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Claudette Under Pressure!! Capone’s Seen THE SHIELD 7.5!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
The good news is FX has already forwarded to journalists 11 of “The Shield’s” final 13 episodes. The bad news is the channel has promised the press will not see the final two until they’re aired. So, clearly, hugeness awaits in episode 12. What if Vic doesn’t make it to the finale and the final episode is all about Dutch and Claudette and the gay guy picking up the pieces?
AICN’s man in Chicago, the wily Capone, has details on tonight’s installment:
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here in Coaxial. There are eight episodes and counting in "The Shield's" Final Act, and I've just gotten some tragic news (for me, anyway): FX will not be supplying journalists with the final two episodes of this legendary series. And while I'm disappointed, I'm not crying foul either. I'd suspected the network would withhold at least the final episode from anyone who might leak the fate of our favorite Barn-yard cops. Now be honest: how many of you have bets with your buddies as to the fate of Vic Mackey? What do the Vegas odds say? Will he go out in a blaze of glory? Will he simply go down with a humiliating whimper? I have absolutely nothing to back my theory that Dutch may have something to do with Mackey's fate. They've been playing up his character a whole lot this season, and he was essentially our entry point into the Barn at the show's birth. His first day was our first day. I'm just guessing or perhaps wishfully thinking.
When last we left Vic (Michael Chiklis), Councilman Aceveda had just revealed that upon a detailed search through the blackmail box, he discovered the name of a certain FBI Agent that has been helping Vic and his team solve major big-ticket investigations of late. Here's a rundown of episode five of Season 7.
Title?
GAME FACE
Writer?
Charles E. Eglee, a solid veteran writer of many a TV drama, has scripted multiple episodes of such shows as "St. Elsewhere," "L.A. Law," "NYPD Blue," "Murder One," and 10 previous episodes of "The Shield." In addition, he and James Cameron co-created "Dark Angel," the pilot for which Eglee wrote.
Director?
A bright young director by the name of Michael Chiklis, who has directed three previous episodes of the show in which he stars.
How does the strike team react to the news that Agent Murray (Laurie Holden) has been in Pezuela the entire time they've been working with her?
The Strike Team and Aceveda convene at the Barn and contemplate the possibility that Murray might be holding onto the info she's gathered on them rather than turning it over to the Mexicans. They figure their goose would have been cooked a long time ago if she'd ratted them out.
Murray brings the team on a case about a Cuban drug lord trying to clean money in a blue jeans business, but the jeans business's owner's daughter is kidnapped, so the team seeks her out mainly to stay close to Murray.
Hey, don't other people do police work at "The Barn"?
Claudette (CCH Pounder) confronts Dutch (Jay Karnes) about diverting any stress-related cases away from her because of her health. But all his efforts are tossed out the door when Claudette is deposed by a serial killer (acting as his own attorney) she helped put away last season (fans of the show will recognize him). He brings up the fact that the medication she is taking for her illness has certain side effects that could taint her judgement and powers of observation, perhaps even slightly psychotic. Claudette leaves the interview realizing that from this point forward her condition is making her a liability to the force. She calls in Danni (Catherine Dent) for a talk.
Meanwhile Dutch isn't quite done with that possible teen serial killer from last week. He meets with an FBI profiler about the kid, who in turn meets with the teen posing as a therapist. In a strange twist, Dutch also consults Claudette's serial killer/lawyer about the kid. This is a creepy and revealing sequence, and one of the best of the season so far.
We know things are bad in Vic's professional life. How bad are things getting in his personal life?
Vic's ex, Corrine (Cathy Cahlin Ryan) comes to the Barn to tell him that Cassidy (Autumn Chiklis) has been suspended for taking drugs and attending a "pimps & ho's" party.
What about the Cuban girl?
Her disappearance seems to be tied in with a chop shop ring, but when the Strike Team shows up to one such shop, they find three dead bodies waiting for them. Seems the Cubans are at least one step ahead of Mackey. When the team figures out where the girl is being held, they recruit a gang to pose as robbers (placing Julien, Michael Jace, in their masked midst), so the girl can escape during the supposed robbery. It's a elaborate plan that is bound to go wrong during the execution.
So what to do about the blackmail box?
Realizing that giving up the blackmail box to the Feds might buy them points, Shane convinces Ronnie to make Vic give it up. When the idea is presented to Vic, he finally has to confess that he doesn't have it.
What I liked.
I'm torn about the kidnapped Cuban girl storyline. On the one hand, it's disturbing and well written. On the other hand, it distracts us from the Mexican-Armenian through-line, which is becoming my object of obsession these days. Also, everything Dutch touches these days is turning to gold. His relationships with Claudette, Billings (David Marciano), Danni, and those he is investigating (Frances Fisher returns this week as well as the teen's mother) are becoming increasingly fascinating. He's the quieter heart and soul of "The Shield" these days.
What I didn't like.
Why won't FX send me the final two episodes? Why? Why?! WHY?!!!!! Why do I even make this a subject heading any more. There's nothing worth complaining about.
How does it end?
Three climaxes, all taking place at every level of Mackey's existence. He confronts Agent Murray about where her true loyalties lie. Vic also goes after the kid that supposedly arranged the party that got his daughter in trouble. Turns out he wasn't the one who organized the party or got the drugs. Danni goes to Vic with some papers from her lawyer.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
NOW!!
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Is this a mistake, or does she go with something else this time?
My money is on Vic's kid being the party organiser. She's on a path of self-destruction just so Daddy will notice her. That kid is messed up. -
There will be a big, tense, dramatic scene where it looks like Vic will be killed. We're all going to be holding our breath. But, cooler heads prevail and Vic gets off the hook yet again. Just as we gather ourselves and take a breath, just when we think all is going to be okay, "BANG" a gunshot rings out. Blood appears on Vic's chest. He falls to the ground and who is standing behind him with the smoking gun. His daughter Cassidy. BAM! Bank on it. She knows he's a bad person and can't stand that he is her dad. Killed by his own blood. Like father like daughter. RIP Vic, but you kind of deserve it...
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I started watching season one a few weeks ago. Four days later I was finishing season five. Sadly, seeing The Wire has damaged my opinion of The Shield. Allow me to illustrate via an analogy. The Wire is to The Shield as The Shield is to Law & Order or CSI. I used to be so impressed with how visceral The Shield felt compared to any other cop show. And now The Wire has cheapened that experience. I still can't wait to see what happens on The Shield, but I still wish I hadn't watched The Wire yet.
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I think I know what you mean Strabo. I haven't seen The Wire yet but some of the storylines in The Shield are too contrived. The good guys state what they want to happen, and 9 times out of 10, the bad guys do exactly as they had hoped. Does anyone think the head of the Armenian mob would be so stupid as to be fooled by what Vic is doing. It was almost laughable that Vic's guys arranged the gun purchase in episode 2 and then "saved" Rezian as the cops came and broke up the transaction. Then Vic plants a bug in Rezian's phone as he's standing right behind him? It's like the "Keystone Armenians." That said, the show is one of the best on TV. I just wish more sub-plots extended over multiple episodes with reoccurring characters. Like the girl and her boyfriend who cut off a girl's arm and was holding her hostage or the season where Dutch was tracking down the serial rapist. I wish Dutch got his own spinoff. I'm gonna put The Wire season 1 into my queue right now. From what I read it should be more raw and realistic. Slower pace but more time spent diving into character. Sad to see The Shield go. Shane is so deep in the shit there's no way he's coming out of this season alive. And if you read my post above, you know that Cassidy is going to take Vic out.
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I really like The Shield, it's a great show, but watching The Wire makes you realise the difference between great entertainment and true greatness.
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Do yourself a favor, wait on The Wire. Wait for The Shield to finish, and then watch The Wire.
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i can totally see him smiling as he chokes the life out of billings.
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He just needs a hobby, a box to fill as it we're. -
That guy just cracks me up. Dutch needs Billings to stay sharp. Did Dutch ever find out that Billings sent the fake sms that Tina wanted to see Dutch ? I don't remember it, but if Dutch didn't find out I would still like to see what happens if he found out.
And if Cassidy takes out Vic it will be a cheap cop out. I hope Vic survives but if he doesn't he should go out in a blaze of glory and not by something stupid like patricide.
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Aww aint so sad that Capone has not been given access to the last 2 episodes of The Shield. You will just have to watch it normally like the rest of us. Do you want a paer towel to dry those tears?
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Autumn Chiklis could be a female wrestler, MMA star or boxer.
She is a brute.
Not ugly just big. -
A lifelong comic book fan, he rarely (if ever) turns down an autograph request from children. In fact, according to the DVD commentary for the Fantastic Four film, his voice has been going hoarse from doing so many requests as Thing; in Chiklis's own words
"How do you say 'no' to an 8 year old?"
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Give me a break with all this idiotic praise for The Wire. The Wire is Barney Miller-lite compared to The Shield.
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Maybe the show has gotten better but I watched the entire first season and found it to be solid but painfully overrated, just like most other shows on HBO. I really don't get why people even compare the two shows because frankly, they are nothing alike. The Shield is the very essence of noir while the Wire is simply a really, really good cop drama. Again, I have nothing against the show, but every time a discussion for the Shield pops up, at least two people come in here and whine about how much better The Wire is and it’s pretty annoying, all things considered. Both shows have certainly raised the bar in terms of television drama and while liking one better than the other is obviously a personal choice, there is no definitive statement as to which is actually superior. I personally prefer The Shield because it has stories and a slant I find compelling, more so than anything I’ve seen from The Wire. Also, calling The Shield contrived is just plain fucking stupid. I haven’t seen very many shows kill off a main character like Lem and do it in an honest and brutal manner. I’ve also seen very few TV shows (or movies for that matter) that can successfully create a rich and complex character like Vic. Again, if you prefer The Wire, power to you, but saying The Shield looks worse by comparison is bullshit and frankly makes you look like cunts, especially since you are trolling in a Shield talkback.
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If you watched The Unit season premiere. Well, kinda. I'd like to praise Benito Martinez in addition to Chiklis, Pounder, Goggins and Karnes. Damn I am gonna miss this show when it's gone.
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I'm a fan of both shows, but I gotta tell ya, The Wire is a thing of beauty. I never watched it on HBO but I watched all 5 seasons on DVD (with the subtitles on) and I absolutely mourned the day I finished. Absolutely fantastic show. Layered, complex, brutal, unforgiving, and you can't take your eyes off it. It has a much broader scope and depth than The Shield ever had.
But I do love The Shield. The title of an upcoming episode is "Parricide", which means "the killing of a family member". Let the guessing games begin!!! -
why is it that everytime the shield is mentioned someone thinks it's their duty to bring up how great The Wire is. Yes it's a great show, but other then being cop shows they have little in common. The Wire is an expansive story that covers many facets of Baltimore and a ton of different characters. The Shield has a much smaller focus, but that does not mean it's any less of a show. I personally prefer The Shield.
Also, Season 5 of The Wire kind of sucked. Probably due to being only 10 episodes, but it just wasn't as good as the other seasons... -
ANd you know Vic's gonna be banging that hot FBI lady!!
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I like both shows but more entertainment can be found in the Shield for sure. During its run The Shield had lots of holy shit moments, lots of funny moments, intensity and unforgettable bad guys. None of that I have found in the Wire. The hardcore Wire fans, a.k.a. The Wire Whiners, just can't handle the fact that The Shield gets more recocgnition and deservedly so. So they come here to whine. That's ok. It makes the talkback funnier.
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Oct 01, 2008 4:48:51 AM CDT
Shield is Amazing Spiderman Wire is Brothers Karamazov
by guy who got a headache and accidentally
Guess which is more popular among dipshits?
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Vic's daughter killing him, as ridiculous as that sounds, actually seems plausible on The Shield. That bullshit wouldn't ever fly on the Wire. And Lem's death? That the best you can offer up? It's obvious you never made it past the first season LastCleric. You ever get around to seeing the rest you're going to be feeling pretty god damn foolish.
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OMG! Are they finally going to kill Shane?
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damn you laws of time..
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Oct 01, 2008 8:36:32 AM CDT
"I'm your man." Another great finish to a OK episode...
by lanemyersclassic
And, Bo Man, I proposed the Cassidy thing a few weeks ago. Good call.
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Anyone else notice that over the course of the series that Corrine has slowly turned into Fay Furillo from Hill Street Blues?
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Oct 01, 2008 11:46:11 AM CDT
This show could be vastly improved by a 1920s Foley artist
by gruntybear
I mean, everytime Vic predictably flips the script and barks at an ally, we need a slide whistle punctuation and a "zoinks" on the soundtrack. Just think how improved that chop-shop infiltration would have been with that revving, tomahawk drum sound they make for when Scooby-Doo and the gang flee a land developer in a ghost sheet. Ronnie's appearance on screen could be announced with that depth-charge orchestral edging sound that was used throughout Star Trek to heighten tension. And a laugh track would underscore any onscreen appearance by Shane or Billings. If it's going to act like a cartoon, we might as well treat it as a cartoon.
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this season is finally picking up now that ep 5 is a return to form just like the previous seasons.That Sam Cooke looking serial killer mindfucked Claudia oh shit I did'nt see that one coming..same goes for that kid that pulled one over Dutch. "Mom, he's here to tell us that the case is over.."As for that chick/victim lying on her stomach..cute ass.I don't understand the hype regarding the Wire, but hey to each his own.
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not ENOUGH Vic Mackey, mind you, but more than Obama.
Anyone know if any of the pricey guest stars (Antwone, Ghost Dog, Chubbs or the lady from Damages) are scheduled to re-appear before the finale? -
Do we get a scene where she chews Acevada up as promised in the beginning? Her BF is obviously in no shape any longer. The dude that plays the serial killer sure does seem to attract those roles- Veronica Mars, Cold Case, and this show. What's funny about the soundtrack is how nobody at the Barn ever seems to answer a phone.
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