeling, characters.
10. Felicia “Snoop” Pearson – Yeah, Snoop was a chick; one of the most ruthless chicks to ever grace the small screen. Snoop, along with Chris Partlow, acted as Marlo Stanfield’s chief muscle. She was sleight in stature and uttered a unique street lingo that often provided comedic moments. Her nonchalant reaction to violence, along with her unladylike exploits, made her an intimidating presence. Plus, she might have been more savage than any of her male counterparts. Snoop was such a geniune character that only a real person with a very similar story could have pulled the role off, which was exactly the case. More than any other character, I think she showed just how effed up that environment truly was.
9. Clay Davis – One word: “Sheeeeeit.” Davis was without a doubt one of the most corrupt individuals in television history. He oozed slime and never saw a bribe he wouldn’t take. As a State Senator, his connection to any and all back-room deals afforded him an enormous amount of power within the political arena. His monologue in front of the grand jury was arguably the finest bit of acting the series had to offer. Rhonda Pearlman and Rupert Bond weren’t the only ones who were saying WTF? after that performance. You gonna argue with that, “partner?” We didn’t think so. Isiah Whitlock, Jr. absolutely owned this role, capitulating him into the top 10 despite somewhat limited screentime.
8. Marlo Stanfield – Marlo was cool, arrogant and ruthless. He didn’t want to rule just West Baltimore; he wanted the whole damn city. He played by no one’s rules except his own and was willing to learn the minutia of the drug trade. His thirst for power led to him waging war with every major player in the game. The slender slumlord wasn’t big in stature, but actor Jamie Hector provided the character with a subtle ferocity. We know it sounds like an oxymoron, but think about it — how many times did we actually see him commit acts of violence? Like twice? It was in his eyes. This had to be a terrifying human being if both Chris Partlow and Snoop answered to him, and Hector pulled it off. His performance reminded us a little bit of Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone. Where most gangsters are over the top (read: Avon Barksdale), Marlo was calm, cool and collected. Perhaps, that’s even more terrifying. He governed with his gaze, not with his gangster. But you knew he could get gangster if he had to, and that’s why his gaze was so effective. You knew he would do anything to stay on top, to keep the crown. You also knew there was no way he was ever walking away from the game. In the end, Marlo had a chance to be a kingpin in a new trade after he made a deal to avoid jail time. But business didn’t cut it for Marlo, so he went back to the street as a man without an empire.
7. D’Angelo Barksdale – The reluctant drug lieutenant. D’Angelo was the nephew of kingpin Avon Barksdale. He ran the low-rise drug trade known as “The Pit” in the first season. He was a conflicted and too sensitive to succeed in the game. His attempt to escape the drug life caused him to be murdered in prison. He was the character who showed us that not everything is just good or bad in the crazy world of B-More. He represented the viewer, really throughout our five-season journey — torn between being a contributing member of society and the street. D’Angelo made us understand that good people could fall victim to the game. To put it simply, he’s the one who made us care. His story was the hook. The Wire started off with him getting tried for a murder he did, and by the point he met his demise we cared deeply for him. If that doesn’t sum up The Wire and what it accomplished, then we don’t know what does.
6. Bunk Moreland – Another member of the “natural police” club. The cigar-smoking, hard-drinking, sh**-talk-mumbling Bunk was Jimmy McNulty’s one true friend. He had no problem sidestepping procedure when necessary, but he was a “don’t rock the boat” cop when push came to shove. Being a company man and towing the line, yet being your own man at the same time was a delicate balancing act. Same with being a family man and a badge in Baltimore (“drink to you throw up” isn’t just Cash Money’s old motto, and those guys chased women like they were red names on the board that needed to go black). Yet Bunk managed to be all of the above, and he often made us laugh while doing so.
5. Lester Freamon – The circumspect detective was intelligent, resourceful and dedicated. As far as Baltimore was concerned, he was the Michael Jordan of “natural police.” He displayed keen detective skills and quickly became one of the most dependable investigators in the unit. Lester was at his best working wiretaps, as it was his work that was largely responsible for the downfall of both the Barksdale and Stanfield drug organizations. His hobby of making and painting dollhouse furniture was appropriate for someone who paid such close attention to detail. Meticulous and smooth, from his work, to his walk, to his wardrobe. Kima dubbed this man Cool Lester Smooth for a reason. Without Lester, the Baltimore police department would have been in over its head when it came to the war on drugs. With Lester and just a smidgen of technology, the dealers didn’t stand a chance. Sure, he bent the rules a little bit and marched to the beat of his own drum, but we let it slide because we always knew he had good intentions and better game. That and the 13 years of purgatory spent in the department pawnshop.
4. Bubbles – The homeless street hustler and sometimes police informant who hocked scrap metal and bootleg DVDs to feed his drug habit. Of all the characters that inhabited The Wire, Bubbs had the biggest heart. He didn’t blame others for his lot in life. He chose his own path and knew deep down only he could heal the self-inflicted wounds. He was one of the few people you could root for in a series permeated with unsavory people from all walks of life. Most of us are quick to judge junkies, automatically classifying them as bad people. Bubbs made us sympathetic towards the victims of Baltmore’s drug epidemic. In the end, he ranked so high on our list because he, more than any other character, reminded us that it’s never to late to change, and that no situation is ever too bleak for optimism. Plus, his attempted suicide was easily one of show’s most memorable, and heartbreaking, moments.
3. Jimmy McNulty – Smart, driven, resourceful, abrasive, moody, unpredictable, reckless. All these words describe the lead protagonist of The Wire. Jimmy McNulty abhorred authority and all things bureaucratic. As a result, he was loathed by his superiors and often butted heads with his fellow detectives. Disillusioned by the barriers he had to climb, he often turned to the bottle to drown his disgust with a corrupt police department and frayed legal system. His character was a living, breathing microcosm of Baltimore. Baltimore was a lost cause left to rot, despite some of its inhabitants’ best intentions, neglected by both its state and country. Sometimes, it made progress against all odds. More often than not, however, Baltimore succumbed to its demons — corruption, crime and poverty. McNulty was also a lost cause, despite his best intentions. Surrounded by a city and a police force that didn’t give a damn, he somehow managed to make quit a bit of progress. Hey, he was another “natural police,” and a damn good one at that. More often than not, however, McNulty became frustrated with his role in life, and as a result succumbed to his demons — booze, broads and breaking the rules. In the end, we knew that both B-More and McNulty would make it, but we also knew it wouldn’t always be pretty.
2. Stringer Bell – The VP of the Barksdale drug syndicate. A student of economics, Bell was a contrast in styles. On one hand, he wanted to run the organization as if it was a legitimate corporation. On the other, he was a vicious taskmaster who ordered the deaths of those he deemed enemies or even potential threats. He was smart and sophisticated, but his inability to remove the label of common street thug caused him much trepidation. It’s appropriate that Bell is sandwiched on this list by Omar Little and McNulty, because in some ways he’s like both. Like McNulty, Bell is also a microcosm of Baltimore. Despite his best efforts to clean up his act and go legitimate, he couldn’t escape his environment. Like Omar, Bell is a walking contradiction. Typically, drugdealers are portrayed as uneducated, unorganized thugs. Bell, on the other hand, didn’t run his business like a corner boy — he ran it like a CEO. Ultimately, Bell would meet his demise because the CEO could not bury the corner boy of Bell’s adolescence. Idris Elba absolutely knocked this role out of Camden Yards (Baltimore, hello!). Never has a sophisticated gangster been played with such authenticity. Despite Bell’s ruthless ways, we wanted him to survive. It felt like we got suckerpunched in the gut when he died. That’s a testament to Elba, whose performance carried the first three seasons of the show. Speaking of his death, it was was the signature moment of the series. Which also included…as Stringer would say, “get on with it, motherf***er “…
1. Omar Little – How does one single character separate himself from a pack of quality roles? Watch Michael K. Williams play Omar in one scene and you’ll have your answer. Williams was so captivating as Omar, that the show’s brass kept him alive until almost the end of the series. This despite his character originally being slated to only appear in season one. The shotgun-wielding Robin Hood of West Baltimore dominated the screen like few other fictional personae in recent memory. You really start to recognize just how great his performance is when you see young kids in Baltimore pretending to be him, and you believe it. They weren’t playing cops and robbers, they were playing corner boys and Omar. He was a homosexual stick-up boy who didn’t curse and was a bit of a loner, yet the kids still wanted to be him. Again, it was one of those very kids who ultimately shot and killed Omar. That moment might not have been the signiture moment of the series, but it was the hardest moment to recover from as a viewer. How could the show go on without Omar? Well, even though he abided by his own code, he was keenly aware he was not above the game. The street giveth, the street taketh away. In a play or get played world, Omar got played. Afterward, the streets moved on. The almost mythical Omar had been reduced to a black name on the homicide dry erase board with one gunshot. He wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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