(Credits: NBC / TNT / Doug Hyun)

Yes, people, you’ve read that right. Southland is back on Netflix, and anyone taking it as a casual catalogue update should be jailed. It is the return of a show that never got the respect it deserved when it first aired in 2009, mostly because television audiences were not prepared for something this raw and this uninterested in making anyone feel good about what they were watching.

Let’s start with the basics. Southland follows a group of LAPD officers and detectives across different ranks and backgrounds. You have got your new rookies, but also weathered veterans. Sounds familiar, right? Well, it’s not. This is not your usual Brooklyn Nine-Nine-type show with neat procedures and quirky detectives. This is messy and gritty and unforgiving. You watch it for five minutes and instantly feel like you are riding in the back of the patrol car with them without any seatbelt or gear. Just pure danger out there

Now, one might wonder what made this show different from the other cop dramas out there. The answer to this isthe way Southland does not make it easy for the viewers. It won’t explain itself or pause for your comfort. It throws you straight into South Los Angeles and expects you to keep up, which is fair because in the world of scrolling, watching has made things easy for us. For once, we need to put them down and pay attention, which is the only thing required while you watch this.

And there are no perfect heroes as such. The characters are majorly flawed and also scared at times, which is what makes them relatable and human. Everyone’s trying to survive in the uniform, on the streets, at home. And that realism? That relentless emotional honesty? That’s what made this show unforgettable.

And can we talk about the cast for a second? We have Michael Cudlitz as Officer John Cooper, who played one of the best, most complex portrayals of a cop ever. Regina King, before her awards glory, was already killing it as Detective Lydia Adams. Ben McKenzie is the rookie with everything to prove. Even the smallest roles were so sharp, so real, you’d think they pulled people off the actual streets to act.

Now here is the heartbreaking part. Southland never got the love it deserved. It got shuffled around and was cancelled too soon. It was moved from NBC to TNT, and still… still, it delivered some of the most powerful storytelling you will ever see on TV. It ran for five seasons till 2013 and will be one of the best cop dramas in the history of American TV.

But now? Netflix just gave it a second life. And you? You have no excuse. Whether you missed it the first time or you are ready to relive the unshakeable tension, this is your chance.

So grab that remote. And get ready to remember what real TV used to feel like. Because Southland is back. And this time, you’d better not sleep on it.