We Own This City is the kind of crime drama that keeps you guessing. It is currently available in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. A 7/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Jon Bernthal is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

The procedural format gives We Own This City its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. The story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force — and the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work. Jon Bernthal and Wunmi Mosaku lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It aired in 2022. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry episodes where the mystery takes a breath — We Own This City passes that test consistently.

Perfect for viewers who think they have already seen all the great crime dramas. We Own This City is the one that tends to prove them wrong. The writing earns its twists rather than manufacturing them, and the result is a show where the resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary. Fans of The Wire will recognise the tonal balance between tension and character work. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. If you are going to commit to one procedural this month, make it this one.