Southland "Derailed" 05/21/09

[Zevida]

I'm surprised a bit at how much I liked this show. I am not normally interested in cop shows. But I really like the style of the filming, the characters and the pace of the show.

I was tense during the scene where the Bad Cop was driving like a maniac in the drainage area. I knew what was going to happen due to the previews, but it was still really intense. Then I was really super tense during the siege of the house - wow! Really intense and well done. I have really liked the Janilla storyline (Sammy is my favorite character, though I wish he would dump his bitch of a wife) and the end was poignant. It was good that she was finally in protective custody, but it almost felt like she was being abandoned by the detectives.

I love the patrolmen as well. The senior guy (I'm terrible with names) is just enough of a hardass without being the complete stereotype "bad cop." And the new guy, while almost exactly like his character from The O.C., is pretty good as well. The scene in the fast food place was great, as was the guy trying to use the patrol car as a taxi. The mix of the uniformed officers and the detectives is great.

The ending I saw coming as soon as he turned towards the shouting neighbor's house. I really like Tom Everett Scott, so I hope that he survives the shooting. That was a little too cliche and I don't think it was really necessary, but I'll forgive them.

Is it coming back next year? I want to say I heard it was...

[brermike]

I agree. I didn't expect to enjoy this show as much as I have. I am glad it got picked up for a second season.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

Yes, it's coming back on Fridays next year.

[chrispitude]

I agree, I've really gotten pulled into this show - especially to learn more about the characters.

- Chris

[pex]

Another fan here too.

It's got sort of "The Wire" feel to it, especially when the delve into the realities of bureaucratic politics (i.e. rape kit backlog, show of force in a tony neighborhood, lack of money to place the girl into the witness protection program). I am glad I am not the only one who can never remember names--the only way I can get a half-leg up is to read the TiVo "info" synopsis afterwards. Normally they'll identify at least a few characters.

There are a lot of characters so it took some time to get into it. However, at least each episode is self-contained (unlike The Wire), so it may have half a chance of surviving. This has ended up being one of my top two or three favorites shows. Can't wait until next year. Hopefully it'll be a bigger buy than just 7 episodes.

[RonDawg]

I have really liked the Janilla storyline (Sammy is my favorite character, though I wish he would dump his bitch of a wife) and the end was poignant. It was good that she was finally in protective custody, but it almost felt like she was being abandoned by the detectives.

I was actually annoyed by Janila in this episode. Just when I thought she was going to escape a life of gangs, she decides to hang out with her gangbanger boyfriend again, who as we all found out was just using her.

And her insistence on being with him could have turned out deadly not just for her, but also for the female detective who agreed to take her in.

Oh and BTW that "drainage area" is known as the Los Angeles River. That particular stretch (just east of downtown LA) is often used for filming chase sequences.

[Timbeau]

This has turned into one of my favorites this spring. The scene in the house was awesome. I was sure it was going to turn out with them both dead -- the lady cop showed she really has a pair. No "Stop! Police!", just BANG. Really great stuff.

[JYoung]

Oh and BTW that "drainage area" is known as the Los Angeles River. That particular stretch (just east of downtown LA) is often used for filming chase sequences.

I liked the fact that they were eating at Tommy's.

[Queue]

Edit, I was in the wrong thread.

[RonDawg]

I liked the fact that they were eating at Tommy's.

I've noticed that they try to use authentic LAPD hangouts for this show. Perhaps next season they can show them having lunch at an In N Out.

[Zevida]

My DVR has been picking up some repeats over the summer. Tonight it recorded "Sally in the Alley" which I must have missed this spring. Good episode, though I really missed the uniformed officers.

And really when is Sammy going to finally leave his wife. What a stupid bitch. I'm sorry, that woman has no redeeming qualities.

I prefer when they have less focus on the personal life, but didn't mind what they did here.