Derailed

If there's one thing the "Southland" writers love, it's pulling the rug out from under their audience. 'Derailed' does this with Clarke and Dewey (Scott and Howell, respectively). Not to spoil anything, but their situations are grim, to put it mildly. To top it off, the end credits roll as one character lays on a neighbor's porch, dying of a gunshot wound. Have a great summer! Anyway, it turns out there's been a Big Bad all this time, it's just that gangland godmother Marta only just now makes her appearance (with only a passing mention so far). She's also completely forgettable, but she does help bring to a close the season-long arc with Moretta and Bryant's material witness. Best thing I can say about this is that Lydia makes a stand as thugs open fire on her house (Regina King is a boss with a shotgun).

It's a serviceable finale, but parts could've been better fleshed out. Had I caught this on its original broadcast, I'm not all that sure I would've stuck with it for the next season. Don't get me wrong, this is a well-made show, with excellent production values. Just a somewhat unfocused first season finale.

6/10