Benjamin McKenzie - Southland episode discussion thread; 1.01 The Pilot (No spoilers here please)!

**LoveBEN** · 04-04-2009, 05:00 AM

"SOUTHLAND"
"PILOT"
04/09/2009 (10:00PM - 10:59PM) (Thursday) : UNKNOWN TROUBLE -- From the executive producer of "ER" and "The West Wing" -- On his first day on the beat, rookie cop Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie, "The O.C.") finds himself questioning if he's cut out for the job. Adding to the pressure, Sherman is assigned to no-nonsense, cut to the chase training officer, veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz, "Band of Brothers"). Meanwhile, a young girl is kidnapped from her front yard and Detectives Lydia Adams (Regina King, "Jerry McGuire") and Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, "That Thing You Do!") investigate the disappearance while comforting her distraught parents. Michael McGrady ("The Thin Line"), Kevin Alejandro ("Ugly Betty"), Shawn Hatosy ("Alpha Dog") and Arija Bareikis ("Crossing Jordan") also star.

Listings - SOUTHLAND on NBC | TheFutonCritic.com

**swedish_girl80** · 04-05-2009, 09:00 AM

Thank you for opening a discussion thread

**LoveBEN** · 04-07-2009, 12:31 PM

You welcome

I'll post my thoughts on the pilot episode here when it air in the S.

**swedish_girl80** · 04-07-2009, 01:17 PM

Ok I will do the same

callieUK · 04-07-2009, 01:21 PM

I am so looking forward to being able to discuss it all with everyone!

**swedish_girl80** · 04-07-2009, 01:26 PM

Yes finally

**-Alicia-** · 04-07-2009, 02:45 PM

2 more days!

**KC and LP Fan** · 04-09-2009, 07:55 PM

I'm watching and really enjoying!

kait · 04-09-2009, 08:03 PM

I just love the ending with him speaking to the girl in the hospital.

Can't wait for next thursday!!

**Hot Rod** · 04-09-2009, 10:03 PM

I caught the premiere of Southland and i really liked what i saw earlier tonight. It was very gritty and realistic. Plus i must add that Benjamin gave a very good performance in it. He perfectly capture Ben Sherman`s anxiety and angst on his first day of the job. I`m looking forward to seeing next week`s episode.

**LoveBEN** · 04-10-2009, 02:27 AM

My thoughts:

I loved the pilot episode, I thought Ben did a great job and I totally related and cheered for his character.

I thought the episode would be more focused on his character, and as far as the patrol officers plot was concerned, his character was the focus, but the detectives' storyline (understandably) had little to do with him. But Ben got plenty of air time and the episode began and ended with him, so I was happy.

My favorite scene was in scene in the hospital with Chickie (I think they have chemistry and she's super cute!) and with the little girl. I also loved the scene with "Oliver"

I enjoyed the Patrol Officers Storyline far more than the detectives' storyline; I'm already invested in Ben, John and Chickie. I am not invested in anyone of the detectives so far, but that might change in the future.

I thought the episode was a great opening for the show, it left me wanting more, and I am dying to learn more about Ben Sherman!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC and LP Fan (View Post)

I'm watching and really enjoying!

Glad you enjoyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by kait (View Post)

I just love the ending with him speaking to the girl in the hospital.

Can't wait for next thursday!!

That was my favorite part too

and I want next thursday so bad!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Rod (View Post)

I caught the premiere of Southland and i really liked what i saw earlier tonight. It was very gritty and realistic. Plus i must add that Benjamin gave a very good performance in it. He perfectly capture Ben Sherman`s anxiety and angst on his first day of the job. I`m looking forward to seeing next week`s episode.

I too loved the gritty feel of the show, it make it feel very realistic. It's also beautifully shoot in my opinion. They use those RED digital cameras, I think they use it on FNL too.

Ben does angst like no other!

alluxera · 04-10-2009, 04:37 AM

I can only agree, I think it is difficult for a pilot to focus not too much on one character, because they have to introduce them all in one way or the other.
But I hope we get to see more good storylines with Officer Ben and his background.

And

to Chickie

callieUK · 04-10-2009, 05:11 AM

Quote:

I loved the pilot episode, I thought Ben did a great job and I totally related and cheered for his character.

Same here. He made you root for him right from the start until the end of the episode. Although he had hardly any dialogue, Ben's expressions and body language really conveyed how Sherman was feeling, on his first day, stuck on patrol with someone like John who was determined to break him down rather than support and encourage him, and Sherman knew it. I am looking forward to Sherman finding his voice and hopefully giving as good as he gets.

Also, Michael Cudlitz has awesome delivery. John Cooper could have ended up being really OTT in a bad way, but Michael played him just right.

Quote:

I enjoyed the Patrol Officers Storyline far more than the detectives' storyline; I'm already invested in Ben, John and Chickie. I am not invested in anyone of the detectives so far, but that might change in the future.

I loved Ben, John and Chickie. My favourite scene overall is the one at the house with the body where Ben wants to have a go at John for taunting him and Chickie steps in. I hope she'll be a softer, protective influence. She seems like a very sympathetic character.

I didn't get enough from Russell and Sal to bond with them during this episode but I loved Lydia and Nate/Sammy had a great rapport, especially when they were dealing with the young girl witnesses. I didn't like Sammy's wife though. Kevin Alejandro is definitely eye candy, and I like how he's a "good" family guy in this, when he usually plays the bad ones.

I thought a lot of the support cast were great - the young girl whose brother was shot and the girl witnesses especially. And LOL at the expression on the female dog warden's face when Dewey was being crude.

Overall, this was incredibly impressive. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than when I watched The OC pilot for the first time. I felt like I bonded with, and was interested to know more about, more characters than just Ben/John whereas it was only really Ryan/Sandy with The OC #1.

Can we have Ben/John and Ben/Chickie appreciation threads?

**LoveBEN** · 04-10-2009, 06:01 AM

We can Callie

if you want, you can open the threads yourself or I can open them for you guys (it would have to be later though because I want to post some links to news and reviews and I'll have to think of titles and such

)

callieUK · 04-10-2009, 07:27 AM

I'd rather leave it to you to make if you don't mind, Michal. I've never opened a thread on FF and would probably screw the whole thing up.