Completed: The Shield - FINAL THOUGHTS (Spoilers)

Starting my watch of the Shield, I hear it's good.

By Episode 3, it's quite good, pretty enjoyable, I'm hoping the bigger arc gets more exciting, otherwise there are better cop procedurals.

At least now.


Update: Yeah that's right, Season 4 if just under 2 weeks. I don't watch this show at all...

Just a fantastic show all around. Agree about Vic and his shifting personal code, a little annoying. Especially in relation to Shane. But Shane became a prick at the end of Season 3...and I was liking his character.

Money Train storyline was good, but I didn't buy it much. I mean, the "breakdown" they had about the whole thing was a little forced. I think the show has a little trouble balancing all of the characters...at least still. Other than that, great show. Will probably finish the whole thing in another couple of weeks.

Final Update:

NON SPOILER RESPONSE

If you haven't yet, do yourself a favor and watch The Shield. Done.




SPOILERS AHEAD























Annnnnnddddd done.

Wow. That's what I'm saying. Few shows handled the moral grey with as much punch as the Shield. Vic's charisma, given how much you should hate him, is outstanding. I don't like antiheroes, and I often don't like shows or movies with them, because they get it wrong.

Ryan and Company got it right with Vic. It was necessary to balance him against Wims, Aceveda, Shane, Gardoki, Antwon, etc. He always had more than one foil and always on multiple sides of the spectrum, that's what kept him interesting and moving forward as a character.

The show avoided major plot holes, dumb characters, but kept enough surprises to make the ending worth it. Shane's ending, no matter how much of a prick he was, was heartbreaking. Gardoki, just pisses me off. But it's supposed to. Vic getting played at the end and sitting at a desk, a nice final touch.

I think the show's major strength is that it took one single event, the murder of Terry, and let everything spiral from there. Although gone, there wasn't a more important character in the show outside of Vic and Shane. And that's a big achievement. Plenty of shows take that approach and things end up convoluted, or worse, just plain confusing. Red herrings. Plot holes, deus ex machinas around every single corner, season ending, and show ending. And that gets tiresome. They were able to constantly refer to the death, constantly let it haunt major characters and never let it seem forced. Kudos to using Shane's letter to wrap it up so well. Just well thought out from beginning to end.

An all around solid experience (acting, writing, stylistic tone, all on point). Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen it.