Quick Take: Southland, "What Makes Sammy Run?"
"Sammy, don't be a racist pig!" – Tammi Bryant
Review: Southland, "What Makes Sammy Run?"
(S0205) This week we get a focus on Detective Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy), whom I haven't talked much about thus far. I've liked Hatosy ever since he starred in the quirky Farrelly Brothers' movie, Outside Providence, in 1999, and he plays Bryant well: balancing a tough job on tough streets with a somewhat out-to-lunch wife (Tammi Bryant, played by Emily Bergl).
That said, I've always found the sub-plots involving Tammi to be amongst the weakest of the show. It's interesting to get into the personal lives of the cops – seeing what's going on with John Cooper's pain pill addiction or Ben Sherman dealing with his affluent background, for instance – it's just that this particular one is annoying and distracting in my view. But the moment in which Tammi ignores her cop/husband informing her that the dude she was taking pictures of at the park is a dangerous gangster put her character and that subplot into infuriating territory.
Bryant on the job is much more engaging. I enjoyed his attempts to positively influence a smart street kid, Casper, who has the potential to make something of himself, or "graduate" from tagging to gunplay. I'm not sure that I liked the swift resolution of the storyline (let's just say it doesn't end so well). A show like The Wire (which, granted, is arguably the greatest TV crime drama of all time) would have played out this sort of relationship and storyline over many episodes, if not seasons.
The rest of the episode was busy this week, too busy. I had a hard time getting a hold of the club killings, Det. Daniel Salinger (Michael McGrady) proving he's still relevant to the force, Ben and John solving multiple cases, and so on. I would have more enjoyed screen time set aside instead for more of Trinny Day's reentry on the scene (played by the great Wood Harris of The Wire fame). Southland automatically ticks up a few notches on the television landscape when Harris steps in… but unfortunately (and again, perhaps unfortunately too fast at the least) Trinny/Harris steps out all too quickly… in a box. A small box.
So, not my favorite episode of Southland by a long shot. Much closer to the other end.
More thoughts on "What Makes Sammy Run?":
Video: Southland, "What Makes Sammy Run?"
The Road comes up a few times during this episode, including the final season in an emotional context. Here's a trailer of the film:
Recap: Southland, "What Makes Sammy Run?"
Gangsters open fire in a crowded club and kill two bangers, one of whom has a connection to an officer.
From Around the Web: Southland, "What Makes Sammy Run?"
