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Southland

2009 – 2013Show5 seasons43 episodesTV-14

Drama
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.5Metacritic778.5Rotten Tomatoes90%96%

A tense, violent drama series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and cinematography.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

5 seasons · 43 episodes · best: S5E9 "Chaos" 9.1

Episodes

7.8
8.2
8.2
8.1
8.3

Story

Protect. Serve. Survive.

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.

Feels like

  • Gritty Police Procedural
  • Handheld Cinematography
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Los Angeles Underbelly
  • Psychological Toll of Duty
  • Raw Realism
  • Ensemble Character Study
  • Bleak Urban Landscape
  • Authentic Cop Culture

Cast

24 of 117 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Christopher Chulack, Nelson McCormick, Félix Alcalá
Written by
Ann Biderman, John Wells, Robin Green
Produced by
John Wells

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 9, 2009 · April 17, 2013 · Ended

First aired
April 9, 2009
Last aired
April 17, 2013
Status
Ended
Length
5 seasons · 43 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery, Drug Use
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
121 countries

Tropes

From Nobody to Nightmare, Disproportionate Retribution, Fire-Forged Friends +9

  • From Nobody to Nightmare
  • Disproportionate Retribution
  • Fire-Forged Friends
  • Family Relationship Switcheroo
  • Amicable Exes
  • Television Geography
  • Dirty Coward
  • Shown Their Work
  • Rage Against the Mentor
  • I Am Spartacus
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Incompatible Orientation

12 of 55 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Southland?"

Questions about Southland

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Southland?

NetflixHowdy

In the United States, Southland streams on Netflix and Howdy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 118 other countries.

Is Southland worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 77).

Does Southland get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.8, and season 5 peaks at 8.3. The highest-rated episode is Chaos (season 5, episode 9) at 9.1, and the lowest is Mozambique (season 1, episode 2) at 7.5.

Is Southland okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imageryDrug use

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence, strong language, disturbing imagery, and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch Southland?

30 h

About 30 hours: 43 episodes in 5 seasons of about 42 minutes each, aired from 2009 to 2013.

Will I feel good after watching Southland?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is Southland plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (7 of 10) more than on its plot.