to the show's first season and praised Jordan's performance, saying that he was sorry the character had to leave but that the story comes first. Simon sees the character as an illustration of the adage "a 16-year-old drug dealer is still 16." Reception Amos Barshad of New York magazine called Wallace's death "one of an overwhelmingly bleak show's bleakest moments". MSNBC reporter Michael Ventre described it as "perhaps the most memorable (scene), and one that illustrates The Wire in microcosm." The character remained memorable years after his departure from the show. During a January 2008 premiere party for the fifth season of The Wire, Simon read the names of every notable cast member in the show, and media outlets reported the loudest cheers came for Jordan and the recognition for his portrayal as Wallace. References Wallace Wallace (The Wire) Television characters introduced in 2002 Fictional murdered people Drug dealers of The Wire Fictional drug addicts American male characters in television