Also Shane is real piece of work so far his dumbass deserved to get black mailed acting like that

First time watcher, almost done with season 5. I think this show so far is near perfect. I would say it only has one major flaw, but it's one that lies at the very core of the show. And from how season 5 is going, it seems the ending will also rely on this more and more.

The flaw is Terry's killing. Vic is obviously a morally gray person. He's obviously not good, and his moral flaws are bigger than say Claudette's or Dutch's, for instance. But he's also not bad, and he does have certain core values he seem to hold dear.

Terry's killing goes against all the character development we see elsewhere in The Shield. It doesn't make sense morally or pragmatically for Vic to murder a cop that has only just been assigned to investigating him.

Morally, it's way outside the lines Vic draws for himself in every other episode of the show. While he bends or breaks the law plenty of times, that's like saying a shoplifter is perfectly capable of mass murder. People develop their own ethical and moral values. Killing a cop who doesn't even know anything about the Strike Team's illegalities is definitely outside Vic's "code".

Which brings me to my second point. Vic finds out about the investigation at the very beginning. Terry has no dirt on them, and Vic is definitely capable enough to maneuver these situations without resorting to killing Terry first. You know, as he does in literally every other episode of the show.

Anyway, still loving the show, I just wanted to put into words what was bothering me as I was watching.

I've recently started watching this show and I think it's great. I remember seeing promos for it on Channel 5 on occasion when I was younger, but at the time I'd have been too young to watch it. I've really taken to it though, and recently I finished Series 2. The bit at the end when they're standing over that massive pile of cash from the Armenian Money Train robbery is what's stuck with me though. Why did the strike team look so glum and solemn, along with Vic after his briefly excited reaction? Was it because they knew they crossed a Rubicon, the gravity of their actions were being realised, the fact that both IA and the Armenians are likely to be gunning for them from here on out, and the monumental effort they're going to have to make to cover their arses? That's at least how I see it.

When I heard Dutch say that the notes the Armenians had were marked, I got a similar vibe to the one I often got when watching Dexter and it looked like he was going to be caught imminently, basically one that made me think "Holy shit, how the actual fuck are they going to get out of this one?".

From what little I know about what happens later, I know that Terry Crowley's murder hasn't fully gone away, that even though it's been buried for now, it resurfaces several times which I think is great writing, to have it constantly bubbling under. If that's true, then I really like how a lot of what's to come all stems from that one moment from the pilot episode. I wonder just what ramifications are going to be had from all of this too. They surely can't keep this under wraps forever either!

Aside from that, this show is awesome, I've heard it's consistently awesome from start to finish and it gets better with each series. One thing Claudette says at the start has stuck with me, when Aceveda says Vic is Al Capone with a badge, and she tells him something like "Al Capone was popular because he gave people what they wanted. People want to go out without being attacked and want to come home from work and find their TV or stereo is still there.". As someone who watched and obsessed over Life on Mars, I remember a similar conversation Sam had with Gene. When Sam asks him "If we can't police ourselves, how are the public meant to trust us?", Gene says "The public don't give a damn what we do; as long as we get results", along with Gene's assertion in another episode that "I've never fit anyone up who didn't deserve it". Given this was supposed to be set in the 70s, The Shield has me wondering just how many people would turn a blind eye to crimes committed by police for the sake of maintaining public safety. Given how popular Vic Mackey was, and how disliked the characters trying to bring him down seem to be, I think there would still be a great many.

Anyway I digress. Brilliant show, it's been a hell of a ride and I'm only three episodes inside Series 3.

i want to find that clip of dutch telling dani his laptop has child porn on it but i don’t remember what episode it was. does anyone know the ep

I remember in season 4 when vic and Corinne where trying to sue vaccine makers using junk science in their autism lawsuit.

Every time they brought it up I couldn't help but yell at the screen. And it all culminates in them straight up ignoring their doctor who tries to set them straight and rightfully wants no part of their lawsuit. Lol, junk science making its way into media in 2005

The cat Wtf! How could a conversation about killing bring him this far from his character ? Unbelievable developmet and amazing for the writers to go there.

Just starting the series and I'm about halfway through the first episode. This Shane Vendrell character seems like a ton of fun. I can't wait to see the mad cap shenanigans he gets up to. It's going to be a real hoot.

Does he smell like leather ? Blunts ? Sweat ? Overdone perfume at work ? How does he generally smell ?

He doesn't smell like potatoes or butter before season 5 , cmon now.

I was working my way through Season 6 last week, and I got to the episode in which the Strike Team arrests the young Spook Street kid that shot the random people... the one that Claudette goes off on about the N word.

I got to thinking about it, and it occurred to me... isn't that the same kid from Season 1 that Danny and Julian stop, and the kid quotes lines from "Fuck Tha Police" when they are questioning him?

title

tough choice

Is this date going to something bigger? Can wait to see what Vic going to do when he finds out

So, while I'm at work, I watch stuff thirty minutes at a time, which is how I did this latest rewatch of The Shield. Don't know if you say my other post about real-life corrupt units, but I'm kind of doing a little research right now and decided to watch Training Day, since it's heavily influenced by the same scandal.

Alonso Harris and Vic Mackey do have a lot in common, but it feels like Alonzo had more hubris. Like, it felt like he was going to try to brazen his way through anything, charisma like a snake. There have been other comparisons with regards to their motivations and level of dirt on them, and while Alonzo feels like the dirtier of the two, Vic was a better operator and leader.

The issue of the Russian hit brought that home to me. If it were the same set of circumstances, not only would Vic have had a better plan, but he wouldn't have made the same mistakes leading up.

For instance, Jake snatched the shotgun out of Alonzo's hands, and while he had the chance and his team behind him, Alonzo didn't let them drop the hammer on Jake right then and there, where it could have been a clean getaway. Instead, he relied on some Sureños to take care of his problem, where it so happens that Jake's earlier heroism gave him a pass through that. "Life's a trip, que no?"

Besides that, if feels like if the Strike Team knew Vic was in that kind of hot water, they would have worked together not just to get the money, but to deliver it and take care of the hit squad. (Pre-fracturing Strike Team, of course.) If there was to be any kind of scapegoat, it would have been another criminal they had issue with, not a fresh-faced new member of their team. And Alonzo's crew... they were all jaded and for themselves, just like he molded them. Not much of a team at all.

Anyway. This is just what's rattling around in my head immediately post-watch.

How did Kavanaugh have his service weapon in the interrogation room? I thought they always had to turn that in at the desk before they passed through the door.

Who would you choose and why?

Really enjoyed that, Vic, Shane, and everyone else intrigued me so much! I really liked Dutch and tbh he’s probably who I’d be if I was a detective. I totally thought Vic would blow Gilroy’s brains out but it was probably better that he didn’t since Aveceda could easily solve the murder if he did do it. Very impressed and looking forward to season 2!

I’m watching The Shield for the first time (F30’s, midway through S3) and I’m really enjoying it. It’s undeniably great TV but I’m increasingly finding Vic more and more unbearable.

Obviously the whole thing with the strike team is that they’re morally ambiguous (good intentions, dubious methods) but I can’t quite work out if you’re supposed to be rooting for him or if he’s supposed to come across as an angry, arrogant asshole.

Would love to know everyone else’s thoughts!

Is…Is there really a subreddit for The Shield?!! I’m so glad I found you!! I haven’t watched the show in years but I randomly think about scenes every now and then, like I have never forgotten how truly excellent the acting was, the storyline, everything! I would watch every episode when it aired and run out to buy the DVDs as soon as they were released!

Come to think of it, I am in need of a show to watch, and while I have a lengthy list of suggested shows, I believe I will go ahead and rewatch The Shield again!

BAWITDABA DA BANG DA BANG DIGGY DIGGY DIGGY

Who’s ready to start from season 1 again?!?

So sad Right know, i cant....Shane pos

Didnt understand why the deal with Anton went wrong, Vick did exactly what he asked

Hi, so I finished the show last night and damn that finale hit really hard. I love how they handled the endings for our main characters, Giving each one a tailored closure to their arcs. Shane’s letter especially left a void in my heart. But today I realized I won’t be having the privilege of watching this great show again for the first time and the void got bigger.
So my question is, what shows can I hop into to fill that void? Many people suggest the wire and sopranos as equally well written shows but tbh sopranos feels more like breaking bad and wire feels like a a good cops vs bad criminals kind of story (have not seen either, just from reading about them online these days, feel free to tell me I’m wrong if I am). Also I have seen Sons of anarchy which most people say to go see after the shield due to same writers and many cameos.

Any suggestion is welcome!

Me personally is Vic's confession, specifically him reminiscing about the Armenian train heist and laughing and how they were actually able to pull it off