Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSouthland is getting a second chance—not a revival. Netflix has added all five seasons of the gritty Los Angeles police drama, nearly 13 years after its final episode aired. The series was canceled by NBC after its first season, rescued by TNT, and ultimately canceled by TNT in 2013. Netflix now gives new viewers a convenient way to discover the completed 43-episode run.
Southland is finally getting the second look it deserved. The uncompromising Los Angeles police drama is now streaming on Netflix in the United States, giving new viewers access to all five seasons—43 episodes—nearly 13 years after its final cancellation.
That history needs one important correction, however: NBC did not cancel Southland in 2013. NBC canceled the series before its second season aired, TNT rescued it, and TNT ultimately canceled it after five seasons in May 2013. Netflix has not revived the show or ordered new episodes. It has added the existing library to its catalog, creating a new opportunity for a series that was respected by critics but never became a major mainstream hit.
What is Southland about?
Created by Ann Biderman, Southland follows patrol officers and detectives working across Los Angeles. The series begins with rookie officer Ben Sherman, played by Ben McKenzie, and his training officer, John Cooper, played by Michael Cudlitz. Their uneasy professional relationship forms the early spine of the drama, while the story expands into intersecting cases and personal struggles involving detectives, gang officers, and patrol cops.
#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Regina King plays Detective Lydia Adams, one of the show’s central figures. The ensemble also includes Shawn Hatosy as Sammy Bryant, Arija Bareikis as Chickie Brown, Michael McGrady as Daniel “Sal” Salinger, and Kevin Alejandro as Nate Moretta.
The premise is familiar—police officers dealing with crime in Los Angeles—but the execution is notably less polished than the typical network procedural. Southland is interested in the pressure of patrol work, the compromises of investigations, the danger of ordinary calls, and the way professional stress affects relationships outside the job. It favors a street-level perspective and continuing character arcs over a neat mystery-of-the-week formula.
Why the “13 years after cancellation” description is complicated
Southland premiered on NBC on April 9, 2009. NBC initially renewed it for a second season, then canceled the program in October 2009 before that season’s scheduled premiere. TNT acquired the existing episodes and began airing the series in March 2010, eventually ordering additional seasons.
TNT announced the show’s cancellation on May 10, 2013, after five seasons. The final episode aired in April 2013. Netflix added all five seasons on January 16, 2026. The gap between the finale and the Netflix release is therefore approximately 12 years and nine months—roughly 13 years.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
So the accurate version of the story is not “NBC canceled Southland 13 years ago and Netflix brought it back.” It is this: NBC canceled the show after its first season, TNT saved it and carried it through its full five-season run, TNT canceled it in 2013, and Netflix later gave the completed series a high-visibility new home.
Rank #2
- Our fastest-ever streaming media player - Brings lightning-fast app starts with an octa-core processor and is 2X as powerful as Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Hands-free Alexa with built-in mic and speakers - Control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers with your voice, even from across the room.
- Seamlessly navigate between your entertainment - Connect compatible devices and easily go from streaming to your cable box, game console, or webcam.
Netflix did not order a sixth season
Netflix’s arrival is a rediscovery story, not a conventional revival. The service has made the existing five-season run available; there is no researched announcement of a new season, reboot, or continuation.
That distinction matters because streaming platforms often blur the line between reviving a canceled show and licensing an older one. In Southland‘s case, viewers can watch the complete run, but they should not expect a new ending, additional episodes, or a Netflix-produced continuation.
Why the series was considered underrated
“Underrated” is most defensible here as a comparison between the show’s quality and its limited mainstream life—not as a claim that nobody noticed it. Critics recognized Southland during its original run, and its later seasons were especially well received.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the series at 90% from 86 critic reviews and 96% from more than 100 audience ratings. Those figures can change as the site updates its database, but they illustrate the contrast between the show’s reputation among viewers and critics and its relatively unstable broadcast history.
The season-level scores also suggest that the series developed over time. Rotten Tomatoes lists season one at 77%, season two at 94%, season three at 83%, and seasons four and five at 100% each. The numbers are not a substitute for watching the show, but they support the view that Southland became more assured as its character arcs and ensemble deepened.
Rank #3
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
TNT itself described the program as powerful and unforgettable when announcing the cancellation, while contemporary reporting characterized it as a critically respected but commercially difficult police drama. That is a more accurate explanation for its “underrated” status than claiming it was universally ignored or that it holds some specific award distinction.
What makes Southland different from a standard police procedural?
It starts with patrol work
The show spends substantial time with officers on the street rather than treating patrol as a brief prelude to detective work. Calls can be unpredictable, morally difficult, and dangerous without necessarily becoming a conventional puzzle for the characters to solve.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Its characters carry consequences forward
Professional decisions do not disappear when an episode ends. Mentorship, mistakes, ambition, trauma, and divided loyalties continue to shape the characters. The relationship between Sherman and Cooper is particularly important because it places the idealism of a rookie beside the experience—and personal damage—of a veteran officer.
Los Angeles is more than a backdrop
The series uses different neighborhoods, departments, and police assignments to show how varied the city can be. Its Los Angeles is not presented as a glossy crime-tourism setting. The environment influences the work, the risks, and the choices available to the characters.
It is willing to be uncomfortable
Southland does not make every officer heroic or every suspect easily understandable. It examines authority, fear, institutional pressure, and personal compromise without reducing every conflict to a clean lesson. Viewers looking for a light procedural may find it bleak; viewers who want an intense, character-driven police drama may find that quality precisely what makes it compelling.
Rank #4
- Ask to control your TV with your voice, and quickly cast your photos, videos, music and more from your phone, tablet, or PC to your TV with Chromecast built in
- Built-in Virtual Assistant – just press the mic button on the remote to get what you want
- Built-in content and entertainment including YouTube, Play Movies & TV, and more
- Support for thousands of Apps on the Play Store
- 2K resolution TV streaming
Who is in the cast?
| Actor | Character | Role in the series |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Cudlitz | John Cooper | A veteran training officer whose experience and personal struggles shape the early story. |
| Ben McKenzie | Ben Sherman | A rookie officer learning the realities of patrol work. |
| Regina King | Lydia Adams | A detective balancing demanding investigations with pressures in her personal life. |
| Shawn Hatosy | Sammy Bryant | A patrol officer whose story becomes an important part of the ensemble. |
| Arija Bareikis | Chickie Brown | A patrol officer pursuing a difficult path within a male-dominated workplace. |
| Michael McGrady | Daniel “Sal” Salinger | A senior police figure within the show’s broader ensemble. |
| Kevin Alejandro | Nate Moretta | A gang detective connected to the series’ wider police-team narratives. |
Biderman created the series, with John Wells, Christopher Chulack, and Biderman among the credited executive producers. The combination of a strong ensemble and continuing storylines is one reason the show works better as a sustained five-season drama than as a collection of disconnected cases.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Where can you watch Southland?
Netflix: Netflix’s U.S. catalog lists all five seasons, and its title page offers offline downloads. Availability is territory-dependent and can change, so readers outside the United States should check their local catalog.
Digital purchase: Prime Video listings also present Southland seasons through digital viewing or purchase options. Prices, subscription eligibility, and available seasons can vary by country and account, so confirm the current listing before buying.
Physical media: For viewers who want access regardless of future streaming-license changes, a Southland complete series DVD is the most direct physical option. The complete-series release is documented, but older television box sets may be offered as new, used, manufacture-on-demand, or third-party inventory. Check the seller, disc condition, region compatibility, and return policy before ordering.
Individual-season DVD editions also exist, including a release of the fifth and final season. Buying seasons separately may make sense for collectors who already own part of the series, but the complete set is the simpler choice for someone discovering the show from the beginning.
Recommended Free Tools
Is Southland worth watching on Netflix?
Yes—especially if you prefer police dramas built around character development, moral uncertainty, and the realities of patrol work rather than glossy cases solved within a single hour. The completed five-season run makes Netflix a particularly convenient place to evaluate the show because viewers can follow its evolution without tracking down episodes across multiple services.
Best Value
- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
- Cinematic streaming: This TV streaming device brings the movie theater to your living room with spectacular 4K, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision picture alongside immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
- No more fumbling in the dark: See what you’re pressing with backlit buttons.
- Say goodbye to batteries: Keep your remote powered for months on a single charge.
It is worth setting expectations. This is a dark, intense series, not a casual background watch. Its stories can be violent and emotionally punishing, and its view of policing is deliberately complicated. It is also not a documentary or a direct dramatization of specific LAPD cases; the available research supports describing it as a fictional Los Angeles police drama, not as a show based on real case files.
The best reason to start it now is that the original cancellation cycle no longer defines the viewing experience. NBC’s decision interrupted the show’s launch, TNT gave it room to continue, and Netflix has now made the finished body of work easier for a new audience to find. That is not a resurrection, but it is a meaningful second chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did NBC cancel Southland after five seasons?
No. NBC canceled Southland before its second season aired in 2009. TNT acquired the show, completed its second season, and continued it through five seasons before canceling it in May 2013.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallIs Netflix reviving Southland for a new season?
No. Netflix added the existing five-season, 43-episode library in January 2026. There is no researched announcement of a sixth season, reboot, or Netflix-produced revival.
Is Southland available on Netflix?
Netflix lists all five seasons in the United States at research time. Catalog availability varies by territory and can change, so viewers should check their local Netflix catalog.
Is Southland worth watching?
Yes, if you enjoy gritty, dark, character-driven police dramas focused on patrol work, professional pressure, and continuing ensemble storylines. It is less suited to viewers seeking a lighter mystery-of-the-week procedural.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Southland is a five-season, 43-episode Los Angeles police drama that moved from NBC to TNT before ending in 2013. Netflix’s January 2026 release gives the completed series renewed visibility nearly 13 years later—it does not represent a new season or a Netflix revival. For viewers who want a gritty, critically respected, character-driven procedural, this is an unusually strong rediscovery.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
