Southland - Season 3 - Upcoming Episode Descriptions and Character Bios

Episode Synopses

“Let It Snow” – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King) endures a stressful adjustment period with her new partner, Josie Ochoa (Jenny Gago), as they investigate the disappearance of an illegal immigrant. Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott), Lydia’s former partner, adjusts to a new desk job on the force. Meanwhile, Detectives Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) and Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) look for the killer of two gangbangers and Officer Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) catches the eye of an attractive woman during a traffic stop, while his partner, John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), struggles with increasing pain.

Directed by Christopher Chulack
Written by John Wells


“Punching Water” – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Sammy and Nate feel threatened when Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger (Michael McGrady) calls in Lydia and Josie to help them solve a series of gang murders. John gets saddled with Officer Billy Dewey (C. Thomas Howell) in order to keep an eye on him after his stint in rehab. And Ben rides with Officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis), who quizzes him about his relationship with a woman obsessed with cops.

Directed by Christopher Culack
Written by Cheo Hodari Coker


“Discretion” – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Ben seeks revenge when his mother’s rapist is released from prison. Lydia and Josie bump heads over a chainsaw, as Sammy deals with his wife’s betrayal.

Directed by Nelson McCormick
Written by Jonathan Lisco


“Code Four” – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
John teaches Ben several key tips to being a police officer, including the proper ways to make a death notification and arrest a suspected drug user. Sammy stays with Nate’s family while he sorts out how his marital problems. Lydia and Josie handle a drug-related murder case with an unorthodox suspect.

Directed by Felix Alcala
Written by Will Rokos


“The Winds” – Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Lydia and Josie catch a complicated rape case on the Westside. John bonds with an abandoned teenager while also having to deal with testifying at his own father’s parole hearing.

Directed by Nelson McCormick
Written by Heather Zuhlke


“Cop or Not” – Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
While working a celebrity murder, Lydia discovers the pros and cons of being in the spotlight. Sammy leaves the confines of the office to go out on patrol. John and Ben chafe with frustration over a tedious security detail.

Directed by J. Michael Muro
Written by Cheo Hodari Coker


“Sideways” – Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
Lydia gets suspended from duty and bonds with an injured witness. A high-speed chase haunts Chickie, and John tries to clean up a neighborhood.

Directed by Allison Anders
Written by Jonathan Lisco


“Fixing a Hole” – Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
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.

Directed by Christopher Chulack
Story by Will Rokos
Screenplay by Cheo Hodari Coker


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The Characters

The Homicide Detectives
Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King) is smart and perceptive, possessing excellent investigative instincts. Working in the homicide division after previously spending two years in the gang unit, she is one of the sharpest detectives around, but she hasn’t had much luck keeping a partner after Detective Russell Clarke was shot. She hasn’t been successful in finding or keeping a boyfriend, either. With Lydia’s mother, who has been spending time in Paris, returning soon, Lydia’s social life will only be further dampened.

Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) previously worked the homicide beat with Detective Lydia Adams, but after being shot by a neighbor, he switched to a desk job. Although he feels ready to return to the job, and Lydia definitely wants him back, his psyche may have other ideas. On the home front, Russell’s life is a shambles. After sparking up a relationship with a writing teacher, his already strained relationship with his wife was pushed to the breaking point.

Detective Josie Ochoa (Jenny Gago) is a tough, take-charge investigator and the latest detective partnered with Lydia, who continues to hope for Russell’s return to the job. Once shot in the line of duty, Josie now seems utterly fearless on the job. She also brings a Hispanic perspective to the job, providing some teachable moments for Lydia.

The Gang Squad
Detective Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) works on the LAPD’s gang unit, partnering with Detective Sammy Bryant. He served in the Army where he met his wife. He cares deeply about his kids and helps run the police department’s Explorer Program. Last year, his daughter – who had been brought up to believe she was his sister – learned the truth about their relationship.

Detective Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) partners with Nate Moretta in the LAPD’s gang unit. Although a stoner in his younger days, he has completely turned his life around. Extremely friendly, he establishes a good rapport with witnesses he’s interviewing. Unfortunately, his home life is often strained because his wife continues to use drugs and has a flair for the dramatic. This season, his marriage will be pushed to the breaking point.

Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger (Michael McGrady) is a senior member of the gang unit. A tough detective with a biting sense of humor, Sal’s marriage is on the skids after his wife learned about his affair with a local newswoman. Sal’s relationship with his teenage daughter is strained, as well, primarily because he both over-protects and spoils her.

The Patrol Officers
Officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) is determined to be as tough as any of her male colleagues by becoming the first female admitted into the elite SWAT unit. She partners with Officer Dewey Dudek, whose abrasive and inappropriate manner finally pushed her to report him, resulting in his suspension from the force. Although insecure and tentative as an officer, Chickie ultimately proved her worth by taking down a serial rapist terrorizing the canyon in last season’s finale.

Officer John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) is a seasoned patrol cop who now serves as a training officer to Officer Ben Sherman. He comes across as jaded and unmoved by anything he sees on the streets, but when he has the opportunity to take down a bad guy, he gets a glint in his eye. Suffering severe back pain from various work-related injuries, Cooper is becoming increasingly dependent upon painkillers to function. John is very guarded about his private life.

Officer Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) is a rookie cop partnered with Officer John Cooper. Ben comes from a wealthy family, but he has little love for his father, a defense attorney who walked out on Ben’s mother. Ben has what it takes to be a good officer, but he still has a lot to learn. He also tends to let his heart interfere with his judgment, becoming emotionally attached to the people he encounters.

Officer Dewey Dudek (C. Thomas Howell) has spent years being a sorry excuse for an officer. Full of himself, chauvinistic and deliberately offensive, he has made life miserable for his partner, Officer Chickie Brown. When she finally turned him in for his behavior, he went ballistic and nearly killed her by wrecking their police car. Now out of rehab, he is a changed man, a 12-step evangelist who some think may be worse than the old Dewey.

Source: SpoilerTV

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