Southland: TNT Scores With NBC's Castoff
Mark A. Perigard - Boston Herald
Mar 02, 2010
This is the series NBC passed on for useless months of Jay Leno.
Of all the boneheaded decisions committed by the peacock network over the last year, taking the ax to the John Wells ("ER") cop drama "Southland" might surpass them all.
The second season beginning tonight on TNT -- which consists, alas, of only the six episodes filmed before NBC pulled the plug -- finds a gritty series deepening its storytelling.
Tonight, in "Phase Three," an 82-year-old man goes missing. What appears to be an old-fashioned cowboy ambush leaves blood and empty bullet casings all over one street.
Incidents that appear unrelated converge. A seemingly routine traffic stop endangers several officers.
As Detective Russell Clarke (East Bridgewater native Tom Everett Scott) recuperates from gunshot wounds, his partner Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King) clashes with his ambitious replacement (Amaury Nolasco, "Prison Break").
Patrolmen John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) and Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie, a universe away from his days on "The O.C.") simmer in each other's presence. Ben rightfully suspects John is addicted to painkillers. John doesn't think the rookie can handle himself on the street.
Next week, in "Butch & Sundance," John and Ben are the first to arrive at a horrific crime scene. Both find it hard to get past the images of a family's destruction.
Meanwhile, Lydia's search for the killer takes several twists and her instincts are tested. "Southland" pauses for quiet moments that reflect the characters' despair. John arrives home and reachs for a bottle. A digital clock reads 3 a.m. and Ben sits awake and forlorn.
There's a scene next week that echoes the Oscar-winner "Crash," but with a tragic and probably more realistic outcome.
Not perhaps since "Hill Street Blues" (coincidentally, another NBC show, one that was given time to find its audience) has there been a cop drama that felt so authentic.
"Southland" is not perfect, however, and if TNT opts to renew it, it will require some budget cuts. This viewer can suggest some easy cast trims.
Start by sacking Detective Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy). His family drama circling around fertility and the lack of toilet paper in the house goes nowhere. Kevin Alejandro as his partner Nate Moretta is too young and green for the alleged father/veteran detective he plays. Thankfully, neither one sucks up too much screen time.
King, Cudlitz and McKenzie carry this drama, in note-perfect peformances. They make "Southland" a worthy part of your Tuesday night stakeout.
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