Southland

:

Season 1
  • Network: NBC , TNT
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 9, 2009
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 113 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 129
  3. Negative: 5 out of 129
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User Reviews

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  1. DaveJ
    May 20, 2009
    10
    This show is the uniform partner to NYPD Blue. As a retired police sergeant I can see the real life street situations in this show. It is not for everyone since most of the low votes on here are people that know nothing about law enforcement on the street level. The old saying is 90% of police work is done in 19% of the time. Homicide was great, NYPD Blue was great, Police Story was This show is the uniform partner to NYPD Blue. As a retired police sergeant I can see the real life street situations in this show. It is not for everyone since most of the low votes on here are people that know nothing about law enforcement on the street level. The old saying is 90% of police work is done in 19% of the time. Homicide was great, NYPD Blue was great, Police Story was great, Law & Order was/is below fair and some of the others that I cannot remember are below average. ER was not a real ER because I have worked in a real ER so those who knock Southland probably have never been a cop or worked the streets. This show is realistic and those who say it is not just don't know and have never been there. If you showed police on patrol it would be boring as most shifts are but you do want action and Southland gives you action. COPS is just the interesting part of the shift not the boring part.… Expand
  2. JohnS
    Jan 19, 2010
    10
    Outstanding show, its refreshing to see such a gritty show on primetime TV, have to hand it to the crew they did an AMAZING job, its too bad the network canned it before it could even really get going, lets hope it gets a second chance on TNT
  3. HDCase
    Jan 14, 2010
    5
    This should would be great, if it only concentrated on the street cops who are charismatic, well-fleshed out characters. Unfortunetly, it divides its time between them and some very uninteresting and unlikeable detectives. Cut out the detectives and maybe I'd watch again.
  4. briank
    Apr 15, 2009
    2
    Garbage, cliched poorly acted poor dialog drivel...typical network tv cop drama, no brains and all flash.....realism Ha!!! what are these critics watching, further evidence that the world will never see cop shows as good as Homicide, Law and Order and the WIRE ever again....HBO is reshowing the WIRE if you haven't seen then watch it, that's a real cop show not this garbage!
  5. susans
    Apr 30, 2009
    3
    This show is awful! Its an inbred version of "Training Day", "Law & Order" and "Homicide". I would prefer to watch reruns of "Homicide" than to continue to watch this extremely boring and and over-hyped show. This show is not even in the same category as "ER" and should never be compared. And whats up w/the bleeping? Why put any swear words in a script if they are just going to be bleeped This show is awful! Its an inbred version of "Training Day", "Law & Order" and "Homicide". I would prefer to watch reruns of "Homicide" than to continue to watch this extremely boring and and over-hyped show. This show is not even in the same category as "ER" and should never be compared. And whats up w/the bleeping? Why put any swear words in a script if they are just going to be bleeped out? How much bleeping can a person take in one hour?… Expand
  6. SergeantStuff
    Nov 7, 2009
    3
    Unrealistic show trying to be real, it is confusing. Too bad they went to all that trouble of getting the current police jargon, cool patrol cars, and accurate police uniforms, just to waste it on crummy stories. If my FTO (field training officer)acted like that, I would get a new FTO. No wonder it barely lasted a season. I will now go watch my season 2 DVD of Adam-12. Even CHiPs is Unrealistic show trying to be real, it is confusing. Too bad they went to all that trouble of getting the current police jargon, cool patrol cars, and accurate police uniforms, just to waste it on crummy stories. If my FTO (field training officer)acted like that, I would get a new FTO. No wonder it barely lasted a season. I will now go watch my season 2 DVD of Adam-12. Even CHiPs is better than Southland.… Expand
  7. petes
    Apr 16, 2009
    0
    The show is really horrible. First they bleep out words - how asinine is that? Don't try to make it like reality if it is so fake. Police draw their weapons a few times in their career not a few times a shift. How can you drive down the street and not see a baby sitting in the middle of the road? I mean it isn't like it is a bouncing ball that appeared all of a sudden. Not to The show is really horrible. First they bleep out words - how asinine is that? Don't try to make it like reality if it is so fake. Police draw their weapons a few times in their career not a few times a shift. How can you drive down the street and not see a baby sitting in the middle of the road? I mean it isn't like it is a bouncing ball that appeared all of a sudden. Not to mention once they stop there are several calls driving by. I guess they were at the right place at the right time. Thank goodness for the police. After this guy jumps through a window shoots at the cops and pulls a knife on them they calmly shoot him with a bean bag shot gun and just walk away like its no big deal. Besides it being so fake it is really written horribly - beside a little bit of action it is a complete waste of time.… Expand
  8. ChuckC
    Apr 12, 2009
    6
    I'm not psychic, so I never got the connection with the "ants" in the alley and in her apartment??? What makes writers think we understand something that has no credibility? I'll watch once more to make my final decision
  9. NerijusD
    Jun 14, 2009
    4
    Started good, but then turned into an ugly visage.
  10. MichaelH
    Apr 30, 2009
    5
    I'm disappointed in this show given that comes from the creators of ER. People took ER for granted in later years but there was stellar acting in it and some excellent writing. It was no wonder that it attracted some Hollywood illuminati as guest stars. By contrast Southland seems to have few sympathetic characters and seems to trade in stereotypes. We don't really see inside I'm disappointed in this show given that comes from the creators of ER. People took ER for granted in later years but there was stellar acting in it and some excellent writing. It was no wonder that it attracted some Hollywood illuminati as guest stars. By contrast Southland seems to have few sympathetic characters and seems to trade in stereotypes. We don't really see inside the characters...they are kind of like caricatures...series of appearances. I'm going to give the show a little more time but I am disappointed. More could have been done with it.… Expand
  11. garthm
    Apr 9, 2009
    8
    This isn't The Wire, but, then again, this is network television. In this first episode I liked the camera work, most of the acting, and most of the dialogue (the "bleeps" are more infuriating than the actual words).The stories in this episode offered few surprises , but they weren't sugarcoated pap. John Wells has a pretty good network TV track record, and I believe this This isn't The Wire, but, then again, this is network television. In this first episode I liked the camera work, most of the acting, and most of the dialogue (the "bleeps" are more infuriating than the actual words).The stories in this episode offered few surprises , but they weren't sugarcoated pap. John Wells has a pretty good network TV track record, and I believe this show,though not his best work, will succeed (8.5), Give this show a chance(at least three viewings) before you read the naysayers.… Expand
  12. TomH
    Apr 9, 2009
    5
    You would think a cop or the dmv could tell the difference between a '63 and a '64 Chevy. I hate it when they make such a stupid, simple mistake. Oh and put the rear view mirror back on the cop car. Any camera man or director could work around it.
  13. JMP
    May 16, 2009
    10
    Great show. Hope it's around a long time!
  14. BillyD
    May 24, 2009
    10
    This is one of the best new shows I've seen in a long time. There are a lot of cop dramas out there, but this one is done right. I've been hooked since the pilot.
  15. SallyH.
    Sep 7, 2009
    8
    I like the show very much. Feels real to me. Would like to know in the opening montage who is the man who looks like a police chief and who is the dark, brooding-looking man who looks like a serial killer? It's driving me nuts not to be able to identify them.
  16. DanaP
    Jan 12, 2010
    9
    Great show. Pretty realistic, although I can understand why some don't care for it. Unless you have worked in that type of enviroment its hard to understand the crude humor. Hope Southland sticks around!!
  17. JoshE
    Apr 11, 2009
    8
    After watching the pilot, I have high hopes for Southland. Well filmed, acted, and written, it looks like a promising change from the current crop of cop and lawyer shows that wallow in procedure. I look forward to the next episode.
  18. MatthewH.
    Apr 10, 2009
    10
    Well rounded, tough minded show. Could be one of the best up and coming drama's on NBC. I believe that is the best Summer Pilot I have seen, unlike many NBC series before.
  19. ShaneD
    Apr 13, 2009
    8
    Fast pace and a little different than the other Cop shows out there.
  20. marks
    Apr 14, 2009
    10
    Amazing! super realistic cop show! not the typical "crime happens-solve crime- catch bad guy" this show deals with the day to day emotional aspects of police officers and what they are faced with every day! everything that is said and done by the actors is super realistic! well acted! very realistic! Best cop show in a long time!
  21. Pamela
    Apr 23, 2009
    4
    Can someone please tell me what is the point of the characters cursing on the show just to bleeped out? I thought this was scripted show...hello! It doesn't make any sense to me and it is quite annoying. I would like the show better it wasn't for the foul language.
  22. MitchG
    May 18, 2009
    9
    With the Shield coming to an end and Sons of Anarchy inbetween seasons, I find that Southland is my current favorite show. Creative ongoing and episodic writing and good performances make for a decent show. The only thing that bugs me to no end is the use of beeping out profanity, While it would be less realistic to leave the language out, the beep reminds me that I'm watching a TV With the Shield coming to an end and Sons of Anarchy inbetween seasons, I find that Southland is my current favorite show. Creative ongoing and episodic writing and good performances make for a decent show. The only thing that bugs me to no end is the use of beeping out profanity, While it would be less realistic to leave the language out, the beep reminds me that I'm watching a TV show and immediately pulls me out of the story. They should just blank out the sound on the "offensive language.… Expand
  23. ElliotS
    May 21, 2009
    9
    I like the look of the show, I like the characters, it is fairly intelligent, I like the opening montage and I seem to care about what happens to these people. There is a lot of kindness, and I would say a lot of reality, maybe not so much in the crime solving, how would I know? But in the cops lives......but nothing can ever top "The Wire" and tonight's episode did a total "Wire" I like the look of the show, I like the characters, it is fairly intelligent, I like the opening montage and I seem to care about what happens to these people. There is a lot of kindness, and I would say a lot of reality, maybe not so much in the crime solving, how would I know? But in the cops lives......but nothing can ever top "The Wire" and tonight's episode did a total "Wire" rip........when the police received the officer shot call from the people who wanted to kill Janilla.......so totally Randy and Miss Anna. Oh well, imitation is the highest form of flaterry and it's beats "American Idol" et al hands down.… Expand
  24. GwennethS
    Jun 6, 2009
    9
    Best cop show out there. Gritty, fast moving, well acted, written and directed. Reality shows are akin to a blight. Cheap to make, with an appeal to the voyeurs out there. Give me exciting, intriguing drama with excellent character portrayal any day. Southlands nails it...A-1...solid entertainment. Long may it survive. "The Unusuals" is a winner too but in a class of its own. Can't Best cop show out there. Gritty, fast moving, well acted, written and directed. Reality shows are akin to a blight. Cheap to make, with an appeal to the voyeurs out there. Give me exciting, intriguing drama with excellent character portrayal any day. Southlands nails it...A-1...solid entertainment. Long may it survive. "The Unusuals" is a winner too but in a class of its own. Can't compare the two...an apples and oranges thing. I enjoy both for different reasons. Definite keepers.… Expand
  25. CoreyW
    Jan 13, 2010
    9
    This show has the potential to be the next big thing on tv. The show isn't about solving the crime, so much, but it's about the people who serve for the LAPD. It shows a day in the life of an officer in L.A. and the characters are allowed to be themselves; not stock police characters.
  26. NoahF
    Nov 26, 2009
    10
    Best new show. I can;t believe it got canceled. T.V. is starting to suck again. I think I just won't watch it. Bring Southland back! To me this is like Law and Order or CSI but more realistic. Which only makes it come across graphic and unafraid. Some of the scenes I felt like I almost couldn't watch. It was great!
  27. RonS
    Apr 11, 2009
    10
    not overly original, but very well-executed and a convincing story line thus far.
  28. SylviaH.
    Apr 13, 2009
    9
    Southland is fast-paced, well acted and emotional. I enjoyed both the characters and the storyline so far.
  29. MichaelF
    Apr 25, 2009
    9
    I like gritty. It's gritty.
  30. ThomasM
    May 13, 2009
    10
    i think this show is superb when it showcase to police officers. However i cannot watch it when it when its about the midlife crisis lady and the loser writer detective.
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best TV Season of 2009
30
#30 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
27
#27 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    70
    Wells and company have delivered a cop drama with its own racing pulse, albeit for a network that's uncomfortably close to flatlining.
    Read full review
  2. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    80
    Prattle is, in any case, a minor note compared with the crackling pace of the first script, its evocative mood of menace at every turn, each police car racing to destinations that will reveal who knows what tragedy or unspeakable sight.
    Read full review
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Mary Houlihan
    75
    The acting is top-notch, the editing is fast and furious and the photography is rich, giving the show a fresh feel. But the first episode never really breaks new ground in cop land.
    Read full review
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