Watched the whole thing when it aired and have binged watched it several times since. Not a single bad season, this was/is a benchmark show that NYPD Blue could have been?
@@thoughtsonfitness3249 AGREED.I thought the Shield was one of the best tv shows ever created ( I also include the rebooted Battlestar Galactica )ever episode was unpredictable and intriguing,didn't want to miss an episode.
I’ve been saying Walton Goggins is underrated for years. He’s an incredibly diverse actor. Not only can he handle drama but his comedic acting chops are S-tier. The man simply doesn’t get enough recognition.
My favoruite fact about this show is that the writers straight up admitted that after a while, it didn't make sense to keep Aceveda on the show, but they liked working with the actor so much that they kept coming up with increasingly convoluted reasons to keep him on board.
I didn't know this, yet his presence doesn't feel forced. Retrospectively, I think it was a good idea because it allows to emphasize the difference of trajectory between a corrupt cop and a corrupt politician, the first one at best saves his ass but ends up alone with nothing, at worst ends up dead or in prison ; the second one, while officially condemning the shortcuts and violent actions of some cops, silmutaneously uses them and takes credit for their successes (up to the very last episode) and ends up mayor.
I don’t think I ever wanted a character to die horribly more than I did Shane after season 5. But after the hell he goes through in the final season, I’m not sure I’ve ever pitied a character as much and just wanted it to be over. As batshit as the show often was, Shane’s arc is easily one of the greatest ever put to the small screen.
The best part is they didn't wimp out with any attempt at a "redemptive" ending for Vic. No squeaking by on his crimes, no going out in a blaze of glory, he gets EXACTLY what he deserved, alone, no family or allies, reputation wrecked and stuck in an office job. Beautiful ending to a fantastic series.
@@indrayanray5132 Yeah, but in the first episode (If i remember correctly) he was told he only had a year to live so it made sense that he would die at the end of the show. And he did lose everything, he lost his meth empire he was so proud of and his family hates him and wanted him to die and he lived the last few months on the run in a little freezing cabin, sick from cancer and alone.
Season 5 of The Shield is one of the best seasons of any show ever. Vic and Kavanaugh hounding each other, Lem getting himself in deeper and deeper sh*t, and the FINALE! Every episode of that season was full throttle and peak entertainment. The whole show was good too!
Seriously! Such an underrated show and just does not receive nearly the amount of attention it deserves. Top tier tv. I see that the author of this video also covered The Leftovers, which was another under-looked gem. I'll be watching that video right after this one!
@@anelson603there were more than a few heartbreaking moments. I thought when they killed Lem (with a grenade in his lap) that was actually worse because Ronnie was at least able to live
@reallyfurious you're right but I'm conflicted. They were essentially all criminals. The outcomes were that of criminals...but the fact that the "leader" ended up leveraging the 1 soldier who listened with no question to get off was a diff level foul
The main reason I am always impressed with The Shield as a whole is because the very first episode ties into the very last episode and the continuity is extremely solid for a show spanning 6 long seasons! Vic confessing at the end is like a major gut shot to the viewer seeing Vic basically become a snitch. Great ending!
The very concept of the shield impresses me and I'm still disappointed I got into the show as late as I did. I remember seeing the classic "im a different kind of cop" promos for The Shield back in highschool and just assumed Vic was like a typical Martin Riggs type who had extreme methods for getting things done. I really want to go back and experience the "twist" of the pilot episode. The fact that the main character is a dirty cop who does such a deplorable act in the FIRST EPISODE and the whole series is them trying to cover that up is a brilliant premise. I always try to imagine a first time viewer who knows nothing about the shield and their reaction to the end if the pilot.
The Shield really showed that all actions have consequences (unlike shows where characters blow away a dozen people with nothing ever coming of it (Sons of Anarchy for example). Even minor mistakes keep coming back to haunt everyone.
@johnv3623 one of my favorite lines that encapsulates that is the finale when Ronnie asks what he's being arrested for and dutch says "the past three years"
I always like to comment, my dad is a retired ICE agent, retired 2017, and worked in NYC arresting people for 23 years. He says The Shield is the most realistic cop show he's ever seen.
Ronnie was deliberately mysterious. We knew a lot about the other characters, but he was an enigma. That's why it was a jolt when he was good with what Vic did to Terry.
Don't know about you, but I kind of see a parallel between Ronnie's character and Robert Duvall as Tom in the Godfather. Both were major supporting roles throughout whose characters majorly supported the mains and contributed greatly but were terribly overlooked.
I watched it live, every episode, every week on FX. After each season I'd search out the DVD release of that season and watch it all again . I still have them. When i got Hulu a couple years ago The Shield was available to stream and ive watched the series another 5 times or so, individual episodes maybe 10. All told ive probably watched it 30 times start to finish over 20 years😊
I also prefer Vic ending this way because not only it's more gray/complex and fits his character better, but also because "bang" endings tend, intentionally or unintentionally, to glorify even the worst villain (the difference for example between Tony Montana's ending in Scarface and Henry's ending in Goodfellas)
In my opinion the shield is a scar on my memory in the best way possible. Vic takes us deep into a world of brutality and self preservation & he consistently blows off time he could be spending with his family just to be in the streets as much as possible, in the end it meant nothing, he made no difference. lost everything. Love this show.
The Shield has everything. Drama, thrilling, comedy and quality writing. There has never been a tv show like this and likely never will. It has a special place in my heart because of the edgy writing and the dark aspects of the politics of police work. It will always stand out to me as the best crime/cop show ever made
Literally the first video I have ever seen on UA-cam about The Shield. CRIMINALLY underrated show. Thank you for giving it commentary at long last. The arc of Vic and Shane and how the show managed to flip it in its last season was truly game changing television. Absolutely phenomenal.
I saw Skip Intro's videos first, which introduced me to the show. That one is primarily from the context of copaganda, and trying to analyse where The Shield supports copaganda and where it subverts it. This video has more detail about the show itself, even if it lacks the focused perspective of Skip Intro's work.
There is one other one but only on Vic Mackey breakdown. The channel does deep dives on evil/ villains TV and movie characters. As a massive Shield fan it's worth your time if your interested.
I STILL haven’t seen anything like Aceveda’s sexual assault portrayed on television. I remember seeing it for the first time and what I felt afterwards. That whole storyline is one massive gut punch.
I really feel like this show came out in the one brief moment in time where an edgy show might take on subject matter like that. Honestly, there's a lot of subject matter in this show that future shows won't touch.
Or when Shane nearly r*ped that woman as a form of interrogation. U would never see something like that (especially from a main character) on a show today.
Vic's ending really was the antithesis of who he was, making it fate much worse than prison. It was the perfect ending for that character and demonstrates how well the writers knew him. So much more layered and nuanced than "And he got life in prison"
totally, in the last episode the ICE office with all this white, these rules for everything including the thermostat, the coldness and the silence of the workplace, made me think of a kind of purgatory (I also heard Chiklis use this word in an interview) The ending, with Vic leaving the room with his gun and a determined face, is a good example of a great open ending (will he try to find his kids in his spare time? is he back in illegal business? will he try to run away because he has no intention of suffering this deal?)
Antwon Mitchellville could have been interesting but not as much insight would have been needed. Vic was always evolving, he could have gotten used to that and it was only 3 years
@@BossSimbaYou all missed the smile on his face upon picking up his gun. THAT is what he lives for: the power of the gun and badge. Everything else is secondary, and he's shown he can get around mean bosses and regulations. Chances are Olivia will lose her job way before his 3 years are up...
I haven't watched the video, so not sure if it's mentioned, but I think the Lem character got a bigger role because they loved Kenny Johnson's performance so much.
Do you know what you've done to me...... "Vic gets up and puts his black leather jacket on, looks back with before leaving" _'__ ____ _____ "Gives her a final look of contempt for being dumb enough to trust him".
I still think this show... taken as a whole over 6 seasons is the best television show of my lifetime. Forget about how revolutionary and groundbreaking it was. The shows plot, acting and characters stand on their own. The Shield also has the greatest finale and final season of any show ever imo. Nobody who has watched the entire series can get through that final couple episodes without feeling a certain kinda way.
It’s a absolute crime more people don’t know about “The Shield “ . Try and find someone who has watched the series from beginning to end who doesn’t SWEAR by it . One day it will get the attention it deserves
The incredibly important thing about season four is Antwan Mitchel. He made it so going to prison wasn't an option, which they constantly brung up over the course of the show. Great video essay btw!
I've been watching TV avidly for almost 60 years. For me, The Shield is the greatest American crime series. Each season is better than the previous. Homicide, Hill Street Blues, Oz, Fargo, although good, never managed this.
And that is why studios need to take chances on possibly-risky projects. How many excellent outside-of-the-box shows would FX have helped make if not for taking the risk on The Shield and seeing its success
The shield wasnt only ground breaking it was one of the greatest shows of all time..The writing was phenominal..The cast was amazing and the show kept you hooked..It was the rawest show on tv before sons of anarchy and breaking bad came along and it still tops them..
Thank you for spreading content about "The Shield". More people need to watch it. I stumbled upon it six months ago. My friend advised me to watch. Ended the final season a few days ago and can't stop thinking about how good this Tv show. For people who dive deep in cinema language, script, storytelling "The Shield" is a miracle. In terms of how characters' arcs need to be ended, how the writers don't try just "to shock" viewer. Everything felt so real. What I like the most about the story you don't see heroes vs enemies conflict (for example Starks vs Lanisters in GoT), you see your favourite characters conflict. It hits hard. It really something unique. You don;t know who you want to win or lose you just watch and wait what will happen next. I think "The Shield" has the best story and ending in terms of characters. I've never expirienced something similar. Masterpiece.
YESS, thank you! The shield needs so much more love, it's such an underrated show. One of the best crime dramas of all time. It's in the same league as the sopranos and breaking bad according to me.
The Death of Shane's family is one of the craziest things I've experienced watching TV. I'd say the shield also has the best pilot episode of all time. I'm rarely caught of guard, but the ending of the first episode left my mouth agape.
This was a good video. I miss the days when writers just didn’t coddle their characters. I used to watch The Shield when I was younger never used to understand the plot lines but distinctively remember how good the acting was. I am glad that it holds up to this day.
While I think The Sopranos is the most accomplished tv show of all time, The Shield is my favourite. There is nothing else like it. It is simply phenomenal.
I don't understand these comparisons to sopranos. In terms of pacing and action, the shield is another beast entirely. Sopranos feels like they turned godfather 3 into a tv series.
I found this show this year and i watched it 5 times in 3 months. Still watching it now for a 6th time. It's just perfect. The writing, the acting, the delivery, the eratic cameras, the humor is crazy. It's just awesome. I turn it on and let it play without even watching sometimes. Just listening to it while I work and laugh because the dialouge is hilarious. Love it.
The erratic camera was a financial necessity. The hand held cinema verite style was necessary to keep costs down. The DP was a couple years ahead of me @ film school although we didn't work together. Those shots from a circular camera move save time & money from having to shoot from several setups... this show was done for a cost, which shows it doesn't take money to create a brilliant show
The MOST underrated classic show. The music was even great. Just a sublime meditation on human nature. And one of the most accurate depictions of Los Angeles ever.
Speaking of getting chills: Every time I hear “Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins, I think of the final two episodes of season 5. Easily two of the best episodes of television, and maybe the best use of licensed music in TV ever.
This show and Rescue Me were the big push that turned FX into the producer of prestige content it is today, and neither gets talked about anymore. It honestly speaks to how earth-shattering the rise of AMC"s shows was, like it just eclipsed an already amazing generation of shows
I agree with you and that's why I have The Shield ahead of Breaking Bad. I felt like the finale of BB attempted to redeem WW while the finale of The Shield was really just him having everything he did come back at him
Honestly, WW getting some small bit of redemption at the end of his life made sense to me. Vic was a monster from the moment we first saw him and earned his suffering at the end. WW was more complex, going from a man just trying to keep his head above water to a ruthless and cold-blooded criminal to a fugitive on the run forced to come to terms with what his deeds had cost him.
Just finished watching it for the first time and I’m blown away. During the first three seasons I was like « yeah, it’s well written, well acted… let’s watch another one » occasionally like once in two weeks. But holy shit after the middle of season 4 I just couldn’t turn it off. Amazing show !
Whilst I can admit that Breaking Bad and The Wire are probably the greatest shows of all time and are absolute masterpieces, the shield will always be my favourite
Tv from 98-2010 was out of this world and it seems like they weren’t afraid to try things. A friend told me to watch The Shield and I was HOOKED. Great retrospective.
Excellent recap. Truly a tough, gritty, original series. Never seen anything like it, before or since. The scene where Shane drops the grenade in Lem's lap is still very upsetting to watch. Thank you for putting this together.
Grew up near Walton Goggins [Marietta GA here with Walton in nearby Lithia Springs]. A friend got us watching Fallout last week and I’d mentioned Walton’s former The Shield performances - BRILLIANT work; great to hear and see it here so eloquently presented as appreciated. I mean he was SO great in The Shield, as were all the other actors and producers and directors who empowered them to deliver their amazingly delivered scenes. AMAZING series - used to race home to watch it live after working around police, courts and legal system types as a former news reporter myself and already in that The Shield frame of mind. TOTAL fanboy deluxe! GREAT review and reminisce here of The Shield.
100% underrated show, just recently picked it up again and thought I'll see what UA-cam has to say about this and to my surprise there is very little out there, so massive props for doing this.
LOVED this show. So many episodes left me with my mouth wide open going WTF did I just watch???!!! This show ripped your heart out at times. It is truly one of the greats and deserves it's place right up there with The Sopranos, Breaking Bad/ Better Call Saul, etc... It's a Top 5 show for me. Mackey was just so brutal yet you found yourself pulling for him. You had to catch yourself and remind yourself what a true monster he really was. I also think this show had the absolute best series finale's ever. It was perfection! Amazing show!
I started writing a retrospective for the series a few months ago when I realized nobody had really given The Shield a proper once-over on here. I kinda figured somebody would finish theirs before mine. Can't wait to watch! It's such a landmark show. Breaking Bad, for instance, would've NEVER happened without The Shield. I highly recommend the blu-ray box set. It's completely remastered and has just about every special feature you could dream of. Definitely worth the (criminally low) price tag!
Already reviewed the box set, it is great but I would watch from the old one, the new one reveals so many camera men in the large format. It is actually disaster.
@@MichaelChiklisCares I owned the DVD sets from back in the day but I have to respectfully disagree entirely here. While there are some shadows and obvious crew present every now and then, it still doesn't take away from the experience. I'm a very close watcher but even I had to have them pointed out to me. In fact, some might say it adds to the "fly on the wall" documentary style that the series did so well. It's never looked or sounded better and I would never recommend returning to that format or master ever again lol the extras alone are more than worth the price of admission. For instance, the 2018 roundtable reunion is an incredible watch. You can see how much the actors and crew cared about this series. Different strokes though, you know?
@@MichaelChiklisCares is that the one by Mill Creek Entertainment? Because I have the DVD collection made by them (which is in large format) and it revealed no camera men in the background.
Interesting fact: the reason Ronnie was just kinda there for most of the series was that they didn’t have the budget for a larger speaking part but needed more bodies on the strike team and David Snell was a friend of Shawn Ryan’s. As you said in the video the fact that they were able to spin that into one final gut punch is a testament to the brilliance of the writing. Great video thank you.
My favorite series of all time. The writing (something Hollywood quit using) never let things get stale and the acting is top f'ing notch across the board.
Finally someone doing an extensive review for a show that deserves all the praise it gets. It’s a top 5 show of all time and it has the greatest pilot episodes I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget being floored when Vic shoots Terry. Hope more people start doing reviews like this and even reactions to watching it because it deserves that praise.
When people ask me for good tv recommendations, the first question I ask is if they've watched this show. I love how the tension just ramps up and up and the ending is just spectacular. Very few shows ever nail the landing but for my money The Shield, The Leftovers and Six Feet Under ( which Shield creator Shawn Ryan said the ending was perfect) do a great job of this. This show is criminally underrated and hope in time it gets the flowers it so rightfully deserves.
The scene with Shane playing the piano while Mara plays with Jackson was so heartwarming and breaking at the same time . I thought they would eventually divorce maybe they would have anyway but there was potential for a good life there and Shane threw it away following Vic's example and getting in bed with the Armenian mob .
This is one of the best television shows of all time! We used to have watch parties and wait weekly and seasonally for new shows… I’ve seen the aeries at least a dozen times through. Incredible.
This show got me ready for "The Wire." Its finale, IMO, is the best finale in TV history. I don't know if it has been mentioned, but I read a couple of things in an article: 1)The Sopranos had just ended and Shawn Ryan hated the ending. He wanted to tie up as many arcs as possible. 2)The finale was debuted at a theater in NY. It ended to silence and then a slow-building standing ovation.
my sister in law's Montana cabin where my husband and I spent our honeymoon had the first 2 seasons of the shield on DVD, which we watched for the first time - we both really liked it and I think it helped me develop appreciation for similar shows like the wire.
Thank you! This was put together very well. I started watching The Shield right after season 3 aired. I bought all the DVDS and watched all the behind the scenes and the commentary. Definitely one of the best shows ever on tv.
Sometimes the urge hits me and I'll go seek out that scene where Vic confesses to Olivia. It could almost be a one-act play, just by itself. It's not just WHAT he's confessing to, but HOW he's confessing to it, the way he seems to be reacting to it as he's describing it. I think you hit the nail on the head on that point.
The final shot is pretty great. His compulsion and obsession with being an authority figure drives him to make poor decisions to such a degree that even though he did it, he got away with everything and his only real punishment is a life of mediocrity, he's ready to throw himself back into the mix and ruin it all. He fought hard to get out of it, sold out his friends, murdered innocent people, and was protected by the system in a way only cops could be. He throws it away anyhow. He won't stop until he's dead or locked up forever. He simply refuses to change and that's a real tragedy. It was all for nothing.
Also notice how the S1 ending parallels the finale, the cycle keeps repeating. The show is very focused on the cycle of abuse and violence. Vic tortures Juan Lozano by shoving a bong down his throat, which plants the idea in his mind to rape Aceveda. Or how we see Joe Clarke perverted Vic in a similar way that he would go onto do with Shane, and then Shane would get with Army. Brilliant show. Now that I think about it that could’ve possibly been the reason for the inclusion of Tina.
Well said brother, that was very good break down of arguably one of the greatest shows of all time, I've been singing this shows praises for the last 20 years trying to get as many eyeballs as I could to watch it because it is simply that good, despite its flaws no one can deny the sheer acting talent on display in this criminally under rated show, I'll go one step further and say the very final moments of the show is just magic to watch a silent Michael chiklis deliver every range of emotion that character would be feeling without saying a single freaking word 😳 more people need to see this show
Just got one of my friends to finally start watching it after years of badgering him. After he watched episode 1, he sumply texted me, "HOLY SHIT!!! JUST WATCHED FURST EPISODE OF THE SHIELD!!!"
Such a fantastic show! That confession scene is powerful. Not just for Vic, but for the audience that has cheered this man on for 7 seasons. It leaves absolutely no doubt that we were rooting for the bad guy. It made me feel awful for it too.
I rewatched season 4 and, knowing what happens in season 5, I think it’s to give false hope that the Strike Team can have a fresh start. Season 5 of The Shield solidified that their past would never allow them a fresh start.
I visited the set twice; during filming of that in-between-seasons “promosode,” called Wins & Losses, directed by Kurt Sutter. I got to be an extra that trip- it was Lem’s arm wrestling scene. I’m on the balcony next to Jay Nunez. When Lem tosses the bag of ice away upon entering the barn, you can see my pale white legs lol Fun times. There’s a pan shot of the balcony where I can spot my blurry profile. Being an extra wasn’t planned so no wardrobe, makeup, pay, etc. I also got to go to see 3 days of filming of Game Face, which was directed by Chik. Kenny called him while we were all sitting in one of the interrogation rooms . Thats where Chik was watching playback of what they’d just filmed so he could direct himself. We sang Happy Birthday to KJ. David Rees Snell forgot to wear Ronnie’s bandage from the previous ep’s dog bite. I brought his attention to that when they went on break. They were able to reshoot the scenes right away. None of them had remembered so it would t have been caught til editing. Reshooting it at that point would’ve required copying everyone’s wardrobe, hair, time of day, etc., which would’ve been annoying & expensive. I’d’ve shown up every day to do that for free if they’d’ve let me. I’d’ve cleaned the toilets too haha. The cast, crew, writers, & fans were a family bonded by our love for the project. I’m still friends with most of them. David Marciano was my favorite to hang out with. He sang Take Me Home Country Roads to everyone backstage when I told him I live in West Virginia. Catherine Dent questioned why we would travel from all over the country just to sit around backstage at their little thing without getting paid. Srsly, I loved being on that set. Being directed by Kurt Sutter while I got to whoop & holler for Len to win while jumping around waving money is def on my ‘Top Five Badass Things I Ever Got To Do’ list. They were all quite humble. No divas. They each wanted to help everyone else to put on a great performance. Ok, that’s about all. Peace out.
This was the first time I truly could not miss an episode of a show. One of my all time favorites. Great writing intense af. Tragic. Vic got off too easy. What a dirtbag.
Thank you so much for this. I have been waiting years for some acknowledgement of not only the brilliance of the entire show, but for the ending which was hands down the finest fate ever meted out in a TV show. I still remember watching the last episode thinking "well, it's either jail or death" as the only two possibilities left to Vic, only to be literally stunned by the poetic justice in the last few minutes, when the horror of a self-created hell becomes Vic's lot. Bravo, sir.
The Sopranoes, Wire and Breaking Bad get all this hype around them; it's definitely deserved. The Shield should be mentioned in the same breath. edit: Noticed you brought up those 3
I'll never forget the end of pilot ep. That the creators then used it to bookend the hollowness of Vic's 'family first' character arc was incredible to watch play out.
I usually rewatch this show every year or so. Love it. Funny thing is I remember watching The Commish. It was Michael Chiklis with hair and a nice guy cop. When The Shield came out I thought it was funny how he played a different kinda cop.
The last scene of this series was awesome. It showed what Vic truly was - a survivor. After everything he went through and lost, he hasn't really changed.
The shield is 1 of the greatest American cop shows ever. These other shows that came after are straight up dull in comparison. Like the previous comment said I'm surprised it's not more popular. It's as memory worthy as Goodfellas or other gangster films. Mackie is monumental!
This is a great video. You did a wonderful job. I really love how much of Vic's "confession" scene is up for interpretation. I didn't take it that he was feeling any guilt at all. To me he seemed to completely disassociate from the actions he was speaking about, almost as if he was describing events that happened to other people instead of evil acts he himself perpetuated--hints of sociopathy. I also think that The Shield has just as much thematic depth as The Wire, etc., but rather than focus on social/political issues, The Shield focuses on human nature/more universal issues. The camera slowly panning up to the money burning as the strike team members lie breathless on the floor after fighting is, to me, one of the most thematically rich shots of the 21st century.
season 4 and 5 are my favorites. anthony anderson is amazing. normally a comedic parts plays a cold ruthless gang leader. it was amazing change and showed how good of an actor he is. and forrest was so good i hated his guts everytime he was on screen
It's so meta to watch you do a deep dive into The Shield because it's a show that moves at a break neck speed with a character that the creator calls a 'shark', it's so fitting that your own content on UA-cam is made with a very charged, propulsive pace. Even setting aside the virtues of The Shield, it makes sense that you of all people would be enthralled by that show if for no other reason than both you and the show seem to run on the same wavelength. Bravo on this video!
The ending of this show is the only ending of any tv show that has had me in tears. The writing and acting is impeccable. Never going to be another one like it
personally I think the flashback episode in season 2 was welcome, also because it briefly show how the members initially wanted to play by the rules but started taking shortcuts, allowing themselves to take the first one due to the huge pressure to make a big arrest during their very first day in order to keep their jobs in the strike team. By the end of the episode, Vic and Shane were genuinely surprised at how easy it was for them to do so, implying it was their first time. They may not have needed to do it so often in the future, and have done it for personal gain or by facility, but in other episodes we see more and more the unreachable demand "always more results, more quickly with always less money" imposed by the police chiefs (because imposed by the city, by the state...) and how it leads to more pressure, firings, and temptation (or need) to cut corners to keep up
So nice to come across this as I've been a huge fan of the show since the beginning, but it never seemed to get the same amount of love as The Sopranos, The Wire, or Breaking Bad. It also had one of the best series finale in TV.
This show is incredible. I've often heard Sons of Anarchy is basically a watered down The Shield on two Wheels...and I have to agree. Every season of this show was so great.
@laverdadescatolica5naw sons of anarchy ended perfectly with papas goods just like the shield ended excellent. Both shows have two of the best conclusions ever
Me and my dad have seen this show so many times, it holds a special place in my heart. In deed this video makes justice by recognizing how good this show is
![[FULL] RETROSPECTIVE : Final Fantasy Tactics](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RUBmYqs1jZ0/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for explaining the Armenian mob thread from season 6!
I gotchu
@@MacabreStorytelling The Kardashians make sense now
The Potente character was slated to return in S7 but there was a scheduling conflict and they could not make it happen.
Yeah, that shit was confusing.
To give context, Ryan was taking part in the writers strike at the time, the show was lacking control, hence those confusing bits I guess
Family Meeting is the greatest series finale I've ever seen. The Shield was a god-tier show and it's crazy it isn't talked about more.
👆
Watched the whole thing when it aired and have binged watched it several times since. Not a single bad season, this was/is a benchmark show that NYPD Blue could have been?
@@thoughtsonfitness3249 where can I stream this show?
@@sexylazercatwizard I have the original DVD’s, but it was on Amazon Prime to stream recently.
@@thoughtsonfitness3249 AGREED.I thought the Shield was one of the best tv shows ever created ( I also include the rebooted Battlestar Galactica )ever episode was unpredictable and intriguing,didn't want to miss an episode.
I’ve been saying Walton Goggins is underrated for years. He’s an incredibly diverse actor. Not only can he handle drama but his comedic acting chops are S-tier. The man simply doesn’t get enough recognition.
His performance on Justified is amazing
@@rickyray2794I think he was supposed to be a one off character on Justified originally.
@@felixjohnston3402 yep. So good they made him the main antagonist
@@rickyray2794 I also loved him in the hateful eight
@@rickyray2794 If it isn't Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens. Goggins was amazing!
My favoruite fact about this show is that the writers straight up admitted that after a while, it didn't make sense to keep Aceveda on the show, but they liked working with the actor so much that they kept coming up with increasingly convoluted reasons to keep him on board.
Plenty of actors made such a great impression they made whatever excuse to get them back.
Like the fencer Taylor...
Thats so cool
Nice piece of info. And they did a bang up job of keeping aceveda.
I didn't know this, yet his presence doesn't feel forced. Retrospectively, I think it was a good idea because it allows to emphasize the difference of trajectory between a corrupt cop and a corrupt politician, the first one at best saves his ass but ends up alone with nothing, at worst ends up dead or in prison ; the second one, while officially condemning the shortcuts and violent actions of some cops, silmutaneously uses them and takes credit for their successes (up to the very last episode) and ends up mayor.
I don’t think I ever wanted a character to die horribly more than I did Shane after season 5. But after the hell he goes through in the final season, I’m not sure I’ve ever pitied a character as much and just wanted it to be over. As batshit as the show often was, Shane’s arc is easily one of the greatest ever put to the small screen.
I hated Shane after what he did to tavon
I heard that Ryan was inspired by the Chris Benoit tragedy.
@@Supremmo Julien did some shit like that in real life minus the kid
Correct take.
@@tapset Michael Jace is still alive and surprisingly when it all happened they didn’t go to his former castmates for their thoughts.
The best part is they didn't wimp out with any attempt at a "redemptive" ending for Vic. No squeaking by on his crimes, no going out in a blaze of glory, he gets EXACTLY what he deserved, alone, no family or allies, reputation wrecked and stuck in an office job. Beautiful ending to a fantastic series.
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Vic should've died
That's why the ending was so great 👍
Shows always end it lamely but The Shield gave us an ending we all agree with that wasn't a "cop out".
This is what exactly what Breaking Bad failed to do.
@@indrayanray5132 Yeah, but in the first episode (If i remember correctly) he was told he only had a year to live so it made sense that he would die at the end of the show. And he did lose everything, he lost his meth empire he was so proud of and his family hates him and wanted him to die and he lived the last few months on the run in a little freezing cabin, sick from cancer and alone.
Season 5 of The Shield is one of the best seasons of any show ever. Vic and Kavanaugh hounding each other, Lem getting himself in deeper and deeper sh*t, and the FINALE! Every episode of that season was full throttle and peak entertainment. The whole show was good too!
I’m about to start the Shield (which I’ve never before seen) but it’s on the same level as peak Breaking Bad or Fargo?
@jackpackage4278 yea I'd say it's up there with breaking bad
@@jackpackage4278blows breaking bad out of the water
@@WillK1349.I wouldn’t say it blows breaking bad out of the water but the shield is slightly better
@@jackpackage4278it's better than both of those shows. It's a masterpiece
Hell yes. It’s about time someone did something about this gem of a show.
Seriously! Such an underrated show and just does not receive nearly the amount of attention it deserves. Top tier tv. I see that the author of this video also covered The Leftovers, which was another under-looked gem. I'll be watching that video right after this one!
For real, this show has been in the shadow of stuff like the Sopranos and Breaking Bad, I would argue it’s just as good as them.
I gotchu
It is truly a gem
The Shield is one of the best shows ever made. The hardest hitting cop show ever.
Ronnie's arrest was heartbreaking. In the context of who Vic was, he got exactly what he deserved - a fate worse than death.
The most heart breaking part of the show was that moment.
His face actually changes after he shoots that guy, It's really haunting, like he crossed over to the dark side.
@@anelson603there were more than a few heartbreaking moments. I thought when they killed Lem (with a grenade in his lap) that was actually worse because Ronnie was at least able to live
@reallyfurious you're right but I'm conflicted. They were essentially all criminals. The outcomes were that of criminals...but the fact that the "leader" ended up leveraging the 1 soldier who listened with no question to get off was a diff level foul
Vic got everything he ever wanted. And all it cost him was everyone he ever cared about.
The main reason I am always impressed with The Shield as a whole is because the very first episode ties into the very last episode and the continuity is extremely solid for a show spanning 6 long seasons! Vic confessing at the end is like a major gut shot to the viewer seeing Vic basically become a snitch. Great ending!
7 seasons.
Oh yeah… it’s all comin togerher
The very concept of the shield impresses me and I'm still disappointed I got into the show as late as I did. I remember seeing the classic "im a different kind of cop" promos for The Shield back in highschool and just assumed Vic was like a typical Martin Riggs type who had extreme methods for getting things done. I really want to go back and experience the "twist" of the pilot episode. The fact that the main character is a dirty cop who does such a deplorable act in the FIRST EPISODE and the whole series is them trying to cover that up is a brilliant premise. I always try to imagine a first time viewer who knows nothing about the shield and their reaction to the end if the pilot.
The Shield really showed that all actions have consequences (unlike shows where characters blow away a dozen people with nothing ever coming of it (Sons of Anarchy for example). Even minor mistakes keep coming back to haunt everyone.
@johnv3623 one of my favorite lines that encapsulates that is the finale when Ronnie asks what he's being arrested for and dutch says "the past three years"
I always like to comment, my dad is a retired ICE agent, retired 2017, and worked in NYC arresting people for 23 years. He says The Shield is the most realistic cop show he's ever seen.
Nice
Well that’s terrifying.
Ronnie was deliberately mysterious. We knew a lot about the other characters, but he was an enigma. That's why it was a jolt when he was good with what Vic did to Terry.
Don't know about you, but I kind of see a parallel between Ronnie's character and Robert Duvall as Tom in the Godfather. Both were major supporting roles throughout whose characters majorly supported the mains and contributed greatly but were terribly overlooked.
I watched it live, every episode, every week on FX. After each season I'd search out the DVD release of that season and watch it all again . I still have them.
When i got Hulu a couple years ago The Shield was available to stream and ive watched the series another 5 times or so, individual episodes maybe 10.
All told ive probably watched it 30 times start to finish over 20 years😊
TS Eliot's quote "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper” perfectly sums up Vic Mackey's fall.
I also prefer Vic ending this way because not only it's more gray/complex and fits his character better, but also because "bang" endings tend, intentionally or unintentionally, to glorify even the worst villain (the difference for example between Tony Montana's ending in Scarface and Henry's ending in Goodfellas)
In my opinion the shield is a scar on my memory in the best way possible. Vic takes us deep into a world of brutality and self preservation & he consistently blows off time he could be spending with his family just to be in the streets as much as possible, in the end it meant nothing, he made no difference. lost everything. Love this show.
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The shield is underrated masterpiece
The Shield has everything. Drama, thrilling, comedy and quality writing. There has never been a tv show like this and likely never will. It has a special place in my heart because of the edgy writing and the dark aspects of the politics of police work. It will always stand out to me as the best crime/cop show ever made
The Shield is so damn underrated. I never hear it mentioned anymore but when it was on air everyone was talking about it.
Literally the first video I have ever seen on UA-cam about The Shield. CRIMINALLY underrated show. Thank you for giving it commentary at long last. The arc of Vic and Shane and how the show managed to flip it in its last season was truly game changing television. Absolutely phenomenal.
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I saw Skip Intro's videos first, which introduced me to the show. That one is primarily from the context of copaganda, and trying to analyse where The Shield supports copaganda and where it subverts it. This video has more detail about the show itself, even if it lacks the focused perspective of Skip Intro's work.
There is one other one but only on Vic Mackey breakdown. The channel does deep dives on evil/ villains TV and movie characters.
As a massive Shield fan it's worth your time if your interested.
The Shield is some of the best television I've ever seen. Incredible character development.
Correct tske
I STILL haven’t seen anything like Aceveda’s sexual assault portrayed on television. I remember seeing it for the first time and what I felt afterwards. That whole storyline is one massive gut punch.
I really feel like this show came out in the one brief moment in time where an edgy show might take on subject matter like that. Honestly, there's a lot of subject matter in this show that future shows won't touch.
Or when Shane nearly r*ped that woman as a form of interrogation. U would never see something like that (especially from a main character) on a show today.
EXACTLY i felt awful for the poor guy couldnt watch more episodes for a while after that
“Previously, on The Shield”
My dad liked The Shield but once he saw that scene, he said the show was to intense for him.
Vic's ending really was the antithesis of who he was, making it fate much worse than prison.
It was the perfect ending for that character and demonstrates how well the writers knew him.
So much more layered and nuanced than "And he got life in prison"
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totally, in the last episode the ICE office with all this white, these rules for everything including the thermostat, the coldness and the silence of the workplace, made me think of a kind of purgatory (I also heard Chiklis use this word in an interview) The ending, with Vic leaving the room with his gun and a determined face, is a good example of a great open ending (will he try to find his kids in his spare time? is he back in illegal business? will he try to run away because he has no intention of suffering this deal?)
The Vickey Mackey ended up in a cell of his own making (all all jails have bars).
Antwon Mitchellville could have been interesting but not as much insight would have been needed. Vic was always evolving, he could have gotten used to that and it was only 3 years
@@BossSimbaYou all missed the smile on his face upon picking up his gun.
THAT is what he lives for: the power of the gun and badge.
Everything else is secondary, and he's shown he can get around mean bosses and regulations.
Chances are Olivia will lose her job way before his 3 years are up...
I can't remember another actor that made me feel for a character like Kenny Johnson made me feel for Lem. What a performance.
GOAT character
I haven't watched the video, so not sure if it's mentioned, but I think the Lem character got a bigger role because they loved Kenny Johnson's performance so much.
@@saadishsnake I can see why. Even from the first season he was the most likes me by far.
Lem had such a big heart...makes the tragedy of his fate all the more potent.
@@saadishsnake yea, Ronnie and Lem were originally going to be bit characters, but Ryan and team loved them so much, they became legit co-stars
The Shield was and remains my favorite show of all time. My brother turned me on to it, so glad he did.
Favorite line, "I've done worse".
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Do you know what you've done to me......
"Vic gets up and puts his black leather jacket on, looks back with before leaving"
_'__ ____ _____
"Gives her a final look of contempt for being dumb enough to trust him".
I still think this show... taken as a whole over 6 seasons is the best television show of my lifetime. Forget about how revolutionary and groundbreaking it was. The shows plot, acting and characters stand on their own. The Shield also has the greatest finale and final season of any show ever imo. Nobody who has watched the entire series can get through that final couple episodes without feeling a certain kinda way.
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*7 seasons
THANK YOU
FINALLY someone who appreciates this show for the Masterpiece it is !!!
Also Captain Monica Rawling was THE BEST captain in the whole show
Vic being on the cover of The Shield on streaming services and stuff is such a betrayal to the idea of the rug pull in the first episode holy shit
Good point lol
He's the main character, the show revolves around him. Nobody thought Reed Diamond was going to be the centerpiece, get serious.
@@JackMonroe lol, lmao.
I hate but I still the twist is effective as most ppl going into the show who are used to police procedural will be caught off guard
It’s a absolute crime more people don’t know about “The Shield “ . Try and find someone who has watched the series from beginning to end who doesn’t SWEAR by it . One day it will get the attention it deserves
about time people started talking about this masterpiece of a show. I watched it many times and bought the box set. simply AMAZING!
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I bought them one by one as they released each season back in the day. Still got um
The incredibly important thing about season four is Antwan Mitchel. He made it so going to prison wasn't an option, which they constantly brung up over the course of the show. Great video essay btw!
I've been watching TV avidly for almost 60 years. For me, The Shield is the greatest American crime series. Each season is better than the previous. Homicide, Hill Street Blues, Oz, Fargo, although good, never managed this.
And that is why studios need to take chances on possibly-risky projects. How many excellent outside-of-the-box shows would FX have helped make if not for taking the risk on The Shield and seeing its success
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The shield wasnt only ground breaking it was one of the greatest shows of all time..The writing was phenominal..The cast was amazing and the show kept you hooked..It was the rawest show on tv before sons of anarchy and breaking bad came along and it still tops them..
Thank you for spreading content about "The Shield". More people need to watch it. I stumbled upon it six months ago. My friend advised me to watch. Ended the final season a few days ago and can't stop thinking about how good this Tv show. For people who dive deep in cinema language, script, storytelling "The Shield" is a miracle. In terms of how characters' arcs need to be ended, how the writers don't try just "to shock" viewer. Everything felt so real. What I like the most about the story you don't see heroes vs enemies conflict (for example Starks vs Lanisters in GoT), you see your favourite characters conflict. It hits hard. It really something unique. You don;t know who you want to win or lose you just watch and wait what will happen next. I think "The Shield" has the best story and ending in terms of characters. I've never expirienced something similar. Masterpiece.
YESS, thank you! The shield needs so much more love, it's such an underrated show. One of the best crime dramas of all time. It's in the same league as the sopranos and breaking bad according to me.
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Not only that, it was a template for many shows that came after it.
@@williampowell3378 the truly groundbreaking series often get forgotten
The Death of Shane's family is one of the craziest things I've experienced watching TV. I'd say the shield also has the best pilot episode of all time. I'm rarely caught of guard, but the ending of the first episode left my mouth agape.
Most brutal ending yet to be topped
Walter goggins is one of those actors where you don’t see them very often but it’s always a good time when you do
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Walton
Quentin Tarantino likes to use him in his movies
This was a good video. I miss the days when writers just didn’t coddle their characters. I used to watch The Shield when I was younger never used to understand the plot lines but distinctively remember how good the acting was. I am glad that it holds up to this day.
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While I think The Sopranos is the most accomplished tv show of all time, The Shield is my favourite. There is nothing else like it. It is simply phenomenal.
I don't understand these comparisons to sopranos. In terms of pacing and action, the shield is another beast entirely. Sopranos feels like they turned godfather 3 into a tv series.
Agreed the Shield is the best imo
I found this show this year and i watched it 5 times in 3 months. Still watching it now for a 6th time. It's just perfect. The writing, the acting, the delivery, the eratic cameras, the humor is crazy. It's just awesome. I turn it on and let it play without even watching sometimes. Just listening to it while I work and laugh because the dialouge is hilarious. Love it.
It gets better with every watch I've watched it at least 15 times
It's my favorite show too, but 5 times in a few months? That's insane. I'm on my fourth watch, but that's been since it originally aired.
I'm probably watched it 30 times in 20 years, live, DVD collection and streaming 😂
The erratic camera was a financial necessity. The hand held cinema verite style was necessary to keep costs down. The DP was a couple years ahead of me @ film school although we didn't work together. Those shots from a circular camera move save time & money from having to shoot from several setups... this show was done for a cost, which shows it doesn't take money to create a brilliant show
The MOST underrated classic show. The music was even great. Just a sublime meditation on human nature. And one of the most accurate depictions of Los Angeles ever.
You recounting the events of season 5 was giving me chills. A masterclass ratching tension and not letting characters off the hook.
No. F*cking. Notes.
Speaking of getting chills: Every time I hear “Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins, I think of the final two episodes of season 5. Easily two of the best episodes of television, and maybe the best use of licensed music in TV ever.
Maybe the greatest season of television ever.
@@lukewilliam3601the wire s4 but it’s up there
S5 was so awesome, Whitaker was great and the idea of corrupt IA vs corrupt cop is a unique idea.
He’s taking a piss!
He was great
@@MacabreStorytelling😂
This show and Rescue Me were the big push that turned FX into the producer of prestige content it is today, and neither gets talked about anymore. It honestly speaks to how earth-shattering the rise of AMC"s shows was, like it just eclipsed an already amazing generation of shows
I agree with you and that's why I have The Shield ahead of Breaking Bad. I felt like the finale of BB attempted to redeem WW while the finale of The Shield was really just him having everything he did come back at him
Honestly, WW getting some small bit of redemption at the end of his life made sense to me. Vic was a monster from the moment we first saw him and earned his suffering at the end. WW was more complex, going from a man just trying to keep his head above water to a ruthless and cold-blooded criminal to a fugitive on the run forced to come to terms with what his deeds had cost him.
@@daigneauray7087I’d argue that Vic at least is a net positive to society tho bro has taken down so many vile murderers, drug dealers and rapists
@@jamorant8849 Means justify the ends, yes, that is part of it. He is appealing on those grounds and those grounds alone.
Just finished watching it for the first time and I’m blown away. During the first three seasons I was like « yeah, it’s well written, well acted… let’s watch another one » occasionally like once in two weeks. But holy shit after the middle of season 4 I just couldn’t turn it off. Amazing show !
Finally someone looks at this underrated show.
Whilst I can admit that Breaking Bad and The Wire are probably the greatest shows of all time and are absolute masterpieces, the shield will always be my favourite
Oh yeah the wire is hands down the best show ever. Breaking bad and the shield are both top ten for me
Tv from 98-2010 was out of this world and it seems like they weren’t afraid to try things. A friend told me to watch The Shield and I was HOOKED. Great retrospective.
Excellent recap. Truly a tough, gritty, original series. Never seen anything like it, before or since. The scene where Shane drops the grenade in Lem's lap is still very upsetting to watch. Thank you for putting this together.
Grew up near Walton Goggins [Marietta GA here with Walton in nearby Lithia Springs].
A friend got us watching Fallout last week and I’d mentioned Walton’s former The Shield performances - BRILLIANT work; great to hear and see it here so eloquently presented as appreciated.
I mean he was SO great in The Shield, as were all the other actors and producers and directors who empowered them to deliver their amazingly delivered scenes.
AMAZING series - used to race home to watch it live after working around police, courts and legal system types as a former news reporter myself and already in that The Shield frame of mind.
TOTAL fanboy deluxe!
GREAT review and reminisce here of The Shield.
I’m still crying years later at the demise of Shane’s family.
I’m so glad someone is doing a long from analysis of this amazing show. It’s my favorite show of all time, beating out Breaking Bad by a hair.
God tier taste
100% underrated show, just recently picked it up again and thought I'll see what UA-cam has to say about this and to my surprise there is very little out there, so massive props for doing this.
LOVED this show. So many episodes left me with my mouth wide open going WTF did I just watch???!!! This show ripped your heart out at times. It is truly one of the greats and deserves it's place right up there with The Sopranos, Breaking Bad/ Better Call Saul, etc... It's a Top 5 show for me. Mackey was just so brutal yet you found yourself pulling for him. You had to catch yourself and remind yourself what a true monster he really was. I also think this show had the absolute best series finale's ever. It was perfection! Amazing show!
And you had to wait a week to find out what happens
I started writing a retrospective for the series a few months ago when I realized nobody had really given The Shield a proper once-over on here. I kinda figured somebody would finish theirs before mine. Can't wait to watch! It's such a landmark show. Breaking Bad, for instance, would've NEVER happened without The Shield. I highly recommend the blu-ray box set. It's completely remastered and has just about every special feature you could dream of. Definitely worth the (criminally low) price tag!
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Already reviewed the box set, it is great but I would watch from the old one, the new one reveals so many camera men in the large format. It is actually disaster.
@@MichaelChiklisCares I owned the DVD sets from back in the day but I have to respectfully disagree entirely here. While there are some shadows and obvious crew present every now and then, it still doesn't take away from the experience. I'm a very close watcher but even I had to have them pointed out to me. In fact, some might say it adds to the "fly on the wall" documentary style that the series did so well.
It's never looked or sounded better and I would never recommend returning to that format or master ever again lol the extras alone are more than worth the price of admission. For instance, the 2018 roundtable reunion is an incredible watch. You can see how much the actors and crew cared about this series. Different strokes though, you know?
@@MichaelChiklisCares is that the one by Mill Creek Entertainment? Because I have the DVD collection made by them (which is in large format) and it revealed no camera men in the background.
Interesting fact: the reason Ronnie was just kinda there for most of the series was that they didn’t have the budget for a larger speaking part but needed more bodies on the strike team and David Snell was a friend of Shawn Ryan’s.
As you said in the video the fact that they were able to spin that into one final gut punch is a testament to the brilliance of the writing.
Great video thank you.
Interesting, that explains why Ronnie started talking way more after Lem's death 😂
My favorite series of all time. The writing (something Hollywood quit using) never let things get stale and the acting is top f'ing notch across the board.
Finally someone doing an extensive review for a show that deserves all the praise it gets. It’s a top 5 show of all time and it has the greatest pilot episodes I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget being floored when Vic shoots Terry. Hope more people start doing reviews like this and even reactions to watching it because it deserves that praise.
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When people ask me for good tv recommendations, the first question I ask is if they've watched this show. I love how the tension just ramps up and up and the ending is just spectacular. Very few shows ever nail the landing but for my money The Shield, The Leftovers and Six Feet Under ( which Shield creator Shawn Ryan said the ending was perfect) do a great job of this. This show is criminally underrated and hope in time it gets the flowers it so rightfully deserves.
No one does a better Claudette Wyms impression of 46:37 than Dennis Reynolds. It's magic.
The scene with Shane playing the piano while Mara plays with Jackson was so heartwarming and breaking at the same time . I thought they would eventually divorce maybe they would have anyway but there was potential for a good life there and Shane threw it away following Vic's example and getting in bed with the Armenian mob .
Bittersweet af
You thought they were going to divorce. How innocent you were back then…
No TV show stuck the landing as well as The Shield. Greatest finale ever.
Six feet under had a better ending but the shields finale was obviously excellent
@@raymondsims7042 loved the Six Feet Under finale. Claire was a great character, back when Hollyweird still wrote great female roles
@@BlyGuy agreed she was a great character along with the rest of the cast
I can't believe this hasn't been a more popular show. It was so damn good. I watched Sons of Anarchy because it was made by the same guy
...and Taylor Sheridan (Sheriff Hale in "Sons of Anarchy") writes "Yellow Stone" and "Tulsa King" among other shows.
Actually Kurt was one of the writers from The Shield.
May check it out down the line.
Do you think he shield better than sons of anarchy? Because I wasn't a huge fan of soa. I need to watch a new TV show but I'm undecided.
@@EJD339 Both are pretty good, but I like SoA Just a little bit more than The Shield, love the John/Jax monologues
This is one of the best television shows of all time! We used to have watch parties and wait weekly and seasonally for new shows… I’ve seen the aeries at least a dozen times through. Incredible.
This show got me ready for "The Wire." Its finale, IMO, is the best finale in TV history. I don't know if it has been mentioned, but I read a couple of things in an article:
1)The Sopranos had just ended and Shawn Ryan hated the ending. He wanted to tie up as many arcs as possible.
2)The finale was debuted at a theater in NY. It ended to silence and then a slow-building standing ovation.
I’d say the shield has the second best ending ever while six feet under has the best
@@raymondsims7042 I cannot confirm nor deny that, as I've never seen the series.
my sister in law's Montana cabin where my husband and I spent our honeymoon had the first 2 seasons of the shield on DVD, which we watched for the first time - we both really liked it and I think it helped me develop appreciation for similar shows like the wire.
You two choose crazy honeymoon spots.... was Ted Kazinski a neighbor 😅?
One of my favorite binge watch series. I've rewatched The Shield alot over the last 20 years.
Thank you! This was put together very well. I started watching The Shield right after season 3 aired. I bought all the DVDS and watched all the behind the scenes and the commentary. Definitely one of the best shows ever on tv.
F/X has put out some absurdly good yet overlooked and underrated shows like The Shield, Terriers and more recently Mr Inbetween.
Monica Rawlings was such a well written character, loved every minute she was on screen.
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Glenn Close knocked it out of the park, matching all the intensity and gravitas of Michael Chiklis.
@@jamesdrake142true, and not long after that, she was the antagonist in Damages, another great FX show
Sometimes the urge hits me and I'll go seek out that scene where Vic confesses to Olivia. It could almost be a one-act play, just by itself. It's not just WHAT he's confessing to, but HOW he's confessing to it, the way he seems to be reacting to it as he's describing it. I think you hit the nail on the head on that point.
The final shot is pretty great. His compulsion and obsession with being an authority figure drives him to make poor decisions to such a degree that even though he did it, he got away with everything and his only real punishment is a life of mediocrity, he's ready to throw himself back into the mix and ruin it all. He fought hard to get out of it, sold out his friends, murdered innocent people, and was protected by the system in a way only cops could be. He throws it away anyhow. He won't stop until he's dead or locked up forever. He simply refuses to change and that's a real tragedy. It was all for nothing.
Also notice how the S1 ending parallels the finale, the cycle keeps repeating. The show is very focused on the cycle of abuse and violence. Vic tortures Juan Lozano by shoving a bong down his throat, which plants the idea in his mind to rape Aceveda. Or how we see Joe Clarke perverted Vic in a similar way that he would go onto do with Shane, and then Shane would get with Army. Brilliant show.
Now that I think about it that could’ve possibly been the reason for the inclusion of Tina.
He gonna go on a war oath
Well said brother, that was very good break down of arguably one of the greatest shows of all time, I've been singing this shows praises for the last 20 years trying to get as many eyeballs as I could to watch it because it is simply that good, despite its flaws no one can deny the sheer acting talent on display in this criminally under rated show, I'll go one step further and say the very final moments of the show is just magic to watch a silent Michael chiklis deliver every range of emotion that character would be feeling without saying a single freaking word 😳 more people need to see this show
Hopefully it will receive the attention it deserves in the future
Just got one of my friends to finally start watching it after years of badgering him. After he watched episode 1, he sumply texted me, "HOLY SHIT!!! JUST WATCHED FURST EPISODE OF THE SHIELD!!!"
Such a fantastic show! That confession scene is powerful. Not just for Vic, but for the audience that has cheered this man on for 7 seasons. It leaves absolutely no doubt that we were rooting for the bad guy. It made me feel awful for it too.
Preach
"how much memory has that thing got?"
It is same as breaking bad. First few episodes you like him, but then you realize how rotten he is.
I rewatched season 4 and, knowing what happens in season 5, I think it’s to give false hope that the Strike Team can have a fresh start. Season 5 of The Shield solidified that their past would never allow them a fresh start.
BEST SHOW OF ALL TIME. The finale was inspired by the Chris Benoit tragedy. GREATEST FINALE IN HISTORY.
I visited the set twice; during filming of that in-between-seasons “promosode,” called Wins & Losses, directed by Kurt Sutter. I got to be an extra that trip- it was Lem’s arm wrestling scene. I’m on the balcony next to Jay Nunez. When Lem tosses the bag of ice away upon entering the barn, you can see my pale white legs lol Fun times. There’s a pan shot of the balcony where I can spot my blurry profile. Being an extra wasn’t planned so no wardrobe, makeup, pay, etc. I also got to go to see 3 days of filming of Game Face, which was directed by Chik. Kenny called him while we were all sitting in one of the interrogation rooms . Thats where Chik was watching playback of what they’d just filmed so he could direct himself. We sang Happy Birthday to KJ. David Rees Snell forgot to wear Ronnie’s bandage from the previous ep’s dog bite. I brought his attention to that when they went on break. They were able to reshoot the scenes right away. None of them had remembered so it would t have been caught til editing. Reshooting it at that point would’ve required copying everyone’s wardrobe, hair, time of day, etc., which would’ve been annoying & expensive. I’d’ve shown up every day to do that for free if they’d’ve let me. I’d’ve cleaned the toilets too haha. The cast, crew, writers, & fans were a family bonded by our love for the project. I’m still friends with most of them. David Marciano was my favorite to hang out with. He sang Take Me Home Country Roads to everyone backstage when I told him I live in West Virginia. Catherine Dent questioned why we would travel from all over the country just to sit around backstage at their little thing without getting paid. Srsly, I loved being on that set. Being directed by Kurt Sutter while I got to whoop & holler for Len to win while jumping around waving money is def on my ‘Top Five Badass Things I Ever Got To Do’ list. They were all quite humble. No divas. They each wanted to help everyone else to put on a great performance. Ok, that’s about all. Peace out.
This is my all-time favorite series!!! Amazing job!!!!
This was the first time I truly could not miss an episode of a show. One of my all time favorites. Great writing intense af. Tragic. Vic got off too easy. What a dirtbag.
Thank you so much for this. I have been waiting years for some acknowledgement of not only the brilliance of the entire show, but for the ending which was hands down the finest fate ever meted out in a TV show. I still remember watching the last episode thinking "well, it's either jail or death" as the only two possibilities left to Vic, only to be literally stunned by the poetic justice in the last few minutes, when the horror of a self-created hell becomes Vic's lot. Bravo, sir.
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The Sopranoes, Wire and Breaking Bad get all this hype around them; it's definitely deserved. The Shield should be mentioned in the same breath.
edit: Noticed you brought up those 3
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I'll never forget the end of pilot ep. That the creators then used it to bookend the hollowness of Vic's 'family first' character arc was incredible to watch play out.
It's truly nice to see his show get it's due here. I consider The Shield to be criminally underrated.
I usually rewatch this show every year or so. Love it. Funny thing is I remember watching The Commish. It was Michael Chiklis with hair and a nice guy cop. When The Shield came out I thought it was funny how he played a different kinda cop.
He was ferocious.
The last scene of this series was awesome. It showed what Vic truly was - a survivor. After everything he went through and lost, he hasn't really changed.
He’s just gonna keep pushing til he leads himself to ruin
@@MacabreStorytelling Oh, yeah, your shark analogy was on point.
Best show of all-time in my opinion. Deadwood is a close second for me. Amazing acting in both. Thanks for putting this together.
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Best show of all time to me would be the wire, but the shield is absolutely top ten
This video itself is unique and memorable. People are going to keep coming to this video as long as UA-cam is there.
I've been back here multiple times since first stumbling on it in december 2022
This is hands down the best and most comprehensive documentary I've seen covering the greatest TV show ever made. Kudos to you and your hard work.
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The shield is 1 of the greatest American cop shows ever. These other shows that came after are straight up dull in comparison. Like the previous comment said I'm surprised it's not more popular. It's as memory worthy as Goodfellas or other gangster films. Mackie is monumental!
This is a great video. You did a wonderful job. I really love how much of Vic's "confession" scene is up for interpretation. I didn't take it that he was feeling any guilt at all. To me he seemed to completely disassociate from the actions he was speaking about, almost as if he was describing events that happened to other people instead of evil acts he himself perpetuated--hints of sociopathy. I also think that The Shield has just as much thematic depth as The Wire, etc., but rather than focus on social/political issues, The Shield focuses on human nature/more universal issues. The camera slowly panning up to the money burning as the strike team members lie breathless on the floor after fighting is, to me, one of the most thematically rich shots of the 21st century.
season 4 and 5 are my favorites. anthony anderson is amazing. normally a comedic parts plays a cold ruthless gang leader. it was amazing change and showed how good of an actor he is. and forrest was so good i hated his guts everytime he was on screen
It's so meta to watch you do a deep dive into The Shield because it's a show that moves at a break neck speed with a character that the creator calls a 'shark', it's so fitting that your own content on UA-cam is made with a very charged, propulsive pace. Even setting aside the virtues of The Shield, it makes sense that you of all people would be enthralled by that show if for no other reason than both you and the show seem to run on the same wavelength. Bravo on this video!
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The ending of this show is the only ending of any tv show that has had me in tears. The writing and acting is impeccable. Never going to be another one like it
personally I think the flashback episode in season 2 was welcome, also because it briefly show how the members initially wanted to play by the rules but started taking shortcuts, allowing themselves to take the first one due to the huge pressure to make a big arrest during their very first day in order to keep their jobs in the strike team. By the end of the episode, Vic and Shane were genuinely surprised at how easy it was for them to do so, implying it was their first time. They may not have needed to do it so often in the future, and have done it for personal gain or by facility, but in other episodes we see more and more the unreachable demand "always more results, more quickly with always less money" imposed by the police chiefs (because imposed by the city, by the state...) and how it leads to more pressure, firings, and temptation (or need) to cut corners to keep up
So nice to come across this as I've been a huge fan of the show since the beginning, but it never seemed to get the same amount of love as The Sopranos, The Wire, or Breaking Bad.
It also had one of the best series finale in TV.
Correct take
This show is incredible. I've often heard Sons of Anarchy is basically a watered down The Shield on two Wheels...and I have to agree. Every season of this show was so great.
@laverdadescatolica5 what a finale that was!
@laverdadescatolica5naw sons of anarchy ended perfectly with papas goods just like the shield ended excellent. Both shows have two of the best conclusions ever
@@tidepride86sons of anarchy has a great finale as well
One of most underrated shows of all time, along with Rescue Me.
Ooo may have to add that one to the list!
100%. Two of my favorites as well.
Me and my dad have seen this show so many times, it holds a special place in my heart. In deed this video makes justice by recognizing how good this show is
God. We just don't get shows like these anymore