Average Rating: 
Rating: - The Cop Drama Above All Others
Being a cop seems pretty attractive on TV. Some of the hit shows today show cops who are really clever, tough, and sexy. Their jobs are great, only interrupted by a serial killer or two. They always catch the bad guys though, and everything turns out all right. It makes a good television fantasy, but as NYPD Blue proved, a serious, hardcore police drama can work with the viewing public. The Shield builds on the success of NYPD Blue, taking an edgy style to the limit and sporting an unbelievably talented star and supporting cast. If you want a grown up drama that does not gloss over street life in LA's worst neighborhoods, the Shield's 1st season is the first place you should turn.The Shield centers around Detective Vic Mackey, played possessively by a transformed Michael Chiklis. Mackey runs an elite Special Police Force, that specializes in high risk investigations and arrests. Based partly on the infamous LAPD Ramparts division, Mackey's unit is brutal in its efficiency and gives little heed to regulations. Mackey justifies his extreme brutality by pointing out the drop of crime in the area, once thought hopelessly crime ridden. His secret is that, through collusion with the local drugs gangs, Mackey overseas a peaceful narcotic distribution and crime operation that shies away from shootings and other violence. Mackey is good, but many are after his hide. His main foil is Captain Aceveda, a politically motivated official who considers bringing Mackey down essential to his professional future. The dynamic between the two is intense, as is Vic's discovery of skeletons in Aceveda's closet. At every turn, Aceveda stands ready to take down Vic's regime. I am sure many think that the whole show is based on Vic. He is the most engaging character of the show, but the supporting cast is a great compliment. Standouts include "Dutch", a police detective who has a lot of inner conflicts, including a lack of confidence. His development during the season is really exciting. Shane Vendrell, Mackey's right hand man, is a treat to watch, as he begins to degenerate into reckless criminality that threatens Vic directly. The other great performances are too numerous to mention, suffice to say this is, besides the Sopranos, the best cast on TV today. The writing of this show is top notch. There are only one or two sub par episodes, while most installments are just mind blowing. The first episode and the last 3 are the highlights, but good episodes abound. We meet a colorful group of criminal leaders, psychopaths, police relatives, [prostitutes], and corrupt cops that even surpass Vic. Visible throughout the whole inner city milieu is Vic, who almost never deviates from his one-man crusade to keep the neighborhood safe. I am so glad Chiklis won the Emmy, as he delivered a performance just as good as Kiefer Sutherland, on a much smaller stage. Just a great show.
Rating: - Breaking barriers on and off screen
I still remember seeing promotions for this show when watching repeats of The Practice on FX, months before it premiered. It really had me pysched to see it, it was shown as a tough, gritty, no holds barred cop drama like we have never seen before. The problem was the dates kept getting pushed back and I forgot about it until after the season had already started. I came in during the middle, but since then I have never left. The Shield delivers on it's promise. It is the not only the best cop drama on television, it is the best drama of ANY genre. Like Vic Mackey, The Shield pushes boundaries and sometimes breaks them, when it comes to censorship. The first season has many highlights, but for me there are a few that stick out in my memory. First is when the serial killer case is finally solved. Jay Karnes, who plays Dutch, the detective on the case, is in top form in this episode. It is an unforgettable, award worthy performance. Second is the season finale. The riots that break out are the perfect backdrop for the chaos going on in the LAPD and specifically Vic Mackey in that episode. Vic Mackey is a character that is hard to know how to feel about. On the one hand, he does many many good deeds and is all about justice. On the other hand he has committed horrendous crimes himself, even killing a cop (the Internal Affairs informant). We should despise him, yet I find it impossible to do. Michael Chiklis (many of you may recognize him from The Commish, although he has gotten in shape since then) plays Vic flawlessly. There is no fault in his performance, not in any episode. He deserved the Emmy, but it was still a surprise win. To beat out HBO's Six Feet Under AND the West Wing AND 24 is no easy task. This DVD has many extras, but the main thing for me is the commentary. It is rare to get commentary from the cast at all, but to get commentary from cast and crew on EVERY episode is amazing! Deleted scenes and outtakes are also on the DVD, as well as cast auditions which will be interesting to see. Overall this DVD is well-packed with extras and above average as TV show DVD sets go. This show is recommended for any fan of serious drama. It is never formulaic, never repetitive, never normal. It will blow you away.
Rating: - The best cop show ever
Power, juice, rules, loyalties, all of it rolled up and swished around into one of the most enjoyable and complex dramas ever on TV. The character you root for this week is the one you hate the next. I wish I had all of the actor's and character's names at my fingertips because all of them are excellent and deserve a lot of credit. Chiklis is both menacing and heroic at the same time. And somehow still seems sympathetic whether he's fixing a blunder by one the guys on his team, or skimming some drug money for himself. The detective "Dutch" moves from cluelessness to genius to destroyed emotional cripple in a single episode. The writing, acting, and shooting are amazing. The individual episodes have complete plotlines, yet feed into the entire season (which has an impressive climax while maintaining the tension for season 2). The alliances between the leads and supporting characters constantly change and twist as the characters look for personal advantage. What's most impressive is how the series feels new and almost never hits a cliched clanger note (ehhh, with one exception that I'll let you find for yourself). This is one of those series that make you re-arrange your schedule. It's the only one I made an effort for. Easily the best thing on TV last year. Thanks to the producers(or whoever) for allowing us to watch and share this fantastic series anytime.
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