Southland Season 1 Episode 1
Southland
Season 1

Ep 1. Pilot

  • TV-NR
  • April 9, 2009
  • 43 min
  • 8.2  (404)

When a new day dawns in Los Angeles, the city's streets come alive with the sounds of the police sirens as they race to respond to the latest emergency. "Southland" opens with a close-up of the sun rising over the city, which fades into a shot of a man who has just been shot in the head. Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) is new to the LAPD, having recently graduated from the police academy, and he's paired up with the seasoned Detective John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz).

As the two men cruise through the city in their patrol car, Cooper hammers home the importance of adhering to police protocol. "I know a lot of people who have died because they didn't follow it," he says, emphasizing the importance of being fully prepared at all times. Following this, they are called to an incident involving the killing of two gang members. Cooper instructs Sherman to stand back, maintaining that "gang members make the mistake of underestimating us all the time". The exchange soon becomes heated when Sherman questions the point of learning police procedure if they don't put it into practice.

Meanwhile, Officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) is attempting to gain entry into a criminal organisation by posing as a hooker, while Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King) is dealing with a hit-and-run case where the body is lost and the victim's family is demanding justice. Nearby, Officer Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) is hot on the tail of a reckless driver who has put lives in danger while showing off at a red light. Finally, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) is called to the scene of a gruesome murder where he must confront the unwelcome indifference of the neighbors.

Over the course of the episode, each character faces a challenging situation which tests their skills and beliefs in one way or another. Sherman begins the day eager to make a difference and stand up for what he believes in, but his confidence is shaken when he comes face to face with the stark reality of life on the streets. Brown finds herself grappling with the danger inherent in her job, as she negotiates with a group of drug dealers in an empty parking lot. Meanwhile, Adams gets caught up in some office politics as she attempts to balance her workload with the demands of her superiors.

As things heat up in the hunt for the hit-and-run driver, Sammy is forced to make one of the most difficult choices of his career. The episode reaches its climax as each character converges on the murder scene, each facing different struggles in order to come to terms with the gruesome and all-too-real realities of the criminal world. A tense interrogation room scene serves as a fitting conclusion to the episode, showcasing the stark contrast between the criminals who are unrepentant in their actions and the determined police officers who are working to bring them to justice.

In many ways, this first episode of "Southland" accomplishes what any pilot should: it introduces a diverse and complex cast of characters, each with their own unique backstory and set of challenges to overcome. It also establishes the show's gritty and unflinching approach to police work, showcasing the harsh realities of life on the streets without sugarcoating anything. The episode does a good job of drawing attention to the challenges that police officers face on a day-to-day basis, from the stress of constantly being on alert to the constant threat of danger and violence. It's a brutal and at times harrowing portrayal of life on the rougher side of Los Angeles, and it sets the tone for the rest of the show's run.

Description
Watch Southland - Pilot (s1 e1) Online - Watch online anytime: Stream, Download, Buy, Rent
Southland, Season 1 Episode 1, is available to watch free on Tubi TV and stream on TNT. You can also stream, download, buy, rent Southland on demand at Amazon, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    April 9, 2009
  • Content Rating
    TV-NR
  • Runtime
    43 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.2  (404)