I don't know, I'd push back on that a little. While Herc, Carver, and the other ones that Daniels immediately points out as being thumbs are all portrayed as incompetent, negligent, etc. McNulty is portrayed as a POS/egomaniac but "good police" regardless. Then you have to admit the show definitely glorifies Greggs, the only negative bit about her (by season 2) is how she risks herself too much for her partner's liking, which is just heroism propaganda by another name. I know I'm only 1 season in, but as of yet the show goes more in the "cops are a necessary evil that need some reform" direction than something more radical, leaving itself some space to criticize other institutions like the FBI and criminal justice system but not pressing too hard on cops as the footsoldiers of white supremacy and capital. It portrays all of the higher-ups as corrupt self-serving cynics, but that's how small government CHUDS already think things are like in all cities, it's not a radical view at all.

It's still a good show regardless btw (so far), and moralizing via media discourse is insane, obviously there's more value to engaging with media that you disagree with actively and critically rather than mindlessly watching video essays you 100% agree with. Treats delenda est etc etc.

[–] GalaxyBrain@hexbear.net 19 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You're one season in

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

fair

[–] Great_Leader_Is_Dead@hexbear.net 13 points 7 months ago

This exchange should be framed and shown as an exhibit on Hexbear media criticism in the Museum of Internet Leftism.

[–] carpoftruth@hexbear.net 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

All of these characters have more of an arc over the remainder of the series. Don't fall in love with anyone. They're all pretty awful and nobody beats the system.

[–] Great_Leader_Is_Dead@hexbear.net 4 points 7 months ago

spoiler

Pryzbylewski and Bubs and Cutty are probably the only people who end the show as better human beings

[–] RyanGosling@hexbear.net 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

If it makes you feel better, the creator of the show produced another show called “We Own This City” which is based on a police corruption and abuse case. The show is fucking awful in my opinion because it’s just boring and disorienting. But one of the characters it follows is some lawyer or activist (I don’t remember) who gets embroiled in the liberal-activism industrial complex.

At the beginning she’s rather optimistic about reform, but in the last scene she scoffs and dismisses the idea that the police can be reformed after witnessing the corrupt cops get lenient sentences.

The case is particularly funny - not really, but one of the major investigations - is that investigators were finally forming a picture of one of the corrupt cops and they were in the process of detaining or questioning him. In the middle of a routine patrol, he was found dead with a gunshot. Investigators concluded that he shot himself, but the cops insist he was murdered by THUGS! point-and-laugh-2

It’s possible he was killed by his brothers in blue, but it’s funnier to think that he shot himself and everyone is embarrassed so they came up with this heroic story.

[–] thoro@lemmy.ml 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Then you have to admit the show definitely glorifies Greggs, the only negative bit about her (by season 2) is how she risks herself too much for her partner's liking, which is just heroism propaganda by another name.

In season one, doesn't she participate in beating someone (a minor?) when they're forced to raid one of the projects. I always thought that moment was to showcase she was just as much cop as the rest.

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I think it was Brodie or Wallace who push down the old cop then the whole squad beats up the kid. I feel like it was glossed over somewhat, and she ends the season a hero for taking 2 bullets and not perjuring on Wee-Bey shooting her when Bunk asks her to ID. Anyway, GalaxyBrain is right, I'm literally 1 season in so I can't draw any conclusions lol.

[–] invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net 2 points 7 months ago

The show definitely develops a huge amount over the seasons. The kinda one note characters from season 1 are gone by season 5. Half of them even stop being cops.