“Southland” is a new show on NBC. An ensemble series, it shows us something of the lives, both professional and private, of several LA police officers, some in uniform, some detectives. The cast is excellent across the board, right down to the bit parts, and the stories are interesting and complex. The episode that ran this past Thursday gives a good feel for all of the characters and their individual story lines. It also contains some interesting themes of modern city life. It’s a worthwhile way to spend about 43 minutes of your time.
In this episode, Det. Daniel Salinger (Michael McGrady) is involved in an automobile accident on his way back from dinner with his mistress. When his car hits a telephone pole and the airbag deploys, Det. Salinger is left disoriented. The occupants of the other car, gang bangers as it happens, take the opportunity to steal his wallet and gun. From here we watch the detectives work toward recovering Salinger’s gun, making important discoveries along the way. Alongside this story are the tales of an unfortunate exhibitionist and a frustrating shift for Cooper and Sherman.
