Southland

Southland Season 1 Episodes

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Season 1 Episode Guide

Episode 1 - Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot

From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East Los Angeles this fast moving drama takes viewers inside the lives of cops criminals victims and their families. In the series premiere John Cooper (series star MICHAEL CUDLITZ)a seasoned Los Angeles police officer and his rookie trainee Ben Sherman (series star BEN McKENZIE) respond to a call that ends in a deadly shoot-out – and Ben is left questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer. Even though John is cool to the new recruit and his straitlaced Beverly Hills past his honed insight and honest no-nonsense advice is invaluable to the young rookie: Look sharp act sharp be sharp. You do what they teach you in the academy you will die.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Episode 1 - Pilot

From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East Los Angeles, this fast moving drama takes viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. In the series premiere, John Cooper (series star MICHAEL CUDLITZ), a seasoned Los Angeles police officer and his rookie trainee, Ben Sherman (series star BEN McKENZIE), respond to a call that ends in a deadly shoot-out – and Ben is left questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer. Even though John is cool to the new recruit and his straitlaced "Beverly Hills" past, his honed insight and honest, no-nonsense advice is invaluable to the young rookie: "Look sharp, act sharp, be sharp. You do what they teach you in the academy, you will die."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Episode 2 - Season 1, Episode 2: Mozambique

When officers John Cooper Ben Sherman and Chickie Brown rescue a baby girl found alone crawling across the middle of an LA intersection the hunt for her mother begins. Detectives Lydia Adams and Russell Clarke examine the scene looking for clues and soon Lydia finds herself affected by the search and must deal with some past issues - taking a personal interest in reuniting the baby with its mother. Meanwhile officers Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta are unable to find the financial resources to put a juvenile key witness in police protection after an attempt on her life and must now convince the DA to place her in a student police program. And back at the station everyone gathers for a retirement party for Dewey.

  

Episode 2 - Mozambique

When officers John Cooper, Ben Sherman and Chickie Brown rescue a baby girl found alone crawling across the middle of an LA intersection, the hunt for her mother begins. Detectives Lydia Adams and Russell Clarke examine the scene looking for clues, and soon Lydia finds herself affected by the search and must deal with some past issues – taking a personal interest in reuniting the baby with its mother. Meanwhile, officers Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta are unable to find the financial resources to put a juvenile key witness in police protection after an attempt on her life and must now convince the DA to place her in a student police program. And back at the station, everyone gathers for a retirement party for Dewey.

  

Episode 3 - See the Woman

Officers John Cooper and Ben Sherman start out the day thinking they have nothing in common, but – after responding to an eclectic array of patrol calls – at the end of their watch, they discover this is not true. When Ben reveals details of his past to the department therapist and to Cooper, the motivation behind his decision to be a cop becomes clear. Elsewhere, Dewey becomes star struck by Timmy Davis (guest star Tom Sizemore) a famous, self-obsessed actor. In true "Dewey" style, he mischievously decides to party with the celebrity, rather then book him – leading to a rift in his partnership with Chickie Brown. Trouble ensues when Dewey loses track of the burnt-out actor, and Chickie finds herself questioning her decision to take him on as her partner.

  

Episode 3 - Season 1, Episode 3: See the Woman

Officers John Cooper and Ben Sherman start out the day thinking they have nothing in common but - after responding to an eclectic array of patrol calls - at the end of their watch they discover this is not true. When Ben reveals details of his past to the department therapist and to Cooperthe motivation behind his decision to be a cop becomes clear. Elsewhere Dewey becomes star struck by Timmy Davis (guest star TOM SIZEMORE) a famous self-obsessed actor. In true Dewey style he mischievously decides to party with the celebrity rather then book him - leading to a rift in his partnership with Chickie Brown. Trouble ensues when Dewey loses track of the burnt-out actor and Chickie finds herself questioning her decision to take him on as her partner.

  

Episode 4 - Sally In the Alley

Gang Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta have their work cut out for them when an unidentified female is found dead in the middle of a Los Angeles alley – and her body is being used for target practice by gang members. The tension mounts for Nate when his little sister disappears revealing a secret from his past that blindsides Sammy. Elsewhere, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) is offended by Lydia's (Regina King) suggestion that he was too personal during a consult with a victim's sister.

  

Episode 4 - Season 1, Episode 4: Sally in the Alley

Gang Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta have their work cut out for them when an unidentified female is found dead in the middle of a Los Angeles alley - and her body is being used for target practice by gang members. The tension mounts for Nate when his little sister disappears revealing a secret from his past that blindsides Sammy. Elsewhere Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) is offended by Lydia's (Regina King) suggestion that he was too personal during a consult with a victim's sister.

  

Episode 5 - Season 1, Episode 5: Two Gangs

It's a cop's worst nightmare. After a drunken car accident Detective Salinger's gun is stolen by gang members in a dangerous neighborhood. When Gang Squad Detectives Nate Moretta and Sammy Bryant arrive on the scene to help out their boss Moretta reluctantly agrees to assist Bryant in the search for the perpetrators and Salinger's weapon without calling it in. Launching an off-the-books manhunt to retrieve the weapon they make a disturbing discovery - that the gangs are no longer afraid of the police; a local gang is using assault weapons bullet-proof vests and military tactics to become a powerful urban street army - ready to declare war. Elsewhere still preoccupied with her personal life Detective Lydia Adams is caught off guard when a man exposes himself to her outside her home.

  

Episode 5 - Two Gangs

It's a cop's worst nightmare. After a drunken car accident, Detective Salinger's gun is stolen by gang members in a dangerous neighborhood. When Gang Squad Detectives Nate Moretta and Sammy Bryant arrive on the scene to help out their boss, Moretta reluctantly agrees to assist Bryant in the search for the perpetrators and Salinger's weapon without calling it in. Launching an off-the-books manhunt to retrieve the weapon, they make a disturbing discovery – that the gangs are no longer afraid of the police; a local gang is using assault weapons, bullet-proof vests and military tactics to become a powerful urban street army – ready to declare war. Elsewhere, still preoccupied with her personal life, Detective Lydia Adams is caught off guard when a man exposes himself to her outside her home.

  

Episode 6 - Westside

Detectives Lydia Adams and Russell Clarke have their work cut out for them when jewlery thieves begin robbing Bel Air homes. Officer Ben Sherman discovers that he knows one of the home invasion victims and finds himself breaking police policy by becoming personally involved. Elsewhere, gang Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta wait around an LA courthouse while Janilla (guest star Carla Jeffrey) prepares to testify in a gang-land trial. Concerned for her well being, Bryant decides to takes Janilla to his home to assure she is safe.

  

Episode 6 - Season 1, Episode 6: Westside

Detectives Lydia Adams and Russell Clarke have their work cut out for them when jewelry thieves begin robbing Bel Air homes. Officer Ben Sherman discovers that he knows one of the home invasion victims and finds himself breaking police policy by becoming personally involved. Elsewhere gang Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta wait around an LA courthouse while Janilla (guest star CARLA JEFFREY) prepares to testify in a gang-land trial. Concerned for her wellbeing Bryant decides to takes Janilla to his home to assure she is safe.

  

Episode 7 - Season 1, Episode 7: Derailed

Season Finale. The day takes a turn for the worse when officers John Cooper Ben Sherman Chickie Brown and Dewey find a member of Marta's Avenue gang dead in a trunk outside Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile Detective Bryant convinces Lydia to take in Janilla in order to ensure her safety. Elsewhere Detective Salinger becomes increasingly frustrated with his growing rift with his teenage daughter.

  

Episode 7 - Derailed

Season Finale. The day takes a turn for the worse when officers John Cooper, Ben Sherman, Chickie Brown and Dewey find a member of Marta's Avenue gang dead in a trunk outside Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, Detective Bryant convinces Lydia to take in Janilla in order to ensure her safety. Elsewhere, Detective Salinger becomes increasingly frustrated with his growing rift with his teenage daughter.

  

Episode 8 - Season 2, Episode 1: Phase Three

In the second season premiere Lydia and Russell's replacement Rene Cordero (recurring guest star AMAURY NOLASCO) investigate a possible abduction of an elderly man by a known drug addict. Nate and Sammy investigate a freeway shooting and wind up threatening the integrity of a major undercover operation. And Chickie finds herself in the middle of a mini-riot after her new partner shoots at a 13-year-old boy.

  

Episode 9 - Season 2, Episode 2: Butch and Sundance

John and Ben are the first responders to a gruesome triple homicide in Hancock Park where a mother is bludgeoned to death and her young daughters are found bound gagged raped and dead in their bedrooms. While investigating the case Lydia and Rene realize they have two very different styles of doing detective work. Meanwhile Sammy continues to have problems with his wife Tammi (recurring guest star EMILY BERGL) who seems unable to complete even the simplest of tasks. And Ben confronts John about his increasing reliance on pain pills.

  

Episode 10 - Season 2, Episode 3: U-Boat

Ben winds up in a patrol unit alone for the first time. Among the cases he has to handle on his own are a missing girl and a suspected stalking case. Lydia and Rene spend the day checking in on and helping out Brianna (guest star LILY HOLLEMAN) and her baby. Over in the Gangs Unit Gil Puente (recurring guest star LAZ ALONSO) leads the task force to take down a former gang banger Trinny Day – but Sal and Sammy have a hard time working with Puente. While patrolling with John it is clear that Chickie has no command presence but she is determined to work harder and become a good cop again.

  

Episode 11 - Season 2, Episode 4: The Runner

Lydia and her new partner, Ray Suarez (series star CLIFTON COLLINS, JR.), arrive in Compton, where a young USC student was murdered. Detectives Kenny, No Gun, (recurring guest star PATRICK FISCHLER) and Andy Williams (recurring guest star LEX MEDLIN) canvass the neighborhood while Nate and Sammy investigate a house nearby where a party took place the night before. John and Ben head to Indian Wells for the funeral of a cop that proves to be very personal for John. They also stop at a halfway house for cops to see how Dewey (recurring guest star C. THOMAS HOWELL) is doing. And Lydia decides to talk to her mother (recurring guest star L. SCOTT CALDWELL) about something that has been festering between them for years.

  

Episode 12 - Season 2, Episode 5: What Makes Sammy Run?

Gangsters open fire in a crowded club and kill two gangbangers – one of whom has a connection to an officer. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Sal and Gil on the gang task force. And Sammy confronts his wife, Tammi, after discovering that she has been out photographing gang members.

  

Episode 13 - Season 2, Episode 6: Maximum Deployment

John gets an unexpected request from his ex-wife just as he, Ben and Chickie are sent out as part of a maximum deployment to capture the, Canyon Rapist, (guest star THOMAS LUMBERG, JR.), a perp who has been impersonating a cop. Lydia gets re-partnered with Russell (recurring guest star RUSSELL EVERETT SCOTT) for a double-homicide case. And Sal gives his wife Susan (guest star DENISE CROSBY) a special gift to commemorate her promotion, but their night turns into a disaster when their daughter, Kimmy (guest star ANNAMARIE KENOYER) reveals Sal's affair with TV news reporter Mia Sanchez (guest star LISA VIDAL).

  

Episode 14 - Season 3, Episode 1: Let It Snow

This season on SOUTHLAND, Lydia has difficulty adjusting to her mother's return home from Europe with a new boyfriend in tow. The relationship forces Lydia to consider her own life and the fact that remains a single woman. Meanwhile, Ben continues to come into his own as a cop, but he feels increasing pressure to intervene in John's addiction. And Sammy and his wife face a major life change that could have devastating consequences for their marriage. In the third season premiere, Detective Lydia Adams endures a stressful adjustment period with her new partner, Josie Ochoa, as they investigate the disappearance of an illegal immigrant. Detective Russell Clarke, Lydia's former partner, adjusts to a new desk job on the force. Meanwhile, Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta look for the killer of two gangbangers; and Officer Ben Sherman catches the eye of an attractive woman during a traffic stop, while his partner, John Cooper, struggles with increasing pain.

  

Episode 15 - Season 3, Episode 2: Punching Water

Sammy and Nate feel threatened when Detective Daniel, Sal, Salinger (series regular MICHAEL McGRADY) calls in Lydia and Josie to help them solve a series of gang murders. John gets saddled with Officer Billy Dewey (series regular C. THOMAS HOWELL) in order to keep an eye on him after his stint in rehab and Ben rides with Officer Chickie Brown (series regular ARIJA BAREIKIS), who quizzes him about his relationship with a woman obsessed with cops.

  

Episode 16 - Season 3, Episode 3: Discretion

Ben seeks revenge when his mother's rapist is released from prison. Lydia and Josie bump heads over a chainsaw, as Sammy deals with his wife's betrayal.

  

Episode 17 - Season 3, Episode 4: Code 4

John teaches Ben several key tips to being a police officer, including the proper ways to make a death notification and arrest a suspected drug user. Sammy stays with Nate's family while he sorts out his marital problems. Lydia and Josie handle a drug-related murder case with an unorthodox suspect.

  

Episode 18 - Season 3, Episode 5: The Winds

Lydia and Josie catch a complicated rape case on the Westside. John bonds with an abandoned teenager, while also having to deal with testifying at his own father's parole hearing.

  

Episode 19 - Season 3, Episode 6: Cop or Not

While working a celebrity murder, Lydia discovers the pros and cons of being in the spotlight. Sammy leaves the confines of the office to go out on patrol. John and Ben chafe with frustration over a tedious security detail.

  

Episode 20 - Season 3, Episode 7: Sideways

Lydia gets suspended from duty and bonds with an injured witness. A high-speed chase haunts Chickie (series regular ARIJA BAREIKIS), and John tries to clean up a neighborhood.

  

Episode 21 - Season 3, Episode 8: Fixing a Hole

Sammy seeks answers in the desert. Lydia and Josie babysit an important, but annoying, alcoholic witness before a murder trial. And John and Ben go rogue – flaunting procedure to help a child in need.

  

Episode 22 - Season 3, Episode 9: Failure Drill

Ben nears the end of his training period as he deals with John's escalating drug problem. Sammy prepares for fatherhood. Lydia embraces a teenage victim and fights her emotions during a high-octane shootout.

  

Episode 23 - Season 3, Episode 10: Graduation Day

On Ben Sherman's final day as a rookie, challenges abound – none more daunting than how to handle his partner's growing reliance on painkillers.

  

Episode 24 - Season 4, Episode 1: Wednesday

In the season premiere episode, Officer John Cooper returns to duty after recovering from back surgery and meets his new partner, Officer Jessica Tang, a tough and disciplined cop with her own set of baggage from working the streets. Lydia, whose new partner is Ruben Robinson, can't seem to escape helping a former CI (Confidential Informant) who won't stay in safety. Ben, Sammy and Dewey (series regular C. THOMAS HOWELL) chase an armed man into an elementary school, while Ben bumps heads with Danny Ferguson (guest star LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS), an intense street cop whose cynical attitude is affecting their work.

  

Episode 25 - Season 4, Episode 2: Underwater

Tang and Cooper's past physical problems are put to the test when they are attacked on the street by a perp, Lydia and Ruben investigate a convenience store murder, and Lydia uses her typical compassionate charm to collect facts on her suspect from an unassuming grandmother (guest star MARLA GIBBS). Ben and Sammy ride with another officer who is prone to small mistakes and Joel Rucker (guest star CARL LUMBLY) takes over as the new captain.

  

Episode 26 - Season 4, Episode 3: Community

It's Hood Day on the streets of Los Angeles, and Captain Rucker has the department playing hall monitors. Sammy lets old grudges die hard when he leaves a gang territory unattended, only to have a violent gang war erupt throughout the city. Ben's recent mistake continues to haunt him publicly everywhere he goes. Ruben practices his speech for his daughter's quinceañera in the midst of a murder investigation. Cooper and Tang investigate a robbery in a strict Orthodox Jewish home, leading Tang to reveal secrets from her past.

  

Episode 27 - Season 4, Episode 4: Identity

Jessica tries to help a homeless vet get an ID so he can be admitted to the homeless shelter. The situation opens John's eyes to his partner's past. Sammy is determined to save a dog after he accidentally shoots it in the leg. Lydia and Ruben investigate the murder of a man who lent a helping hand to women in need. And Ben and Lydia each face big life changes.

  

Episode 28 - Season 4, Episode 5: Legacy

Cooper tries to save a suicidal teen in a situation that hits extremely close to home. Sammy convinces a former addict to be an informant, with devastating consequences. Jessica gets a visit from someone in her past. And Lydia and Ruben investigate a supposed home invasion that appears to have been staged to cover up a murder.

  

Episode 29 - Season 4, Episode 6: Integrity Check

Sammy tries to make amends after the murder of a young man who agreed to testify in one of his cases. John and Jessica find themselves babysitting a documentary film crew. And Lydia is ordered to put on her uniform and serve as shift supervisor for the day – but the job could be more than her body is able to handle.

  

Episode 30 - Season 4, Episode 7: Fallout

The day just goes from bad to worse when Jessica is served legal papers in the morning and involved in a shooting in the evening. Sammy holds a grudge against Ben for not backing him up over drug evidence that may have been planted during a recent arrest. And Lydia comes to a decision about her situation.

  

Episode 31 - Season 4, Episode 8: God's Work

Lydia and Ruben investigate the death of a young nanny, but first they have to find the kids who were in her care. Ben tries to intervene in the life of a prostitute with a daughter, but his efforts only make things worse. And while Tang gets an update about the boy she shot, John still wants her to come clean about what really happened.

  

Episode 32 - Season 4, Episode 9: Risk

Ben finds himself heading down a slippery slope as he attempts to help the daughter of a prostitute – putting him in hot water with the woman's pimp. Lydia and Ruben investigate the murder of a gang-banger who may have been killed over a graffiti tag. Tang faces more questions about her shooting of an innocent bystander, which could ultimately determine whether she gets promoted to sergeant.

  

Episode 33 - Season 4, Episode 10: Thursday

It's the last day on patrol for Tang, as she prepares to move to another precinct as sergeant. But first she wants to tie up some loose ends on the beat. Lydia is pressured to make a decision about the extent of her police duties during the rest of her pregnancy. With Sammy recovering from injuries, Ben and Dewey are partnered together. But Ben is bent on tracking down the prostitute he's been trying to help and then getting her and her daughter away from the abusive pimp controlling their lives.

  

Episode 34 - Season 5, Episode 1: Hats and Bats

In the fifth season premiere, Officer Cooper clashes with his new, boot, – Gary Steele (DEREK RAY), while Lydia Adams tries to balance detective work with motherhood.

  

Episode 35 - Season 5, Episode 2: Heat

After Dave Mendoza is injured in a drive-by, Ben takes it upon himself to solve the case – much to Sammy's dismay. Lydia regains her footing as a detective while investigating the murder of a female boxer's husband. Tensions between Cooper and Steele finally come to a head during a traffic stop-gone-sideways.

  

Episode 36 - Season 5, Episode 3: Babel

A breakdown in the LAPD's dispatch system makes a difficult job even harder for the cops – all of whom are already grappling with communication issues. Lydia, in a moment of weakness, reaches out to her old flame, Terrell (guest star MICHAEL JACE). John is assigned a new partner, veteran cop Henry, Hank, Lucero (special guest star ANTHONY RUIVIVAR); Ben and Sammy's partnership is strained just as Ben makes a romantic connection on the job with Brooke Riley (guest star ANNIE MONROE).

  

Episode 37 - Season 5, Episode 4: Under The Big Top

Lydia and Ruben track the killer of a man whose body was slow cooked down to the bone. John and Lucero settle into their new friendship during a day filled with strange calls. Ben and Sammy respond to an insane bank robbery call in which the suspects throw cash out into the streets as they make their escape in a getaway car.

  

Episode 38 - Season 5, Episode 5: Off Duty

John is forced to think about what life will hold for him once he leaves the LAPD. Lydia connects with a man she sent to death row earlier in her career. Much to his chagrin, Sammy becomes a tabloid celebrity for the day after a very public act of heroism. Ben makes a dubious decision to get a drug dealer arrested. And a foot pursuit puts Dewey in danger.

  

Episode 39 - Season 5, Episode 6: Bleed Out

The day's events bring all of our cops face to face with some of their greatest fears. The death of a baby shakes Lydia to her core. Sammy is questioned by I.A. about his altercation with Tammi. A difficult day on the job causes Cooper to seek solace in Hicks (guest star GERALD McRANEY) but finds none. Ben becomes more deeply involved with Brooke while continuing to see Elena (guest star CARMEN CORRAL).

  

Episode 40 - Season 5, Episode 7: Heroes

John takes drastic measures to try to save Hicks while being confronted with demons from his past. Sammy's lie about the tape weighs heavily on his conscience. Lydia and Ruben track down a John Doe. Ben's relationship with Elena becomes more serious.

  

Episode 41 - Season 5, Episode 8: The Felix Paradox

The funeral of a major drug dealer brings gangsters of all sorts out of the woodwork. But even with chaos in the streets, our cops learn that sometimes the greatest threats come from within. Investigating the drug related murder of Sgt. Hill's son Lydia and Ruben discover police corruption in the process and clash over how to handle it. Ben suspects that Sammy did not destroy the tape, and decides to take matters into his own hands with tragic consequences. John sinks further into his loneliness.

  

Episode 42 - Season 5, Episode 9: Chaos

Chaos reigns in the City of Angels when Cooper and Lucero are kidnapped and held hostage by a pair of, tweakers., All of our cops join the frantic search to find their brothers in blue before it is too late. While Sammy searches for Strokeface (guest star MARCELLO THEDFORD), Ben tries to throw him off the trail…while simultaneously dealing with an increasingly irrational Brooke.

  

Episode 43 - Season 5, Episode 10: Reckoning

In the season finale, John copes with the aftermath of his kidnapping, while Sammy closes in on the real robbers and the pressure builds on Ben. Meanwhile, Lydia continues to pursue John's kidnappers and becomes more intimate with Russell (special guest star TOM EVERETT SCOTT).

  



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