The police procedural drama Southland has surged up Netflix's top 10 after being added to the streaming platform, prompting an outpouring of praise from viewers who describe it as 'ridiculously underrated' and 'absolutely one of the best cop dramas to ever be made'.
Created by Emmy-winning writer Ann Biderman, the series originally aired from 2009 to 2013 and followed Los Angeles Police Department officers. The cast includes Michael Cudlitz, Ben McKenzie, and Regina King. The final two seasons achieved a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans, who were left 'devastated' after its cancellation, have now flocked to IMDb to express their admiration. One user, Derrel, called it 'staggeringly good', while Rob described it as 'a surprisingly fresh take on the cop show genre'. Another viewer, Patterson, warned that 'once you start you need to clear your schedule' due to its addictive nature.
Southland has been hailed as the 'most accurate depiction of policing in television' and has drawn comparisons to acclaimed series such as The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad. The official synopsis states that veteran officer John Cooper is assigned to train rookie Ben Sherman, who questions whether he has the right qualities to be a police officer.
The show's success on Netflix comes as the platform is set to lose compatibility with an estimated 87 million devices, including PlayStation 3 consoles, from March 2, 2026. However, this has not dampened enthusiasm for Southland's new audience.
