Benjamin McKenzie - Southland episode discussion thread; 1.06 "Westside"

**LoveBEN** · 05-13-2009, 05:26 AM

Thursday May 14, 2009
10:00 PM 1.0 SOUTHLAND
WESTSIDE

BEL AIR HOMES ARE ROBBED AND RICH PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS - Detectives Lydia Adams (Regina King) and Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) have their work cut out for them when jewlery thieves begin robbing Bel Air homes. Officer Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) discovers that he knows one of the home invasion victims and finds himself breaking police policy and getting personally involved. Elsewhere, gang Detectives Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) and Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) wait around an LA courthouse while Janilla (guest star, Carla Jeffrey "Curb Your Enthusiasm") prepares for trial. Concerned for her well-being, Bryant decides to takes Janilla to his home to assure she is safe. Arija Bareikis and Michael McGrady also star. John Heard ("Home Alone") guest stars.

Listings - SOUTHLAND on NBC | TheFutonCritic.com

**swedish_girl80** · 05-13-2009, 10:31 AM

Thanks Michal

**LoveBEN** · 05-13-2009, 10:04 PM

You welcome

I can't wait for this one!

iaylah · 05-14-2009, 02:32 PM

thanks Michal! i can´t wait either!!

own worst enemy · 05-14-2009, 02:56 PM

Cannot wait. Saving this for Friday/Saturday night though.

tc_mahfood · 05-14-2009, 07:34 PM

Watching it right now. Ben has a lot of screen time in this episode... a whole lot! His character looks really tired though...

***Finished watching it about half an hour ago*** It was an interesting episode. I feel bad for Cooper's character. Ben's character also seems troubled. There was some pretty heavy breathing when he was kissing that girl,

I loved it when he punched his dad, and I like Ben in tight non-cop clothes better than in uniform actually, so I was happy that this episode had him in more casual gear most of the time. His acting was very solid imo.

**LoveBEN** · 05-15-2009, 04:26 AM

I loved tonight's episode

first of all; I love that Ben got a lot of meaningful screen time. Really enjoyed him interact with his family, I can't wait to see more of it. That girl that Ben hooked up with was cute and the scene of them sleeping in the bed together was kind of adorable. Also, the last scene of them kissing was really hot but I fear she will be troubles for Ben later on.

Ben/John were awesome as usual, I especially loved how Ben confronted John about him taking pills. I really felt sorry for John though, he seems like he is in so much pain that he's willing to risk his job and everything he believe in just to get the pills

Sammy was really cute tonight, I have to say, Sammy/Tammy are really growing on me. I thought it was so cute how they ate together with Janila, they looked like such a cute family. Also loved Sammy asking Lydia to take Janila, I'm really starting to warm up to Lydia, she's got a good heart.

That guy that dumped Lydia after sleeping with her because she lied about being a cop in their first date was an ******* and Lydia is too good for him!

Yay for some Chickie in this episode, I missed her!

meganoster · 05-15-2009, 05:06 AM

Excellent episode!!! The action/chase scene got my heart racing (I love, love, LOVE action scenes!), we got a nice glimpse into all of the characters' personal lives, and OF COURSE there was the love scene between Ben and Daisy! Granted, the kissing scene was WAY TOO SHORT for my depraved tastes (HA HA!), but it WAS hot and very intense so that kind of made up for it. Kind of, LOL!

John is my favorite character, so I was very upset and worried when he broke down and bought the illegal pharmaceuticals from the drug dealer. I wonder why he can't get a prescription for painkillers if he has a legitimate back problem? I mean, he has a brace and everything. Has he abused painkillers in the past? Did he exceed his limit a few times and so they cut him off? I am very curious about this. I love John, I hope he won't get in serious trouble!

I really liked how Ben took charge with John for once and pressed him on the matter of his back. That was cute, I think those two are starting to bond!

I go back and forth on whether or not I like Tammy. Half the time I feel bad for her and I do think she is a genuinely good person...Plus, I don't think Sammy treats her very well, he loses his temper with her very quickly. On the other hand, Tammy has pulled some downright stupid stunts, which causes ME to feel annoyed with her like Sammy. But ultimately, I think she is just lonely and feels a bit lost, and I hope she finds whatever it is she is looking for.

That guy dating Lydia IS an *******! I would not be a bit surprised if he gave her that bull**** line just because she slept with him and that's all he was using her for. I have known plenty of men who would stoop that low. Lydia deserves better -- I love Lydia, and I love Regina King! She is a great actress.

Oh, and I think Lydia and her partner (can't recall his name, but he is the dude with the dark good looks) are so cute together! I think he should divorce his neurotic wife and get together with Lydia! Or me -- I have a bit of a crush on him!

Southland blew me away with this episode...Now I am hooked, and that has only a little bit to do with Ben being on it! Top notch show, truly!

callieUK · 05-15-2009, 07:41 AM

Loved pretty much everything about this episode, except for Daisy who I thought was a complete waste of time. Didn't like the character (she seems to have an agenda that is not going to be positive for Ben), and IMO this was the weakest casting on the show so far. I'd have happily given up all the Ben makeout scenes with her for more Ben/John time, or more Ben/his family time. Even though Ben's dad is a jerk and his mother doesn't seem to be that much better. Susan Blakely is a great actress though, but I was kind of expecting his mother to be more clingy and dependent on Ben, not passive-aggressive and mocking. She seems quite selfish and uninterested in how her letting Ben's father come round will affect Ben.

Daisy even made Tammy seem more acceptable this week. She's actually quite funny in small doses, even though she's still pretty irritating. Sammy/Janilla are adorable. It was awful when her grandma got shot outside the court.

Poor Lydia. That guy was a real letdown. It was cool that she let Russell stay with her. They definitely have more than just a working relationship. And I think the whole IVF thing with Russell and his wife explains a lot about why he's the way he is.

Sal was funny, pretending to be "Stacy from the OC" on his daughter's facebook. He is way over-protective and obsessed with his daughter though.

John is going to get in a complete mess with this pill business. But Michael Cudlitz was awesome in this episode, as usual.

alluxera · 05-15-2009, 09:11 AM

I liked this episode - a lot!
And not only because of the many Ben and Ben/John and John scenes, it was a very balanced episode between the officers and the detectives.
They worked at the same case, I liked the briefing scene. (and Ben looking out of the window

)
I give this episode

**swedish_girl80** · 05-15-2009, 12:50 PM

I have only seen some clips of it and so far I liked it. But I promise I will watch it tonight.

**Chastidy** · 05-16-2009, 09:55 AM

I liked it too.

John has finally crossed over to the darkside. Uh oh! But I love his and John's scenes

Ben and the girl... meh...

As much as I love Sammy and Tammy, everytime I watch an eppy I feel the distance and differences get bigger.

Poor Lydia, Russell is still boring but he grew on me a liitle tonight.

There was a nice interlink of stories...

tc_mahfood · 05-16-2009, 11:04 AM

I really liked the episode too...

not sure that I actually stated that earlier.

own worst enemy · 05-16-2009, 12:09 PM

Loved this episode!

I love that John has this dark side. And it's a bit obvious he's "gay" judging from the bar he hangs out at, the padding under his shirt, and the look the drug dealer was giving him. I wonder what brought on the pill addiction?

Oh Ben. I love that he punches his Dad.

He's such a jerk, his father. I like that we got to meet someone from Ben's past, in that girl victim. I had a feeling those two would hook up.

I love that Ben came to the rescue and tackled the guy...

Poor Russell. I don't like his wife. And the accusing him of having an affair, which he obviously isn't...

Those two aren't more wrong for eachother.

Sam/Tammy also are a mis-matched pair. But, I'm glad they are letting the girl stay with them. Heaven forbid Tammy help out for once. She is so selfish.

The finale - Holy crap!

Looks intense! I bet we'll even get a cliffhanger.

iaylah · 05-16-2009, 02:18 PM

i liked it very much too! imo it was the most complete epi so far!!

And Ben was so cute and caring all the time!

I specially liked all of the officers working together in the same case and how we got to see some things from Ben´s past,though i liked the family scenes better than the Daisy storyline,it semmed a little week for me. Anyway the final scene WAS hot!

I also liked Jonh´s dark side, it makes him not that perfect and Ben got to lecture him too!

Sammy was so adorable taking Janila home, and i think maybe that would be a change in Tammy-Sammy relationship.

I think we will have an awesome finale, though i don´t want it to end son soon!!