I would love to read your reviews of "The Wire" - I started watching with Season 2 and haven't seen Season 1 yet, but it's definitely a show that rewards thinking and rich analysis and Season 2 was absolutely brilliant (I was less fond of the recently concluded Season 3, but part of that may change when I rewatch and see how everything comes together!) More than any other TV show I've ever seen (including the Jossverse ones!) "The Wire" is like an incredibly engrossing novel, and you have to watch all the way to the end of each season before stuff makes sense, I think.

The actress you're thinking of is Sonja Sohn, I believe, and Kima becomes a much more interesting character. McNulty is always and forever fascinating (and Dominic West is quite the hottie as I can attest having spoken to him at a booksigning recently!)