Southland
Seen it?2009 | 5 seasons | 42 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (69 on Metacritic) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite a short run with a modest audience. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong character drama. If you loved Bosch or The Shield, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- 5 seasons: a few months of evenings, episodes of about 42 minutes, about 30 hours in all.
- What might put you off
- Rated TV-14. Probably too much for younger kids.
A raw and authentic look into the Los Angeles crime scene, going far inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper, a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman, who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams, whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant, a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
69 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.9 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Emmy: Outstanding Stunt Coordination. Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Best Drama Supporting Actor. Won 1 Peabody Award: Peabody Awards. Also nominated for 1 SAG Award. Plus 1 other award.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Ran for 5 seasons and reached a modest audience
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 648K people sought it out in the past year
Season by season
The show overall is a Saturday Special. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 2 is the high point.
Season 12009 · 7 episodes · 6.3 out of 10Weeknight
Season 22010 · 6 episodes · 8.4 out of 10Friday- Season 32011 · 10 episodes · 8.2 out of 10Saturday
- Season 42012 · 10 episodes · 8.2 out of 10Saturday
- Season 52013 · 10 episodes · 8.1 out of 10Saturday
More like this
Bosch Saturday SpecialAnother detective drama, and a Saturday Special.
21 Jump Street
Sunday Safe BetAnother detective drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Shades of Blue Weeknight WatchAnother detective drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Shield Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed detective drama.
Sugar Saturday SpecialAnother detective drama, and a Saturday Special.
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Cast & crew
Created by Ann Biderman
- Ben McKenzieBen Sherman
- Michael CudlitzOfficer John Cooper
- Regina KingDetective Lydia Adams
- Shawn HatosyOfficer Sammy Bryant
- C. Thomas HowellOfficer Dewey Dudek