Southland: The underrated crime drama is getting a second life on Netflix, and here’s why it matters

Southland, starring Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie, may have a chance at a second life this year as five seasons of the acclaimed crime drama series are dropping on Netflix. Fans are excited because the show did not get its due when it aired. The five-season run of the series was marked by stiff competition with other acclaimed TV shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

This stiff competition resulted in the show connecting only with a niche audience. The Walking Dead, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad retained large viewership numbers. Despite that, fans got to enjoy Michael Cudlitz (Lex Luthor in Superman & Lois) and Ben McKenzie (Gotham's Jim Gordon) for five seasons.

"From John Wells, the Emmy®-winning producer of ER and The West Wing, comes SOUTHLAND – a raw and authentic look into a Los Angeles police unit. From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East L.A., this fast-moving drama takes viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. John Cooper is a seasoned Los Angeles cop assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman. And although Cooper's harsh, tell-it-like-it-is approach often leaves Ben questioning whether he has what it takes to bthe e a cop, he remains on the force. The outstanding ensemble cast also features Ray's Regina King as Detective Lydia Adams, ER's Tom Everett Scott as her partner Russell Clarke, Crossing Jordan's Arija Bareikis as patrol officer and wannabe SWAT team member Chickie Brown, and Day Break's Michael McGrady as Daniel 'Sal' Salinger who oversees fellow gang detectives Nate Moretta and Sammy Bryant."

A Netflix release may increase the chances of Southland's return:

It should be noted that the series was probably inaccessible to the general public. Considering Netflix is accessible around the world, the crime drama may finally get its due, just like its contemporaries, like Breaking Bad, have.

Who starred in the NBC/TNT show?

The crime drama television series boasts an impressive cast consisting of:

1. Michael Cudlitz: John Cooper
2. Ben McKenzie: Ben Sherman
3. Shawn Hatosy: Sammy Bryant
4. Kevin Alejandro: Nate Moretta
5. Regina King: Lydia Adams
6. C. Thomas Howell: Bill "Dewey" Dudek
7. Tom Everett Scott: Russell Clarke

"An insider’s look into L.A.’s notorious police department, the Peabody Award-winning Southland follows the complex lives of dedicated patrol officers and detectives as they struggle to protect the innocent and remain righteous amid the iniquities of the criminals around them. Marshaling felons, victims and a city seething with corruption and danger, Southland presents a glimpse into the professional and private lives of the LAPD unlike any other. Officers John Cooper, Ben Sherman, Sammy Bryant and Detective Lydia Adams face some of their toughest personal and professional challenges yet. On their darkest, most dangerous days, this is what L.A.’s beat cops and detectives confront on Southern California’s sun-baked streets. And the fallout seeps into their personal lives – collateral damage from a 24/7 job that demands an arsenal of razor-sharp instincts and quicksilver reflexes."

The acclaimed police procedural drops all five seasons on Netflix next Friday.

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When is Southland coming to Netflix? Streaming details explored

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