Word is four major characters die in the finale hitting FX in two weeks. Will the Dutchman survive the melee? For now, the wily Capone looks at tonight's installment, the final episode sent to critics via screener:
Hello again everyone. Capone in Chicago here in Coaxial. After this week's installment (7.11), there are only two episodes of "The Shield's" Final Act, and I have not seen either of them (although some of you spoiler-ish bastards have been forwarding me summaries of the final episode that seem almost too shocking to be true, so I won't repeat them). The final episode of "The Shield" airs November 25. Who lives? Who dies? And from what I'm hearing, the fates of a few characters are left up in the air, leaving us with a terrible case of TV blue balls. I don't think there is any doubt in my mind that tonight's episode is the finest of the season and possibly one of the top three episodes the show has ever produced. And let me just conclude my portion of these "Shield" reviews by saying that it's been a total blast covering this show for the past two seasons, and the response I've gotten from fans of the show and even a few folks who work on the show has been tremendous and exciting.
Let's dive right in to 7.11...
Title?
PETTY CASH
Writers?
Jameal Turner (who I can find no information about) and Charles H. Eglee, a veteran writer of many a TV drama scripting multiple episodes of such shows as "St. Elsewhere," "L.A. Law," "NYPD Blue," "Murder One," and 12 previous episodes of "The Shield," including two this season. In addition, he and James Cameron co-created "Dark Angel," the pilot for which Eglee wrote.
Director?
Craig Brewer, director of HUSTLE & FLOW and BLACK SNAKE MOAN, and clearly one of the most inspired choices for a directing guest spot in "The Shield's" history. Brewer is also the first director I ever met (at BNAT 8) who said, "I've been reading you since I was a kid," which made me feel extremely old.
Where did we leave off?
Beltrans tells Aceveda that in light of a Pezuela's "death" that he should run his campaign how he wants to. "Just don't lose."
Claudette makes it known that all she wants is Mackey behind bars.
Mara tells Shane that Corrine is working with Claudette to bring Shane in.
Where to we pick up?
Dutch and Claudette are at Corrine's house waiting for Mara's call, which come in right on time. Mara and Claudette arrange a money drop of $100,000 using Corrine as bait to draw Vic out. Mara wants assurances that Shane will not get killed. Corrine throws in her own demands for witness protection, but refuses to testify against Vic. Keep in mind that Vic is totally unaware of this set up, so when he shows up at Corrine's the get the details of the drop, he has no idea Claudette is looking to nail him aiding and abetting Shane.
Is anyone buying the Pezuela suicide story?
Not Aceveda, who shows up at Vic's house accusing Vic of killing Pezuela, which is funny since, you know, the dude ain't actually dead. Later in the episode, Aceveda suspects the truth about Pezuela and threatens to go to Beltrans with the information. Vic counters with threats of exposing where Aceveda's campaign financing is coming from. "Let's respect each other's end game" -- Aceveda
How are Vic's job-security plans holding up?
Vic meets with the Mexican cartel leader Beltrans to sell his worth for future employment by promising to negotiate with the black gangs on Beltran's behalf, which he does. As for his other job prospect, Vic tell Agent Olivia Murray that he wants to pull Ronnie into the cartel play, and sweetens the deal for her by handing her over a certain missing blackmail file. "I need a place to land," he tells her.
While Vic is running the L.A. underground single handedly, what the hell is Ronnie up to?
Ronnie is pulled off his desk to investigate (along with the back-in-uniform Julien) the murder of a high school football player and local hero. Julien plays the faith card to get more information from the boy's family.
Ronnie does find time to meet up with Vic, and Ronnie is none to happy that Vic is playing for both teams--the Mexicans and the feds. He's clearly very nervous about how Vic's reckless behavior is going to blow up in both their faces.
Does Claudette recruit someone in the barn to help out with the sting operation against Vic?
She does.
So this $100,000 that Vic is going to give Shane through Corrine, where is that coming from exactly?
Vic approaches a drug dealer and pretends to be a supplier. All he needs is $200,000 to get the flow of drugs started. The dealer passes, but Vic "motivates" him to see things the Mackey way.
$200,000?
Have you ever known Vic to only ask for what he needs? Vic delivers half of the money to Beltrans, and stashes the other half somewhere where Ronnie can pick it up. There's a fantastic conversation between Vic and Beltrans about the definition of hard work. You'll love it. "You've got an action hero on your payroll," says Vic.
Does Vic's daughter Cassidy show up this week?
Yes she does.
Does the money drop to Shane go as planned?
Ha! I'm not saying shit about that. Although keep in mind, this is the first sequence possibly of the entire season where nearly all of the show's major players will be at the same location at the same time.
What I liked overall.
This season, Ronnie has moved from the background to major player, with more to come, I believe. Shane and Vic's mutual desperation is making for some truly awesome television, with more to come I believe. The dead football player case reveals that Julien has the makings of a great detective.
How does it end? [Inviso-Text]
A real estate office is robbed. A package from Shane to Claudette arrives in The Barn. Vic and Ronnie meet with Beltrans. Shane has a tough time cashing some checks.
-- Capone
10 p.m. Tuesday. FX.
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
