The Shield
- Thread starter Surefire
- Start date
I'm a HUGE fan. I'm currently rewatching the show now in time for the new season. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
I have all the DVDs that have been released. Will make sure to have the whole series on DVD once released.
Huge fan here as well. I am watching the interviews on the FX network's website. IT's actually pretty cool seeing how the actors talk to each other
After season 5 and all the crap that flew, season 6 felt a bit haphazard. Season 7 better be the season to end all seasons given how excellent 1-5 were.
Big fan here, it's my favorite cop show of all time (OK, tied with The Wire ... )
Really really looking forward to the final season.
Really really looking forward to the final season.
I've only just started watching The Shield. I'm currently in the second season. I might be caught up in time for the seventh season...
Vic, at the very least, has to go to prison for all the shit he's pulled. But not until after he's had a chance to
avenge Lem's death by killing Shane.
The Shield--what a great show. I recently rewatched the whole series on DVD, from Season 1 to Season 5. Looking forward to watching Season 6 on DVD later this month.
I will be very dissatisfied if Vic Mackey just gets off scot free at the end of the series. The Shield began with Vic committing an unforgivable crime--the cold-blooded murder of a fellow officer. Everything else the guy has done since can be excused--but not that. He has got to go down for that, one way or another.
I used to think that the best way to end the series would be with Mackey being marched off in handcuffs. But now I'm not so sure.
I think a better way to go out would be some kind of altruistic suicide--like Harvey Keitel's character committed in Bad Lieutenant. That way, Mackey would atone for his crime--but still score one last victory by carrying the truth with him to the grave.
Oh--if anybody's ever wondered what The Shield would be like if it took place in the Star Trek universe--see here.
I will be very dissatisfied if Vic Mackey just gets off scot free at the end of the series. The Shield began with Vic committing an unforgivable crime--the cold-blooded murder of a fellow officer. Everything else the guy has done since can be excused--but not that. He has got to go down for that, one way or another.
I used to think that the best way to end the series would be with Mackey being marched off in handcuffs. But now I'm not so sure.
I think a better way to go out would be some kind of altruistic suicide--like Harvey Keitel's character committed in Bad Lieutenant. That way, Mackey would atone for his crime--but still score one last victory by carrying the truth with him to the grave.
Oh--if anybody's ever wondered what The Shield would be like if it took place in the Star Trek universe--see here.
I am wondering if they will show us Vic's downfall, will he die in the line of duty, be arrested/convicted? I'm no longer sure, but part of me can't help thinking that Dutch may be the one who brings him down. Look at his development during the series, he barely gets any respect but is shown to be for the most part a pretty smart detective and he's gotten a bit more street wise as the show went on. Vic's disregard of Dutch may be his fatal mistake. Just a theory.
Good points about Dutch. Dutch has always shown to be a cable character, but Vic never gives him or gave him any respect. He always worked well with Claudette, and now after 6 seasons Dutch has proven to be a formidible detective.
But what will happen to Vic? I have watched the first run of every episode and all I know is that whatever mess Vic gets into, he will always escape. But could the end of the show let Vic just carry on, business as usual? Wow what a question given the fact that Vic has done some terrible things. I have no idea of what will happen at the end of the chow...there has to be a comprehensive list of the possiblities, but if I sit here and think about what the end will be, I'll say that Vic finds out about Shane and kills him with Dutch and Claudette taking him down or at least finding out. NAH,how about Vic kills shane, then D&C find out and Vic has to kill them to protect himself, and as Acevada resumes command at the Farm, Vic reports to work, ready for a normal day at the office.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I actually have wanted to start a discussion about this for some time... but it involves spoilers, and to be perfectly honest, I don't know that some of the posting contingent around here are able to separate themselves from their black-and-white perspectives enough to discuss it, but here we go.
Is it, any way possible that despite all the terrible things Vic has done, that in a way, losing Lem the way he did was his penance? The price for his sins was the same atrocious act he committed in the pilot, instead committed by his best friend against him?
Obviously, according to the letter of the law, yes, you want Vic to get caught and taken down. I know that.
But I'm talking thematically and story-wise. Is it not possible from a storytelling possibility that Vic has now suffered his punishment and the spotlight, in terms of atonement, is now on Shane?
Obviously, according to the letter of the law, yes, you want Vic to get caught and taken down. I know that.
But I'm talking thematically and story-wise. Is it not possible from a storytelling possibility that Vic has now suffered his punishment and the spotlight, in terms of atonement, is now on Shane?
I see what you're saying--but, no, I don't think Lem's death qualifies as Vic's penance.
If anything, Lem's blood is on Vic's hands as well as Shane's. Shane stood and watched while Vic killed Terry Crowley. It was Vic's crossing that line that made it possible for Shane to go even further. Crowley's murder made Lem's murder conceivable.
I think, dramatically and thematically, Lem's murder should serve as a wake-up call for Vic: that, no matter how many good things he's done and will do, Crowley's death will haunt him and poison everything he does, like original sin. He may be able to outwit the law, but as William H Macy's character says in O Brother Where Art Thou, "the law is a human institution." Lem's death was nemesis--and to simply punish Shane alone would be unjust.
That's why I think some kind of altruistic suicide is the right way out for Vic--especially if he dies saving the life of a brother (or sister) cop. That way, the scales would be (somewhat) balanced, and Vic would ensure that his family and the Department wouldn't have to suffer for all the evil deeds that he's done. His kids would get his pension, the Department would give him a hero's funeral, and, while Dutch and Claudette would have their suspicions, only Ronnie would be left knowing what actually went down.
If anything, Lem's blood is on Vic's hands as well as Shane's. Shane stood and watched while Vic killed Terry Crowley. It was Vic's crossing that line that made it possible for Shane to go even further. Crowley's murder made Lem's murder conceivable.
I think, dramatically and thematically, Lem's murder should serve as a wake-up call for Vic: that, no matter how many good things he's done and will do, Crowley's death will haunt him and poison everything he does, like original sin. He may be able to outwit the law, but as William H Macy's character says in O Brother Where Art Thou, "the law is a human institution." Lem's death was nemesis--and to simply punish Shane alone would be unjust.
That's why I think some kind of altruistic suicide is the right way out for Vic--especially if he dies saving the life of a brother (or sister) cop. That way, the scales would be (somewhat) balanced, and Vic would ensure that his family and the Department wouldn't have to suffer for all the evil deeds that he's done. His kids would get his pension, the Department would give him a hero's funeral, and, while Dutch and Claudette would have their suspicions, only Ronnie would be left knowing what actually went down.
Last edited:
I agree about Shane:
A series theme that stuck out to me since I watched it all in a few weeks was Shane's descent.
He was the one that felt guilty about Terry's death, but as the series went on...he got worse, and occasionally justified it with Vic's act.
Even though he didn't pull the trigger, Vic is responsible for Lem's death.
In a college Police Ethics class I took, the main theme was Noble Cause corruption. And a large portion was devoted to the LA Rampart scandal (which the Shield is based on).
Noble Cause corruption is when officers believe the ends justify the means. They start doing illegal acts for the greater good. And it starts a fall down a slippery slope.
Vic pushed Shane down that Slope
He was the one that felt guilty about Terry's death, but as the series went on...he got worse, and occasionally justified it with Vic's act.
Even though he didn't pull the trigger, Vic is responsible for Lem's death.
In a college Police Ethics class I took, the main theme was Noble Cause corruption. And a large portion was devoted to the LA Rampart scandal (which the Shield is based on).
Noble Cause corruption is when officers believe the ends justify the means. They start doing illegal acts for the greater good. And it starts a fall down a slippery slope.
Vic pushed Shane down that Slope
Me being a police officer I hope Vic does have to answer for his crimes. One thing that still bothers me is that my wife was mad when one of Vic's plans was messed up by Claudette:
She called her a bitch.
I said...she's a good person and cop.
She said Claudette's always trying to mess up Vic's plans.
In disbelief I say... He killed a COP!
I've come around to the side that TV really influences peoples perceptions. And I think The Shield has influenced some to be more accepting of an ends justify the means mentality.
But it's still damn good television.
I agree about Shane:
A series theme that stuck out to me since I watched it all in a few weeks was Shane's descent.
He was the one that felt guilty about Terry's death, but as the series went on...he got worse, and occasionally justified it with Vic's act.
Even though he didn't pull the trigger, Vic is responsible for Lem's death.
In a college Police Ethics class I took, the main theme was Noble Cause corruption. And a large portion was devoted to the LA Rampart scandal (which the Shield is based on).
Noble Cause corruption is when officers believe the ends justify the means. They start doing illegal acts for the greater good. And it starts a fall down a slippery slope.
Vic pushed Shane down that Slope
Me being a police officer I hope Vic does have to answer for his crimes. One thing that still bothers me is that my wife was mad when one of Vic's plans was messed up by Claudette:
She called her a bitch.
I said...she's a good person and cop.
She said Claudette's always trying to mess up Vic's plans.
In disbelief I say... He killed a COP!
I've come around to the side that TV really influences peoples perceptions. And I think The Shield has influenced some to be more accepting of an ends justify the means mentality.
But it's still damn good television.
I don't think the show is promoting an ends justify the means idea at all. I think the show is daming Vic, just as The Sopranos damned Tony. In the end, I'll be really surprised if Vic doesn't have to atone for his actions because what he does IS bad and I've always felt that the show says that.
I've always thought that Dutch and Vic were opposites. Dutch is able to do just as much, if not more, than Vic while still operating inside the law.
Similar threads
