--- title: "We Own This City: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/we-own-this-city/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/we-own-this-city" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # We Own This City (2022): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 15 reviews: 14 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. ## Variety — Joshua Alston Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 April 2022. The critic deems it a perfect marriage of material and its creators, a stunningly executed tragedy about institutional rot in policing. Reinaldo Marcus Green’s direction of action, interrogations and ripples is highlighted alongside the journalistic rigor of Simon and Pelecanos. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/tv/reviews/we-own-this-city-david-simon-hbo-1235239346/) ## Vulture — Jen Chaney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 April 2022. The limited series stands as its own compelling story indicting corrupt policing rather than a sequel to The Wire. It is vivid and richly detailed thanks to gritty direction and especially Jon Bernthal's high-voltage central performance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/we-own-this-city-review.html) ## The AV Club — Manuel Betancourt Rating B+. 22 April 2022. The miniseries is a gripping heir to The Wire that raises timely questions about policing and reform in America. It dissects systemic issues through its sprawling ensemble and self-aware procedural structure rather than focusing solely on dirty cops. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/we-own-this-city-review-david-simon-baltimore-the-wire-1848826199) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2022. The review calls it an intelligently crafted, angry treatise on America’s flawed institutions and a careful chronicler of society, more focused than The Wire. It singles out Jon Bernthal’s riveting physical performance as the charismatic yet terrifying Sgt. Wayne Jenkins. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/we-own-this-city/) ## IndieWire — Steve Greene Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2022. The series offers a hypnotic examination of institutional corruption in Baltimore policing through a strong ensemble and focused storytelling. It highlights Jon Bernthal's intense lead performance amid the real events of the Gun Trace Task Force. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/we-own-this-city-review-jon-bernthal-hbo-1234717680/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2022. The critic finds David Simon and George Pelecanos's true-story series a spiritual heir to The Wire, praising its sinewy depiction of Baltimore police corruption and the thrilling, detailed raid scenes. Jon Bernthal's swaggering performance as the corrupt Sgt Wayne Jenkins is singled out as fantastic. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/07/we-own-this-city-review-like-the-wire-but-about-real-corrupt-cops-what-a-horror-show) ## The i Paper — Ed Power Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2022. The critic finds the series more engaging and less self-important than The Wire, calling it a darkly fascinating study of American institutional decline. Jon Bernthal’s force-of-nature performance as corrupt Sgt. Wayne Jenkins is singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/we-own-this-city-review-david-simon-sky-atlantic-hbo-police-corruption-drama-is-better-than-the-wire-1674657) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 April 2022. The verdict is that it is darned solid though not The Wire, benefiting from proximity to the earlier series while suffering from comparison. Simon, Pelecanos and the cast’s indignation about systemic failures is singled out as consistently earned. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/we-own-this-city-review-1235132429/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2022. The review describes the series as a captivating cop drama resembling a cross between The Wire and The Shield, highlighting the true story of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force and Jon Bernthal's attention-grabbing performance as the swaggering Wayne Jenkins. It notes the subject is dramatically engaging but limited by the six-episode format. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/city-review-captivating-cop-drama-cross-wire-shield/) ## The Times Rating ★★★☆☆. 7 June 2022. The critic sees the series as grim, preachy true-life reportage that feels straitjacketed by real events, contrasting it unfavorably with The Wire after the first episode. Jon Bernthal's charismatic performance as Wayne Jenkins is praised but the overall tone is noted as preachy. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/we-own-this-city-review-g5zv2j5b7) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating A-. 19 April 2022. A gut-wrenching look at timely police corruption and a broken system, with strong ensemble performances led by Bernthal's snake-oil-salesman sergeant and Mosaku's grounded civil rights lawyer. The nonlinear storytelling and focus on choices and consequences make it a compelling, stomach-dropping watch. [Read the review](https://collider.com/we-own-this-city-review-jon-bernthal-wunmi-mosaku-hbo/) ## NME — Samuel Moore Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 June 2022. The series is a gripping, accurate depiction of Baltimore police corruption drawn from Justin Fenton's book, serving as a spiritual successor to The Wire but delivering a shorter, sharper indictment of systemic failures. It excels in its portrayal of the brutal, self-deluding cops and the broader societal rot. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/we-own-this-city-review-david-simon-the-wire-3242486) ## Paste — Terry Terrones Rating 8.0/10. 25 April 2022. A provocative, powerful limited series that captures the corruption scandal with first-rate performances and Wire-like rapid-fire dialogue, though the nonlinear structure can occasionally meander. It compellingly shows how the criminal justice system fails citizens while delivering a strong ensemble drama. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/we-own-this-city/we-own-this-city-review) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2022. A comprehensive, methodical account of Baltimore's institutional rot and police corruption that grows riveting in its later episodes, centered on Bernthal's riveting turn as the self-deluded sergeant. The nonlinear narrative and pessimistic view of the system make it a challenging but eye-opening watch. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2022/04/we-own-this-city-review-hbo/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 7.5/10. 22 April 2022. An uncompromising, bleak portrayal of institutional corruption in Baltimore policing, it succeeds as dark, effective drama despite some overambition in juggling timelines and characters. Bernthal delivers a standout, viscerally charismatic performance as the central corrupt cop. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/833862/we-own-this-city-series-review-an-uncompromising-and-grim-look-at-the-modern-american-police/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/we-own-this-city.md