The Worst Episodes of Southland

#1 Worst Episode
Click to reveal
7.5/10(643 votes)
#1 - Mozambique
S1:E24/16/2009
An investigation is opened after Ben, John, and Officer Chickie Brown encounter an infant crawling down the street. Lydia takes a personal interest in the case after Child Protective Services gets involved, and goes out on a limb for the mother. Meanwhile, Sammy and Nate are furious when they learn their teenage eyewitness won't get police protection due to lack of funds, and put up their own money after an attempt is made on her life.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Ann Biderman
7.5/10(595 votes)
#2 - See the Woman
S1:E34/23/2009
Ben and John are called to the home of a man who wants them to find his dog, and another in which a drug overdose led to homicide. Chickie and her partner, Officer Bill "Dewey" Dudek, butt heads after he makes some poor decisions that may have repercussions, and later, Dewey finds himself in an embarrassing situation.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
7.6/10(387 votes)
#3 - Cop or Not
S3:E62/8/2011
While working a celebrity murder, Lydia discovers the pros and cons of being in the spotlight. Meanwhile, six weeks after Nate's murder, Sammy finally returns to street patrol. Elsewhere, John voices his anger over the department's waste of money, man-power, and hours spent guarding the home of a celebrity suspected of murdering his estranged wife from the reporters trying to get a scoop.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.7/10(544 votes)
#4 - Sally in the Alley
S1:E44/30/2009
A young Jane Doe found murdered in an alley sets Lydia on an emotional journey, and she discovers her suspect was involved in a cold case. Meanwhile, Sammy's wife, Tammi, decides to embark on a new career, and Nate deals with some family issues and reveals a deep secret.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
7.7/10(509 votes)
#5 - Westside
S1:E65/14/2009
Lydia and her partner, Detective Russell Clarke, investigate a string of jewelry thefts in Bel Air and Ben discovers one of the victims is someone he knows. In another matter, Ben must face his past when it comes back to haunt him. Meanwhile, John reveals a secret he's been harboring for a long time, Russell has troubles at home, and Sammy and Nate take extraordinary steps to protect their eyewitness, Janilla, after another attempt is made on her life.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:Angela Amato Velez, Dee Johnson, Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:Angela Amato Velez, Dee Johnson, Ann Biderman
7.7/10(405 votes)
#6 - Hats and Bats
S5:E12/13/2013
Officer John Cooper clashes with his new boot, Gary Steele, a vet from Afghanistan. Lydia struggles to balance detective work and motherhood. Ben Sherman falls in with a sketchy crowd of cops, while Sammy Bryant is trapped in a hellish custody battle with Tammi.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown

TRENDING NOW

The 20 BEST Episodes of Southland

READ

7.7/10(377 votes)
#7 - Identity
S4:E42/7/2012
Jessica goes the extra mile to assist a homeless war vet obtain an ID so he can be admitted into a shelter . Meanwhile, Sammy is determined to save a dog after he accidentally shoots it in the leg. Elsewhere, Lydia struggles with a serious personal matter while she and Ruben investigate the murder of a man who sheltered and aided women in need.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
7.7/10(365 votes)
#8 - Community
S4:E31/31/2012
On Hood Day, a day where gangs seek retribution, LAPD is trying to keep the peace by camping out in neighborhoods prone to violence. Sammy and Ben leave their assigned neighborhood with disastrous results. Meanwhile, the neighborhood grabs a golden opportunity to seek a little retribution of their own against the gang banger who has been terrorizing them. Elsewhere, John and Jessica discover that another group of neighbors will go to any lengths to get a registered sex offender off their streets.
Director:Félix Alcalá
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Félix Alcalá
Writer:Unknown
7.8/10(415 votes)
#9 - The Runner
S2:E43/23/2010
Lydia and Rene are called to Compton to investigate the murder of a young SULA student, only to discover that the girl was not exactly who her parents claimed she was. Meanwhile, John takes Ben with him to Indian Wells to attend the funeral of his friend, a cop who committed suicide. On the way back, they stop at the rehab center to check in on Dewey.
Director:Guy Ferland
Writer:Diana Son
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Guy Ferland
Writer:Diana Son
7.8/10(353 votes)
#10 - Fallout
S4:E72/28/2012
Jessica and John exchange angry words after she lies to Internal Affairs about the facts surrounding her shooting of a teen with a toy. Meanwhile, Sammy continues to hold a grudge with Ben and Lydia continues to dodge questions about her condition.
Director:Allison Anders
Writer:Etan Frankel
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Allison Anders
Writer:Etan Frankel
7.8/10(346 votes)
#11 - God's Work
S4:E83/6/2012
Lydia and Ruben investigate the death of a young nanny, but first they have to find the kids who were in her care. Ben tries to intervene in the life of a prostitute with a daughter, but his efforts only make things worse. Tang gets an update about the boy she shot, but John still wants her to come clean about what really happened.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.8/10(337 votes)
#12 - Under the Big Top
S5:E43/6/2013
Lydia and Reuben track the killer of a man whose body was slow cooked down to the bone. John and Lucero settle into their new friendship during a day filled with strange calls. Ben and Sammy respond to an insane bank robbery in which the suspects throw cash out into the streets as they make their escape in a getaway car.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.9/10(880 votes)
#13 - Unknown Trouble
S1:E14/9/2009
On his first day, rookie officer Ben Sherman is assigned to veteran cop John Cooper, his no-nonsense training officer. After being involved in a fatal shooting, Ben already begins questioning his career choice. Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta try to convince a young teen to testify after learning she is an eyewitness in the attempted murder of a boy who was mistaken for a gang member. Meanwhile, Detective Lydia Adams investigates the disappearance of a young girl.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Ann Biderman
7.9/10(528 votes)
#14 - Two Gangs
S1:E55/7/2009
In an effort to recover Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger's stolen weapon, Sammy and Nate crack down on the residents in the neighborhood where it occurred. Elsewhere, a man exposes himself to Lydia.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:Dee Johnson, Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:Dee Johnson, Ann Biderman
7.9/10(443 votes)
#15 - Butch & Sundance
S2:E23/9/2010
John and Ben are the first responders to a gruesome triple homicide in Hancock Park, where a mother is bludgeoned to death and her young daughters are found bound, gagged, raped and dead in their bedrooms. In investigating the case, Lydia and Rene realize they have two very different investigation styles. Meanwhile, Sammy continues to have problems with his wife and Ben confronts John about his increasing reliance on pain pills.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writers:Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writers:Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green
7.9/10(402 votes)
#16 - Discretion
S3:E31/18/2011
Ben has a confrontation with his mother’s rapist after the man is released from prison and is devastated when his mom reveals some information she's been keeping secret for years. Meanwhile, Lydia and Josie continue to bump heads, and Sammy deals with his wife’s betrayal.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
8.0/10(447 votes)
#17 - Let It Snow
S3:E11/4/2011
Lydia endures a stressful adjustment period with her new partner, Detective Josie Ochoa, as they investigate the disappearance of an illegal immigrant. Meanwhile, Russell must learn to adapt to a new desk job, Sammy and Nate look for the killer of two gangbangers, Ben catches the eye of an attractive woman, and John struggles with increasing back pain.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:John Wells, Ann Biderman
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writers:John Wells, Ann Biderman
8.0/10(412 votes)
#18 - Punching Water
S3:E21/11/2011
Lydia and Josie are assigned to assist Sammy and Nate with a series of gang murders. John discovers he can't stand the "new and improved" Dewey, fresh from rehab, when he's forced to ride with him in order to evaluate whether Dewey is competent to return to duty. Ben must then ride with Chickie, who drives him nuts with her very personal questions about his private life and his new relationship with the "cop groupie" he's been seeing.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Unknown
8.0/10(402 votes)
#19 - Underwater
S4:E21/24/2012
Things are gonna change with Joel Rucker as the new captain. Lydia and Ruben investigate a convenience store murder, and Lydia uses her typical compassionate charm to collect facts on her suspect from an unassuming grandmother. Meanwhile, John and Jessica get to test their physical abilities when they're attacked on the street. Elsewhere, Sammy and Ben ride with a mistake-prone officer, but Ben is the one making mistakes... mistakes that earn him some notoriety.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writer:Unknown
8.0/10(350 votes)
#20 - Babel
S5:E32/27/2013
A breakdown in the LAPD's dispatch system makes a difficult job even harder for the cops, all of whom are already grappling with communication issues. Lydia, in a moment of weakness, reaches out to her old flame, Terrell. John is assigned a new partner; Ben and Sammy's partnership is strained just as Ben makes a romantic connection on the job.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(335 votes)
#21 - Off Duty
S5:E53/13/2013
John is forced to think about what life will hold for him once he leaves the LAPD. Lydia connects with a man she sent to death row earlier in her career. Much to his chagrin, Sammy becomes a tabloid celebrity for the day after a very public act of heroism. Ben makes a dubious decision to get a drug dealer arrested. And a foot pursuit puts Dewey in danger.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(385 votes)
#22 - Heat
S5:E22/20/2013
After Mendoza is injured in a drive-by, Ben takes it upon himself to solve the case, much to Sammy's dismay. Lydia regains her footing as a detective while investigating the murder of a female boxer's husband. Tensions between Cooper and Steele finally come to a head during a traffic stop-gone-sideways.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(387 votes)
#23 - Sideways
S3:E72/15/2011
When crime scene photos from the case of the celebrity suspected of murdering his estranged wife show up on the internet, all of the first responders are suspended, including Lydia and Josie. Further investigation proves the photos were the unauthorized pictures taken by Lydia using her phone, and she's shocked when she learns who was responsible for the leak. Meanwhile, Sammy fails to pick the right guy from the line-up for Nate's murderer, and Dewey and Chickie are involved in a high-speed chase that ends in disaster.
Director:Allison Anders
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Allison Anders
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(388 votes)
#24 - Fixing a Hole
S3:E82/22/2011
Sammy seeks answers in the desert, Lydia and Josie babysit an important alcoholic witness before a murder trial, and John and Ben go against procedure to help a child in need.
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Unknown
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Christopher Chulack
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(402 votes)
#25 - The Winds
S3:E52/1/2011
When a rape victim hires a lawyer and refuses to talk with the two detectives unless her lawyer is present, Lydia and Josie want to know why. Meanwhile, John strikes up an unlikely friendship with a boy who returned home after a sleepover, only to discover his parents had packed up and moved during the night, abandoning him and leaving him to fend for himself, Later on, John begins to feel the stress over the prospect of testifying at his father's upcoming parole board hearing, but he doesn't realize his testifying will open up an emotional can of worms that he's not prepared for.
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writers:Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Nelson McCormick
Writers:Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green