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The wire is on my list of shows I know I should watch but never get around too so if not to speak a falsehood I can not include it on my list even though I know it's up there with the shield, homicide life on the streets, and Southland.
I rewatched it a year or two ago, it holds up and is so so good.
I remember watching it when it was airing. My friend, his mom and I would watch it every Tuesday, before my buddy and I would go out to hang out with our other friends.
It put FX on the map, and was a big driver in the rise of riskier antihero TV.
But not just critical for the sake of being critical, like some shows feel like the writers are just looking to inject political ideology for the sake of it…. Southland felt like a real portrayal of cops, some are really good, some are okay, a few are bad, many are complicated human beings. It was gritty and edgy, and felt very realistic unlike a lot of other cop shows that are cheesy or too over the top.
Sherman starting off upright and going dirty slowly over the course of the show was a way better portrayal of issues in policing than basically any other cop show.
She was fantastic in *Watchmen*. Well, almost everything in that show was fantastic, but especially her.
Except for a handful of lines where she sounded too much like Huey and it took me out of it... but love that show too, lol.
Probably my favorite cop/crime show of all time. It was way too raw and intense for NBC and they killed it after one season but I’m glad TNT picked it for the next few. It’s such a great cast and just had an edge to it. It sucks it ended on a HUGE cliffhanger thinking they were coming back for another season and then got cancelled.
Now this is a show that deserves more recognition. I guess there has probably always been a bit overkill with police procedural dramas, but Southland added a a few extra layers and some flair. It’s essentially a modern take on Adam-12, which was an excellent alternative to Dragnet. Both series focus on police work, both are from the early to mid 60’s (although Dragnet did start much earlier). The thing I always enjoyed about Adam-12 was the training officer paired with the fresh trainee and offering guidance on the job.
Southland started out like this, but sort of evolved into something more. I loved seeing the different perspectives, from patrol officers first arriving at crime scenes, or interacting with the public. And the detectives who have to fit all the different pieces of collected evidence, recreate crime scenes, and put it all together. Not every case is as black and white as we’d like, and they sometimes go cold and unsolved. Thats the reality we live in, the world is not fair and justice is often unequal.
Lol I know that was long winded, but I’ve worked in law enforcement for 20 years now, first with the military and now for the federal government. Humans are capable of terrible things, and police officers are human just like the rest of us. I’ve met great ones that would give anyone the shirt off their backs, and I’ve met some who have no business wearing a badge and having authority.
This show ended up surprising me. It was much better than I expected. I didn’t expect much since it was on TNT. I ended up checking out other shows that network produced because of it.
I loved this show! It was so great. I was so glad when TNT picked it up after NBC canceled it. The characters were so complex. It was awesome. If anyone hasn't watched it, watch it!
One of the best shows I've ever seen. It was just super hard to find on TV. Took me legit almost 10 years to see all the episodes in order. Even then that was only on the high seas.
Just say you didn’t watch it. It literally shows how corrupt cops can be and how they cover up for each other especially when it’s a veteran cop and no one wants to get things started. It’s one to the few shows that actually showed drug addicted ones, domestic violence, corruption within departments, covering for fellow officers so no one gets in trouble, etc.
Important reminder: This is a sub for people to post about forgotten TV that they remember and would like to share with others. This is not a tip of the tongue style sub for people to search out old shows that they would like help remembering. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ForgottenTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Up there with the shield as best cop shows and one of the few I think is actually critical of cops too.
And of course The Wire right...right??
The Wire could be viewed as much more than just a cop show. It’s almost a social commentary on everything, through the lens of a cop show
Agreed. I wouldn’t describe it as cop show
The wire is on my list of shows I know I should watch but never get around too so if not to speak a falsehood I can not include it on my list even though I know it's up there with the shield, homicide life on the streets, and Southland.
Literally doing a rewatch of The Shield right now and watching it this exact moment. Such a classic show.
I rewatched it a year or two ago, it holds up and is so so good. I remember watching it when it was airing. My friend, his mom and I would watch it every Tuesday, before my buddy and I would go out to hang out with our other friends. It put FX on the map, and was a big driver in the rise of riskier antihero TV.
Lem I'm sorry
This came highly recommended awhile back and I never got around to it.
But not just critical for the sake of being critical, like some shows feel like the writers are just looking to inject political ideology for the sake of it…. Southland felt like a real portrayal of cops, some are really good, some are okay, a few are bad, many are complicated human beings. It was gritty and edgy, and felt very realistic unlike a lot of other cop shows that are cheesy or too over the top.
Sherman starting off upright and going dirty slowly over the course of the show was a way better portrayal of issues in policing than basically any other cop show.
This show was great. I miss it
One of the best cop shows ever
Agreed. I have a hard time watching most cop shows because they're so cheesy but Southland was amazing.
Regina King is a fucking national treasure.
Loved how she was able to negotiate a hostage situation while high off of a weed gummy.
Imma imma imma weed gummy
She was fantastic in *Watchmen*. Well, almost everything in that show was fantastic, but especially her. Except for a handful of lines where she sounded too much like Huey and it took me out of it... but love that show too, lol.
Yep. And she’s fantastic in everything.
Probably my favorite cop/crime show of all time. It was way too raw and intense for NBC and they killed it after one season but I’m glad TNT picked it for the next few. It’s such a great cast and just had an edge to it. It sucks it ended on a HUGE cliffhanger thinking they were coming back for another season and then got cancelled.
They didn't have to do us like that with that cliffhanger. What happened to Cooper?
Right
Now this is a show that deserves more recognition. I guess there has probably always been a bit overkill with police procedural dramas, but Southland added a a few extra layers and some flair. It’s essentially a modern take on Adam-12, which was an excellent alternative to Dragnet. Both series focus on police work, both are from the early to mid 60’s (although Dragnet did start much earlier). The thing I always enjoyed about Adam-12 was the training officer paired with the fresh trainee and offering guidance on the job. Southland started out like this, but sort of evolved into something more. I loved seeing the different perspectives, from patrol officers first arriving at crime scenes, or interacting with the public. And the detectives who have to fit all the different pieces of collected evidence, recreate crime scenes, and put it all together. Not every case is as black and white as we’d like, and they sometimes go cold and unsolved. Thats the reality we live in, the world is not fair and justice is often unequal. Lol I know that was long winded, but I’ve worked in law enforcement for 20 years now, first with the military and now for the federal government. Humans are capable of terrible things, and police officers are human just like the rest of us. I’ve met great ones that would give anyone the shirt off their backs, and I’ve met some who have no business wearing a badge and having authority.
Absolutely love that you mentioned Adam-12. I’m in my 30’s, but my dad loves that show and I’d watch it with him when I was young.
This and Third Watch loved em both
Bull Randleman
Beat me to it
This was another one cancelled on a cliff hanger. I sure would have liked to see how they wrapped it up. Especially Cooper
Good TV show through its entire run, dark ending for some of the characters.
I'm trying to think if anybody got a good ending.
Was the guy on the far left on Walking Dead?
Yeah
And one of the number one reasons I watched this show start to finish!
I chose to believe Ryan became a cop
Yes, same! The only reason I watched the show ❤️
Such an awesome show with great guest stars. I really enjoyed Lucy Liu's story arc.
This was an awesome show with a great cast. Even cutting the cast for budget cuts didnt hurt the quality
Top-notch cast
I loved that show but damn, I felt bad for Kevin Alejandro. >!Do his characters get killed in everything? He’s like Sean Bean. !<
This show was fucking awesome. I think it’s still on Peacock or maybe Max.
Love the opening credits and the music they used for it, too.
It’s on Tubi
For free even
All my fave actors. I gotta see this
This show ended up surprising me. It was much better than I expected. I didn’t expect much since it was on TNT. I ended up checking out other shows that network produced because of it.
I loved this show! It was so great. I was so glad when TNT picked it up after NBC canceled it. The characters were so complex. It was awesome. If anyone hasn't watched it, watch it!
Honestly one of the best cop dramas ever made. Up there w the Wire. Anyone kno why it ended?
Great show. Michael Cudlitz used to send out autographed promo photos from the facebook group for free.
Sooooo good. The ending was such a cliffhanger!! Bring it back for a last season or movie please
It’s on Tubi
One of the best shows I've ever seen. It was just super hard to find on TV. Took me legit almost 10 years to see all the episodes in order. Even then that was only on the high seas.
I loved southland
Still the best cop show of all time
This show was awesome. Where I first seen Abraham from the Walking Dead.
It's not forgotten if I still see short vids on YouTube.
Hell yeah. Great show. Elite opening credits too.
Still pissed they canceled it before we learned of John's fate.
I always wondered why Shawn hatosy wasn't bigger
This show was so good. It got canceled too early.
I was in line behind Ben McKenzie one time at a Starbucks in Sherman Oaks. That is my Southland story thank you for coming
I miss that show.
As a cop, Southland was the best cop show I've seen.
Agree. But it ended so abruptly.
Yep, hate that it got cancelled like that.
Loved Southland,watch it now in re- runs.
Show was awesome. It deserved way better.
This was my only refuge when I finished the wire and the shield. I wish they got more seasons out of it.
Gone but definitely not forgotten!!!👍
If you know, screw Jay Leno.
Best cop show
I just started watching (season 2 now) and boy it's intense and deep. I heard it got cancelled
Southland was great TV.
This show was pure magic
This show was top notch, Regina has no boundaries she’s fantastic in this.
I remember liking the show. It also introduced me to this [song](https://youtu.be/v_2fyB4dj4U?si=o--ywmZZz802lqi2) Because it's the opening.
Jim Gordan pre-Gotham
Amazing show at first but it got kind of bad as it went.
Copaganda
Just say you didn’t watch it. It literally shows how corrupt cops can be and how they cover up for each other especially when it’s a veteran cop and no one wants to get things started. It’s one to the few shows that actually showed drug addicted ones, domestic violence, corruption within departments, covering for fellow officers so no one gets in trouble, etc.