Why Netflix's Southland Deserves a Revival

Southland debuted in 2009 from creator Ann Biderman with John Wells as showrunner and quickly stood apart for its handheld camerawork, rapid pace and near absence of music—choices that made the series feel like a real ride-along. The show earned praise for its raw, character-driven approach to police work, but it was abruptly canceled at the height of its run before TNT rescued it for four more seasons.

The series centers on rookie Ben Sherman training under veteran John Cooper and features Regina King as Detective Lydia Adams, tracing the psychological toll of the job more than tidy case-of-the-week resolutions. Its brutal realism includes moments like the Season 4 bite in "Integrity Check," and critics rewarded the show with high marks—90% critics’ score and 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with Seasons 4 and 5 peaking at 100%—while Steven Spielberg called it "genius." Despite that acclaim, TNT declined to renew, citing declining ratings, high production costs and the show's unflinching realism.

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