We Own This City

Als geistiger Nachfolger von The Wire versucht es so gut wie möglich, die Komplexität der aktuellen Probleme in Baltimore zu darzustellen, aber der gewählte Weg ist recht stolperhaft. Es werden sowohl Weisse als auch dunkle Cops kritisiert, genau wie Ratsmitglieder auch, und gegen die Trump-Administration wird auch oft gestichelt… Dass alles wäre ja recht in Ordnung, wenn sich denn die Serie entschieden hätte eine Doku oder eine wirkliche Krimiserie zu sein. Ich persönlich neige zur zweiten Möglichkeit, denn egal welche „Storyline“ Szene mit dem mittlerweile traditionell perfektem Bernthal, zeigt uns dass alles ohne Probleme funzen konnte. Leider kommen seine Passagen nur rar vor, und die Produzenten verbringen viel mehr Zeit mit namenlosen Ermittlern oder flachen Charakteren wie Wunmi Mosaku, deren einzige Absicht es ist, einen erstaunten Ausdruck zu haben wie: "Wie ist das alles möglich?!". (05.06.2022)

Lots of data, facts, and talking heads. But it's not a documentary, it's a crime drama that has cut a lot of branches out from under itself. With the exception of the fourth act, it is a non-dramatic and worn-out paraphrase of everything that has ever been seen about dirty cops. The only thing that made me happy, but also brought me to the miniseries, is unsurprisingly Jon Bernthal. In the role of a tough guy with a soft spot, but that doesn't stop him from being slapped most of the time, he is cast so precisely that it borders on cliché. Unfortunately, his behavior, like that of most of his buddies, goes from one extreme to another. Three times as a thief, racist, or just a jerk, and then once as a repentant good guy. It is precisely because of this inconsistency and unnecessary non-linearity of key events that I remain negative in my assessment. Nothing new is said about corruption, Black Lives Matter, or the hierarchy of overlooked offenses. (03.08.2022)

The Wire inside out. But I had trouble with the inconsistent and often confusing narration which jumps from one incident involving the main suspects to another completely with complete disregard for chronology. A gradual transformation would have come across better. Green didn’t get that right. What remains in the head is the very good, but rather rushed final episode. Bernthal does far too much oscillation between good cop and bad cop, but still he carries the entire series on his shoulders. The way Treat Williams sums up the situation regarding drug wars, loss of trust and the senseless quest for growth should be carved into stone. It applies everywhere. And there’s no money for things that make sense. The final explanatory texts listing the sentences that those involved received, ending with a dry statement saying that after the case was concluded and after reorganization of the police department (replacing white officers with black), the crime rate rose sharply just says it all. Baltimore is one of the most dangerous cities on Earth. (09.06.2022)

I was interested in the topic, Jon Bernthal was brilliant, it's just that the creators couldn't handle it to my complete satisfaction. / Lesson learned: Don't push too hard, or you'll break it. (28.11.2022)