We Own This City, Now TV

David Simon's return to Baltimore fails to yield the returns of his most feted creation, but We Own This City is a powerful tale all the same. Chronicling the rise and fall of the abhorrently corrupt Gun Task Force, who essentially ran roughshod over the city for several years, it is a signature Simon tale of institutional failure.

Co-written with George Pelecanos and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the mini-series jumps back and forth in time as it details how the Gun Task Force were eventually brought to (some form of) justice. The show benefits from a strong and eclectic cast, with Jamie Hector, Jon Bernthal and Wunmi Mosaku standing out.

Like much of Simon's work, this show demands a certain degree of focus to truly understand and appreciate its inner workings. But for that you'll be rewarded with the sort of intelligent and insightful television that makes for a sweet alternative to the big budget fare that typically accounts for much of what's on offer nowadays.