Southland

So, I spent part of the holidays watching the first two seasons of Southland--which luckily for me was only 13 episodes worth of TV. Yes, you may start laughing now at my attempt to pick up another TV show, given my complete inability to keep up with more than one or two at a time. Still, Merlin is over now. White Collar, however, is coming back. So, we’ll see what happens once things start up again.

But, whatever happens, I do want to note that Southland is awesome. I think the thing I like best about it, in a meta kind of way, is how it presents cops and detectives not just as people who solve crimes and save people, but as people who are forced to be witnesses to the worst things human beings can do to each other—and how much of the show is about dealing with being that kind of witness.

I thought maybe I’d be able to write fic for it. I even really like the central slash pairing of the fandom (Cooper/Sherman) even though that kind of 20+ yr. age difference is usually a turn-off for me. But, for the moment, anyway, I’m stymied. I do best, I think, with characters who talk a lot (hello, Sherlock Holmes), and these guys—well, they give new meaning to the word taciturn. Watchful, and smoldering and taciturn. Hot as hell, but difficult to write…

So, instead of fic, you have the following: a kind of introduction/imitation/pastiche. The Cooper/Sherman part of it started as a genuine attempt to try and map out the rhythm of their interactions, but it ended up more parodic than anything else.

Which means that it comes off kind of snarky in parts, but I’m hoping y’all know me well enough to know that my snark comes from a place of genuine love.

Also, in this case, from my frustration with being unable to capture how incredibly touching the show it—it’s heart-clenching pathos….

But in honor of Season 3 (ie, episode 14) premiering tonight, here you go:
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Okay—I think that’s the end of the spamming for this week--thanks for bearing with me!