IMHO: Southland (1.06) Westside

My favorite one is Adams. Man, she's got sass ;D. Good how she told off that idiot.

 

What irked me, though, is how "subtle" the sexual orientation bit for Cooper was. Here we get Adams nude with Sexy Ebony. We have Sherman ending the episode with a woman moaning during a kissing session. The crazy blonde bitch also pouncing her poor husband.

 

And Cooper? Put in a bar that couldn't be possibly more obscure in the fact that it is a gay bar. The men interacting acted as if they were in a sports bar, body space being rather large in between the patrons, not a single pair hugging or kissing. Revolting back whenever the hot dealer got close to him.

 

I like Cooper's character, but I'm never one to appreciate disparity in treatment. If this turns out to be one of those series that is utterly exhibitional with straight hook-ups, but completely neuters the gay male, I won't be very pleased.

What strikes me as interesting about Cooper's storyline is that it is one that could, despite his sexual orientation, make him a more sympathetic character to a straight male viewing audience.

Cooper is a very masculine man. He is also dedicated to his work as a patrol officer. Indeed, his painkiller problem is the direct result of that: he takes the pills because he needs to suppress his back pain so he can continue to do his job.  He doesn't want to be "emasculated" by being stuck behind a desk. He's a cop on the streets. He busts crooks.  This is central to his whole life and identity. But it's threatened by his back problem. And he's increasingly desperate to keep it under control so that it doesn't keep him from his work.

This is a storyline that a straight guy can understand and relate to much more than a story about a gay cop with boyfriend issues. So the writers seem to be almost subversive here. They're presenting to their target audience a character that said audience might not ordinarily want to relate to, and making him somone that they can relate to.

There's levels of irony to this. Just like the way that slash fiction is written predominantly by women for a female audience, we're seeing a gay character that is being written for a straight male audience. But just as slash fiction often hyper-idealizes character's emotional/romantic traits, this is emphasizing Cooper's masculinity. His homosexuality defines him less than his being a cop does. Like I said, very subversive.

Ben, on the other hand, is male cheesecake and let's face it, he helps get straight male viewer's OC-loving girlfriends to sit still through a police drama. The other detectives romances do as well to a lesser extent, but not as much as prettyboy Ben.

So I confess that I'm still finding this very intriguing to the point that I don't really care about his lack of romance so far. I'm finding the subversive element more than a little amusing because I think it might just work.

I also think we should be careful about getting panicked too early here. Looking back at sci-fi fave Torchwood's first series I realized that our gay action hero Captain Jack Harkness didn't actually do anything "gay" until the end of the first series. If we had all given up in frustration after just seven episodes of Torchwood we wouldn't have seen the sudden eruption of same-sex onscreen romance in the last two episodes of the series, nor his subsequent developing relationship with Ianto in series two.

So I'm not getting stressed on the Southland front yet. I think that the writers are trying to build some audience emotional investment around Cooper. Let's be realistic, a gay male character on a show not targeted at straight women is still a big deal and I suspect the writers are extremely conscious of that fact. Thus they're developing Cooper himself on a storyline that straight male viewers will sit through rather than just throwing him into a makeout session that will see them snatch the remote to switch channels back to Spike.

Subtle? Subtle? You mean nonexistent, right? Not that I should just complain about Coop, seeing as all the female characters are one-note: either baby crazy, or harpies, or both. Those that aren't are only interested in how quickly they can get the male characters into bed; and only ever talk about the men. What happened to blonde cop's SWAT ambitions? Eh. And so on.

And now we find out that the only gay character is practically a junkie? Yes, it's because of back pain, and no, this doesn't make him any less of an addict. He's already endangering all those things he said he wouldn't endanger. Buying prescription meds and not coke is one of those fine disctinctions which will not save his job.

And, how exactly do we know he is gay, anyway? Where is that big reveal we were promised? Till now all we have seen is that he is not homophobic and he drinks in a (supposedly) gay bar. Well, whoop de doo. Is that all it takes to be defined as gay nowadays?

The fact is, this whole A GAY COP WE HAVE A GAY COP AT LAST OUR TIME HAS COME which we were sold at the beginning is a massive bait and switch. Six episodes in, and the uptight, close-mouthed rookie has told his partner that his father is an asshole and his mother is a rape survivor. Cooper has vouchsafed nothing, and I doubt he ever will. The back problem is a neat way to ensure Coop will never be seen rolling around in bed with some hot guy, so the show can have the kudos of the out gay cop but never have to deal with defending their inclusion of man on man sex.

In other words, same shit, different show. Not impressed at all. 

Yeah, John is the only one without a love life at this point, but considering how disfunctional all the love lives of the other cops are, it's almost a relief.  I don't think the gay bar is all that subtle anymore - there's decent pans on the room, and there's not even a female BFF to be seen.  He's got a problem, and I'm sure it's going to blow up at some point with the pills.  I was less disappointed in him for buying in the bar than I was for finding him ransacking a crime scene - that bothered me, but it's typical of an addict.

It also reminded me of a truism: If you buy drugs in a gay bar, 50% of the homos present will instantly know it, no matter how smooth.  Also, 100% of all the other dealers present will instantly know it.

Plus, that was not the body I expected John to have when he was shirtless and took off the back brace.  He was much trimmer and less  barrel chested than I expected - have they been making him film the whole show wearing the brace for realism?

Regardless, yummy.

Makes me sound like an Obama-apologist, doesn't it? But we're talking TV not politics. Thank goodness. The acting is excellent and the possibilities for boith chracters are fascinating. The big revelation here is that outwardly Gentle(looking) Ben is a hot head. He's got the makings of a good cop, but he's also trouble. Meanwhile our gay cop has a drug problem.

 

Gee that's SO unusal for an urban gay man his age, isn't it?

 

I'll be tuning in for more I know.

 

I knew that there would be at least one comment to the effect of - "Great.  One gay character and he is a junkie."

Let's take a quick look at a few of the Southland characters we have seen so far:

Dewey - He is a loud-mouthed, arrogant type; disrespectful to women & his co-workers; his wife recently left him; and he has a drinking problem.
Salinger - He was recently having an extra-marital affair; has an increasingly conflicted relationship with his kinda-bratty teenaged daughter.
Bryant - Has a less than perfect marriage to a woman who throws tantrums fairly often and who struggles with a drug problem.
Moretta - Has a barely-patched-up relationship with the daughter he led to think was his sister for 16(or more) years..
Clarke - Has recently split from his wife who suspects he is having an affair with his 'writing' teacher.

Ben - Not unlike Cooper, has a pretty dysfunctional relationship with his father.

Adams - Can't hold down a relationship even though she is so darn cute and caring (what was that dude thinking..?)
Cooper - Divorced; Has a back injury and a serious addiction to painkillers

OMG - how dare they saddle the only gay character with a problem??

Is it impossible to fathom that there are junkies out there who are gay or is it that it is most important for the gay character to be portrayed as having a super idyllic life?  
Why do we expect to see queer characters represented as flawless saints on tv/movies?   We keep saying we want to see 'realistic' gay characters; what is the definition of realistic? problem-free? white-picket-fence and a dog?

If we want people to stop judging us solely on sexual orientation, we ourselves can not use our sexuality as the starting point that completely defines and determines who we are and the way others perceive us.  As I see it, people are human first. With human problems and shortcomings and everything that comes with that. 

Ah..Okay.  Pardon the rant...

I'll come back with a more composed post pertaining to this episode after I've had a bite to eat & cooled off a bit, lol.

Ive said before that Im enjoying the slow development of the gay factor of Cooper and I think Psionycx is spot on about the reasons why the writers are doing it this way, Ive had the same feeling for a couple of episodes now. 

I think what they are doing is a good thing because it may cause someone to question their notions about gay men, if only one person does this, its a great thing. Now, I understand that because there is not enoguh content or past experiences with the kind that has surficed, we grow impatient and expect a full developed character from the get go, I for one Im giving this show chance to grow. 

Having said that, I must admit that I found dissapointing the bar scenes of yesterdays episode, I dont mind subtle and that was little bit too subtle. It did look like a sportsbar and I dont mind waiting a bit for a good story, but whatever you are putting in the meantime better be portrayed a little more acurately, and by that I mean be more clear that it was a gay bar. 

There's an interview with Michael Cudlitz where he suggests that the back thing/drug problem isn't going to be hanging over him for that long. It can be found here: http://s7y.us/qb6

In general, I love the show. It looks so different to anything on the networks for starters. None of that glossy crap. And I like every character and understand that each serves a valuable purpose.

As for Cooper, I love him. He's hard but he's got a good heart. He's good at his job and so terrified of losing it that he's willing to risk it. No, he hasn't made out with any guys yet, but the relationships we've been shown with the characters have been to illustrate the problems they have. Every character's (bar Chickie and Nate) biggest problem seems to be their relationships. Cooper's biggest problem is his drug use and fear that his back injury will end his life as a beat cop. That should come before everything else. I would like to hear him say the words 'I'm gay' but it needs to be in the right context and I haven't seen such an opporunity yet.

Also, I agree with Ed. Cooper with his shirt off was hot. I know Ben and Nate are the pretty ones, but Cooper is sexy as hell. 

I'm fine with the slow reveal.  Especially now that we know it will be back in the fall.  (That was my biggest fear...that we wouldn't get there and the show wouldn't be given a chance.)  As a matter of fact, the more I see of Cooper, the  more I hope that the reveal won't be a big deal plot wise (for us or the show). 

From what we've seen of Coop so far, it doesn't necessarily look like he's very good relationship material at this point in his life.  So I think to throw him into one just so that there is a gay couple on the show would be a mistake.  On the other hand, a gay couple in a dysfunctional relationship struggling to make a go of it could be quite compelling television!  Why not.  After all, most of the straight relationships on the show aren't so hot.

So, what I guess I'm saying is I agree with IslandOfTheSea...who care's if he's effed up?  Isn't everybody?  And when it becomes obvious that Cooper is gay, then let's just get on with it.

I'm liking the show more & more each week and looking forward to the seaon finale and its return in the fall. However, if the gang bangers hurt that little girl, I'm gonna REALLY be pissed!

It's starting to find its legs. I love the John character. I love his complexity. I love that he's a Rorshack about how we view ourselves and how others view us. Is there any gay character on TV that's ever done this? I love that I, for once, can not predict what the storyline will be just because there is a gay character. That lack of predictability is something I have not experienced with a gay character in a long time. This is the part of a story that's electric for me- when I am seeing something I have not seen and I do not know where it's going to go. It's like the first time I saw Pulp Fiction, which was my first introduction to non-linear story telling. I realized a new way of seeing movies with that movie. The show is also finding its pacing, it's story structure and characterization. The show is also doing something that's very filmic. Notice, they will start a storyline in one show, and move to the next, and the next, and they are never resolved in any neat package. Thomas Everret Scot's character appears in last weeks "Two Gangs" episode quite randomly for a TV show. He actualy has no relation to the main story in that episode at all. Instead, it's disjointed bits and pieces for everyone. The series is not using the typical television story structure. They are using something resembling filmic structures. I did not realize this until last night for some reason. Anyway, I hope this series survives beyond its full season next year. One because of John, but also because of the way it seems to be inch by inch trying to push the way television shows written.

My sister and my brother in law watch this show every week. They have no idea that Cooper is gay. I haven't told them, because I'm curious to see how long it will take somebody who's not in the know to figure it out. (I know they they don't know he's gay, though, because they would have mentioned it.) As for whether the subtlety is good or bad, I can't tell yet. But it looks like this is going to run for a few seasons, so there's plenty of time.

eom.

afhickman

He's the one with the major 'tude, natch!  You know, I've got back pain too, but I don't burden my ex-wife with the problem (I find doctors much more sympathetic anyway).  Ben's story is progressing; he and Cooper may not find love, but they can always trade punches. 

All right, so I'm hooked.

"The mountain has wings."

The thing is , most of the show viewers don't even realize that John is gay.

 

And after 6 episodes, John is still a closet case in this show. Good job!

According to the new NBC lineup, Southland is being moved to fridays.

I hope this doesn't mean it's going there to die. :(

 

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. "Southland"
10-11 p.m. "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

 

I think this SL episode could be my favorite so far.
Bit by bit, we are starting to delve into the life of these characters.

And Cooper's character is holding my interest thus far.  In earlier episodes, we saw him as he would like to be seen - a confident, no-nonsense cop, who's got everything under control.  This episode exposed a whole other side of him.. his desperation, his addiction & the lengths he will go to keep his job.

When Ben notices that he is sweating and fidgeting & advises him to see a doctor, Cooper brushes it off and claims he's got things under control.
When the department shrink shows up and begins talking about addictions to sex, drugs..prescription meds, he walks out of the meeting abruptly.
When he goes to the gay pub and is approached by the cute dealer in the men's room, his initial reaction is to tell him off in no uncertain terms; even though he would end up scoring pills from the same dealer later. 

In all these interactions, he tries as hard as he can to hide this "weakness" that threatens to derail his life from the course he wants it to take;  yet the way he goes about keeping his 'problem' under control (e.g. rummaging for pills at a crime scene) might guarantee the exact outcome he is trying to avoid.

I think they are building Cooper into a complex character and I hope they keep it up!


One other thing I noted in this episode - I love the look of Ben's bachelor pad. =]


Will definitely be tuning in tomorrow evening for the season finale.