The first episode of HBO’s We Own This City miniseries is out now. And the viewers have begun asking the same question after enjoying Episode 1: Is this show a sequel to The Wire? The man behind the creation of The Wire, David Simon, is also responsible for dispatching the latest HBO cop drama. However, he has shared the burden of production and writing with George Pelecanos this time. The show takes inspiration from the novel of the same name, written by Justin Fenton.
Episode 1 of We Own This City has received incredible reviews from critics. They are hailing the miniseries as a spiritual successor to The Wire. And in many ways, the latest HBO instalment shares a strong connection with the channel’s critically acclaimed early 2000s police drama. How? Let’s check it out!
The most important thing that binds both shows is drugs. Don’t take it the wrong way, guys! Drugs and their illegal usage and selling are the prime focus of these shows. Both of them deliver a realistic and hard-hitting display of the side effects caused by the consumption of drugs. Plus, they also show how dealers make a sh**load of money by doing drug business. Wait, we almost forgot this one. Both shows portray different sides of the Baltimore Police Department. Many of you may know that Baltimore PD is one of the most infamous police departments in the United States. This cop division has headlined news channels for various wrong reasons including racial brutality and high-profile corruption charges over the years.
Additionally, various The Wire actors have also performed in the We Own This City miniseries. Delaney Williams (Kevin Davis) played Jay Landsman on The Wire; Tray Chaney (Gordon Hawk) played Poot Carr on The Wire; Jamie Hector (Sean M. Suiter) is best known for portraying Marlo Stanfield on The Wire; Herc Haulk actor Domenick Lombardozzi will appear as the head of the police union in the upcoming episodes, and several supporting performers from The Wire including Kevin Murray, Bobby J. Brown, Seth Hurwitz, Chris Canton, and many more are also a part of We Own This City.
Furthermore, both HBO series perfectly show that brutality doesn’t work on the criminals at all. Cops have no other alternative but to have proper information about illegal drug trading activities. Proper information gives them a path to bust those people who are responsible for circulating drugs.
However, there are noticeable differences in both shows as well. We Own This City leans more towards the police brutality of Baltimore PD. On the other hand, The Wire concentrated more on the department’s systematic procedural style in curbing drug distribution. Also, there is a long time gap between the events of both shows.
We can’t say that We Own This City is a direct sequel to The Wire. But in many ways, it kind of follows the latter’s footsteps. Both instalments are dramatised versions of the real-life experiences of the common masses of Baltimore and their relationship with the cops. Spiritually, We Own This City serves as a sequel to The Wire.
HBO’s We Own This City is also streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
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