Ben McKenzie in "Southland"
courtesy of NBC
“Southland” (NBC)

John Welles brought us such series as “China Beach,” “The West Wing” and “ER.” Now he adds another series to his roster of hits. It is titled “Southland” and it follows the lives of a variety of police officers and detectives as they work to solve crimes in south LA. It is a raw, authentic series that creates a total picture of the work these men and women do, and the toll it takes on their lives.

Ben McKenzie stars as Officer Ben Sherman, a rookie who is just getting his feet wet. He is working with Officer John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), a veteran who knows the ropes. He rides Sherman pretty harshly at times but Sherman knows he always has his back.

Also in the group is Detective Lydia Atkins (Regina King). She is a compassionate woman who does her job but doesn’t let it destroy her ability to feel. Her main partner is Detective Russel Clarke who is played by Tom Everett Scott.

The show owes a lot to the tone and texture of “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue.” Each week there are certain crimes that occur and the show follows the investigative work and the arrests that are made. Some spill over into the next week’s episodes, but most are solved during the one hour show.

Of course the personal lives of these characters are also being explored. With each episode we get more and more insight into who these people are and why they do what they do. And as the weeks go by we are expected to get more invested in each and every one of them.

Shawn Hatosy is one of my favorite actors. I have been following his career for years. I always thought with the right role he could break out of the pack. His role as Detective Sammy Bryant on this show may be that role.

NBC has already picked “Southland” up for next year in a vote of early confidence. It is understandable that they would as the acting and the scripts on this show are first rate. Hopefully everything will get even better as the weeks and episodes pass by.

So take a chance and watch this new and exciting series. “Southland” airs on NBC, Thursdays at 10PM in the old “ER” slot. It is a worthy successor and one show that will make you stop, think and feel.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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