The essential episodes of Southland

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Southland — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · April 9, 2009 · 1h

   Unknown Trouble9.2

   On his first day, rookie officer Ben Sherman is assigned to veteran cop John Cooper, his no-nonsense training officer. After being involved in a fatal shooting, Ben already begins questioning his career choice. Detectives Sammy Bryant and Nate Moretta try to convince a young teen to testify after learning she is an eyewitness in the attempted murder of a boy who was mistaken for a gang member. Meanwhile, Detective Lydia Adams investigates the disappearance of a young girl.

2. 02

   S01E02 · Top rated · April 16, 2009 · 1h

   Mozambique8.6

   Ben Sherman begins to believe all the accolades coming his way, clouding his judgment. Bryant and Moretta try to keep their witness alive. Lydia Adams bonds with a baby found crawling in an intersection.

3. 03

   S01E04 · Top rated · April 30, 2009 · 1h

   Sally in the Alley8.6

   When an unidentified female body turns up in an alley, Gang Detectives Sammy and Nate have their work cut out for them. Nate searches for a missing relative, and reveals a secret.

4. 04

   S01E06 · Top rated · May 14, 2009 · 1h

   Westside8.6

   Detectives Adams and Clarke have their work cut out for them when jewelry thieves begin robbing Bel Air homes. Officer Ben Sherman discovers that he knows one of the home invasion victims and finds himself breaking police policy by becoming personally involved. Elsewhere, gang Detectives Bryant and Moretta wait around an LA courthouse while Janilla prepares to testify in a gang land trial. Concerned for her wellbeing, Bryant decides to takes Janilla to his home to assure she is safe.

5. 05

   S01E07 · Top rated · May 21, 2009 · 1h

   Derailed8.8

   The body of a dead gang member is discovered; Detective Salinger and his daughter grow further apart; Detective Bryant asks Detective Adams to take in shooting witness Janila.

6. 06

   S02E03 · Top rated · March 16, 2010 · 1h

   U-Boat8.6

   Ben winds up in a patrol unit alone for the first time. Over in the Gangs Unit, Gil Puente leads a task force to catch a gangster - but Sal and Sammy find it hard to work with him.

7. 07

   S02E05 · Season 2 peak · March 30, 2010 · 1h

   What Makes Sammy Run?8.8

   After gangsters open fire in a crowded club, tensions rise between Sal and Gil on the gang task force. And Sammy confronts his wife about crossing the line too often.

8. 08

   S02E06 · Top rated · April 6, 2010 · 1h

   Maximum Deployment8.8

   The Southland officers are sent out to capture a rapist impersonating a cop. While Lydia's reunited with her former partner, Russell, Sal's secret affair is revealed to his wife.

9. 09

   S03E04 · Season 3 peak · January 25, 2011 · 1h

   Code 49.5

   Sammy & Nate get into a deadly gang confrontation. Ben makes a series of rookie mistakes and Lydia works a gang homicide that leads to an unorthodox killer.

10. 10

    S03E06 · Top rated · February 8, 2011 · 1h

    Cop or Not8.4

    While working a celebrity murder, Lydia discovers the pros and cons of being in the spotlight. Sammy goes out on patrol. John & Ben are frustrated with a tedious security detail.

11. 11

    S03E08 · Top rated · February 22, 2011 · 1h

    Fixing a Hole8.8

    Sammy seeks answers in the desert. Lydia and Josie babysit an important alcoholic witness before a murder trial. And John and Ben go against procedure to help a child in need.

12. 12

    S03E09 · Top rated · March 1, 2011 · 1h

    Failure Drill8.4

    Ben deals with John's escalating drug problem as Sammy prepares for fatherhood. Lydia embraces a teenage victim and fights her emotions during a high-octane shootout.

13. 13

    S04E09 · Season 4 peak · March 13, 2012 · 1h

    Risk7.7

    Ben finds himself heading down a slippery slope as he attempts to help the daughter of a prostitute, putting him in hot water with the woman's pimp. Lydia and Ruben investigate the murder of a gang banger who may have been killed over a graffiti tag. Tang faces more questions about her shooting of an innocent bystander, which could determine whether she gets promoted to sergeant.

14. 14

    S05E09 · Season 5 peak · April 10, 2013 · 1h

    Chaos7.6

    Chaos reigns in the city when Cooper and Lucero are kidnapped and held hostage by a pair of "tweakers" and our cops join the frantic search to find them before it is too late.

15. 15

    S05E10 · Series finale · April 17, 2013 · 1h

    Reckoning7.4

    In the season finale, John copes with the aftermath of his kidnapping, while Sammy closes in on the real robbers, Ben feels the pressure and Lydia becomes closer with Russell.