The Shield 7x12 - "Possible Kill Screen"

[Gregsmack]

Second last episode of the series. Last week's was solid, setting up all the players for what seems to be a grand or tragic finale.

Vic and Ronnie can still get out of it, although Ronnie wasn't even fully implicated in any illegal activity until last week's cash drop-off to Corrine. Dutch says they have everything taken care of now and all they pretty much have to do is slap the cuffs on Ronnie. Although we'll see how this ICE investigation goes. I can't predict whether or not the feds would be willing to have two criminals on their payroll. And even on top of that, Corrine still hasn't spilled the beans about Terry yet -- and you just know that will eventually come out.

Shane and Mara are still on the run and I'm getting a bad feeling about these reckless and haphazard hold-ups they keep trying to pull. I think it's entirely possible that one of them will be taking a bullet. Also, is it at all possible that Mara ends up with a miscarriage due to all this?

Aceveda is still trying to get a big win for his campaign via Beltran and the Mexican cartel. He is certainly playing with fire. I think he and Vic may be in for serious trouble of Beltran finds out the truth about Pezuela's "suicide".

 

[Saturn0660]

I hear ya, I love this show and will be sad to see it go.. I've looked for spoilers but can't find them. I'm kinda glad for that. I have ideas of what might happen but just can't put my finger on it...

Can't wait till tonight..

 

[Surefire]

Wow! One of the best episodes of the whole series, IMO!!!

This really sets up the finale.

I wouldn't be surprised to see RONNIE kill Vic in the finale, for the double cross that was committed in this episode.

Regardless, Vic and Ronnie are both seriously screwed. Neither can get out of this, IMO.

 

[Gregsmack]

Riveting. One of the best episodes of the series on almost every level. Shawn Ryan said that the final two episodes were two of the best of the entire series and it seems that he is already halfway correct.

I'll post more when I get a chance tomorrow night or Thursday. For now I rate 'excellent'

A quick and dark sidenote:

How many are willing to bet me that Ronnie finds out about Vic's deal? If so, is it out of the realm of possibility that Ronnie, being for all intents and purposes as cunning and resourceful as Vic, sabotages in some way the Beltran bust? My god, the possibilities..

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Corrinne, what have you wrought? I liked Vic's struggle to confess followed by his usual mean streak and pride one he gets going.

I agree that ronnie is a wild card but I think somehow he's not going to get Vic because he's allowed himself to be in Vic's shadow for so long that ultimately he hasn't earned that right. I'm thinking that Vic and Shane will be in some kind of final showdown. However, I'm not sure by any means and am almost literally itching to see the conclusion.

 

[gh4chiefs]

Regardless, Vic and Ronnie are both seriously screwed. Neither can get out of this, IMO.

Unless I missed something, legally, isn't Vic already out of this?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Regardless, Vic and Ronnie are both seriously screwed. Neither can get out of this, IMO.

Unless I missed something, legally, isn't Vic already out of this?

Only if he delivers the Mexican cartel, the black drug distribution leadership, and the biggest drug bust in ICE's history, all without giving Ronnie any warning of the shitstorm he's in. If he fails at any of those ICE will void his deal and come down on him hard for betraying their trust. So there's still plenty to go wrong for him, and that's not counting Ronnie, Shane, or even the rapidly deteriorating Claudette killing Vic in the meantime.

That final scene of Vic walking out of the ICE interview was just chilling (no pun intended), especially coupled with Claudette being devastated and losing it towards Dutch.

I'm sad to see the show end, but at the same time I can't wait to see what they do in the finale. There are so many possibilities for how this can all go down.

 

[gh4chiefs]

I suppose your right, a lot can go wrong (and probably will) but there IS a way out for Vic if he can deliver the bust.

Ronnie on the other hand, is pretty much screwed, I don't see how he can come out of this, no matter what. His only chance is to run and get the hell out of there. Of course I'm not a Hollywood writer, so God only knows what tricks they'll pull out of their sleeves for the finale.

Claudette killing Vic? Now THAT would be a wild way to end this story.

 

[Luckyflux]

Fantastic episode! Vintage Shield all the way! So many episodes are written with so many nooses around Vic's neck and he always makes it through. Some how, some way he does it. Even when it seems hopeless he always slips away. So how will he do it this time? Ronnie is in trouble, Claudette wants to bust him, Shane wants him arrested or killed, the black gang wants the drugs for the money Vic doesn't have anymore, Aceveda is a player in the mix, Olivia keeps threatening to void the deal...I mean Vic has got alot on his plate, how do they tie everything up?


Does this mean that Shane isn't a player anymore? His info on Vic is useless with the immunity. Does Shane matter anymore at this point? Maybe a showdown can happen between Ronnie and Shane, those two can go down together? Then Vic has a showdown with Aceveda....(Does anyone have the blackmail pictures of Aceveda when he was forced to....do that to a scumbag?) I think those pics are history, and I don't think Vic would kill Aceveda, so he will try to most likely embarrass him in some way.

So if Vic has immunity then Claudette isn't a player anymore either? It was great how she totally lost it when she saw Vic getting immunity. Will she get to listen to the confession tape? Does ICE have to share that info? Her expressions of complete devastation, utter frustration and dumbfounded disbelief that Vic was getting away with everything scot-free. It was just awesome watching her portrayal!

Then Dutch with Rita and her kid, and also Billingsley was just filler. Steve is a cool character....a little sleezy in a way but you know he has good intentions, even though he is lazy. He has flashed brilliance in a few episodes, but lethargy is his main definition. I guess they aren't doing anything with Rita and her son Lloyd? They kinda set up a second confrontation with Dutch and the kid, but it never happened. Granted Vic's story is much better, but Dutch is a cool character that has been here from day one. I would have liked to have seen a showdown of some kind between Dutch and Vic because they never had a big one between them all these years of being on the same team, but on different sides. Dutch should have a good ending.

Danny came back. I thought she was taking off with her son? It is good that she is back, although I can't see her doing too much in the finale. Same with Julien. Never liked him, but never hated him. He didn't bother me but I wasn't interested in him. (Even though he was Jace Michaels on a DS9 episode I think)

Well back to work for me, I have been daydreaming the Shield for the last fifteen minutes...oops. Such a great show, sad to see it go.

 

[Lord Lunacy]

Luckyflux
I can't see Vic getting away scott free, the series has been building up for a big Fall, and I'm sure Vic will catch a bad one; too much shit stacking up against him so he's bound to miss something.


Locutus of Bored
Claudette killing Vic would be the ultimate in poetic endings; the stress that Lupus is putting on her physically and mentally coupled with her frustration at losing a chance to bring Vic to justice can definitely be a catalyst for her fall. Look what trying to bring Vic down did to Cavanaugh(sp?). She's so by the book and rigid that her snapping outright would seem proper. What is so beautiful about that situation is that she'd get away with the crime because of a strong case of temporary insanity; she is sick and out of her mind due the use of cortecosteroid afterall... The use of the very drug that could have cost her her Captaincy during the deposition against Cleavon Gardner (ep 705 - Game Face) could be her cover for absolution and true justice.

I definitely agree with you, the possiblities by going down this path with the story are many; great writing, hands down.

 

[Mr Light]

This was a powerful episode. Wow. I was so proud of Vic when he walked out on the Ronnie-less deal, only to see him sell poor Ronnie out to protect Corinne. Wow. The taped confession was great stuff, as well as Claudette's reaction (I thought she would have an attack and collapse/die!).

I had a flash and I figured out the ending: Ronnie shoots Vic under the eye on the Beltran bust, just like Vic did to Crowley in the pilot. Full circle. Why else did they spend so much time describing how he did it? Ronnie will become the new Vic, which is a shame because I wanted a happy ending for him.

 

[Lord Lunacy]

This was a powerful episode. Wow. I was so proud of Vic when he walked out on the Ronnie-less deal, only to see him sell poor Ronnie out to protect Corinne. Wow. The taped confession was great stuff, as well as Claudette's reaction (I thought she would have an attack and collapse/die!).

I had a flash and I figured out the ending: Ronnie shoots Vic under the eye on the Beltran bust, just like Vic did to Crowley in the pilot. Full circle. Why else did they spend so much time describing how he did it? Ronnie will become the new Vic, which is a shame because I wanted a happy ending for him.

No, this show is definitely not about happy endings. If Ronny does put a bullet in Vics face, it would kind of cheapen the ending. I want all of them to get what they deserve. Just because Ronny was the "quiet" on, doesn't mean he should not get jacked up too. Maybe they shoot each other in the eye?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Locutus of Bored
Claudette killing Vic would be the ultimate in poetic endings; the stress that Lupus is putting on her physically and mentally coupled with her frustration at losing a chance to bring Vic to justice can definitely be a catalyst for her fall. Look what trying to bring Vic down did to Cavanaugh(sp?). She's so by the book and rigid that her snapping outright would seem proper. What is so beautiful about that situation is that she'd get away with the crime because of a strong case of temporary insanity; she is sick and out of her mind due the use of cortecosteroid afterall... The use of the very drug that could have cost her her Captaincy during the deposition against Cleavon Gardner (ep 705 - Game Face) could be her cover for absolution and true justice.

That's exactly what I was thinking. The writers have been setting into motion Claudette's downfall for a while now, while still allowing her to remain above it all as a straight arrow who always does the right thing. Who better to end Vic's life and be totally justified in doing so, but with a built-in excuse to get away with it? And she'll have Dutch (and Danni) there to back up her story, because he'll always remain faithful to their partnership regardless of what happens between them.

Unless of course Dutch is killed by the vengeful kittens of that cat he strangled years ago (which was never revisited). Then all bets are off. ALL loose ends must be tied up!

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Unless of course Dutch is killed by the vengeful kittens of that cat he strangled years ago (which was never revisited). Then all bets are off. ALL loose ends must be tied up!

I figured on Lloyd or whatever his name is having a part in that though I like the idea of the kittens.

 

[Mr Light]

I just saw that episode! I'm watching S3 for the first time just now, and him killing that cat was a huge WTF moment. I started watching in S4 and I don't remember any reference to that!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I just saw that episode! I'm watching S3 for the first time just now, and him killing that cat was a huge WTF moment. I started watching in S4 and I don't remember any reference to that!

Yeah, I don't know if they regretted doing that scene after the fact, but it was never mentioned again. It just struck me as funny when Dutch was questioning whether Lloyd had ever tortured or killed animals before, and made me say "Why, you want to compare notes?"

Dutch is the type of person who might do that purely to gain insight into the serial killer's mindset, but the fact that he also hated that cat certainly didn't help. Not that it would make it okay for him to do either way, but that kind of put me off of Dutch's character for a while.

Eventually I just kind of forgot about it in regards to his character's subsequent behavior, much like that regrettable incident where Captain Sisko went psycho and poisoned an entire planet with people on it.

 

[Mr Light]

Well I just the S3 finale and they had a bunch of cute widdle baby kitties at the station and they offered one to Dutch and he held it up to his face in choke mode then said no thanks and put it back down. Hilarious

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

I thought there was a bit of a reference this season with the whole serial killer kid story line. Particularly when he has that conversation with Clevon about the kid, when Clevon describes what killing is like and says he's seen the look before. When Dutch asks "where?" I think Dutch was afraid that Clevon had seen that in Dutch's eyes.

 

[sidious618]

This was spectacular. One of the best episodes of television I've ever seen. Everything from Vic signing the deal onwards was sublime.