Netflix just added this hard-hitting crime drama that viewers rate 98% on Rotten Tomatoes — and there's 5 seasons to binge-watch now

Netflix just got all five seasons of a well-regarded network crime drama, and it looks to be a big hit with subscribers. Just days after all five seasons of the police series "Southland" came to the platform, it's already managed to become one of the streaming service's most-watched series — and the series's critical reputation suggests it's not to be missed.

For the uninitiated, "Southland" is a crime drama created by Ann Biderman. The series offers an inside look at the lives of a handful of LAPD officers, and ran for a total of 43 episodes. It initially premiered on NBC in 2009 but was canceled after one season. TNT then picked the show up, and it ran for four more seasons before ending in 2013.

Netflix welcomed all five seasons of "Southland" on Friday, January 16, and in just a matter of days, this gritty cop drama has already managed to climb to the No. 5 spot in the streamer's most-watched charts, 13 years after it originally ended.

If you'd spied "Southland" on Netflix and were considering whether to commit to a five-season binge, here's a little more info about the series and a brief round-up of what critics said about the show during its original run.

What is 'Southland' about?

"Southland" is a crime drama that offers an inside look at LA's police department and "presents a glimpse into the professional and private lives of the LAPD unlike any other" (as Warner Bros. puts it).

The series revolves around officers John Cooper, Ben Sherman, Sammy Bryant, and Detective Lydia Adams and sees them facing down the "toughest personal and professional challenges" as they tackle crimes, help victims, and confront a city "seething with corruption and danger" out on the sun-kissed streets of Southern California.

The "Southland" cast includes Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Ben McKenzie, Regina King, Kevin Alejandro, C. Thomas Howell, Michael McGrady, Tom Everett Scott, and Arija Bareikis (among others).

Should you stream 'Southland' now it's on Netflix?

While I'm a "Southland" newcomer, and therefore can't offer my own personal verdict on the series, the show's reputation sure suggests that the answer is yes. Over on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an impressive 90% average critics' rating, and an even higher 98% approval rating from fans.

If we zoom in on the first season — the lowest-rated of the set, but where curious viewers will start their "Southland" Netflix binge — you'll see that the critics consensus reads: "Gritty and intense, "Southland" boasts strong production values and a moody ambiance but comes up short in terms of character development."

Reviewing the series' pilot back in 2009, The Hollywood Reporter's Randee Dawn wrote: "“Southland” is no tourist ad for L.A., yet despite the despair that leeches from the sidewalks and the humanity that all too briefly flashes in the faces of the officers, it’s a place fans of smart TV should want to check into every week. To miss this series would be truly criminal.

AV Club's Josh Modell offered a B+ verdict on the same episode, writing: "The first episode of NBC's "Southland" does an admirable job of taking what's come before it and making something reasonably edgy, quite good looking, and—best of all—pretty smart."

If we then compare those early verdicts to what was said about the series' final chapter, though, it sure sounds like "Southland" is worth sticking with. Reviewing the season 5 premiere ep, Paste's Amy Amatangelo said: "Southland" is easily the best cop drama on TV, and it has thrived since being picked up by TNT after NBC abruptly canceled it. The fifth season is off to a terrific start. I can’t wait to see what happens next."

Likewise, around that same season 5 premiere, Entertainment Weekly writer Ken Tucker summed the show up as "deeply satisfying [...] yet stubbornly determined to unsettle viewers with stark frankness and emotionalism, adding: "we should be very glad and grateful "Southland" is back."

With write-ups like that, it sure seems like viewers won't be disappointed if they stream "Southland" on Netflix. It's already pulled in plenty of viewers and could well be a hit on Netflix for some time, with that kind of reputation.

Don't have space for a police procedural on your watchlist, but still want something new to stream? Be sure to check out our round-up of all the best Netflix shows for tons more streaming suggestions.

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