Southland [ Spoilers ]

Richard Dower · 02-02-2011 06:10PM

Mixed feelings about ep. 5 - the rape plotline was predictable, i mean...the telegraphed she was lying very early on, they had a closeup of her hands during the first interview, she wasn't shaking. So i knew it was gonna be a cheating housewife.

Honestly, i BORED to death of this back pain plotline...sooner John gets back surgery the better, he proved himself a fine actor in that end breakdown sceme, + wow!...his backstory, his dad in jail for 20 years after raping and murdering his daughter/John's sister.

Overall i thought it was an average ep. - probably the worst of the current season, though it had some strong points.

ixoy · 03-02-2011 11:53PM

I agree - the rape plot was a bit too obvious. Thought the two detectives handled it well. They've got a good rapport going on now, the dynamic being different with two strong women clashing.

John's back story was interesting - it somewhat explains why he's such a hardass around people.

Probably was the weakest of the season but, given this season is the best show on TV right now, it's not much of a complaint.

Poochie05 · 08-02-2011 08:30PM

I like the way we get little snippets about John - he likes dogs and his father really is an asshole, it's not that he has a chip on his shoulder. Maybe I missed it but did they actually say that the girl his father raped and murdered was his sister? I assumed that's who she was but didn't hear it actually said.

Rape plot was predictable but liked the story about the little boy whose parents moved away on him. All in all a slow enough episode but I thought it was good. I had put off watching it because I wasn't ready to deal with the aftermath of Nate's murder, so I thought it was good to have a low key episode.

09-02-2011 10:21AM

So is John gay? That seemed to come out of nowhere. 39,000 cops deployed with Michael Jackson? That's shocking! The scene with Sammy back at the place his partner was killed was very well done, the big guy getting in his face like that!

Poochie05 · 09-02-2011 03:11PM

No I don't think it has come out of nowhere, they have alluded to the fact that John is gay a few times, without making any fuss about it. There were scenes in earlier episodes with him getting pain killers on the black market and he was in a gay bar - I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean he is though. Also when they were all discussing the woman in the silver sports car (that Ben had just been picked up by), when Ben asked John had he also slept with her, he avoided answering the question.

I like they don't ram this home, he just happens to be gay.

09-02-2011 04:07PM

Poochie05 wrote: »

No I don't think it has come out of nowhere, they have alluded to the fact that John is gay a few times, without making any fuss about it. There were scenes in earlier episodes with him getting pain killers on the black market and he was in a gay bar - I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean he is though. Also when they were all discussing the woman in the silver sports car (that Ben had just been picked up by), when Ben asked John had he also slept with her, he avoided answering the question.

I like they don't ram this home, he just happens to be gay.

You're right there, now that you mention it. I had forgotten about his getting pain killers at the gay bar. Very good point about them not ramming it home, his being gay wouldn't ruin his character and doesn't make him any less of a bad-ass.

ixoy · 10-02-2011 11:53PM

Another excellent episode. Liked how Lydia's story was handled and how the department drops everything because the Mayor is on to them. Reminded me of how some cases were handled in "The Wire".

Also Sammy's return (in uniform). Clearly not ready for duty - wonder if he's going to really go off the rails? He's got a lot on his shoulders - father to a kid whose mother doesn't want him, and pseudo-father to a kid who wants him.

Deleted User wrote: »

So is John gay? That seemed to come out of nowhere.

As above. He also held hands with a guy when they were looking at the 4th of July fireworks in Season 1. Felt that was another big clue

itsallaboutheL · 11-02-2011 12:39AM

ixoy wrote: »

As above. He also held hands with a guy when they were looking at the 4th of July fireworks in Season 1. Felt that was another big clue

How the feck did i miss that?

ixoy · 11-02-2011 01:20AM

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

How the feck did i miss that?

Well it was pretty subtle (as the show does). As far as I can recall, he reached out for the hand of the guy beside him as the camera panned away.

Richard Dower · 11-02-2011 04:41AM

Until i read an interview with the actor i hadn't realised John was gay, it's very subtle....but as posts point out above, the clues were there...just forgotten about.

starviewadams · 21-02-2011 07:32PM

Just up to date on Southland now,can't believe Russ sold the murder scene pictures,didn't see that coming,although I probably should have cos he was having money problems etc.

The ep where Sammy is back in uniform is my favourite (so far) of the current series,the ending where he goes head to head with the Latin gang leader was done so well.

BKtje · 21-02-2011 10:04PM

Just caught up, started watching it last friday. Wow is all I can say, really can't praise it enough and can't believe it was almost canned!

39,000 cops deployed with Michael Jackson? That's shocking!

Did he not say 3900? Did I read right during the first episode that LA only has 9800 cops? I must have mis read that? Doesn't new york have something like 35k?

Richard Dower · 21-02-2011 10:35PM

BKtje wrote: »

Just caught up, started watching it last friday. Wow is all I can say, really can't praise it enough and can't believe it was almost canned!

Did he not say 3900? Did I read right during the first episode that LA only has 9800 cops? I must have mis read that? Doesn't new york have something like 35k?

It was 3,900.....not 39 Thousand :rolleyes: more surprisimg was there was no crime in South Central LA during the funeral.

Yakuza · 24-02-2011 04:27PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

It was 3,900.....not 39 Thousand :rolleyes: more surprisimg was there was no crime in South Central LA during the funeral.

Sure it was like when The Pope came to Ireland back in '79, nary a crime was committed at all at all at all...

I thought the whole bring-the-vato-to-the-desert-and-make-him-dig-his-grave-and-then-bottle-it-at-the-end segment was a bit pointless as it was obvious (to me at least) that he wasn't going to follow through.

Glad to see John trying to kicking the habit, that arc was getting very old. A little more cold turkey and the arc can be buried.

starviewadams · 24-02-2011 08:33PM

Another good episode,no follow up story with Lydia/Russ about the photo's which was a bit disappointing.

The music used when Sammy kidnapped the gangbanger was pretty awesome too!

Richard Dower · 24-02-2011 11:02PM

Yeah it was pretty good, BUT...don't you think the kidnap/vigalante plot is out of character for Southland?, as a show?....it prides itself on realism and being down to earth,a cop/detective kidnapping a perp to have him dig his own grave to kill him seems very OTT for this show and not in the spirit of SL.

I haven't really commented on eps. past Nate's killing ep. - because they have all been pretty average imo, those first four eps. were awesome + talk worthy, the last four not so much, two left....the ratings are steady but i'm not sure what TNT will look for for renewal.

SL could be another surprise renewal like last year.

An Citeog · 25-02-2011 10:34PM

Since Nate's killing I think the show has started to lose the run of itself. It's like the writers have run out of ideas and they're throwing a mishmash of everything together and hoping something will stick. There doesn't seem to be much chemistry between the characters. Lydia and Josie and even John and Ben just seem to be missing something. The whole Sammy and Nate's wife thing seemed a bit fabricated aswell.

Maybe they're just struggling with going from a 6 to a 10-episode season. Hopefully they can pull it together again because it's some of the best tv I've seen in a while, especially for a non-HBO series.

Auvers · 25-02-2011 10:47PM

An Citeog wrote: »

Since Nate's killing I think the show has started to lose the run of itself.

couldn't agree more, it lost that special something over the last few episodes, I found myself looking at my watch quiet a few times in the latest episode.

Its going a bit stale, with Johns back complaint really starting to grate and annoy me.

Remember back to the first season when we had the shoot out scene with Lydia protecting the kid, now that was quality TV

ixoy · 25-02-2011 11:37PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

Yeah it was pretty good, BUT...don't you think the kidnap/vigalante plot is out of character for Southland?, as a show?....it prides itself on realism and being down to earth,a cop/detective kidnapping a perp to have him dig his own grave to kill him seems very OTT for this show and not in the spirit of SL.

Yeah, sadly I agree. It was something that "The Shield" would do, far more suiting that show's take on L.A. rather than "Southland".

I don't quite agree that the show has gone stale yet - it's just that it set the bar too high earlier on with "Code 4". It was like showing the season finale halfway through the season.
I like the maturation of Lydia and Josie's relationship. They're starting to get along after an initial bumpy start and play off each other well now. It's developing rather than being stuck in an antagonistic mode.
I definitely like Ben and John's relationship and how, presumably with the season finale, we'll see it come to fruition with Ben's graduation.

expectationlost · 26-02-2011 10:29AM

Richard Dower wrote: »

Yeah it was pretty good, BUT...don't you think the kidnap/vigalante plot is out of character for Southland?, as a show?....it prides itself on realism and being down to earth,a cop/detective kidnapping a perp to have him dig his own grave to kill him seems very OTT for this show and not in the spirit of SL.

sounds like something that would happen on a tv show, but because the guy wasn't thinking.

Richard Dower · 26-02-2011 12:12PM

^ you're missing the point, you'd see cop shows pull that crap but SL is supposed to be above that crap.

expectationlost · 26-02-2011 03:56PM

your missing the point he was doing things he sesen on tv and in movies

Richard Dower · 26-02-2011 10:03PM

expectationlost wrote: »

your missing the point he was doing things he sesen on tv and in movies

Seriously? that's your reasoning and logic? :rolleyes:

Richard Dower · 28-02-2011 02:03PM

Woah!!....yippee!!!....ep. 9 looks like a cracker!

big robbery/shootout

:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbpgnTJCzPY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MipH3gEAL-o

Gekko · 28-02-2011 06:32PM

Can't believe there's only two episodes left now.

I won't be able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms once it's off the air.

Richard Dower · 04-03-2011 05:15PM

Season 3 finale next week

Can I get some scoop on Southland? Any word on the ratings for this season or whether TNT is renewing it for another season? This is one of the best shows on TV, but I rarely hear anything about it! — Christy
I’ll take this one in parts. First, ratings. When I talked to Michael Cudlitz yesterday, let’s just say he was…confident. “I think the show’s getting picked up. I think it’s a matter of for how many,” he said. As for the big finale, Ben McKenzie is certainly hoping his co-star’s prediction proves true, because he’s excited to see what the future holds for his no longer rookie character. “This finale episode of this season really completes the journey for my character both literally and figuratively of being a rookie. He’s grown up — become a cop and an officer in his own right and more confident. The gloves are off for Ben Sherman and the world is wide open, and he can go in any number of directions.” Dear TV Gods, I want to know which direction he chooses. Make it happen.

itsallaboutheL · 04-03-2011 09:28PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

Season 3 finale next week
Can I get some scoop on Southland? Any word on the ratings for this season or whether TNT is renewing it for another season? This is one of the best shows on TV, but I rarely hear anything about it! — Christy
I’ll take this one in parts. First, ratings. When I talked to Michael Cudlitz yesterday, let’s just say he was…confident. “I think the show’s getting picked up. I think it’s a matter of for how many,” he said. As for the big finale, Ben McKenzie is certainly hoping his co-star’s prediction proves true, because he’s excited to see what the future holds for his no longer rookie character. “This finale episode of this season really completes the journey for my character both literally and figuratively of being a rookie. He’s grown up — become a cop and an officer in his own right and more confident. The gloves are off for Ben Sherman and the world is wide open, and he can go in any number of directions.” Dear TV Gods, I want to know which direction he chooses. Make it happen.

Damn you. i can't not read this

chalkitdown1 · 04-03-2011 11:59PM

There's no spoilers in there.

Richard Dower · 07-03-2011 10:59AM

Season finale promo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpQGUPO8Zv4

Richard Dower · 07-03-2011 02:24PM

YES!!!!!!!!

Southland close to renewal!!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118033399?

The cops of TNT's "Southland" will protect and serve for another season.

The cable drama is set to end its third season Tuesday -- the first 13 episodes were split into two seasons -- and with stellar critical support and ratings nowhere near cable's best but solid and consistent enough for the Turner net to tolerate, the skein will likely return for another tour of duty. TNT will probably make an announcement in the near future.

While ratings have never been particularly strong for "Southland," except at the very beginning of its run, they're far from abysmal. Show is averaging 2.9 million viewers, up 5% from the previous season. In the 18-49 demo, 1.3 million are tuning in each week.

TNT is able to continue with skeins such as "Southland" and, similarly, Ray Romano's "Men of a Certain Age," because its procedurals are huge profit centers. "Rizzoli and Isles" opened million viewers in July, and Kyra Sedgwick starrer "The Closer," which is nearing the end of its run, continues to be a top performer.

The ensemble cast for "Southland" runs deep, and TNT is hoping for some Emmy traction this time around in the drama series or supporting acting categories. Many have praised the perfs of beat cops Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie, as well as LAPD detectives Regina King and Shawn Hatosy.

"Southland," which comes from Warner Bros. Television and John Wells Prods., originally aired on NBC in 2009, but the Peacock, under the Ben Silverman regime, felt it wasn't delivering enough eyeballs to keep it on air despite strong critical support. In the 2008-09 season, "Southland" averaged a 2.8 rating/8 share in the 18-49 demo and 8.4 million viewers and won the time period in its first two weeks.

To be fair to NBC, those numbers eventually faded, and in one of those rare situations where one network picks up another's cancellation, "Southland" moved from broadcast to cable.

"We hit the benchmark and are very proud of this past season," said a source close to the show. "My hope is that TNT will tell us sooner rather than later that we're coming back."

http://www.daemonstv.com/2011/03/07/ben-mckenzie-and-michael-cudlitz-talk-southland-season-finale/

Wells and Christopher Chulack are exec producers.

Southland [** Spoilers **]

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Southland [ Spoilers ]