One thing about "The Shield" is how well the show holds up on multiple viewings. It's probably because of the attention to detail and the numerous story arcs going on in any single episode. This continues to be the case in the 7th and final season of the show.
Season 7 finds Det. Vic Mackey, at the end of the line. Season 6 finished with Vic walking out on his last chance to keep his job with the LAPD and making a deal with former police Captain, now wannabe-Mayor Aciveda to take down the crooked developer who has been bankrolling Aciveda's political career. Meanwhile, Vic's strike team is beginning to come apart at the seams, all of their former bad deeds are bubbling to the surface, and on top of that Vic's ex-wife and daughter are terrified of him. Vic's a dirty cop with a perverted sense of justice. He thinks that if he can nail this crooked developer AND take down the Armenian mob, it will make up for all the horrible things he has done.
The season plays out almost as a tragedy, and is the strongest season of the Shield since the powerful season 3. Watching these episodes again, I'm most struck by the relationship between Dutch and Capt. Wymms. Both actors do terrific work as seemingly the only people in the precinct who seem to care about Mackey's abuses, and the quest to bring him down strains them to the breaking point.
The rest of the cast is solid as always. David Rees Snell, who plays Ronnie Gardocki on the strike team, shows a whole lot more here than he has in the past. But the real standouts are Michael Chiklis as Mackey, and Walt Goggins as his longtime best friend/failed protégé Shane Vendrell. Goggins is outstanding in the final episodes. He's done horrible things and he can barely live with himself, yet he continues on to try and help his wife and children.
The show ends in about the only logical place it could end. The last three episodes in particular are shattering. The writing, acting, and direction are all fantastic, and "The Shield" goes out on a highly satisfying and emotional peak. A must own.
Season 7 finds Det. Vic Mackey, at the end of the line. Season 6 finished with Vic walking out on his last chance to keep his job with the LAPD and making a deal with former police Captain, now wannabe-Mayor Aciveda to take down the crooked developer who has been bankrolling Aciveda's political career. Meanwhile, Vic's strike team is beginning to come apart at the seams, all of their former bad deeds are bubbling to the surface, and on top of that Vic's ex-wife and daughter are terrified of him. Vic's a dirty cop with a perverted sense of justice. He thinks that if he can nail this crooked developer AND take down the Armenian mob, it will make up for all the horrible things he has done.
The season plays out almost as a tragedy, and is the strongest season of the Shield since the powerful season 3. Watching these episodes again, I'm most struck by the relationship between Dutch and Capt. Wymms. Both actors do terrific work as seemingly the only people in the precinct who seem to care about Mackey's abuses, and the quest to bring him down strains them to the breaking point.
The rest of the cast is solid as always. David Rees Snell, who plays Ronnie Gardocki on the strike team, shows a whole lot more here than he has in the past. But the real standouts are Michael Chiklis as Mackey, and Walt Goggins as his longtime best friend/failed protégé Shane Vendrell. Goggins is outstanding in the final episodes. He's done horrible things and he can barely live with himself, yet he continues on to try and help his wife and children.
The show ends in about the only logical place it could end. The last three episodes in particular are shattering. The writing, acting, and direction are all fantastic, and "The Shield" goes out on a highly satisfying and emotional peak. A must own.
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