We Own This City
We Own This City is a 2022 American limited television series about the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it.
We Own This City is a 2022 American limited television series about the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it. The six-episode crime drama was created by David Simon and George Pelecanos and is based on Justin Fenton’s nonfiction book of the same name.
Premise
The series dramatizes the real-life investigation into the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, a unit implicated in widespread misconduct and corruption. The story uses flashbacks and interrogations to reconstruct events over several years.
Production
We Own This City was created by David Simon and George Pelecanos for HBO. It is adapted from Justin Fenton’s nonfiction book and was produced as a six-part limited series.
Cast
The ensemble cast includes Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles, McKinley Belcher III, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Rob Brown, David Corenswet, Dagmara Domińczyk, Don Harvey, Larry Mitchell, and Ian Duff.
Reception and themes
Critics noted the series’ continuation of David Simon’s long-running focus on institutional failure, policing, and systemic corruption. Reviews frequently compared it to The Wire because of its Baltimore setting and similar thematic concerns.
Key facts
- The series chronicles the rise and fall of Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force.
- It focuses on police corruption, theft, brutality, and abuse of power.
- Jon Bernthal plays Wayne Jenkins, a central figure in the story.
- The series was co-created by David Simon and George Pelecanos.
- It is based on journalist Justin Fenton’s nonfiction book.
Canadian viewers have been able to watch the series through Canadian streaming and television distribution services, and it received coverage in Canadian entertainment listings and press.
Frequently asked questions
What is We Own This City about?
Is We Own This City based on a true story?
How many episodes does it have?
Who created the series?
When did it premiere?
References
- Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/show/we-own-this-city/umc.cmc.4zppddxpnzuognvbk48du2b85Supports: Describes the series as a six-episode limited series about the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force.
- HBO Max — https://www.hbomax.com/shows/we-own-this-city/acaeeec8-e8f5-4198-85e2-192f8b79bdffSupports: Lists the series, its six episodes, cast, creators, genres, and 2022 release year.
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/we_own_this_city/s01Supports: States that the series is based on Justin Fenton’s book and identifies David Simon and George Pelecanos as creators.
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14192504/Supports: Identifies the title as a 2022 TV mini series and lists the creators and genre.
- The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/24/arts/television/we-own-this-city-review.htmlSupports: Discusses the series’ focus on corruption in the Baltimore Police Department and its connection to The Wire.