Southland 3x08, "Fixing a Hole"

I was hoping my usual trusty source for video from which to make accompanying screencaps would have uploaded by now, but it hasn't, so I will just have to make pictures with words, which is not as picture-ful as actual pictures, no matter what the picture-to-words conversion ratio is these days.

Particularly when we're talking about how cute Ben Sherman is in the opening scene.

But Southland isn't just about Ben Sherman being cute. Though the overarching theme of the episode was about "fixing a hole" (John's dependence on painkillers; Sammy's trauma-induced spiral into vengeance), I feel like the continuing theme of partnership--what accountability you accept for another person, how you love and respect them, or don't, or the crazy combination--was a pivotal part of the ep as well. In the episode's first non-flashback scene, as Ben is flirting (so, so cutely) with the waitress, he corrects her when she refers to John as Ben's partner; by the end of the episode, Ben risks his job and his future to follow John around the most unsavory parts of LA on John's hunch because, as Chickie tells him, "Rank doesn't matter if you're dead; you got to be able to trust the guy watching your back... no matter who it is." Ben's respect is so precarious now, and I like that the moments at the end don't mean the contention, the challenging of John's authority was truly resolved. But I also really dug how naturally Ben said he was coming along with John. It seemed like that is ultimately what may (oh, I hope) save the two of them and cement their partnership.

The Ben and John case was affecting without being overly manipulative (SVU, I am looking at you), and when Ben and John reached "the cave," I felt like someone socked me in the gut. It was about as graphic and unflinching as a depiction of what a sexual predator's awfulness must look like as I've seen . And, of course, it included horrifying clown faces. In the aftermath, when John (not even remotely making eye contact with Ben) talks about his father and the helplessness a child or children feel with a sexual predator, I pretty much cried. Kudos, show: from creepy clown faces and a naked hanging man to one of the most honest, emotional moments John and Ben have ever had, and none of it felt like it was whiplash-inducing.

I also really liked the moment Dewey and John had in the locker room: I love how it transitioned from the usual Dewey bluster and bullshit into something very true and caring, out of Dewey's recognition of a fellow addict. And I like that Dewey being who Dewey is made it easier for John to angrily dismiss him. 


Lydia and Josie's case seemed to be more about their growing connection as partners than about the case itself (which was okay, and I liked the arc and all, but I have to save all my cyberoxygen for talking about Sammy): the sarcastic-but-easy way they bickered about splitting expenses, how they walked arm-in-arm with their witness to the nice dinner. The more I thought about it, that seems like a big, big step for Lydia in the wake of Russell's confession/slimy weasel words. Lydia's partner was Russell for so long, even through all her transitional partners during his convalescence, even during the early days of her partnership with Josie. He was the one she was backing up; he was the one from whom she was expecting support and protection. I think it's just a testament to Lydia's strength and ability to persevere and be a professional.

But then again, I'm in love with Lydia a lot of the time.

I was so relieved when the detective working on Nate's murder said the word "trauma" to Sammy, as in "you, Sammy Bryant, suffered a very severe trauma." Even if he wasn't listening and was simply biding his time to gather the suspect's personal information, I feel like perhaps that planted a seed. But probably not, with all the methodical planning and the shovel. It was a continuation of the Sammy that's been half-present since Nate's murder: one moment flipping pancakes and calmly reasoning with a bank rep, the next eating potato chips and letting his mind organize premeditated murder. The partner theme came into play as Sammy's plan came to a head. He spoke so much of who Nate was and what was lost that it seemed as though Sammy almost believed he himself had no other choice than to exact revenge. That's what partners do, right? If you can't have someone's back, then you get that back on the way out.

I've said it before, but something about Shawn Hatosy, especially when he's this type of character, e.g. generally good guy, inspires me to really, really care about him. He doesn't telegraph vulnerability, necessarily, but... maybe it's the dimples (those always get me) or his freckles or how his eyes can be bright and laughing and then very, very, very dark.  I don't know, I feel particularly attached to/wrapped up in Sammy. It seems like his heart and his head aren't always on the same game plan (or sometimes his head isn't involved at all in initial planning and sort of traipses in about 45 minutes late and is all, "Oh, whoops, Heart joined forces with PTSD and now we're in the middle of the desert and we're going to shoot a guy!" or "Heart, I told you to let me consult with me before proposing to Tammi; I don't want to say I told you so, but...") but that his tenacity and loyalty and passion make him a pretty good detective and made him a good partner and friend to Nate. When the suspect cried up to Sammy about his job, his baby on the way, we didn't get a big cathartic moment of Sammy realizing that he has a job and a baby to think about, but the truth was there: Nate had those things, but he's gone, and Sammy has to start thinking about and protecting himself and his family as best he can.

Other junk: while the "WATCH YOUR CHILDREN" sign in the John-in-the-park scene was a little front-and-center ding-dong anvilly, I liked the foreshadowing of Sammy approaching the suspect as he was down in the oil-changing pit, I liked how "There's Something On Your Mind" wove in and out of Sammy's last scenes, starting foreboding and spooky and ending on Mariella and Sammy's goodbye, lonely and sad but more loving, and I really liked the sunrise shot of Sammy stopping near an isolated memorial, holding still for a moment as his body caught up with what he'd been doing and planning, and it's just the glare of the sun and the still grave--really, really beautiful.

(Oh, and I know Kristen and I had a big convo about how the show didn't really commit last ep as to whether or not Sammy and Mariella were sleeping together, but... that morning scene seemed awwwwwfully something. Oh, well. She's moving. Room to develop actual adult relationship that is not with Tammi.)

I'm sure I've missed a lot, but I feel like I've written much more, and more gushingly, than I have about anything in a long time. Just really all-around awesome.

And Ben is so cute.