Southland - "Hats and Bats"
Finally had the chance to watch the season five premiere. LOVED IT! Although, man, nothing's ever easy, is it? Or maybe the time jump covered in Offscreen Land is where any and all good or happy stuff happens, and all we the audience see are the downward spirals because--shit.
Coop's home life of course goes up in flames right when we get the chance to see it. I wanted more of domestic!John, dammit. I like that he's a Maker's drinker, though. Also, that shot of him at the end with the music from the strip club earlier playing in the background, overlayed with screaming? WTF, Show? Is that supposed to represent the inside of Coop's head? Is that a nod back to Ben? Is that indicating John's going to go out cruising, or what? I love you, Southland, but sometimes you go right over my head. Also, there are going to be more problems with Steele, aren't there? Because he and Coop are basically the same guy, and no one's going to be a better fit riding shotgun with John than. . .
Ben, who is hanging around with the guy I only know from J2 fics as Jared's jackass friend offscreen in RL (which seems to hold true for this character he's playing here, as well), meaning he's fallen in with a bad crowd. Ben, honey, a little less douche, please. You and Coop really need to fucking make up cos last season and now this season have not been good for either of you. I love Sammy to death, but he's not, ahem, man enough to call you on your bullshit--and there be a lot of bullshit happening here. What happened to that kid from season one who wanted to be a cop? Oh, that's right! His training officer kinda fucked him up, and now he's pining and embittered. And I'm still not certain about his motivation with regard to what he said about Sammy and Nate and the results of the paternity test. Was that him frustrated at his partner being continually jerked around by Tammy? Or was that him giving in to his more dickish tendencies and lashing out? Six of one, half dozen of the other?
I still hate Sammy's ex-wife. She's on the very borders of c-word territory. >:(
Dewey. *throws hands up* I don't know. Half the time I kinda like him, but he's still a giant assbutt. I think Sammy and John are cut from the same cloth, and I'm just hoping Ben comes around sometime soon because, sadly, he seems to be heading in Dewey territory. (He's already fucking framed someone. Granted, it was a scumbag someone, but Batman would not be pleased.)
Meanwhile, Lydia, Lydia, Lydia, you're a bitch! When that poor kid said that at the end, the look on her face was all, "Why, thank you!" And I agree. It was awful, but that boy needed to admit to himself and face up to what happened, and Lydia's practical enough to justify it to herself and see no problem in killing two birds with one stone and trying for evidence while forcing the kid's hand. Yeah, she's a bitch, all right, but she's our bitch. Also, babies! Two babies this ep, and neither had any lines (though the one playing Lydia's boy, Christopher, did have some good squalling). I get the sense we will not get very much character development there. ;)
Of particular note, the fifth episode this season is directed by Regina King herself and was written by Zack Whedon--yep, one of those Whedons. Pretty cool!
So, in short: Coop's single again! Ben's turning into an asshole. Sammy's screwed. And Lydia doesn't put up with any goddamn shit from anyone, even her kid. o.O
Coop's home life of course goes up in flames right when we get the chance to see it. I wanted more of domestic!John, dammit. I like that he's a Maker's drinker, though. Also, that shot of him at the end with the music from the strip club earlier playing in the background, overlayed with screaming? WTF, Show? Is that supposed to represent the inside of Coop's head? Is that a nod back to Ben? Is that indicating John's going to go out cruising, or what? I love you, Southland, but sometimes you go right over my head. Also, there are going to be more problems with Steele, aren't there? Because he and Coop are basically the same guy, and no one's going to be a better fit riding shotgun with John than. . .
Ben, who is hanging around with the guy I only know from J2 fics as Jared's jackass friend offscreen in RL (which seems to hold true for this character he's playing here, as well), meaning he's fallen in with a bad crowd. Ben, honey, a little less douche, please. You and Coop really need to fucking make up cos last season and now this season have not been good for either of you. I love Sammy to death, but he's not, ahem, man enough to call you on your bullshit--and there be a lot of bullshit happening here. What happened to that kid from season one who wanted to be a cop? Oh, that's right! His training officer kinda fucked him up, and now he's pining and embittered. And I'm still not certain about his motivation with regard to what he said about Sammy and Nate and the results of the paternity test. Was that him frustrated at his partner being continually jerked around by Tammy? Or was that him giving in to his more dickish tendencies and lashing out? Six of one, half dozen of the other?
I still hate Sammy's ex-wife. She's on the very borders of c-word territory. >:(
Dewey. *throws hands up* I don't know. Half the time I kinda like him, but he's still a giant assbutt. I think Sammy and John are cut from the same cloth, and I'm just hoping Ben comes around sometime soon because, sadly, he seems to be heading in Dewey territory. (He's already fucking framed someone. Granted, it was a scumbag someone, but Batman would not be pleased.)
Meanwhile, Lydia, Lydia, Lydia, you're a bitch! When that poor kid said that at the end, the look on her face was all, "Why, thank you!" And I agree. It was awful, but that boy needed to admit to himself and face up to what happened, and Lydia's practical enough to justify it to herself and see no problem in killing two birds with one stone and trying for evidence while forcing the kid's hand. Yeah, she's a bitch, all right, but she's our bitch. Also, babies! Two babies this ep, and neither had any lines (though the one playing Lydia's boy, Christopher, did have some good squalling). I get the sense we will not get very much character development there. ;)
Of particular note, the fifth episode this season is directed by Regina King herself and was written by Zack Whedon--yep, one of those Whedons. Pretty cool!
So, in short: Coop's single again! Ben's turning into an asshole. Sammy's screwed. And Lydia doesn't put up with any goddamn shit from anyone, even her kid. o.O