TV Viewers are Flocking to Southland
Written by Fareed Warrad on May 7, 2009 – 10:17 PM -
Right on the heels of my previous article titled Top Six Police Drama Shows on Prime Time TV NBC premiers Southland, a new fast pace police drama. I’ve been watching police drama for years, and one thing I know is that they all have used a certain formula, even if the formula was amended here and there for a particular show. Southland is different, specifically because Southland does not focus primarily on a group of detectives or special agents. It focuses on patrol officers, detectives, victims, social workers. etc.
Not only does Southland focus on several different types of characters, it’s extremely realistic. More so than Law and Order. Watching any particular episode of Southland is like watching an episode of Cops, without the narration and a hell of a lot longer time slot. Southland also brings to the table a cast of extremely talented actors. Actors that make the viewers feel like they’re riding shotgun with the detectives or officers. Southland places you in a modern and hip atmosphere and showcases the good, the bad and the ugly in regards to the job of law enforcement. It does not try to paint you a picture that all cops are wonderful either. It showcases those who are questionable such as in Episode 3 “See the Woman”, Dewey becomes star struck by a famous, self obsessed actor. As a result, Chickie finds herself questioning her decision to take him on as her partner.
Now the best thing that sets this show apart from the other police dramas is that the viewers primarily get to see everything through the eyes of the show’s main character Ben Sherman who happens to be a rookie cop. Which is so refreshing being that most shows focus on the big detectives only. Ben Sherman, played by Benjamin McKenzie who previously appeared on The O.C. as a troubled kid. In closing this show is rapidly moving up the charts and could be #1 before we know it. Southland’s 5th episode “Two Gangs” premiers today Thursday May 7, 2009 on NBC.
