Southland (TV Series) Chaos (2013) User Reviews

God, it's like a horror film

[Mr-Fusion · 10/10 · 4 February 2017]

It's saying a lot that 'Chaos' is the series' most nerve-ravaging episode - "Southland" is known for its scenes of shocking intensity - but the tension has never been this sustained. That pit in your stomach really gets going as Cooper and Lucero are cuffed and trucked out to some meth house in the desert, and it only gets worse from there. That mix of brutality on screen and off just messes with your imagination. Between that nightmare and the department in full search mode, the pacing on this is relentless.

For what this show sets out to do stylistically, I think this episode is perfect. It has character, maintains the season's narrative and commands your attention like I don't think I've ever seen on TV. It's beyond harsh and I had to really blow off some steam after it was over, but it is extremely well executed.

10/10

Chaos review.

[Nsalerno12 · 10/10 · 11 April 2013]

By far and away the best episode of the season, maybe one of the best ever for this show. Appropriately so, being the 2nd to last episode leading up to the finale. Cooper's performance in this episode proves why he is the most popular character on the show, and why the show would not be the same without him. For most of the show i was saying to myself "Let Ben find out Coop's missing! Let Ben find out!" Finally it did, and i knew he would react to it. Looking forward to see what Ben and Dewey do in the finale. The scene of Lacero's death was shocking and unexpected. And yet there John Cooper was .... sitting there .... blank stair, burning a hole into deceased partners head (no pun intended), shocked and beside himself just like the entire audience. Just when he finds a grade A partner to fight crime with, something disturbingly bad happens. Just when John decides that he wants to have a baby with his ex and turn his life around, 2 junky hillbilly's have most likely destroyed John's head again. Episode is a must watch.

Grade: A

Southland Chaos

[dalydj-918-255175 · 10 April 2013]

John Cooper has been through a lot of partners which include ones that lied their way to the top and others that scared easily but the departure of his most recent partner was probably the most gruesome one with the pair really going through the ringer which include flames and guns. The episode was probably the best of the season for every part of the episode working to it's best and with actors like Michael Cudlitz being a main part of that makes the episode very impressive. The scenes with Cooper and Lucero going through physical torture were beautiful shot especially when in contrast to Ben and Sammy on their hunt for someone showing the contrast in relationship between the teams. The Ben/Sammy portion of the episode was just as good and the fact the lie continues stretched is shocking and I still return to the quote from last week about cops being the biggest gang believing every work of it. Lydia and Rueben were more to the Hollywood division which is why they were fine and nothing special about their case as the episode was about the search and hopeful rescue of John and his partner who is now unfortunately deceased. The ending with John escaping was such a happy moment for me because he at least got away and my favourite character John Cooper gets to live even though he has just been to hell and back.

EPISODE GRADE: A (MVP: Michael Cudlitz)

Very Disappointed

[thejrock143 · 11 April 2013]

This show started off ALL wrong. How long do you think John has been a police officer? Don't you think a REAL police officer would have secured his perpetrator first. Why did John not put the first dirt bag in cuffs before he ran over to help his partner. This is procedure. That part of the show was so far fetched, that it made watching the rest of the show very hard. I feel that John got his partner shot and killed by not following regulations and handcuffing the perpetrator.

I also am tired of Ben/Sammy. I understand what Ben did, I just don't agree with it. Grow up boys, stop your lying, and back stabbing.

I am also tired of this show making all Law Enforcement Officers look dirty. Not every police officer takes bribes, lies, cheats, steals, arrests people unjustly, and all the other crappy things they do.

Let's get some reality in the show next season, glad the season ender is next week.