Where this Butch & Sundance duo are sent to, very little antics going on and very heavy on the on the heavy vibe.
The opening sequence in which Officers Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) and John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) methodically walk through a house in which, at the least, a mysterious series of murders have been committed is gripping stuff and very well directed and played out. But I was completely taken out of the realism and suspense of the scene when the final victim’s face is pixilated out.
Why do that? This is not a documentary-style fictional show, like The Office for example. If The Office blurred or bleeped something out it would very much be in keeping with what the “fake editors” wanted to prevent you from seeing, and it would be done for comic effect. Here the conceit is that we’re “with” these officers going room by room through the aftermath of a seriously messed up morning. Why pixelate when there are so many other choices to go with there?
Overall, a pretty good hour of Los Angeles cop drama grittiness, and a good rhythm and pace coming together all round.
More thoughts on “Butch & Sundance”:
* I hated the opening theme music and credits to Southland the first time I saw it. Now I really hate it; it creeps me out on some weird level. Like the weird level where I’m afraid a serial killer is chilling out in my backyard right now sipping on a Snapple level. There’s something about how when the opening music and credits suit the show perfectly (thinking The Sopranos and The Shield, the latter very easy of course to compare to Southland) it can endear you even more to the show. Southland’s definitely doesn’t do that, and I’d personally love to them switch it out at some point.
* For the second episode week in a row, I had a cool “I know that guy from X!” moment. Last week it was Cudlitz and Band of Brothers, and this week the moment goes to new (seemingly) regular Amaury Nolasco, who plays Detective Rene Cordero. Nolasco was a standout for several seasons on Prison Break as the passionate, good natured inmate (setting aside if such a combo is possible in real life!) Fernando Sucre.
* The interaction between Sherman and Cooper after they are “cut loose” from the scene of the massacre is nice. These two continue to be the best reason to tune into Southland.
* Great to see Patrick Fischler, who plays Detective Kenny ‘No Gun,’ back in action if only briefly. Fischler is also of Lost and Mad Men fame, playing damaged comic Jimmy Barrett in the latter. Have I mentioned how desperately I await the return of Mad Men of late?
* And Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) from The Wire in the house too!? If nothing else Southland is packing itself to the brim with stellar character actors from the best shows on television in recent years. Harris plays Trinny Day, some kind of reformed ex-con who we’re not sure about at this point.
* I always find the subplot involving Detective Sammy Bryant’s (Shawn Hatosy) wife kind of annoying. We get that she’s a forgetful artsy wife married to a cop, but it never seems to get deeper than that dimension.
* Whenever we see Cooper alone and off-duty, it’s never for an upbeat reason.
* I live in Pasadena and caught a few moments of a strong Pasadena location vibe during some scenes.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.