We Own This City Season 1 Episode 3

Okay, Let's Talk "We Own This City" Episode 3

Episode 3, right? Things are getting really messy. Like, Baltimore-street-corner-in-July messy. I had to pause it a couple of times just to breathe.

It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. A very well-acted, meticulously researched train wreck. But still a train wreck. Does that make sense?

The "Paperwork" Problem

All this talk about paperwork and procedures… my eyes glazed over. Seriously. I understand it's important. But I felt like I was back in high school civics class.

Anyone else think they spent a little too long on the bureaucracy? Maybe it's just me. Probably not.

However, the payoff of seeing how easily rules are bent or ignored. That's the gut punch.

Wayne Jenkins: Still the Worst (But Also... Fascinating?)

Okay, Wayne Jenkins (Jon Bernthal) is a terrible human being. We all agree on this, right? No debate?

Yet, I can't look away. He's like a car crash you just have to stare at. The charm. The charisma. The complete lack of morals. It's a recipe for disaster.

Plus, the way he justifies everything? Classic. It's always for the "greater good" or something. Riiiiiight.

That Super Intense Interrogation Scene

That interrogation scene with Nicole Steele? Intense! Just when you thought things couldn't get more uncomfortable... BAM!

Wunmi Mosaku knocked it out of the park. Her frustration is palpable. You can practically taste the desperation in the air.

I found myself rooting for her so hard! Like, yelling at the TV kind of rooting. Please tell me I wasn't the only one.

My Unpopular Opinion: The Flashbacks Are Getting a Little... Much

Here's where I might lose some of you. The flashbacks. They're well-done. I get the point.

But are there a few too many of them? Does it slow down the narrative a little? I think it does.

I want to stay in the present with the fallout! Show me the consequences! Maybe I'm just impatient.

Ritchie: The Voice of Reason (Kind Of)

Detective Sean M. Suiter, also known as Ritchie (Jamie Hector), is the only remotely sane person in this entire show. It seems.

He at least tries to do the right thing. Even though everyone around him is falling apart.

But is it enough? Will he succumb to the pressure? The show makes you wonder.

The Wire Comparisons Are Inevitable (But Is It Fair?)

Of course, everyone is comparing this to The Wire. It's Baltimore. David Simon is involved. It's unavoidable.

Is it fair, though? The Wire is a masterpiece. A cultural touchstone. "We Own This City" is its own thing.

It is a very disturbing and fascinating story based on real events. It’s worth watching without expecting it to be The Wire 2.0.

Overall Thoughts?

Episode 3 definitely kept me hooked. Annoyed, frustrated, and hooked.

The acting is top-notch. The story is compelling. And the themes are deeply unsettling.

I’m ready for episode 4. Bring on the chaos!