Southland “Risk” 

This is not the first time Sherman’s cared too much, it’s just the first time his interference in someone else’s life has put his partner in mortal danger. And if we talk about mortal danger, we’d better talk with Lydia’s very real and very scary brush with death. As Southland speeds towards the season 4 finale, the stakes couldn’t be higher for any of these partnerships.

Tang got promoted to Sergeant, but she’s the only person celebrating. Cooper still doesn’t think the shooting FID’s investigating went down the way Tang said and if you can’t trust your partner, you’re in trouble. Although I can’t imagine what it feels like to make a life or death decision in a split second, I’ve been trying to cut Tang some slack. Maybe she didn’t see the orange tip in the gun, but I do think she should’ve come clean about what she did. Actually, I don’t think she should’ve tampered with evidence. But after she tampered, I think she should’ve come clean. Now she’s painted herself into a real corner. Not only did she lie to FID when they asked her a direct question about the gun, but she seems to have no remorse about her decision. I understand that she made a mistake but I’ve lost all respect for how she handled the situation. I want her off the streets and off the force. There was a time when maybe she could have salvaged her reputation and/or career, but that time has passed.

After this particular bad day on the job, I wonder if Adams is thinking about whether or not she should continue to be a cop. She’s so good at her job and I can’t imagine her being a desk jockey, but she’s got to start making her child’s health a priority. The doctor already warned Adams that this will be a high-risk pregnancy. Adams did make one really important decision and that was to tell her partner she was pregnant. That’s huge for so many reasons. But before that, I was so glad when Rueben came storming through the door and kicked that guy off Lydia. She put up a tremendous fight but I was worried she was about to get seriously hurt. At this point, we don’t even know if her baby’s ok but we do know she’s bleeding. Those stabs that KBD kid got in pierced her vest and that’s on Lydia. She knows the rigors of her job and if she’s serious about being a mom, she’s got to get a job that doesn’t put her life on the line every day. I hope we meet her baby’s daddy in the next episode. I really want to know whether or not she’ll try to include him in the life of her child, assuming all is well with her pregnancy.

And finally there’s Sherman. I’m glad Sherman didn’t give Amber money and he’d better never do it. I can respect that he wants to get Daniella out of town and away from her father but he really just needs to leave both the mother and daughter alone. He thinks he’s doing right by them, but it will be safer for them if Sherman butts out. Sammy sees what’s happening and he’s trying to keep his partner out of trouble. He’s trying to prevent his partner from getting drawn in to their drama, when there’s only so much he can do. We knew the pimp would track them down eventually but I didn’t expect him to start shooting. Actually, I did expect that. Sherman gave the man a serious beat down, and now he wants to get even by eliminating his Sherman problem. It doesn’t matter that Ben’s a cop. It just matters that Sherman is interrupting his money flow. Just when we think Bryant and Sherman got away, they’re in a very serious car accident. Sammy’s so banged up and bloody that he’s not moving. Now Sherman’s got that on his conscience too.

I can’t wait for next week’s season finale. I love the complex dynamics in all these partnerships and I want to see which partnerships remain strong and which disintegrate under the pressure of mistrust and lies.

Southland airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on TNT.