Today, series and movies compete for who breaks boundaries, who is the boldest. In the early 2000s there were oz, wire and sopranos who were pioneers. At the latest, breaking bad set a new frontier for storytelling - which may never have been broken - but in general, even at the time the shield came, tv shows was quite cautious about the fear of rejection by production managers and the media. With good reason, one can think that the shield is the ancestor of many good drama series, a forerunner. The third season is the best so far: the plot, the actors, the description and the realism are at a level that will suit any program today
5 Reviews
What will happen to the Strike Team?
Zokas14 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Season 3's final episode is another brilliant ending, although not quite as satisfying as the previous two.
This episode hopefully will see the end of the money train storyline as it is wrapped up nicely, albeit a little to easily. However, its only really wrapped up on the Armenian side, so there is the possibility that any investigation might continue into the fourth season.
Claudette's demotion wasn't much of a surprise considering how much she values her morals over her job - she almost seemed to accept that she might lose her job, just as long as she didn't claim moral bankruptcy. It was interesting to see Dutch's adoption of one of the homeless kitties - something tells me that kitty will face a grizzly end. This weird angle on Dutch is one of the most interesting subplots in terms of where it'll end up.
Finally, once again, the writers pull off a great confrontation between the members of the Strike Team at the end. I loved it how it all seems like it'll go back to normal, but Shane had to open his big mouth and screws things up again! Everyone's performance was 110%, especially between Shane and Vic at the end.
Although it ended a bit abruptly, I think its a great place to end the season and definitely makes me wanna start Season 4 right away. What will happen to the Strike Team?
This episode hopefully will see the end of the money train storyline as it is wrapped up nicely, albeit a little to easily. However, its only really wrapped up on the Armenian side, so there is the possibility that any investigation might continue into the fourth season.
Claudette's demotion wasn't much of a surprise considering how much she values her morals over her job - she almost seemed to accept that she might lose her job, just as long as she didn't claim moral bankruptcy. It was interesting to see Dutch's adoption of one of the homeless kitties - something tells me that kitty will face a grizzly end. This weird angle on Dutch is one of the most interesting subplots in terms of where it'll end up.
Finally, once again, the writers pull off a great confrontation between the members of the Strike Team at the end. I loved it how it all seems like it'll go back to normal, but Shane had to open his big mouth and screws things up again! Everyone's performance was 110%, especially between Shane and Vic at the end.
Although it ended a bit abruptly, I think its a great place to end the season and definitely makes me wanna start Season 4 right away. What will happen to the Strike Team?
A bit underwhelming plot wise, but masterful when it comes to the characters. Brilliant finale to a brilliant season. Includes another one of my favorite TV scenes.
EddyTheMartian00713 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Honestly this was the weakest finale yet, but only by very little, all the season finales have been amazing. Season 1 definitely has the strongest finale in my opinion, closely followed by season 2 and now season 3. While season 1 executed the plot side of the finale the best, having been set up greatly from the start, the second season didn't have as much set up for everything (because of changes behind the scenes) forcing a weaker plot into the finale, though the rest of the finale was up to par or better, especially with the money train heist. This finale comparatively had the weakest execution with the plot, though still good of course, but masterful execution when it comes to the characters. What makes this finale weaker than the last 2 is the underwhelming ending for the plot with Margos. For a character set up since the first season, and having so much time to develop the plot with the longest season yet, I wish the ending wasn't as easily and simply achieved as it was. It was just underwhelming. At first I gave this episode a 9 because of it, but this episode stuck with me so much I just had to give it a 10. This season suffer a tiny bit from its longer length because certain things felt a bit like filler, for example Vic's relationship this season (I can't even remember the character's name), and I thought the season took a couple of episodes to get going. Some storylines felt like they ended a bit too quickly, like the arc with Tavon, though the scene where Vic forced Lem to gaslight him was amazing, but other than that this season was once again an improvement in every way, especially character wise. It just kept getting better and better, continuously straining the characters and viewers with more and more intensity, culminating with the brilliant penultimate episode which I think may be the best episode in the show so far!
This is where this finale truly shines, with the characters, giving us another amazing scene after the ending of the last episode. Before I talk about that scene I'm just gonna go through the other stuff quickly first. I love that after everything they went through to get the money they're each left with about 60k which they'd used to spend pretty casually. The Armenians and cops are still looking for them even though they only have a small fraction of what they're looking for, and the intensity is still there. It's pretty sad that Dutch is right but he just doesn't have enough proof so he's antagonized by Vic again and turned into a joke in the precinct like before. It's also quite sad that Claudette losses her chance to be captain excuse she's actually the only one who stays true to her morals. Aceveda has gone through A LOT this season, and it seems like he's very down with everything he has to do and going against Claudette. He goes to a hooker to get that feeling of righteousness and power again, but he lets her go. Vic and his wife find out a new way to deal with their kids and I got to say the family storyline got a lot better this season. This episode does have a hopeful side with a comic book store owner taking it on with his own hands to make his streets cleaner from hookers. I like how that reflects on Danni and Julien, and Danni is finally back up. The tensions between the strike team after last episode are still there and there's extra tension added with Lem wanting to leave and that potentially disbanding the strike team once and for all.
Finally that final scene. Another masterful scene and one of the best of in all of TV in my opinion, with the actors giving this scene EVEN MORE than their all. Seriously Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, and Kenny Johnson seemingly keep one upping themselves. The strike team comes together to make amends. It's another tense scene because we know everything that's happened between them. I do believe Vic truly meant what he said wanting them to be back together, but the motivation to save the strike team is also there thinly veiled. I love how it seems like everything is back to normal for a moment and they were truly able to get past this. Unfortunately, once again the characters egos get in their way. Shane is just itching to say what he believes. Lem unfortunately boasts that burning the money was the right thing to do when it wasn't. Vic shows more restraint still disagreeing with Lem but not attacking him over it, snd Lem goes along with it explaining his actions reasonably as he was just trying to protect them, but Shane doesn't have that restraint and lets the floods loose. It's painful because Shane is technically right, burning the money was pointless but it's the difference between the characters. Lem did it for the right reasons even if he was wrong, but Shane did it for the wrong reasons even if he was right. The team is once again unraveling, Ronnie and Vic desperately try to stop Shane, but it's too late, he lets it loose that they just want him back to keep the strike team. Again it is partially true, at least from Shane's perspective, he wouldn't want him back unless it was to save the strike team, but Ronnie and Vic seemingly do want him back regardless, and unfortunately Shane doesn't realize that. It's important to rationalize everyone's actions. Vic obviously gets both sides, which is why he tells Shane what he wants to hear and Lem what he wants to hear, but in hiding the whole picture from both characters it alienated both of them. Everything goes tumbling down once again, but it doesn't stop there.
As Ronnie leaves to get Lem back Vic now brings all the blame on Shane causing him to keep going and now target Vic. Walton Goggins and Micheal Chiklis are just astonishing in this scene. Everything is just masterful, each line of dialogue brimming with so much emotion and meaning. The characters are throwing everything they have at each other, pulling no punches, and once again they're both right in their own way, but they just can't accept what the other person is saying to themselves and it breaks them apart. Vic wants to protect Shane, but Shane wants to be viewed as an equal like he often suggests they are. Vic can't trust Shane after everything that has happened like with Tavon, but Vic couldn't even trust Shane when he was telling the truth about the money that he didn't steal, even if it was the only thing that made sense from Vic's perspective. Shane brings up Mara which Vic knows has brought the worst in Shane in some areas, but he can't see it from his perspective that Shane truly loves her and that's not that way to deal with their relationship. Obviously Vic has more maturity and knows that Shane is could just infatuated with her and moving too quickly into marriage, but she wasn't all bad either, I mean she was right about the way Vic treats Shane. Mara was unstable and almost left Shane before, so Vic is right in suggesting that she will turn on her too, but the way he says it makes it seem like Vic is saying they've already turned on him. It's hard to tell if Vic truly meant it or it just came out, but it's too late now. Shane once again brings violence to a problem he can't solve as he puts down his gun to fight Vic. Shane for once shows vulnerability, admitting his mistakes, but it's true Vic never lets him live them down, always antagonizing him with them. Vic does this again telling Shane that he put the money above them, which is true, but maybe Shane did it impulsively and now saw his mistake, after all Vic is the one who perverted Shane to this level. In a way Shane doesn't want to admit it as he doesn't respond to it and attacks Vic when he mentions Mara agin. Shane touches the one thing that is sensitive to Vic, his family, as he says Vic has no one to go home to. Ouch. Vic tried to come back from that as we now know that his daughter will be staying with her, but Shane is right, Vic is a bad influence, how long will that last? Vic almost pushes it too far but he composes himself and gives Shane a chance to walk away. Shane takes it, but Vic in a moment of impulse grabs his gun and the trust is broken. He realizes he is just like Shane as the headlights from Shane's leaving car illuminates his gun. With tearful eyes he finally understand and realizes everything they've broken over this.
This has been one of the most impactful and emotional experiences in all of TV for me. I watched this episode like a month ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to review it. When I finished it, I just stared at my screen for like half an hour. This scene has stuck with me for so long and I just can't stop thinking about it. It feels so real, to see 2 friends, brothers, ruin their relationship. I definitely feel like a lot of people can relate to this at least in a small way, and I seriously almost teared up again during this scene. After this season I was sure The Shield was truly something special that deserved to be praised among the best TV shows. Even though some of the characters aren't even that deeply developed yet, I've grown so attached to them. It's such a ballsy but brilliant move to break up the main team in a way like this. After this scene, my love for this show was solidified. I think The Shield could become my favorite show of all time if it keeps improving like I think it will. This is the first season of The Shield I would consider a masterpiece at a 9.6/10, and it won't be the last.
Edit: I was right, it kept improving and became my favorite show ever.
This is where this finale truly shines, with the characters, giving us another amazing scene after the ending of the last episode. Before I talk about that scene I'm just gonna go through the other stuff quickly first. I love that after everything they went through to get the money they're each left with about 60k which they'd used to spend pretty casually. The Armenians and cops are still looking for them even though they only have a small fraction of what they're looking for, and the intensity is still there. It's pretty sad that Dutch is right but he just doesn't have enough proof so he's antagonized by Vic again and turned into a joke in the precinct like before. It's also quite sad that Claudette losses her chance to be captain excuse she's actually the only one who stays true to her morals. Aceveda has gone through A LOT this season, and it seems like he's very down with everything he has to do and going against Claudette. He goes to a hooker to get that feeling of righteousness and power again, but he lets her go. Vic and his wife find out a new way to deal with their kids and I got to say the family storyline got a lot better this season. This episode does have a hopeful side with a comic book store owner taking it on with his own hands to make his streets cleaner from hookers. I like how that reflects on Danni and Julien, and Danni is finally back up. The tensions between the strike team after last episode are still there and there's extra tension added with Lem wanting to leave and that potentially disbanding the strike team once and for all.
Finally that final scene. Another masterful scene and one of the best of in all of TV in my opinion, with the actors giving this scene EVEN MORE than their all. Seriously Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, and Kenny Johnson seemingly keep one upping themselves. The strike team comes together to make amends. It's another tense scene because we know everything that's happened between them. I do believe Vic truly meant what he said wanting them to be back together, but the motivation to save the strike team is also there thinly veiled. I love how it seems like everything is back to normal for a moment and they were truly able to get past this. Unfortunately, once again the characters egos get in their way. Shane is just itching to say what he believes. Lem unfortunately boasts that burning the money was the right thing to do when it wasn't. Vic shows more restraint still disagreeing with Lem but not attacking him over it, snd Lem goes along with it explaining his actions reasonably as he was just trying to protect them, but Shane doesn't have that restraint and lets the floods loose. It's painful because Shane is technically right, burning the money was pointless but it's the difference between the characters. Lem did it for the right reasons even if he was wrong, but Shane did it for the wrong reasons even if he was right. The team is once again unraveling, Ronnie and Vic desperately try to stop Shane, but it's too late, he lets it loose that they just want him back to keep the strike team. Again it is partially true, at least from Shane's perspective, he wouldn't want him back unless it was to save the strike team, but Ronnie and Vic seemingly do want him back regardless, and unfortunately Shane doesn't realize that. It's important to rationalize everyone's actions. Vic obviously gets both sides, which is why he tells Shane what he wants to hear and Lem what he wants to hear, but in hiding the whole picture from both characters it alienated both of them. Everything goes tumbling down once again, but it doesn't stop there.
As Ronnie leaves to get Lem back Vic now brings all the blame on Shane causing him to keep going and now target Vic. Walton Goggins and Micheal Chiklis are just astonishing in this scene. Everything is just masterful, each line of dialogue brimming with so much emotion and meaning. The characters are throwing everything they have at each other, pulling no punches, and once again they're both right in their own way, but they just can't accept what the other person is saying to themselves and it breaks them apart. Vic wants to protect Shane, but Shane wants to be viewed as an equal like he often suggests they are. Vic can't trust Shane after everything that has happened like with Tavon, but Vic couldn't even trust Shane when he was telling the truth about the money that he didn't steal, even if it was the only thing that made sense from Vic's perspective. Shane brings up Mara which Vic knows has brought the worst in Shane in some areas, but he can't see it from his perspective that Shane truly loves her and that's not that way to deal with their relationship. Obviously Vic has more maturity and knows that Shane is could just infatuated with her and moving too quickly into marriage, but she wasn't all bad either, I mean she was right about the way Vic treats Shane. Mara was unstable and almost left Shane before, so Vic is right in suggesting that she will turn on her too, but the way he says it makes it seem like Vic is saying they've already turned on him. It's hard to tell if Vic truly meant it or it just came out, but it's too late now. Shane once again brings violence to a problem he can't solve as he puts down his gun to fight Vic. Shane for once shows vulnerability, admitting his mistakes, but it's true Vic never lets him live them down, always antagonizing him with them. Vic does this again telling Shane that he put the money above them, which is true, but maybe Shane did it impulsively and now saw his mistake, after all Vic is the one who perverted Shane to this level. In a way Shane doesn't want to admit it as he doesn't respond to it and attacks Vic when he mentions Mara agin. Shane touches the one thing that is sensitive to Vic, his family, as he says Vic has no one to go home to. Ouch. Vic tried to come back from that as we now know that his daughter will be staying with her, but Shane is right, Vic is a bad influence, how long will that last? Vic almost pushes it too far but he composes himself and gives Shane a chance to walk away. Shane takes it, but Vic in a moment of impulse grabs his gun and the trust is broken. He realizes he is just like Shane as the headlights from Shane's leaving car illuminates his gun. With tearful eyes he finally understand and realizes everything they've broken over this.
This has been one of the most impactful and emotional experiences in all of TV for me. I watched this episode like a month ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to review it. When I finished it, I just stared at my screen for like half an hour. This scene has stuck with me for so long and I just can't stop thinking about it. It feels so real, to see 2 friends, brothers, ruin their relationship. I definitely feel like a lot of people can relate to this at least in a small way, and I seriously almost teared up again during this scene. After this season I was sure The Shield was truly something special that deserved to be praised among the best TV shows. Even though some of the characters aren't even that deeply developed yet, I've grown so attached to them. It's such a ballsy but brilliant move to break up the main team in a way like this. After this scene, my love for this show was solidified. I think The Shield could become my favorite show of all time if it keeps improving like I think it will. This is the first season of The Shield I would consider a masterpiece at a 9.6/10, and it won't be the last.
Edit: I was right, it kept improving and became my favorite show ever.
Hajoghutyun, Margos
lirmihn1 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
No matter how many times I've watched this series (a double dozen or so) some episodes, like this one, still just grab me.
Major changes are on the horizon. Lem's stomach has had it, & his hands are singed. Shane's temper & mouth keep getting the best of him, & mucking up The Plan.
Dutch redeems himself a wee bit with our feline friends.
Claudette has had it with self-absorbed male coworkers, especially Vic & Aceveda, but the decision she makes results in a rough road for herself & her partner.
Altogether another superb season finale!
Major changes are on the horizon. Lem's stomach has had it, & his hands are singed. Shane's temper & mouth keep getting the best of him, & mucking up The Plan.
Dutch redeems himself a wee bit with our feline friends.
Claudette has had it with self-absorbed male coworkers, especially Vic & Aceveda, but the decision she makes results in a rough road for herself & her partner.
Altogether another superb season finale!
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