Southland: My Review of the Pilot

It sure has been a while since I've posted to this blog. Hopefully I'll get back to blogging.

On Sunday, I watched the new NBC television show, "Southland" and thought I would share my opinion. Let me start by saying I don't think television needs another show that takes place in an intense work environment, but instead of focusing on the work, focuses on the personal lives of the characters. I'll cite the CSI's as examples of the former and NYPD Blue, Grey's Anatomy, and E.R. as examples of the latter. (Did I use former and latter properly?)

I really enjoyed the pilot. It seemed to show the day to day activities of Los Angeles police officers and detectives. We see the young rookie teamed with the veteran and hear the obligatory "If you do what they taught you in the academy, you will die" line. The show is cruising along wonderfully until the two officers pull over an exotic sports car and find drugs in the door pocket. The driver then asks rookie guy to cut him a break and we hear the first mention of rookie's dad. Uh oh! Foreshadowing of personal details to be revealed at a later date. More references to rookie's upbringing follow. "Where did you learn to shoot, the Beverly Hills Gun Club?"

The next sign of future "soap opera" came when the female detective said she had to go home to check on her mom. Why does a middle-aged detective live with her mom? Why does she need to go check on her all of a sudden? Don't tell me, I don't care.

I will continue watching "Southland" for a few more weeks, but if the edginess of the police work get mired in the "soap opera" lives of the characters, I'm done. What do you think of the show?