I've heard a lot of stuff about how The Wires season 5 is the worst of the show, with which I kinda agree. The biggest problem of this season is it lacks the genuineness of the wire, like Mcnulty creating a serial killer felt out of place. Yet it still delivered the perfect finale. The ending was the best possible ending for this show. It perfectly showed that THE GAME NEVER DIES, only the players are changed with the new generation. SPOILERS BELOW!!!! MICHAEL and DUQUAN: In the end, we see Michael taking on a role similar to Omar's, becoming a stick-up artist, while Duquan succumbs to addiction like Bubbles once did. This cycle repeats and shows us how difficult it is to escape the pull of one's environment. And the saddest part of this is that, in the end, the purpose of Michael's soul was taken from him, who was his brother. And as we say, Bubs is recovering, but we don't know if Duquan has it in him. And they suffered this just because they were the pawns in this story who are about to reach the end of the chess board. And only the powerful ones are able to get a life outside this game, like MARLO: Despite being temporarily knocked off his throne, Marlo ends up back on the streets, still hungry for power, indicating that the drug trade will continue with or without him. And we have seen him prioritizing his name above everything and when he gets to those 2 kids on the corner, he realizes that they don't recognize him and are instead talking about Omar, which is the greatest poetic justice the writers could give both of them. MCNULTY: McNulty's arc ends with him driving off, leaving the force behind, symbolizing his recognition that his methods, while sometimes effective, are ultimately destructive. But the one who deserves the best and most optimistic ending is definitely  BUBBLES: His conclusion was one of the most heartwarming conclusions, as he finally achieves a sense of redemption and acceptance, sitting down to dinner with his sister—a simple act that signifies his recovery. And personally, I don't cry while watching any scene, but when Bubs delivered his speech I was on the verge of crying. Despite also being about the characters, The Wire is a story of the decaying of institutions and, it's known by everyone how this show critiques institutions, often showing us the perpetuated dysfunction of the institutions about a crime rather than solving it. The ending reinforces this theme by showing how little has changed despite the efforts of the characters. Like talking about THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, Jimmy McNulty and Lester Freamon get away with their fabricated serial killer scheme but are essentially forced into early retirement. The department remains corrupt and inefficient, as seen in how quickly it returns to its old ways. Talking about POLITICS, Tommy Carcetti's rise to governor illustrates how political ambitions often trump genuine reform. Despite his promises, real change remains elusive. This season ties together many of the storylines and themes introduced throughout the series, providing a cohesive and genuine conclusion. THE MEDIA: So, from a thematic, this season was about how the media paints people's perspectives. The focus on the media in this season critiques its role in shaping public perception, often prioritizing spicy topics over truth. The Pulitzer Prize awarded to an undeserving journalist solidifies it even more. THE STREETS: The power dynamics on the street continue to shift, but the game remains unchanged. The new generation of dealers and users stepping into the roles of their predecessors illustrates this continuity. So, The Wire's ending is perfect as it stayed true to the show's core principles of realism and institutional critique and leaving a lasting impact on me. By refusing to provide easy answers or neat conclusions, the ending reinforces its message about the enduring challenges of urban life and the resilience of its characters.