Southland Heroes (2009–2013) Online

At this point, it's clear that John Cooper is the MVP of this season, and 'Heroes' ably shows the weight saddled by this character. One minute, he's driving into an electrified pond to save a toddler, another he's cuffing his abusive training officer to the radiator to sober up, and the next, he's called to his dying father for a soul-crushing confessional (his retort is muted, and I'd give anything to know what he told that remorseless scumbag). It's a good juxtapostion of the feats he pulls on the job and the pain he endures off the clock. Some amazing acting between Michael Cudlitz and Gerald McRaney; hell of an emotional closing scene.

What's also remarkable about this is Dewey, again humanized by the intro of his daughter on her first day on probation. The difference between broken down old man and steely offspring is incredible, and she's extremely detailed in only a couple of scenes.

9/10

Michael Cudlitz was the standout in the episode playing Officer John with any moving dramatic moments throughout. From his scenes helping a retired cop get sober to saving the young child from electrocution to the scene where his father was very harsh and John did nothing only walk away. The other main characters also had great moments like Sammy who may have gotten his child through lying losing it on a fast food worker to Lydia having to arrest someone while out with the father of her child. The best scene of the episode obviously was John's father giving his final words to his son because of how harsh those words were mixed with the tension these characters had before. The scenes in John's house as he helped the ex cop get sober where also some great scenes especially there final scene where the non emotional John even got emotional when talking to this old guy who has really been the father he never had.

EPISODE GRADE: A- (MVP: Michael Cudlitz)