Originally airing on NBC and later TNT from 2009 to 2013, the five-season series has been hailed by loyal viewers as one of the most underrated police dramas on TV and currently holds a 90 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Created by Ann Biderman (Ray Donovan), the drama stars Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead) and Ben McKenzie (The O.C.) and follows a group of detectives and patrol officers working to keep the streets of Los Angeles safe.

After landing on Netflix, the show is currently trending in the UK and sits at number six on the streamer’s most-watched chart. If you’re a fan of shows like Blue Lights and The Rookie, which explore the lives of new officers on the front lines of policing, then this one is definitely worth tuning into. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Southland.

What is Southland about?

Spanning five seasons, the first series centres on rookie officer Ben Sherman, who is eager to earn his stripes and prove himself on patrol in downtown LA.

The synopsis reads: “But his training officer, John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), dispels Sherman’s enthusiasm; he cautions that leaning too much on Academy training will get him killed and expresses doubts that the rookie has what it takes. To scare Sherman away, Cooper exposes him to a full spectrum of police work.”

Ben McKenzie as Ben -- Photo by: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank© NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Ben McKenzie plays newly minted officer Ben Sherman

Who stars in Southland?

Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead, Band of Brothers) stars as Officer John Cooper, while Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Gotham) plays Officer Ben Sherman and Regina King (Caught Stealing, Watchmen) is Detective Lydia Adams.

They’re joined by Shawn Hatosy (Animal Kingdom, The Pitt) as Detective Sammy Bryant, C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, Obliterated) as Officer Bill “Dewey” Dudek and Kevin Alejandro (Lucifer, Arcane) as Detective Nate Moretta.

Tom Everett Scott as Russell Clarke and Regina King as Lydia Adams © NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Tom Everett Scott as Russell Clarke and Regina King as Lydia Adams

Rounding out the cast are Michael McGrady (Beyond, Day Break) as Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger, Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!, 13 Reasons Why) as Detective Russell Clarke and Arija Bareikis (Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, The Purge) as Officer Chickie Brown.

What have critics said about Southland?

The series proved a hit with critics and has a 90 per cent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In its review, Entertainment Weekly wrote: “This is a cop saga at once deeply satisfying (its roots in the best tradition of the oldest, most sere TV police procedurals, such as Dragnet and Naked City) yet stubbornly determined to unsettle viewers with stark frankness and emotionalism.”

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune penned: “In the first two episodes of its fifth season, TV’s most underrated cop drama remains gloriously gritty and gimmick-free,” while Paste Magazine added: “Southland is easily the best cop drama on TV.”

Kevin Alejandro as Nate Moretta and Shawn Hatosy as Sammy Bryant© NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kevin Alejandro as Nate Moretta and Shawn Hatosy as Sammy Bryant

What have viewers said about Southland?

The show proved a similar hit with viewers, earning a near-perfect 97 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Southland is by far one of the most real and dramatic cop shows I have ever seen. The fact that it only lasted five seasons makes no sense to me at all,” wrote one viewer, while another added: “I absolutely loved this show! Gutted when it was curtailed in scope and then cancelled. It was truly exceptional.”

A third added: “Amazingly well shot TV series that is the first to give a somewhat accurate view into the daily lives of patrolmen.”