Discretion

Ben Sherman is one of my favorite characters, and this is a huge reason why. Just as he's showing great promise as a street cop, he lets his emotions get the best of him during one bad day. 'Discretion' is that day. It's here that he's brought face-to-face with his mother's rapist from so many years beck - and now with a gun and badge, we find out he's still just a scared little kid underneath. It's a hard lesson in, but the performances by Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie here are superb.

But 'Discretion' isn't all heavy. Sammy's meltdown over Tammi's (ugh) extramarital shenanigans is hilarious. That, and a few dick jokes during a cock fight lend a nice bit of mirth for the harder stuff. It's fantastic television.

9/10