Part One

The best way I can describe this first episode of the series is that it is sort of like bowling, specifically that time between the gate coming down in your bowling lane on the first frame, and the pins are picked up, swept, replaced, and then the gate comes up. It is that critical time that sets up the next frame, but can seem like forever while your bowling ball is returned and you can then start your routine for Frame 2.

It is a necessary process, but might seem like a waste, but it is not. That is what EP01 of We Own This City.

The three plus story lines are laid out in this episode with the least focused on the GTTF. It is more looking at how the GTTF originally landed on the radar of both county-level law enforcement and then was eventually referred to the Feds.

It can get boring at times in addition to the general confusion that is happening, but understand in EP02 there will be more clarity in general along with the picture being clearer.

It is the roughest episode to watch of the series, but keep going. You do not want to stop watching this series.

WOTC has all the makings of an excellent series. Is it The Wire? No, but it is clearly a David Simon series. If anything it has the same feel, it's paced the same, has similar camera work and the dialog is right out of The Wire play book. WOTC is essentially The Wire with a larger budget, it is more polished, less gritty and has considerably more star power. So...it loses some of the charm of The Wire, but makes up for what it's lacking in other ways. The cast is great, I enjoyed the sprinkling of former Wire cast members, fun to pick them out as the story moves along. Bernthal is predictably excellent as usual, but the real standout is Mosaku. This is my introduction to Wunmi Mosaku and I am completely impressed, fantastic actress. I enjoyed this episode, it was an incredibly strong hour of television. While WOTC isn't The Wire, it's very, very familiar. Better in some ways, not as good in others. Eitherway, I believe it can stand on its own and am looking forward to seeing where the series goes.

So similar, yet so different. For those looking for a continuation of The Wire: sorry to say but WOTC is simply not in the same league. Some of the original actors from The Wire are recycled to appear here, but it somehow only serves to emphasize how the acting on WOTC is stiff, unnatural, wooden. Wunmi Mosaku was imo miscast as an attorney; she can memorize and deliver her lines, but her presence isn't very strong. Then there's Jon Bernthal whose suburban white rapper demeanor/vocab feels very forced. All in all, WOTC seems to portray inner city black people and gritty cops as they were envisioned by sheltered Ivy League graduates. The Wire was special because it was so raw and honest. It's just not the same vibe with WOTC, not even close.

This episode is amazing from start to finish, all these dirty cops and the tension... Man that was magical! Can't wait to see the next one, haven't felt this way since the wire!

Bal'imore is a crime infested cesspool. The homicide rate is off-the-charts. So what do the Feds do? Investigate cops. This series is off to a very interesting start, but it could go South, at any moment, if it goes woke.

The writers work the name Freddie Gray into every other sentence, but in fact, of the 6 officers indicted by Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby, 2 were acquitted and the charges were dropped on the other 4. Further fact, Mosby is currently under a 4 count Federal indictment for Perjury and Fraud.

We have a couple of 'The Wire' alumni in Delaney Williams and Tray Chaney. I've always liked Jon Bernthal and thought he was better than the supporting roles he usually plays. Here he is one of the stars and sports a wicked Bal'imore accent. I thought David Corenswet was very good in the mini-series 'Hollywood' so I'm interested to see what he does in this very different role. So far, impressive.

The writing and direction moves between several main story lines, as did 'The Wire,' and it takes place in Baltimore, but that's where the similarities end.