Ep 3. Discretion

In Southland season 3 episode 3, titled Discretion, we delve deeper into the personal and professional lives of the officers of LAPD's Southland Division as they navigate the often murky waters of Los Angeles' criminal underbelly.

The episode starts off with Tang and Cooper responding to a domestic disturbance call, a routine task for the seasoned officers. However, as they arrive on the scene, they discover that things are not as simple as they initially seemed. They find a young girl who has been severely beaten by her father, but the mother isn't willing to press charges. This leads Tang and Cooper to question the mother's motivations and whether she's complicit in the abuse.

Meanwhile, Sherman and Bryant are tasked with investigating a robbery at a marijuana dispensary. As they start their investigation, they discover that the case is more complicated than they initially thought. They find out that the robbers are targeting specific strains of marijuana, which may indicate an insider's knowledge of the industry. This realization leads them to question everyone involved, including the dispensary's owner, employees, and customers.

Elsewhere, Dewey and Chickie respond to a call about a theft at a local bar. As they arrive on the scene, they realize that the suspect is the bar owner's son, who has a history of stealing from his father. Despite this, the father is reluctant to press charges, leading Dewey and Chickie to consider the ethical implications of their job and whether they should push the father to take a stand against his son.

As the episode progresses, we see the personal lives of the officers begin to intersect with their professional duties, creating an added layer of complexity to the already challenging situations they face on a daily basis. For instance, Sherman is struggling with his feelings for a woman he meets while on duty, and this begins to affect his judgment during the investigation. Meanwhile, Tang is still dealing with the fallout of her affair with Cooper, and this threatens to derail her promising career.

Overall, Southland season 3 episode 3 is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that explores the difficult choices and ethical dilemmas faced by law enforcement officers on a daily basis. With strong performances from an exceptional cast, this episode represents the very best of what Southland has to offer.