• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Realistic look at the LAPD is gritty, violent, enthralling.

Why We Rated This for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

• Role models:

  Many of the veteran cops around rookie Ben are quite cynical, though they're obviously dedicated to their mission of fighting crime. Suspects' sexuality is sometimes discussed as a motive for crimes.

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  The show very intentionally offers a realistic, gritty look at crime and urban life. Its take-aways consequently aren't particularly upbeat or positive, but at least they're not artificial, either. Emphasizes teamwork and partnership.
• Violence:

  Several critical scenes include violence. It's not especially gory, but it looks quite realistic; when people get hit in the head, they fall down, and when they get shot, they die. That's how it goes in real life, though not in most action shows.
• Sex:

  Plenty of raunchy, sex-themed talk and some flirting. Couples embrace and kiss, but there's no graphic sex or nudity.

• Language:

  The hardened cops talk just the way they might in real life, with a good bit of swearing -- though most of the choice words are bleeped. Still, plenty of expletives remain, including "a--hole," "crap," "p---y," and "circle jerk," as well as some off-color references to body parts, especially female genitalia.
• Consumerism:

  Not an issue.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Plenty of drinking -- in bars, at parties, and at home. The cops often speculate about drugs as a motivating factor in crimes.

What Parents Need to Know

About Southland

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