SummaryThe limited series co-created by David Simon and George Pelecanos centers on members of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force that robbed and extorted citizens for several years before a federal investigation uncovered their crimes in this adaptation of Justin Fenton's non-fiction book.
Created By:George Pelecanos, David Simon
❮ We Own This City
Season 1
Season Premiere:
2022
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
83
User score
Mixed or Average
5.6
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Season Episodes
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
83
100% Positive
27 Reviews
27 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 25, 2022
100
Guided by recurring snapshots of Jenkins’ police logs and buoyed by a sterling cast that includes a number of The Wire alums, the series deftly tackles its saga from a variety of captivating angles. Best of all, We Own This City boasts the sort of comprehensive detail that’s the hallmark of truly great storytelling. From the minutia of BPD protocol and the strategic tactics of Jenkins and his criminal minions, to the competing priorities of different government factions, Simon energizes every incident, argument and skirmish with a depth of knowledge about how, from top to bottom, the system works.
Apr 19, 2022
91
Hector becomes another stellar example of how this cast allows just enough suppressed emotion to simmer at the surface. ... Even if the show didn’t use the device of police logs to explain when each vignette of Jenkins’ misdeeds occurred, Bernthal is also doing sharp work to help situate each stop along the timeline. Jenkins’ arc isn’t simply an evolution from clean-shaven academy grad to chin-bearded petty tyrant. There’s a full-bodied shift, however gradual.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.6
59% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
6% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
35% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
Jan 5, 2023
10
It is one thousand percent based upon a true story. David Simon, creator of the Wire, didn't have to dramatize or stretch facts to keep the attention of the viewer, the truth is jaw-droppingly potent and stranger than fiction. I fact checked nearly every story and they're all backed by news articles written by local journalists at the time those events transpired. The performances and writing are top notch. Jon Bernthal gives one the best performances I've seen in years. Don't listen to whiny agenda-laden fragiles who probably haven't even watched it. It's compelling, brilliant and informative. I watched it straight through, I couldn't stop, and that almost never happens.
May 29, 2022
9
It’s the story of the Baltimore PD consent decree. That’s the main character. With just 6 episodes there’s not much room for character development. Still it is immensely watchable and compelling viewing.
Apr 22, 2022
83
The engrossing HBO series manages to structure itself like a self-aware procedural that constantly asks us to question what we think we know about how criminality is conceived by and within police departments all over the country.
Jun 7, 2022
80
We Own This City throws a lot of information out there, from acronyms to procedural terms to shifting timelines, via a web of loosely connected characters. But this horrifying story will more than reward you, once you tune in to its beat.
Apr 25, 2022
80
Provocative, powerful, and with first-rate performances, We Own This City is the next generation of The Wire fans have long craved.
May 2, 2022
75
The imperative to take a rhetorical stance on this historic case has perhaps led Simon to eschew some of the richness and complexity that enlivened his earlier work, but at its best, We Own This City still possesses a thrilling urgency.
Apr 21, 2022
67
“City” is based on a nonfiction book by Justin Fenton and somewhat weighed down by its solemn intent. It doesn’t have time for humor and it doesn’t have the space for subtlety. Too many scenes are plain explanatory and grim business simply leads to more grim business. Still, Simon has always excelled at capturing specific cultures and their contradictions.
May 22, 2022
9
There's absolutely nothing "preachy" about this show. It's a wonderfully acted, ultra-realistic portrayal of a corrupt police force. I really can't get over how good the acting by Jon Bernthal is, and hope he wins some awards for this one. The only reason you might not enjoy We Own This City is if you've been brainwashed to the point where any insinuation that police could be bad offends you.
May 31, 2022
6
It certainly is no The Wire although certain elements (the complexity, the narrative, some of the actors) engender a The Wire vibe. Way too much exposition. Treats the audience as unintelligent. The positives: some fantastic performances.
May 31, 2022
3
bad
[ bad ] adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
May 17, 2022
3
As someone who thinks The Wire and The Shield are two of the greatest TV shows of all time, this is garbage. There is literally no story to it. Lazy, boring garbage.
Jun 19, 2022
2
Do not believe any media telling you this is in any way shape or form anything like The Wire besides its geographical location.
