Customer Reviews
You gotta keep the devil down in the hole - By: Stevie G, 18 Dec 2008 
Essential viewing. Clever yet uncompromising. And unlike most TV shows, actuallly gets stronger with each episode.
Season 3 sees McNulty resume his vendetta against the Barksdale crew. The Major Crimes Unit is now fully established after their work on the docks, their initial role is to help minimise the muder rate in Baltimore.
Previous seasons told the story from the perspectives of both the criminals & the cops. City Halll is now introduced to the mix, & as a result this season is very much about the politics on both sides.
The Barksdales are concerned with the power shift & conflict of interests prompted by Avons release. In addition to their handling of Marlow Stansfield, a ruthless gang member threatening the truce. Stringer wants to focus on property development & 'legitimate' business, whereas Avon wants a war with Marlow. Add D'Angello's unresolved 'suicide', & the fuse is lit.
On the law enforcement side, Mayor Royce's pressure on Commissioner Burrell results in a zero tolerance approach to crime, putting jobs at risk. He forces Major Colvin to adopt a radical new approach to the drug problem, & the consequences are far & wide.
The Wire is famed for its gritty, unvarnished depiction of Baltimore, but 'Hamsterdam' takes this to an entirely new level. These sequences are frighteningly realistic, whilst intelligently exploring the social & political outcomes of this initiative.
Omar: the drug dealer robbing, homosexual gangster makes a triumphant return; his involvement this season making him the stuff of legends. After Stringers attempts to set him up last season, Omar is gunning for the Barksdale crew, especiallly after a botched robbery early on, leading to deaths on both sides. 'Bowtie' also returns to resolve his unfinished business. Bubbs, the likeable addict/informer makes an attempt to go straight, selling white t-shirts from a shopping trolley.
And after pistol-whipping a teenager & assaulting Major Valcheck, Prez outdoes himself once again, but there is no coming back this time.
In fact, after Season 3, things will never be the same again. The towers may be demolished, but if you walk through this garden, you still need to watch your back.
Must see TV - By: Natatores, 26 Nov 2008 I bought the first two series of the wire on the basis of comments on the amazon web site. Could it reallly be that good?. To my eternal shame it was several months before I finallly got around to watching it. You should be in absolutely no doubt that this is landmark television. If you never watch another TV series for the rest of your life, you must watch this. The downside is that it is so good that it makes it difficult to watch virtuallly anything else without feeling that you have been short-changed.
a let down - By: Andrew Ferguson, 09 Nov 2008 
after the 1st 2 series, 1st=4star, 2nd=5 star, this is a let down, so only 3 stars.
the whole "hamsterdam" thing is gargage & the actors know it, they look a bit embarrased at having to do something that is not believable & it shows.
overalll, its messy & lacks focus.
have even debated with myself to stop watching it & get on with something else instead, whereas the 1st 2 series were riviting.
after this, i dont know if i'll give series 4 a go.
the best series of all time? - By: sean paul mccann, 05 Nov 2008 I am going to,for once,write a short review,this series is stunning,the first two series' were superb but this is even better,there may not even be a word for how good this is,at least nothing is springing to mind,this series focuses on the political side of baltimore,the drug trade is still prevelent among many other storylines,alll you could ask for is here,this series is probably better than anything in the sopranos,did i just say that?,i think i did!
Excellent Third Season - By: Mr. Simon J. Lomax, 28 Oct 2008 The third season of the wire is as brilliant as the Two that came before it. if you've seen the first two seasons then you must watch this too.
