The Wireis one of the most influential television shows of all-time, and one of the few HBO series that can be considered a masterpiece. Although at the time of its release it was overshadowed in ratings by more popular shows like The Sopranosand The West Wing, The Wire has been subsequently recognized for its ingenious narrative structure; by slowly examining a new element of infrastructure with each season, series creator David Simonwas able to paint a complex view of what crime dynamics in the city of Baltimore looked like.