I’m beginning to think that the current executives over at NBC must have gone to school with the morons on Wall Street who thought that ‘Balloon and Burst’ was the best way to steer the global economy because canceling the one edgy, innovative new hour long drama that they had in their line up was just plain stupid.

From the opening credit sequence it’s clear that Southland is not going to be your typical cop show. The haunting theme music reminds you of a gritty noir style film similar to the amazing Seven with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Unlike Seven, however, this shows deals with tons of different bizarre scenarios that could only happen in L.A. In much the same way Law & Order captures the New York underbelly, Southland brings us beyond the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood and exposes it’s uglier, deadlier side.

As I mentioned the Conan O’Brien hating brain-trusts over at NBC cancelled the show before it had completed its first season calling the show too risqué and too adult for primetime. Who the hell do they think is watching primetime? Someone really should have let them know that 10 PM is a time slot meant for adults. And for adults this show is completely appropriate. When was the last time you met a cop who didn’t swear? Or a drug dealer, gang banger or prostitute? The show holds true to the material and allows the characters the freedom to speak as those people normally would. They manage to bleep out all of cursing but somehow it was still considered too racy for NBC’s taste.

Luckily, TNT stepped in and picked up the show and will be airing 6 never-before-seen episodes this season and has begun production on new episodes. In the meantime, the best way to get into this show is to pick up this DVD set and watch the uncensored version of the show; which is honestly the way it should be seen. This show would be amazing on HBO or Showtime but until that happens we have to watch it with all the bleeping in tact on TNT and keep picking up the uncensored DVD’s when they are released.

The show follows several different cops on the force and each has his or her own unique storyline and character arc. Although this is an ensemble drama arguably the star of the show is young Ben McKenzie fresh off of his career making role as Ryan Atwood on The O.C.. In Southland he plays Officer Ben Sherman, a rookie cop just out of the academy partnered with the burly and time tested Officer John Cooper excellently played by the under appreciated Michael Cudlitz. The two have a chemistry that is hard to pin down. They of course begin in the adversarial mode of “you’ve got a lot to learn kid,”

but because their difference in age isn’t that great they never reach that level of typical mentor and neophyte. The difference between their upbringings causes friction between them as Ben is from a privileged Beverly Hills family and Cooper from a family where his dad is in prison and his mom is God knows where. Also thrown into the mix is the fact that Cooper is gay; even though he never comes right out and says it. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this partnership leads them.

One of my favorite characters on the show is Regina King as detective Lydia Adams. While some would expect her to fit directly into the stereotype of the tough no nonsense black female cop she plays the character far deeper and more interesting than that. In much the same way Kate Mulgrew layered her Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, King is able to make Lydia very much a woman and emotionally vulnerable but she holds it right beneath the surface and is also able to be strong and forthright when she needs to be. She’s without a doubt the cop that you would want hunting for your child’s killer or tracking down the guy who kicked your ass the night before. She’s relentless and committed to her job in way that the other detectives don’t seem to be. Her partner Detective Russell Clarke played by Tom Everett Scott, is definitely less passionate about his work as he has the typical L.A. fantasy of becoming a writer someday and often times his dedication to the job will be sacrificed in pursuit of his artist dreams.

Our other dynamic duo is detectives Nate Moretta and Detective Sammy Bryant played by Kevin Alejandro and Shawn Hatosy respectively. Nate is the squeaky clean boy next door who’s only problems come from his slightly dysfunctional family and Sammy is the reformed stoner who chose the straight and narrow but is still married to his free spirited pot smoking girlfriend Tammie played by Emily Bergl.

Each episode brings its own new crimes to be investigated, but the show also interweaves several recurring storylines throughout which is the asset that keeps it from becoming just another ‘crime of the week’ cop show. Between gang bangers, drug dealers, jewelry thieves and missing and abandoned children, the LAPD always has its hands full.

The only complaint that I have with the show is not the fault of the creative team behind it but with the a-hole executives at the network. The season is cut way too short! What is being billed as “The Complete First Season” is only 7 episodes long. I don’t know if they knew the cancellation was coming or not but they did manage to make that final episode, Derailed an amazing one to go out on. Nothing is brought to any kind of conclusion but

it raised the stakes on all of the continuing storylines of the season and left the audience hanging waiting to see what happens next. As all good season finales do, this one left you holding your breath.

Special features on the DVD are limited to only 1 18 minute featurette entitled Southland: Redefining the Cop Drama. This includes interviews with the cast and crew discussing the origins of the show, the style they chose to shoot it in and some other behind-the-scenes tidbits that definitely make it worth watching.

Overall the set is worth the purchase price just for the fact that the shows are uncensored and finally presented the way they were intended to be. If TNT stays true to the creators’ original vision and continue this show for many seasons to come this is a very necessary first step for everyone to see. Let’s hope Southland finds a much deserved fresh start on the cable network that claims to always, “Know Drama.”

Season Grade: A-

DVD Features Grade: B

Overall Grade: B+