Southland - TV Fanatic

Southland Review: Who's The Daddy?

christine@tvfanatic.com (C. Orlando) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:14:53 EST

As Lydia struggled with her own "Identity" on Southland this week, the bigger question loomed unanswered. Who's the Daddy?

Wasn't it funny how everyone figured out Lydia was pregnant? Her mother, her partner, and even Tang. Of course, the signs were all there but Lydia waited three months to get herself to a doctor. She was definitely in denial.

She seemed to be wrestling with whether a police detective could also handle being a single mother. Or at least I'm assuming she'd be a single mom since she hasn't mentioned the father.

We're left to wonder if she's still dating her ex-partner's son or if this is a new guy in her life. I hope we get those answers soon.

Ruben's take on motherhood seemed to surprise Lydia. That Melanie confessed to a murder she didn't commit didn't faze Ruben. Admit to a murder or commit murder, all is fair game when a mother's protecting her child.

Cooper and Tang were a magnet for the crazy people tonight. The invisible guy who fell in love with their car was priceless. And I loved the county workers who tried to pawn off the dismembered body on the railroad tracks until they saw Tang going off on someone over the phone. They quickly decided they'd rather deal with body parts than have to tangle with her.

Tang's commitment to helping the homeless Marine was touching. She fought all day long to find help that no one was willing to give. Then, when hope was fading, Cooper stepped up and did what he could. There were no easy answers here, but at least they tried. Finding someone willing to do that is half the battle.

Ben and Sammy took the prize for my favorite partners, but it mostly had to do with Sammy. First, he's prodding Ben to move out of his artsy neighborhood before he starts going gluten free and drinking raw milk. I'm sure some girl will have Ben doing both before long.

Then, Sammy felt horrible for shooting the dog. You could see that Sammy's got a good heart when he's with his son but this storyline drove that point home.

He had to promise Lakers tickets to the paramedics to get them to transport the dog to the vet. Then he agreed to pay $1,300 for the dog's surgery so it wouldn't be put down. Just when he's thinking he's got a new pet out of the deal, the real owners show up. They loved the dog but were too poor to pay the bill.

So Sammy's out $1,300 and won't be going home with a new furry companion - but at least he'll know he did the right thing.

Tonight's episode was a little more touchy feely than the kick ass Southland I've come to expect this season, but it was still a solid hour of television.

Despite loving this show's intense drama, I do hope Sammy gets some happiness soon. After watching his partner beaten to death and his pregnant wife leave him for another man, he certainly deserves some luck. Which do you think Sammy should get first, a dog of his own or a new girlfriend?

Southland Review: Surviving the City of Angels

christine@tvfanatic.com (C. Orlando) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:54:26 EST

Southland returned Sammy and Ben to the streets for Hood Day this week, while the "Community" threw a party. Well, the celebration wasn't exactly for the cops, but for the man hanging on a pole with a knife in his back. As Ben noted:

It's not everyday a murder scene turns into a block party. | permalink

I suppose the demise of a cruel dictator is a cause for jubilation, whether he rules a country or a city block. It certainly didn't take the neighborhood long to hand out justice. Sammy couldn't have left him there more than two minutes. Street justice is both swift and deadly.

Even the new Captain didn't seem to care about the dead man in police custody. His only question was whether they followed proper procedure. I like how Sammy and Ben didn't miss a beat when they answered in unison, "Absolutely."

I'm loving all the new partners this season. Come what may, Ben and Sammy will always have one another's backs, but my favorite is Cooper and Tang.

These two can argue the merits of castration of sex offenders over dim sum and then agree to let an assault victim take a fair punch at his assailant. On the outside they may appear very different, but their attitude and sense of right and wrong make them the dynamic duo to watch.

The best part is that we finally get to see Cooper enjoying being a cop again. Now that he's healthy and off the pain meds he can appreciate a partner who's an equal instead of a trainee.

Plus the name. Cooper and Tang. It reminds me of some cheesy '80s cop action movie. I just love how it sounds.

How great were Ben's colleagues when they gave him the Dumbest Cop Award to wear with pride? He certainly earned his dunce cap on that one, but it looks like he's making the most of his notoriety.

Now... has Ben been in bed with a new girl every episode this season?!? And this one got off on seeing the YouTube video of him hitting some high school girl? This badge bunny's a little twisted.

Later, Ben ended up taking the girl from the broken down vehicle out to the bar. Why was she so shocked that strange men were circling her car like sharks? That skirt she's wearing was barely wide enough to be considered a belt.

Ben's certainly making the most of his new bad boy image, that's for sure.

Elsewhere, Lydia and Ruben's storyline felt dull in comparison to the rest, but I love that they didn't even bother to chase their murder suspect down when he tries to run. They knew he wouldn't make it far.

As usual, the fascinating thing about Southland isn't just the cross sections of life on the streets of L.A. but how these cops react to them - and it just gets better every week. So, tell me: who gets your vote for best partnership so far this season?

Southland Review: Caught in the Undertow

christine@tvfanatic.com (C. Orlando) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:50:05 EST

"Underwater" had everyone jumping in the deep end, as partnerships were tested and the new Captain handed out applications... to McDonald's.

Yeah, the new Southland captain was definitely looking to make an impression. He's here to protect, serve, and kick some ass and if his officers couldn't get in line with that... well...

Mickie D's needs all the help they can get. The McRib is back. | permalink

At least he wasn't the type to just sit behind his desk. When Ben wanted to call in SWAT to take down Grambo, Sammy knew that one phone call would send Shaft (Sammy's nickname for the new Cap) on his way, and he wasn't wrong.

With the help of a Bible, a cat named Spooky and a bean bag gun, Grambo went down without bloodshed. That the old woman was wearing a Kevlar vest and packing enough heat to take on a battalion raised a few eyebrows, but I suppose that's just another day in L.A.

Across town, Tang was blocking all of Cooper's getting-to-know-you tactics. She's obviously not much of a sharer. But since their day included a $50,000 handbag attached to a dismembered arm, a naked man jogging and another man on fire, perhaps small talk didn't hold that much appeal.

When Southland's new dynamic duo went after a monster of a man who laughed after being tazed, I loved John's reaction to their nickname. The Walking Dead my ass.

Lydia and Ruben's day had the new homicide detective treading water. First, he felt bad for the husband and father who had a few too many celebratory drinks and plowed into the woman whose hand still held the expensive purse. Unfortunately, her head was imbedded in the grill of his SUV. When Lydia looked under the hood it was like some freaky urban myth.

How drunk do you have to be to believe that was a coyote?

Ruben's misgivings only increased when Lydia sweet talked a senile grandma into giving them evidence against her grandson. Ruben's right. The world's full of shades of gray but it's the job of the police to collect evidence and find the guilty party. As Lydia said:

We have to speak for the dead whether they deserve it or not. | permalink

Logan was far from a saint and it cost Darryl 22 years of his life but did that give him the right to shoot the man in the middle of a convenience store. That's for a jury to decide, not a detective.

Given the murky waters a detective has to tread every day, Ruben's going to need to decide if this is the job for him.

However, this day circled back around to Ben, who punched a bratty high school girl who got in his face and hit him. It should have been nothing. An annoyance at best. But Ben's having trouble dealing with the stress of the job and he's getting pulled under.

Sammy's right. As much fun as being the single, playboy looks on the surface, underneath Ben is losing his footing.

The first line on his McDonald's application has been filled out. Let's see what happens after his video hits youtube. If the undertow drags him down any further Ben's next career could include the phrase, "Would you like fries with that?"

Southland Review: Who Will Survive Wednesday?

christine@tvfanatic.com (C. Orlando) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST

Southland returned for its fourth season with a bang. Heck, it returned with several, as we got to know new faces and get reacquainted with some old ones on "Wednesday."

Officer John Cooper is back and he looks damn good. John is clean, sober and apparently pain free after successful back surgery. Now he's got to prove he's fit to be back on the street and he's obviously trying to figure out who knows what about him.

His new partner, Jessica Tang, (Lucy Liu) has her own issues. She requests to ride with John. She's tired of being hit on. Does that mean she knows he's gay? Apparently not. She's just heard his a good guy and "squared away" so she hopes they won't have a problem. No. N problems there, that's for certain, and these two have great chemistry as partners.

Jessica's got her own YouTube video out there from when a giant of a man beat the crap out of her at a traffic stop. The police cruiser video cam caught it all and it looks like she's lucky to be alive. Hearing Dewey make fun of that video made me remember why his last partner ditched him. Drunk or sober, Dewey's still an ass.

Sammy and Ben have been partners for months now but when Ben sees John for the first time he can barely utter a civil hello. I know John had some serious problems but it looks like he's got them under control. Despite the tough time, John taught Ben a lot about being a good cop. Maybe Ben should get over it and shake the man's hand.

There's never a quiet episode of Southland and this one featured plenty of scenes that made me gasp (and worse.) An armed suspect runs into an elementary school with Ben, Sammy and Dewey right on his tail. When he's cornered in the bathroom he bleeds out from the bullet hole in his neck as the cops watch.

When Sammy and Ben chase down another suspect who was trying to rape his girlfriend's 14-year old daughter, he runs in front of a moving truck. That wasn't pretty. He, too, bleeds out on the pavement.

As if that weren't enough bloodshed, a gunman walks into the precinct and opens fire. Why? Who the Hell knows?

Afterward, Sammy admits he wet himself as he's throwing up on the curb. New guy Officer Danny Ferguson (Lou Diamond Phillips, above) takes a shot to the vest and one to his jaw but he'll survive to come back and hopefully go a few more rounds with Ben.

Thank goodness Sammy survived. New baby Nate needs his daddy. Goodness knows his mommy is still a flake. The kid needs at least one responsible parent and it looks like Sammy's the one stepping up.

Finally, we have Lydia with new Detective Dorian. Lydia wakes up to find a former CI with whom she went to high school sitting on her doorstep. Danelle ditched her relocated home to come back, but now the gang she testified against wants her dead. Go figure.

Lydia still has a heart of gold and tries to save Danelle from her self but the junkie seems determined to get her wish. She also wants to see the ocean. In the end, she gets both, as we see her bloody body on the sand when the waves wash by.

As the narrator says at the beginning of the episode:

Cops wake up different every morning from the rest of us. Our worst nightmare is just their Wednesday. | permalink

More than any other cop show, Southland tells me I'm not made to be a cop. I like my Wednesdays just the way they are.

Lou Diamond Phillips to Walk a Beat on Southland

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:19:34 EST

Lou Diamond Phillips is about to hit the Southland streets.

EW reports that the veteran actor - seen above during a stint on Chuck - will guest star on the January 17 season premiere of this TNT drama. He'll portray Danny Ferguson, a cynical and serious street cop who comes through under pressure.

Earlier this week, Southland also announced the addition of Dorian Missick as a series regular and Lydia's new partner.

Dorian Missick Cast as Series Regular on Southland

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:51:39 EST

Southland has found yet another partner for Lydia Adams.

Dorian Missick has signed on for the role of Ruben Robinson, the latest detective who will be assigned to ride with Regina King's no-nonsense character. He'll first appear when season four debuts on January 17.

Missick most recently starred as Marty Voyt on NBC's short-lived The Cape. He'll be listed as a series regular in 2012, but we'll see how long he lasts as Lydia's partner.

Her most recent union with Josie Ochoa fell apart after Lydia was caught sleeping with Josie's son.

Lucy Liu to Recur on Season Four of Southland

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:32:15 EST

For the first time since her starring role on Dirty Sexy Money, Lucy Liu is headed to the small screen.

The actress, whose role as O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill: Volume 1 will forever leave us in fear, will recur throughout season four of Southland as a police officer.

Not much is known about Liu's character at the moment, but we'll meet her in January of 2012 when this drama returns to TNT with new episodes.

Southland: Renewed for Season Four

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:07:42 EST

Great news for fans of good drama: TNT has renewed Southland for a fourth season.

The network originally acquired the series after NBC ridiculously canceled it to try out The Jay Leno Show at 10 p.m.

“Southland has been acknowledged by many critics as one of the sharpest, most entertaining and most authentic dramas on television today,” said Michael Wright, EVP/head of programming for TNT. “John Wells, Chris Chulack and their teams created a brilliant roller coaster ride this season, with countless riveting scenes and unforgettable character arcs. We are extremely proud to have Southland on TNT and to bring it back for a fourth season.”

Southland Season Four Questions, Teases, Spoilers

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:30:07 EST

Southland wrapped up an intense season with a dramatic conclusion to its finale this week:

John Cooper checked into the hospital to undergo back surgery, owning up to a painkiller addiction and submitting to a medical detox.

Will viewers see a recovered Cooper next season (assuming/hoping there is a next season)? Michael Cudlitz responded to that question from TV Guide, saying:

"I think I'd want to see him as a cop who hasn't been hindered by this physical manifestation. I think that would give us a different dimension on that character, to see him unencumbered."

As for the relationship between John and Ben, who are no longer partners? Says star Ben McKenzie: "Their partnership will never cease to exist... You'll see their friendship continue."

Among other season four teases:

Sammy with a son? "As a gang detective, he was dealing with young kids in the street, and he had always had these philosophical thoughts about why kids become gang members," producer Christopher Chulack says. "I think that now having a child is going to complicate some of those definitions and attitudes that he had about the people he polices. He's arresting kids for being gang members, but what are his own kids going to be?"
Will Lydia and Josie remain partners? "I'm not sure what's going to happen there," Chulack says.
We've likely seen the last of Russell.

Southland Season Finale Review: "Graduation Day"

christine@tvfanatic.com (C. Orlando) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:01:25 EST

As season three of Southland closed out, we saw Ben’s final day with his training officer. It was "Graduation Day" and little boot’s all grown up.

John’s downward spiral continued. His back hurt so badly he could barely walk, so Ben did the heavy lifting, sometimes literally. When Southland started three seasons ago, John was a hard-nosed cop and a tough training officer. Ben may not have always liked him, but he respected him.

Now? What little respect Ben had remaining for John he showed by drawing a line in the sand. Either he gets checked into rehab or Ben would tell their Watch Commander to give John a drug test. Putting his life on the line with a partner who wasn’t there to back him up was unacceptable. John’s the one who taught him that.

How about the perp who plunged to his death from the rooftop? It made me shiver. Watching as his legs kept moving as he fell, it was as though he were trying to run from his fate. It really disturbed me. Afterward, I couldn't get the scene out of my head.

The little boy whose father tattooed his chest was another frightening moment, as he stood there pretending to shoot John over and over again. How many times had that six-year old witnessed such hatred that he mimicked it so effortlessly? Southland again reminded me how horrifying it must be to be despised simply because you exist.

It was both touching and entertaining to watch Dewey try to help the drug-addicted hooker who didn’t want to be helped. It was nice to see Dewey care about someone else, even if he remained his annoying self.

Josie found out that Lydia was sleeping with her son in the worst possible way. When she picked up Lydia’s phone and found her own son sweet talking in her ear. That was a cringe-worthy moment. I loved the zinger she threw at Lydia about being forty when Lydia’s only thirty-six. In my opinion, Josie was overreacting to the age difference. Eight years didn’t seem that bad. Then again, it’s not my son.

Nate’s killer is captured, shot and killed the same day that Sammy’s son is born. Naming the boy Nathaniel was a nice way to close out Nate’s story.

At first I was surprised that Sammy wanted to be there for Leprachaun’s arrest because he did kidnap the man and made him dig his own grave. I was afraid that could still come back to bite Sammy, but he's a hot head and didn't think it through. I shouldn’t have been shocked that his need for revenge overruled his better sense. Having Sammy say Nate’s name over and over again as Leprachaun died was a powerful moment.

Sammy’s choice to go back to wearing a uniform felt right. Nate always seemed to be the brains behind that partnership. Watching Ben ride with Sammy should be entertaining in a whole new way.

I enjoyed this season of Southland more than the previous two. I thought TNT definitely found its groove with this show. Unfortunately, it has not yet been picked up for a fourth season. Go to TNT's Contact Us page and send them a message in support of the show. Hopefully, we’ll get to see one of the best cop dramas on TV continue for years to come.