Southland poster

TV series

Southland

2009TV-145 seasons7.9 / 10

Protect. Serve. Survive.

A raw and authentic look into the Los Angeles crime scene, going far inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper, a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman, who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams, whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant, a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.

Streaming, rental and purchase options

Where to watch in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

Southland is available to stream on Netflix in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.

Availability and prices can change. Confirm the details on the streaming service before you subscribe, rent or buy.

Synopsis

A raw and authentic look into the Los Angeles crime scene, going far inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper, a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman, who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams, whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant, a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.

Season 4 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 3

Episode 1

Wednesday

42m8.2 / 10

John returns to duty after recuperating 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 Detective Ruben Robinson, can't seem to escape helping a former CI who seems unable to stay out of danger, Ben, Sammy and Dewey chase an armed man into an elementary school, and Ben bumps heads with an intense street cop whose cynical attitude is affecting their work.

Episode credits

Directed by Christopher ChulackGuest stars Emily Bergl, Dorian Missick, Anna Diop, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lucy Liu

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Episode 2

Underwater

41m8.0 / 10

Things are gonna change with Joel Rucker as the new captain. 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. Meanwhile, John and Jessica get to test their physical abilities when they're attacked on the street. Elsewhere, Sammy and Ben ride with a mistake-prone officer, but Ben is the one making mistakes... mistakes that earn him some notoriety.

Episode credits

Directed by Nelson McCormickGuest stars Dorian Missick, Tiffany Boone

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Episode 3

Community

41m8.5 / 10

On Hood Day, a day where gangs seek retribution, LAPD is trying to keep the peace by camping out in neighborhoods prone to violence. Sammy and Ben leave their assigned neighborhood with disastrous results. Meanwhile, the neighborhood grabs a golden opportunity to seek a little retribution of their own against the gang banger who has been terrorizing them. Elsewhere, John and Jessica discover that another group of neighbors will go to any lengths to get a registered sex offender off their streets.

Episode credits

Directed by Félix AlcaláGuest stars Mario Cortez, Dorian Missick

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Episode 4

Identity

42m8.3 / 10

Jessica goes the extra mile to assist a homeless war vet obtain an ID so he can be admitted into a shelter . Meanwhile, Sammy is determined to save a dog after he accidentally shoots it in the leg. Elsewhere, Lydia struggles with a serious personal matter while she and Ruben investigate the murder of a man who sheltered and aided women in need.

Episode credits

Directed by Nelson McCormickGuest stars L. Scott Caldwell, Dorian Missick, Julian Works, Nayo Wallace

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Episode 5

Legacy

41m8.2 / 10

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

Episode credits

Guest stars Dorian Missick, Adam Hicks

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Episode 6

Integrity Check

42m8.2 / 10

Lydia dons a uniform and hits the streets when the shift is short a supervisor and she must fill in. Meanwhile, John and Jessica are stuck with a film crew tagging along on their calls. Elsewhere, Ben infuriates Sammy when he implies Sammy planted evidence.

Episode credits

Directed by Christopher ChulackGuest stars Roxana Brusso

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Episode 7

Fallout

41m8.2 / 10

Jessica and John exchange angry words after she lies to Internal Affairs about the facts surrounding her shooting of a teen with a toy. Meanwhile, Sammy continues to hold a grudge with Ben and Lydia continues to dodge questions about her condition.

Episode credits

Directed by Allison AndersWritten by Etan FrankelGuest stars Roxana Brusso, Dorian Missick, Aaron Wayne Hill, Karla Zamudio

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Episode 8

God's Work

41m7.8 / 10

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. Tang gets an update about the boy she shot, but John still wants her to come clean about what really happened.

Episode credits

Guest stars Oz Zehavi, L. Scott Caldwell, Dorian Missick, Ava Acres

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Episode 9

Risk

40m8.4 / 10

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 determine whether she gets promoted to sergeant.

Episode credits

Guest stars Mario Cortez, Dorian Missick

Where to watch Southland

Episode 10

Thursday

42m8.0 / 10finale

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 credits

Directed by Christopher ChulackGuest stars Mario Cortez, Roxana Brusso, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tiffany Boone

Where to watch Southland

Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

More about Southland

Cast

Ben McKenzieBen Sherman
Michael CudlitzOfficer John Cooper
Regina KingDetective Lydia Adams
Shawn HatosyOfficer Sammy Bryant
Arija BareikisOfficer Chickie Brown
Kevin AlejandroDetective Nate Moretta
C. Thomas HowellOfficer Dewey Dudek
Michael McGradyDetective Daniel Salinger

Credits

Created by
Ann Biderman
Written by
Ann Biderman, John Wells, Dee Johnson, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Diana Son, Angela Amato Velez, Etan Frankel

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
43
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • NBCUnited States
  • TNTUnited States
  • John Wells ProductionsUnited States

Themes

californiadetectivelapdpolicepolicewomanrookierookie copsouthern california