TV Jots

Gritty TNT Import Aims to Please

Southland fans everywhere should be psyched right about now. The former NBC drama, which basic-cable network TNT swooped in and saved from permanent cancellation last November, launches its intense second season on its new home network tonight, March 2, at 10pm ET.

Starting things off in familiar gripping style is the perfectly pleasing premiere “Phase Three,” which takes place shortly after the memorable Season One finale “Derailed.”

If the shooting of Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, now billed as a special guest star instead of a series regular) wasn’t intense enough, how about an opening-scene street riot, featuring a few dozen angry residents physically attacking Officers Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) and John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz)? And those disturbing, adrenaline-charged circumstances provide only a portion of the palpable tension that defines the first installment of the season.

The customary rewind to events prior to the opening segment soon reveal the source of the riot as we catch up with the Los Angeles detectives and police officers who enforce the law on the show. Although it often seems they have little in common besides their jobs, an overriding theme of the episode is friction between colleagues, and almost everyone is feeling it.

Detective Lydia Adams (standout Regina King) could not be unhappier about the arrival of her new manners-challenged partner Rene Cordero (Prison Break‘s Amaury Nolasco) in the wake of her former partner’s forced absence as he recovers in a hospital. A similar feeling of unease — which many viewers will likely share — quickly afflicts gang detective Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) also when he and his partner Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) encounter a boisterous old co-worker of Nate’s during their investigation of a brutal highway murder.

Yet, the most friction is reserved for ostracized Officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis), who finds herself the target of unfair distrust and scorn after doing the right thing and reporting her alcoholic former partner (C. Thomas Howell‘s Billy Dewey, who doesn’t appear). Her predicament should lead to some interesting developments as the season progresses, just like it does in the premiere.

All in all, Southland fans won’t be disappointed with “Phase Three.” After watching the episode, I’m already wishing the show’s second season contained the traditional 13 or so episodes instead of just six.

But who knows? If enough people tune in, maybe a third season will happen. The series has already survived one undeserved cancellation and a move to a different network. Fingers crossed we fans get lucky again.