I am – Hercules!!
This is when it get interesting. Tonight’s episode and the next three are four of the best installments of “The Shield” I’ve yet seen. “Capone” has the full report on tonight: Hello again everyone. Capone in Chicago here in Coaxial. After this episode, there are six episodes and counting in "The Shield's" Final Act. And as of this writing, I've now watched all but the final two episodes of this freakishly great show (which are not being sent in advance to critics), so I have a much clearer vision of where things are headed, and as of the last episode in which Vic and Ronnie passively tried to kill Shane (with the help of Mexicans wielding automatic weapons, the road to the finale is far more clearly defined. And anything that impedes us getting to some kind of resolution/death/arrest/new job/etc., concerning Vic Mackey is window dressing. And there is very little window dressing from this point forward. Shit gets serious starting right now. Title? BITCHES BREW Writers? Writing partners Charles H. 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), & Elizabeth Hansen (writer of one previous episode of "The Shield"). Director? Stephen Kay, director of such films as THE LAST TIME I COMMITTED SUICIDE, the Stallone GET CARTER remake, and BOOGEYMAN. TV helming work includes two previous "Shield" episodes, as well as stints directing episodes of "Saved," "Friday Night Lights," "Dirt," and "Sons of Anarchy." Didn't Danni serve Vic with some papers a couple episodes ago? What happened with that? Vic wants a DNA test done on their "son," but not for the reasons you might think. In a typically misguided way, Vic is trying to do the right thing by his children now that his daughter seems to be pulling away from him. Later in the episode, Danni ends up at Corrine's house to let him know what Vic is up to and to ask her to testify in court that Vic is an unfit father. Ouch! By the end of the episode Danni has a few papers of her own served to her courtesy of Mr. Mackey. Close to the end of the episode, the two meet one more time to possibly iron out their custody issues. What about that pesky blackmail box? Vic and Acevada jointly turn over the box to the feds with one key file missing, but with plenty still in there to nail Pezuela. The feds aren't quite ready to bust Pezuela because they've gotten word that there are higher ups from Mexico that can be gotten to. To help Vic prove he's still useful to Pezuela, Agent Murray tips Vic off that the feds are about to raid Pezuela's operation; Vic takes this info to his Mexican part-time employer. Strangely enough, the blackmail box is still very much a factor this week, as Vic has an interesting idea involving getting the box to Pezuela. Doesn't Vic have some review hearing in a couple of week? Oops. Out of nowhere, the hearing is moved up two weeks, and the result is very, very bad for Vic...however, the final decision about the fate of Vic's career is ultimately in the hands of the Chief of Police. Claudette has an interesting proposition for Mackey--leave the force immediately and maybe Vic's post-police situation won't be quite as bad. What about Shane? Ronnie immediately begins to suspect that Shane has figured out that he was supposed to be killed along with Armenians in the last episode. After trying to back out of the hit, Vic decides this week he's more interested in "fixing" Shane than killing him. What truly unsettling cases arrive at the Strike Team's door this week? A hooker friend of Vic's named Farrah (last seen in the 2004 season episode "Bottom Bitch," and played by SPIDER-MAN 3's criminally skinny but still weirdly hot Mageina Tovah) comes to him begging the team to bust a pimp who murdered a fellow street walker friend. Please notice the title of this episode for a clue as to who's pulling the strings this week. Vic and Shane are on the case. The team tracks down the pimp's right-hand man, who Ronnie absolutely pulverizes with a right hook to the jaw. Oh, and Julien kills someone. Hey, don't other people do police work at "The Barn"? Dutch investigates a crime fairly close to Claudette's house. He swings by her place after he's done to say Hi, and can see through her window that her place is an absolute disaster. He confronts her about this later that day. What I liked. The hooker murder storyline is absolutely the best case this season, and reminds us of the fact that Vic is capable of getting fucked over by someone other than a co-worker. Also, every time Shane is screen, the tension levels hit the roof. We just don't know what he's planning, but we know a scheme is afoot. What I didn't like. The Dutch-Billings break-in investigation feels like filler material, not good in a season where Dutch has pretty much been the show's second lead. How does it end? Vic and Danni appear to come to an understanding. Then when she shuts her front door, she turns into her home and continues packing. And Shane asks a special someone from this episode "How's your jaw feeling?" -- Capone capone@aintitcoolmail.com

10 p.m. Tuesday. FX.

$13.49 Dawn of the Dead!! $13.95 Road Warrior!! $13.95 A Clockwork Orange! $13.95 The Fugitive! $14.95 The Shining!! SuperCheap Blu-Ray!!

You Killed My Father!! Prepare To Die!!