Southland 2009
“Protect. Serve. Survive.”
What is Southland?
Southland is an American crime drama television series that first aired in 2009. Created by writer Ann Biderman and produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2009
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 43
- Runtime
- 42 minutes
- First aired
- Apr 9, 2009
- Last aired
- Apr 17, 2013
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC, TNT
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 43 episodes and an average 42-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Southland is an American crime drama television series that first aired in 2009. Created by writer Ann Biderman and produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, the show explores the daily lives of police officers working for the Los Angeles Police Department. The series is known for its gritty realism and authentic portrayal of the Los Angeles crime scene, focusing on the experiences of cops, criminals, victims, and their families. The narrative centers on four primary characters: Officer John Cooper, a seasoned cop recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman, a rookie who recently completed his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams, who manages an intense caseload; and Sammy Bryant, a former detective who returned to uniform duty following the traumatic death of his partner. Featuring performances by Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, and Ben McKenzie, the procedural drama ran until 2013. The series has been characterized by critics as a hard-hitting and fresh take on the traditional police show format.
Should you watch it?
“A gritty portrayal of LAPD officers navigating crime, trauma, and personal struggles.”
- Authentic depiction of police work and its psychological toll
- Strong character development across multiple perspectives
- Heavy and unrelenting tone may be draining
- Limited mainstream recognition despite critical acclaim
You appreciate raw, character-driven crime dramas with moral complexity.
Contains graphic depictions of violence, trauma, and adult themes throughout.
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Is Southland worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 7 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Unknown Trouble Apr 9, 2009
- E2 Mozambique Apr 16, 2009
- E3 See the Woman Apr 23, 2009
- E4 Sally in the Alley Apr 30, 2009
- E5 Two Gangs May 7, 2009
- E6 Westside May 14, 2009
- E7 Derailed May 21, 2009
Season 2 · 6 episodes
- E1 Phase Three Mar 2, 2010
- E2 Butch & Sundance Mar 9, 2010
- E3 U-Boat Mar 16, 2010
- E4 The Runner Mar 23, 2010
- E5 What Makes Sammy Run? Mar 30, 2010
- E6 Maximum Deployment Apr 6, 2010
Season 3 · 10 episodes
- E1 Let It Snow Jan 4, 2011
- E2 Punching Water Jan 11, 2011
- E3 Discretion Jan 18, 2011
- E4 Code 4 Jan 25, 2011
- E5 The Winds Feb 1, 2011
- E6 Cop or Not Feb 8, 2011
- E7 Sideways Feb 15, 2011
- E8 Fixing a Hole Feb 22, 2011
- E9 Failure Drill Mar 1, 2011
- E10 Graduation Day Mar 8, 2011
Season 4 · 10 episodes
- E1 Wednesday Jan 17, 2012
- E2 Underwater Jan 24, 2012
- E3 Community Jan 31, 2012
- E4 Identity Feb 7, 2012
- E5 Legacy Feb 14, 2012
- E6 Integrity Check Feb 21, 2012
- E7 Fallout Feb 28, 2012
- E8 God's Work Mar 6, 2012
- E9 Risk Mar 13, 2012
- E10 Thursday Mar 20, 2012
Season 5 · 10 episodes
- E1 Hats and Bats Feb 13, 2013
- E2 Heat Feb 20, 2013
- E3 Babel Feb 27, 2013
- E4 Under the Big Top Mar 6, 2013
- E5 Off Duty Mar 13, 2013
- E6 Bleed Out Mar 20, 2013
- E7 Heroes Mar 27, 2013
- E8 The Felix Paradox Apr 3, 2013
- E9 Chaos Apr 10, 2013
- E10 Reckoning Apr 17, 2013
Frequently asked questions
Is Southland based on a true story?
No, it is a fictional drama, though it aims for realism in its portrayal of police work.
Where can I watch Southland?
All five seasons are available to stream on Netflix.
How many seasons does Southland have?
The series ran for five seasons, originally airing on NBC and later on TNT.
Who created Southland?
The show was created by writer Ann Biderman.
What makes Southland different from other police shows?
It focuses on the emotional and psychological realities of policing, not just action and cases.