Image Credit: Doug Hyun

After last week’s incredibly visceral, emotionally draining episode of Southland, it’s hard to imagine that tonight’s season 5 finale could have any juice left, but according to the stars of the show, the finale delivers the same shock factor, albeit slightly less graphic.

We caught up with four stars of the show — Ben McKenzie, Shawn Hatosy, Michael Cudlitz and Regina King — to talk about where their characters are headed in what could potentially be Southland‘s series finale (if TNT decides against ordering a season 6). Here’s what tonight’s episode has in store:

Michael Cudlitz on John Cooper
Despite the fact that John Cooper survived the kidnapping that took his partner’s life in last week’s emotional episode, Michael Cudlitz doesn’t believe that Cooper is at his breaking point… yet. However, by the end of the finale, that could change. “There is a point where everybody snaps, and he’s not at that point strangely enough after that ordeal,” Cudlitz says. “He’s put on light duty when we come back, so I’m basically doing office duty.” And for Coop, desk work has always been his greatest fear. “A large portion of his life is not only devoted to the job, but the job defines him. [You see] that taken away from him and the consequences and the self doubt.” READ FULL STORY »