Are some holes too big to be fixed? That’s the thought that went through my mind as I watched tonight’s Southland, aptly titled “Fixing a Hole." It highlighted problems that could and couldn’t be repaired.

John continued to seesaw his way through his addiction. First, he grabbed for his pills, then he threw them on the bathroom floor, then on his hands and knees he scooped them back up. Thankfully, he dropped them in the toilet, as I found myself silently praying that he wouldn’t fish them out again.

Cooper couldn’t hide his pain and withdrawal symptoms, but every time someone offered him a hand, John slapped it away. Stubborn and prideful, John wasn’t ready to accept help and probably won’t until he hits bottom. That’s going to be a very scary place.

Somehow, even doped up or going through withdrawals, John was still a great cop. He knew that runaway was telling the truth and he wouldn’t let it go. He refused to allow lazy police work to let this kid fall through the cracks. Now we know why. When John was a kid, no one listened when he said his father molested his sister. No one believed him until his father raped and killed his girlfriend. It explained a lot about John.

To Ben’s credit, he stuck by his partner. John may have been erratic and surly but Ben followed his lead in the investigation saying, “If I’m going to get fired, it might as well be for doing the job the right way.” It showed how much Ben has grown since season one.

We also saw Lydia and Josie getting along well. These two have finally started to feel like partners. Unfortunately, they almost lost their witness, but it was a great scene. They  talked and laughed over lunch when they suddenly realized that their witness had been in the ladies room an awfully long time. The expressions on their faces as they looked at the empty chair, then back at one another, were priceless. I had to replay it.

Sammy’s dark hole was about to get deeper. He hunted down Nate’s killer and kidnapped him. He made the man dig his own grave. Then, in a move that might just save him, he walked away. Could you believe it when the man complained that Sammy was just going to leave him out there? You’d think he’d be grateful he didn’t blow a hole in the back of his head.

I was impressed with Sammy in this episode. Despite his midnight ride off the deep end, he has really been there for Nate’s family. He’s stepped up and taken care of things, perhaps a little too much. I’d guess Mariella felt that way, too, and that may be why she’s decided to move to her parents' place in Texas. Nate’s family has been Sammy’s only anchor. How will he handle it once they’re gone?

With the season coming to a close, who do you think will lift themselves out of their hole and who will sink deeper? We’ve got two more episodes left to find out.

C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.