We’ve compared The Wire to literature and to other television shows. Now let’s see how The Wire reflects or evolves conventions of theatre and drama. The Wire traces the evolution of the traditions of “Theatre of Cruelty” into “Theatre of the Absurd.” This is a useful way of thinking when we look at Season 5 as the bizarre outlier of the series.

References: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_Cruelty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Absurd 

https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/life-meaningless-theatre-absurd/