The HBO miniseries We Own This City, adapted from Justin Fenton's nonfiction book about the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force scandal, has earned critical acclaim from viewers. The six-episode series, which premiered in 2022, chronicles the rise and fall of a corrupt unit led by Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, played by Jon Bernthal.
Real-Life Corruption Story
The narrative centers on Jenkins, one of eight officers convicted of corruption offenses in 2018 and 2019. Jenkins exploited his role as head of the Gun Trace Task Force to rob drug dealers, plant evidence, and falsify reports. He remains incarcerated. The series draws from Fenton's reporting for The Baltimore Sun, which uncovered the scandal.
Viewer Praise
On IMDb, fans have lauded the series as "exceptional" and "a classic." One reviewer wrote: "It's a slow burn, getting better and better. They capture the issues of modern policing without being preachy, just laying the truth bare. This is Jon Bernthal's best work in my opinion." Another called it "one of the best dramas I've seen in recent memory," praising its accurate portrayal of police corruption.
The series features familiar faces from The Wire and has been described as a spiritual successor to that show. Despite its limited run, viewers hope for more seasons, though it was conceived as a miniseries.
Streaming Availability
We Own This City is available to stream on HBO Max. Sky is offering free HBO Max subscriptions with its Ultimate TV bundle, which includes Netflix, Disney+, and other services.
