'The Shield' - The Final Act [Archive]

miyamotofreak

08-25-2008, 09:10 PM

I just finished season 5 and started season 6. Season 5 was my favorite so far...it was like The Departed if it was 13 hours long. Then Lemanski got blowed the fuck up!
Your going to get through Season Six in the next 24 hours. The intensity was so high.

cam-

08-25-2008, 09:15 PM

Wait a minute, I may be behind a little, so I should maybe not return to this thread till I catch up...but in that promo shot...I could SWEAR that was Lem.

conorkilpatrick

08-25-2008, 09:16 PM

Wait a minute, I may be behind a little, so I should maybe not return to this thread till I catch up...but in that promo shot...I could SWEAR that was Lem.

That's just a general pic from The Shield, probably the first season.

cam-

08-25-2008, 09:17 PM

Ah, that would be a bold plot twist otherwise. Thanks Conor.

miyamotofreak

08-25-2008, 09:28 PM

Ah, that would be a bold plot twist otherwise. Thanks Conor.
I think bold would be a very kind adjective if that were true.

niceguyeddie

08-26-2008, 12:07 AM

I don't think i've seen the previous season yet... i'll end up catching it all on dvd.
i can wait. it sucks but i prefer to watch it all in one big marathon anyways.

miyamotofreak

08-26-2008, 10:09 PM

Season 6 is $18 on youtube which is way better than the ridiculous DVD price. It's only 10 episodes so just watch it in a day. Just do it by Tuesday. :)

conorkilpatrick

09-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Bloody good start to the final season!

euchre0

09-04-2008, 03:07 AM

Indeed it was! I am so fascinated with the character of Vic Mackey. I want him to get his comeuppance, but I also root for him to get out of every pickle he constantly finds himself in. Season 4 was so great because Kavanaugh was in the right trying to get Vic, who is corrupt and killed one of his guys, but we want Vic to escape his clutches. Finally, Kavanagh has to become corrupt and break the rules to get Vic, but it doesn't even work. Such a fascinating concept! Such a great show.

tomanderson

09-08-2008, 08:41 PM

Vic is a really interesting character, and a really dangerous one too from the standpoint of other people on the show. Now that Vic's wife knows about the money, Vic is going to want some payback for that secret being betrayed. Also I wonder how killing the hitman is going to effect Ronnie.

I wonder if it'll happen tonight, I'm definitely going to watch it.

conorkilpatrick

09-08-2008, 08:45 PM

Also I wonder how killing the hitman is going to effect Ronnie.

I feel like Ronnie is stone cold and it's not going to effect him.

miyamotofreak

09-09-2008, 02:16 AM

I feel like Ronnie is stone cold and it's not going to effect him.
I disagree. I think this is going to continue the theme of Vic fucking up everyones lives. But what we have seen of Ronnie is so little I'm not sure. We know he's a bit dorky (computer nerd and the golf dancer thing). We know he's related to Vic. We know about the S2 face burning. We know about him being a awesome cop (S6). We also saw his cold reactions toward Shane for the death of Lem, his current kill, and the realization of the kill in episode one. I really don't know. He doesn't have the charisma to be the next Vic Mackey but something tells me he is the key to the end of the story. He'll be the one to end it and his fate will decide that of Shane and Vic. Then there is the huge X factor of Vic's family for the first time knowing it all. It was really refreshing when Shane told Mara everything in S6 and the dynamic between those two has kept me interested in Shane despite his bumbling. Corrine and her daughter are definitely ending their relationship with him but what happens before they do? And what are the consequences?

gobo

09-09-2008, 02:30 AM

It really seemed to me in the last episode that Ronnie's reaction to killing the guy was important. He was visibly affected by it.

It might just be he was surprised how little he cared but, he definitely was uncomfortable about how he felt, or didn't feel I guess.

conorkilpatrick

09-09-2008, 03:44 AM

miyamotofreak

09-09-2008, 06:36 AM

I feel like Ronnie is a survivor, and while he may not have liked to have killed the guy he did what he had to do to survive. If anyone is going to turn on Vic to save his own ass, it will be Ronnie. I think if push comes to shove, Shane won't be able to take out Vic. He loves him too much.
Ronnie being the survivor was what I felt the trailers pointed to. I think Ronnie taking out Shane is more likely and that may cause Vic to suicide.

miyamotofreak

09-17-2008, 08:28 AM

Amazing last two episodes and a very revealing final scene. It looks like Conor had Ronnie down from the start after all. The lying Vic did at the end was frightening. I feel for Shane at this point. The one loose link that I'm trying to link is what they're doing with Cassidy. Its seems to me that she's going to end Vic not Ronnie. Of course not physically but anybody watching the show knows what I mean.

conorkilpatrick

09-17-2008, 05:28 PM

I don't feel for Shane. He needs about fourteen bullets to the head.

tomanderson

09-18-2008, 05:23 PM

I don't feel for Shane either. I can understand that he's in a tough spot and all but everything that he has done to this point is just paving the way to a violent end for him.

sullivan85

09-18-2008, 08:00 PM

Damn, I'm having a hard time keeping up with Vic's devious moves myself. Ep 3 was awesome!

I'm not sure if he'll die, retire, or stay on the force, but something tells me that the series does not end with Vic smiling. He's done too much for them to not punish him in some way in the finale.

ryan79

09-19-2008, 01:53 AM

I think the only way this show can end is with everyone on the Strike Team dead. For a while, I thought Ronnie was going to survive because he's basically done very little wrong. That was until he shot that guy in the hotel room. At that moment, I thought, "that's it. everybody dies".

miyamotofreak

09-25-2008, 03:57 AM

So nobody is discussing the holy shit ending of the last episode?

If not, HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

preacher

09-25-2008, 07:38 AM

I kinda think his daughter may prove his undoing......

tomanderson

09-25-2008, 10:08 PM

I wonder if it will....It's a good boot and I think it would be kind of a fitting end to someone as subversive as Vic that his own family would do him in. Especially after all this "he'll get what he deserves" talk.

conorkilpatrick

09-25-2008, 10:14 PM

One of the great things about this show is that there is no way to tell how this is all going to end. Vic could be taken out in so many ways by so many people.

Tense!

miyamotofreak

10-09-2008, 02:31 AM

HOLY SHIT. Pardon my language but anyone watching the Shield is used to it. FUCK. Goddamn. Best episode of The Shield in years and maybe ever. Intense and it was what I felt was Shane's defining episode.

conorkilpatrick

10-09-2008, 06:59 AM

It was very, very good... this is going to end very badly for everyone involved.

Vic's gonna rue the day he didn't take out Shane when he had the chance, I reckon.

Also, Tavon!

Before tonight's episode I thought that maybe Ronnie might be the only one to make it out alive/out of prison... but now I think Shane's gonna cap him before whatever happens between he and Vic happens.

dave-carr

10-09-2008, 01:00 PM

I've also been enjoying the Dutch subplots lately. He has awesome instincts, but hid desire to be super human will be his undoing. Matter of fact, the whole show is predicated on the concept of persons acting beyond their capabilities. It as if everyone is living on borrowed time.

Also, does Josh watch this? Seems like it's something he would dig/

conorkilpatrick

10-09-2008, 07:03 PM

Also, does Josh watch this? Seems like it's something he would dig/

Yes, he does. He's the one who turned me onto it originally.

Sadly, he is having major forum log-in problems and he hasn't been able to post here for months.

gobo

10-09-2008, 07:07 PM

Seems like he's not the only one

decepticon

10-12-2008, 01:25 AM

Been watching the final Shield season (albeit a few days behind, due to time constrictions) but I'm definitely loving it. So much pressure on this season, but it looks like they're not going to buckle...I just hope they can keep it up for the rest of the season.

When they brought back Teyvon (or however his name is spelled) I was just like OH SHIIITT! Looking forward to see that play out between him and Shane.

jaflanagan

10-12-2008, 03:50 PM

miyamotofreak

10-13-2008, 06:23 AM

Yeah, I watch it. Sorry I haven't been updating. The thing is, I haven't been enjoying this season very much. The last episode was good and tense, but I'm starting to get a bit sick of things. My favorite things this year have been Dutch and Billings. That's great stuff.

But when Tavon showed up, I said, "OH SHIT!"

But I don't feel like the plotting is as strong as it had been earlier. I'm figuring out that Cavanaugh was at keeping the show vibrant.

Also, I love the ascension of Ronnie, and how he's the most competent character on the show.
I disagree on the plotting being weaker but we'll see soon enough who's right. I really loved Dutch's talk to Billings this week though. What a fantastic moment. And I remember when I first realized how badass Ronnie was (when Ronnie slams the runner when he's working outside of the Strike Team in either S5 or S6). Best show on TV for me right now bar none. And when it ends BSG will have its finale which I'm really looking forward to (and of course Lost.)

dave-carr

10-13-2008, 02:59 PM

My favorite things this year have been Dutch and Billings. That's great stuff.

But when Tavon showed up, I said, "OH SHIT!"

Also, I love the ascension of Ronnie, and how he's the most competent character on the show.

Agreed on

Tavon. Dutch and Claudette in interrigation was a great scene. I wish Dutch got more screen time, but I think most of the viewing public just wants to see Vick go apeshit (though we've seen that go down over and over agiain.
I wi;ll say that we've seen Vick become less self assured, which is interesting.

Also, Ronnie has a file, or some back up plan thay'll detroy them all. He's the soft, sly Nietzschean who get things donw without raising a shit storm. He'll also have a fix it, for Claudette to get rid of that pesky black mark on his jacket.

dave-carr

10-15-2008, 04:36 AM

Well, what'd we think?

I tire of Vic fighting to keep his badge. Seems like that has been a plot elephant for at least a season.

Are Vic and Shane in cohorts to bring down Ronnie? Remember, before the bust on the pimp's house, Vic and Shane split off together. At the conclusion of the Scene, Vic tries to assure Ronnie that Shane is back. I think, therefore that Vic and Shane might be in cohorts. I don't believe at this point that Vic would condone Ronnie's killing. This may be the death of my theory.

Am I the only one who got a whiff of Vick Mackie: Federal Agent at a certain point in this episode? If Vic is even remotely successful, the Feds could use him as the ultimate inside man, one who is free to be as excessive as the job dictates? It'd be an ironic, yet fitting end for the character.

Caasidy should testify at the custody hearing, should Danny's flee be a failure.

Dutch is The Man.

Vick got played (expertly so) by a prostitute!

conorkilpatrick

10-16-2008, 12:42 AM

Are Vic and Shane in cohorts to bring down Ronnie? Remember, before the bust on the pimp's house, Vic and Shane split off together. At the conclusion of the Scene, Vic tries to assure Ronnie that Shane is back. I think, therefore that Vic and Shane might be in cohorts. I don't believe at this point that Vic would condone Ronnie's killing. This may be the death of my theory.

I don't think there's anyway that Vic and Shane are working together to kill Ronnie. Vic is about one thing - loyalty. It's why he is finding it so hard to bring the hammer down on Shane, even though Shane betrayed everyone and killed Lem. If Vic could kill Ronnie, he could kill Shane.

My old theory was that Ronnie was going to survive this whole mess because he was smarter than everyone else, but now I think that (despite next week's previews) Ronnie's going to get taken out by Shane and then it's going to be Shane against Vic.

My dark horse theory is that nothing is going to happen to any of them (legally or by each others' hands) and then Vic is going to get shot by his daughter.

dave-carr

10-16-2008, 01:57 AM

My dark horse theory is that nothing is going to happen to any of them (legally or by each others' hands) and then Vic is going to get shot by his daughter.

That would be awesome. I could totally still see Vic evolving into a Frank Costello type. No that's a bit strong, but the feds could sanction his activities as their fixer, the magic bullet to use whenever the shit hits the fan. Till then he could just rake in the collars on vice.

It's entirely possible I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

miyamotofreak

10-17-2008, 01:19 AM

There's so many loose threads:

1. This season seems to have a lot of cameos from minor characters in previous seasons. A lot. It's cool but honestly due to the huge airing delays I don't remember most of these people.

2. Danny vs. Mackey. I don't get Danny right now. Is this fallout from her assault? I don't think she's in the right state of mind.

3. Shane vs. Vic. Vic no longer wants to kill Shane. Shane doesn't know that. Somehow I don't think either of them have the heart to kill each other. However...

4. Shane vs. Ronnie- Ronnie is cold. But Shane's hands off approach to killing him is proving to be interesting. Somehow I don't think he'll do the same to Vic. I think Ronnie's going to leave Farmington one way or another (death or maybe just a transfer since him and Claudette are already at it).

5. Dutch- Dutch is amazing. From Claudette to Billings to Veronica Mars kid his arc is incredible.

6. Julian- I forget, is he still married to his wife? He's quite the cop now.

7. Vic vs Family- I don't where they're going with Cassidy. I just hope its not where I think it is.

8. FBI lady vs. Aceveda- Is the series going to end with Acevedas election? Probably. Interesting subplot of the past couple seasons.

There's lots more conflicts but thats for later.

conorkilpatrick

10-22-2008, 04:56 AM

WOW! There are five episodes left and I have NO idea how that's even possible.

dave-carr

10-22-2008, 07:00 AM

Of all the things, I expected, Vic turnining in his badge was NOT one of them. Does he have any real leverage now?

Doesn't he have to be on the force to be useful to Pez? What info/assurances can he offer the criminal element? To the Feds? Has he finally hit a wall?

gobo

10-22-2008, 02:22 PM

I Want Those Last 5 Episodes Immediately

miyamotofreak

10-23-2008, 03:35 AM

5 episodes to go? With 10 more minutes this could've been the series finale. Wow. Is every plotline being abandoned? I think we can safely say the Danny and Cassidy storylines are done. What about Pezuela? Something tells me that it's going to be a lot of Dutch grilling Ronnie the next episode.

ryan79

10-23-2008, 03:42 AM

God, what an episode that was. It's cliche' to say it, but the interrogation of Two-Man had me on the edge of my seat.

When Shane said "I'll be right back", my first thought was that he was going to go to the Strike Team's clubhouse and shoot himself. Then I realized it was far too early in the season for something like that to happen. It still wouldn't surprise me to see someone put a gun to their own head before it's all said and done.

I'm going to miss this show so much but I'm glad it's going out in style.

conorkilpatrick

10-23-2008, 03:45 AM

I thought Shane was going to go after Vic's family when he split.

Man, once it became clear that the truth was going to come out about Shane, I am pretty sure I stopped breathing until the show ended.

ryan79

10-23-2008, 03:57 AM

Man, once it became clear that the truth was going to come out about Shane, I am pretty sure I stopped breathing until the show ended.

You and me, both.

miyamotofreak

10-29-2008, 11:21 AM

dave-carr

10-29-2008, 01:42 PM

Excellent episode as usual.
The Dutch story is going to be the end for his character. Death would be huge but maybe not the Shield style. Mental breakdown maybe. Or it can be his greatest triumph. But there's something really wrong here.
I can't root for Vic anymore. Shooting a pregnant woman is the worst. Even cold blooded Ronnie seemed to think it extreme. Shane's the one to root for now, in that twisted way. I thought the end scene was fantastic.
Danny is gone. Gone baby gone.
Oh and what Billings did was despicable.

Agreed with the Dutch thing. The Mom is probably going to be murdered by the kid and Dutch will either be shattered by the guilt or legally implicated somehow.

To be fair, Vick didn't shoot Shane's wife and I'm not certain he would have. He hesitated.

Shane is even more despicable than Vic. He truly believes he's innocent somehow whereas Vic is starting to own up to things in part.

Thought this episode did a great job showing just how important the shield is to vic, at least piratically. He's out of favors.

conorkilpatrick

10-29-2008, 07:29 PM

There is absolutely NO WAY to root for Shane.

I'd root for Ronnie but I still feel like he's gonna be the next one to die.

conorkilpatrick

10-30-2008, 10:50 PM

Woo-hoo! My cable company added FX HD! I can watch the rest of the series in non-grainy fashion at the proper aspect ratio! (Hopefully)

miyamotofreak

10-30-2008, 11:10 PM

Woo-hoo! My cable company added FX HD! I can watch the rest of the series in non-grainy fashion at the proper aspect ratio! (Hopefully)
Isn't the show supposed to be grainy?
So jealous.
But seriously, the grain is The Shield.

conorkilpatrick

10-30-2008, 11:11 PM

Isn't the show supposed to be grainy?
So jealous.
But seriously, the grain is The Shield.

Yes, it's definitely shot on a grainier film stock, but not as grainy as watching standard D on a high D TV is.

conorkilpatrick

11-12-2008, 06:57 AM

I'm starting to think that no one is getting out of this. Unless somehow Shane slithers across the border. But I think that everyone is getting either arrested or killed.

Although at this point, I think Ronnie could flip on Vic. He's starting come apart and Vic's promises are coming up short.

http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/900/900874/the-shield-20080820003503044.jpg

But seriously, someone needs to shoot this motherfucker!

dave-carr

11-12-2008, 02:43 PM

I'm starting to think that no one is getting out of this. Unless somehow Shane slithers across the border. But I think that everyone is getting either arrested or killed.

Pezuella could off Shane if he makes it to Mexico.

http://www.theboxset.com/images/reviewcaptures/2489BoondockSaintscap011.jpg

There will be a firefight!

tomanderson

11-13-2008, 09:30 PM

Isn't the show supposed to be grainy?
So jealous.
But seriously, the grain is The Shield.

yeah, the show is supposed to be grainy, it's filmed like that on purpose.

conorkilpatrick

11-13-2008, 09:33 PM

yeah, the show is supposed to be grainy, it's filmed like that on purpose.

Oh, I forgot to update everyone - apparently the people behind The Shield didn't get the HD memo that just about every single other TV show got for the last ten years+. The Shield in HD is still not shot on HD and is still 4:3. Annoying.

conorkilpatrick

11-19-2008, 04:47 AM

odds-bodkins

11-20-2008, 08:19 PM

Hahaha - you know what tonight's episode was? It was a big ol' slap in the face to anyone who wanted Vic to get away.

Man, I feel dirty after watching that. I need to wash the grime off with, like, 90210 or something.

I still kinda want Ronnie to get away.

At first when Vic was playing hard ball to get Ronnie his deal, I wasn't buying it for a second. Of course, not 10 minutes later, he's signing away and selling Ronnie down the river. His confession was the funniest/best 2 minutes this show ever put out. I was rolling.

90 minutes left. First the Wire, now the Shield... not a good time to be a fan of awesome TV. At least Sons of Anarchy got picked up for next season.

conorkilpatrick

11-20-2008, 08:24 PM

At first when Vic was playing hard ball to get Ronnie his deal, I wasn't buying it for a second. Of course, not 10 minutes later, he's signing away and selling Ronnie down the river.

Vic is all about loyalty so I truly believe he was fighting hard for Ronnie and was going to wait on the job offer until Ronnie could get it too. It was only when he was tricked into thinking his family was in trouble that he stabbed Ronnie in the back because the only thing that trumps loyalty to Vic is family. But I think his first passing on the job until Ronnie could get it too was genuine. Absolutely.

His confession was the funniest/best 2 minutes this show ever put out. I was rolling.

It was very much like the "George telling his life story to the co-op board" scene in Seinfeld.

jaflanagan

11-20-2008, 08:57 PM

Or Chunk confessing to the Fratellis

"And I made this horrible sound, like WWWOOLLLGGGHHHH!"

odds-bodkins

11-20-2008, 09:42 PM

Or Ted Stryker in Airplane.

ryan79

11-21-2008, 12:28 AM

"I've done worse"....damn, that Vic is a bastard.

Ronnie is going to put a bullet in Vic, much like Vic killed the guy in the very first show. For a long time, I thought it would end with Vic or Shane killing themselves with Ronnie walking away scott free. Then I had a brainstorm...

Vic and Shane have both been doing what they've been doing because of their families. They both love their families so much that they're willing to do whatever it takes to protect them. They both have too much to lose. Ronnie, on the other hand, doesn't have that. I see Ronnie learning that Vic sold him out and puts a bullet in him, much like Vic did with the cop from the very first show. Then, he turns the gun on himself. That's my prediction as of today...it'll change in a few hours.

Or maybe it was all a dream and Vic wakes up as Ben Grimm.

jaflanagan

11-21-2008, 01:07 AM

Vic doesn't die. He can't. I've learned that now. He'll get out of it. It's what he does. Ronnie might die. Shane will probably die. But Vic, like the cockroach, lives on.

miyamotofreak

11-21-2008, 04:17 AM

Vic doesn't die. He can't. I've learned that now. He'll get out of it. It's what he does. Ronnie might die. Shane will probably die. But Vic, like the cockroach, lives on.
Death Predictions:
Claudette
Dutch
Ronnie
Jackson

odds-bodkins

11-26-2008, 04:44 AM

Great finale... you knew Vic was too much of a coward to go out any other way. And the Mackey's moved to Rockford, IL!

ryan79

11-26-2008, 04:57 AM

Fantastic episode. As I expected, I didn't predict one thing correctly, other than Shane dying. I didn't see him Chris Benoit-ing his family, though.

One thing that bothered me was the kid Dutch was dealing with. What happened there? Did I miss something? Dutch and Claudette go from having no hard evidence to basically saying they have the case wrapped up? I don't get that one.

dave-carr

11-26-2008, 05:16 AM

One thing that bothered me was the kid Dutch was dealing with. What happened there? Did I miss something? Dutch and Claudette go from having no hard evidence to basically saying they have the case wrapped up? I don't get that one.

I think that they found something connecting him to the murderer that Dutch mentioned. Perhaps he buried his mom near construction or something. Maybe the perhaps of the scene was simply to show a "us. v. you" mentality, with the rppm flanked by dectectives.

Loved the Clauddete/Vic/Ronnie scene.

I was reallyu impressed with the the young Latina cop's scene's with the independent mayoral candiate.

The cake scene was awsome.

The closing scene proved to me that Michael has some damn fine chops as an actor.

Wow

tw33k2514

11-26-2008, 06:06 AM

I just got done watching it......did everyone else get chills when it ended? That last scene was so uncomfortable, simply amazing acting!

conorkilpatrick

11-26-2008, 07:21 AM

Wow, I am totally drained. As someone else said, it went totally in directions other than what I expected and that was awesome.

Vic the trapped corporate drone was awesome. But he is a force of nature that cannot be stopped and that was such a great ending.

The credits were a nice touch. Some scenes to make you smile and some to break your heart.

Poor Ronnie, the only member of the strike team that got fucked nearly as bad as Lem did. And he started the show as a glorified extra!

odds-bodkins

11-26-2008, 01:57 PM

The only thing I'd change is to lose that rival mayoral candidate storyline. That time spent on that distraction could have been better spent on Julien. I really wish we got to know him a little more... it's been 3/4 seasons since he was a major character.

gobo

11-26-2008, 03:13 PM

I liked the little touch of longing Julian showed when he saw the two gay men clearly in love.

conorkilpatrick

11-26-2008, 07:40 PM

conorkilpatrick

11-26-2008, 11:05 PM

Shawn Ryan talks about the end (http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/11/shield-shawn-ryan-post-finale-q.html) of the series.

ryan79

11-27-2008, 09:01 PM

Please no on a Shield movie. The final episode was good enough for me...I don't want to take a chance on a movie ruining anything.

miyamotofreak

11-29-2008, 02:57 AM

Don't forget that that was the comic book store guy from Season 3 :). I think the show ended on as high a note as it could. I could see a movie but not wide release. Ronnie will survive in prison, probably. He's smart and strong enough. Ryan says he'll probably join some white supremacists. I can see that. His sentence is probably not going to be life either or else it'll screw with all those cases they've done. And I don't think Vic mentioned Ronnie's only murder. So I see Ronnie getting a few years. So it would end up being a revenge tale I suppose. Vic will be out of ICE and Ronnie out of prison. Ronnie putting the deaths of the Strike Team on Vic. Could be really good. Probably direct to DVD but I'm sure it can be funded properly since the show is not too expensively made and they get good international cash. Do I want it? Of course. More Shield would be awesome. But the show ended perfectly as of now.

jaflanagan

11-29-2008, 04:30 PM

I liked the little touch of longing Julian showed when he saw the two gay men clearly in love.

It was good that they noted it, because that was my one big criticism of the show is that they started the character with this big storyline, and then he was basically "cured" and they forgot about it, which felt...incomplete. I mean, what is that trying to say? You can get over being gay and move on? I wasn't happy with that. At the same time, how long did we want to do that storyline? What was there left to say?

Was there resolution to the Dutch/teen serial killer thing? It sounded like Claudette suggested they'd found the body, but that's as far as it went. That was a little weak, since it had been going on all season.

Other than that, they imaginatively and thoroughly fucked Vic, so that was awesome.

gobo

11-29-2008, 04:36 PM

I read the Shaun Ryan interview and I'm fine with the Julian thing now, he made an excellent point that in real life he'd be able to hold up the facade for a while before everything broke down.

miyamotofreak

11-29-2008, 11:02 PM

Was there resolution to the Dutch/teen serial killer thing? It sounded like Claudette suggested they'd found the body, but that's as far as it went. That was a little weak, since it had been going on all season.

Other than that, they imaginatively and thoroughly fucked Vic, so that was awesome.
It's pretty much said that the kid was a serial killer. Claudette confirmed it.

patio

11-30-2008, 04:38 AM

I've loved this series for years and years. Everytime it comes on air it captivates me and whenever it's on I forget about everything else.

I know that Vic is bad, but I can't help but root for him. He, and his team, are always in opposition to two distinct forces: 1) The street villain who is so much worse than him, it nearly justifies his existence in order to get the scum off the street; and 2) the "straight" cop/politician trying to put Vic away (Aceveda, Dutch Boy, Glen CLose, Forest, Claudette). And somehow I wanted Vic and his team to get out of it every time.

patio

11-30-2008, 04:40 AM

So all-in-all there's no way that the end of this series wouldn't be a disappointment for me. To me it wasn't about getting to the end of the story, but about enjoying it as it went on.

But I was disappointed in the finale beyond the fact that it was the end. There wasn't enough of a battle, there wasn't enough of a villain in the Cartel guy. And I hate hate hated what Shane did. This was a real bummer of an ending. I don't know what I wanted or expected, but this wasn't satisfying to me.

ghostintheshell

12-02-2008, 09:36 PM

Lets face it how do you end a show this good for such a long period of time and do it in a way to satisfy all the fans? Impossible i say but i thought they did a damn good job. More satisfying and final than the sopranos (which i truely thought was poor) but not as well as the wire which was class.

Its only when the show finished and i realised id been holding my breath for the last 15mins or so i realised just how good they wrapped up the show.

Kudos to all involved

euchre0

12-08-2008, 07:31 PM

I know that Vic is bad, but I can't help but root for him. He, and his team, are always in opposition to two distinct forces: 1) The street villain who is so much worse than him, it nearly justifies his existence in order to get the scum off the street; and 2) the "straight" cop/politician trying to put Vic away (Aceveda, Dutch Boy, Glen CLose, Forest, Claudette). And somehow I wanted Vic and his team to get out of it every time.

But is the street villain worse than Vic? I don't think so. He breaks laws and deals drugs with the idea of a bigger or more strategic bust in mind. Then again, his control of people seems to provide a bigger motive than a possible bust. I was describing the show and Vic's character to my wife who has never seen the show and as I was doing so realized how incredible this show is in that it does make us root for Vic to get out of every mess when, really, Vic is just as bad as any criminal he's busted. Maybe he never cut anybody's feet off, but he did torture a man before killing him. He was completely ready to kill a pregnant woman and her kid so he wouldn't be exposed. Vic is just a vile as anyone he ever put behind bars.

On a different subject, one of my favorite scenes in this show was when Shane was slowly backing out the interrogation viewing room as his assassin was about to confess. Fantastic.

conorkilpatrick

12-08-2008, 07:34 PM

But is the street villain worse than Vic? I don't think so. He breaks laws and deals drugs with the idea of a bigger or more strategic bust in mind. Then again, his control of people seems to provide a bigger motive than a possible bust. I was describing the show and Vic's character to my wife who has never seen the show and as I was doing so realized how incredible this show is in that it does make us root for Vic to get out of every mess when, really, Vic is just as bad as any criminal he's busted. Maybe he never cut anybody's feet off, but he did torture a man before killing him. He was completely ready to kill a pregnant woman and her kid so he wouldn't be exposed. Vic is just a vile as anyone he ever put behind bars.

Agreed. And it's even worse when it's someone who is supposed to uphold the law who is acting like the criminal he is supposed to put away, the criminals he's supposed to be above.