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May 29, 2007: Recoil
I know it's probably bad to start off a blog about this week's episode by saying I can't wait for next week's. But it's true. The last time I remember anticipating a finale as much as this one it was the final episode of Cheers. And this is just a season finale. I mean, jeez, my heart. My poor, tired heart. I know my heart can't wait until 11:05 pm/ET next week for it to be over. It gets a workout each week and I'm sure the ticker is a little exhausted at this point. Then again, we get to wait nine months for more, so it's bittersweet.
Anyway, where were we? Right, we had another heck of an episode leading up to the finale. Everything looked kind of calm at the beginning, but in true Shield fashion, it all hit the fan by the end of the hour.
Let's talk San Marcos first. We finally have some closure on the whole situation. Vic's goal was to solve the murder case before he got pushed out, so he had five days to figure it out... which, of course, he did in one. That contractor guy gave them a nice tip, leading Vic to killer No. 1. But when Hiatt foiled Vic's first attempt at getting the other two, Vic went to Plan B. Vic talked to a guy to tell him he'll get out if he gives up the other two guys, which happened. But then when the whole team searched for them, they were nowhere to be found. Vic and Ronnie got to them first, dumped them off to Santi just as promised, and the war was over. Meanwhile, the first guy in the cage still went to jail because he was supposed to deliver two live guys, not dead ones. Brilliant. Oh, and how about this: the hit was ordered by Guardo. Some of you ask me why I have sympathy for Vic Mackey and you are right, I probably shouldn't. But frankly, the guy is a great cop. He's a dirty, dirty, dirty man. But when he's even semi-straight he puts other cops to shame. He can play 100 different sides and still get the desired results from all hundred.
Well, OK, maybe only 99 of those 100, since the controller couldn't do anything to help Vic. Seems like despite Vic helping him out, the controller really tried and found too much crap to sift through to help Vic save his job.
Actually, let's drop that number down one more to 98 of 100. The whole Shane thing just had its doors blown off. Shane got himself into places he shouldn't have been and now it's backfiring. He was training Diro to lead the Armenians. Then he shut down Rezian and his port shipments supposedly to help her out so people know who's in charge. At the same time, he was up to something with Rezian, because as he arrested him at the dock, he told him to not mention anything about the help he gave with the gas-station murder. So at this point it seems like he's attempting to play both of them, but Diro seems a little too smart for all of this. But then, this is where it goes wrong yet again. So Shane stuck his nose in here, then Vic stuck his nose in trying to "warn" Diro about Shane. This led her to confront Shane, when he opened up about the money train but of course denied all involvement in it. And now Diro wants to finish business by getting Vic. Shane knows this is bad. He wants to make Vic's life a living hell and protect himself, but the look on his face said, "Holy crap, what have I done now?" As we saw in the preview, the Armenians are now going after Vic and who knows how this will goes down, but either Shane or a Mackey family member will probably bite the big one next week. If Corinne, Matthew or Cassidy get taken out next week, you can be 100 percent certain that Shane won't live too much longer.
Then, as if saving his family isn't enough, Vic is going to have to save his job next week. And he finally has the means to do this. In exchange for Vic quitting his investigation of the San Marcos murders — in which he knows that shady contractor has some involvement in — this contractor gave him the leverage he needs to keep his job. Vic now has in his possession the picture of Aceveda being forced to have sex at gunpoint. If I remember correctly, the guy with the gun took a picture on his cell phone. Was he working for this contractor guy? Has he had the picture the entire time, just in case he needed to blackmail Aceveda for something? I have to admit, I didn't see this one coming. I'm excited to see where this leads.
And of course, we had our lighter moment of the night with Dutch and Billings. However, this was the Billings revenge episode. Dutch was still holding the vending machines over Billings' head and apparently Billings had enough. Steve started telling all these lies about Hiatt wanting Tina and Danny wanting Hiatt and Dutch wanting Tina (although they aren't very far ofrom the truth, they just didn't quite happen the way Billings said), and it got to the point where Tina came into the barn all sexy and invited Hiatt over to her place. Billings staked the place out and then texted Dutch to come over to her place, at which point he found Tina having sex with Hiatt. (You mean to say Tina was so involved here that she didn't realize her cell phone was missing?) Hiatt saw Dutch looking in, so does Hiatt go after Dutch now? And you have to feel for Dutch here. He's so clearly out of his element; he thought he finally struck gold, only to have his world shattered. If nothing else, I hope Dutch figures this all out and puts Billings through one of those vending machines. Wouldn't it be great to see Dutch go off?
One more to go and some great stories to finish up with. Like me, I bet you can't wait.
Until next week, friends.
Don't forget to check out our online video guide for more on The Shield.
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May 30, 2007 1:33 AM
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Shane's ability to outmaneuver himself is almost supernatural.
Billings was especially creepy. I just bet that Dutch catches onto him, and something snaps. It's always those quiet ones. But I'm thinking that this will have to wait until the next season, because the previews showing all of the action with the Armenians lead me to believe that they won't have much time to fit anything else in. Besides, they have to leave us some unwound threads to cling to until we get more episodes.
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May 30, 2007 2:44 AM
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Things I've learned from last night's ep:
1. Shane is a lying sack. Denying involvement in the Armenian money train heist was about the lowest he could go..other than Lem's murder of course. He is past redemption.
2. Billings really is a jerk. Playing Dutch like that was just downright mean. I hope Dutch finds out he was behind the text message and seeks revenge.
3. Tina is a slut. Didn't take her long to bang Hiatt. She struts around the Barn like she's all that. Well, she has Dutch to thank for what little cop sense she has.
4. That contractor guy Cruz Pizuela is evil. Mackey is going to get this guy without exposing that incriminating photo of Aceveda. I thought Mackey was horrified at the photo, not excited. He won't rest until he gets to the bottom of the San Marcos murders and Pizuela's involvement.
I love how this show neatly ties up plots that have existed since the very first episode. Next week is going to ROCK!
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May 30, 2007 9:54 AM
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Re: Dutch and his eventual snap... Does anyone remember the creepy scene a few seasons back where he killed the cat? He definitely has some darkness in him.
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May 30, 2007 10:10 AM
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Earlier in the show Hiatt said something like: "I try not to sleep with a woman that knows where I'll be in the morning". So much for that!!!!
I'm disappointed in him. AND, he is such a hunk!!! The rest of the show was great too.
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May 30, 2007 10:15 AM
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Another great episode, I just hate the fact that after next week we have to wait for the next season.
I loved that Ronnie shut Shane down with all that small talk crap in the car, "Go find a friend.".
For the record I have never liked Shane, always felt he was a coat tail rider and this proves it. This is the second time he tried to strike out on his own and got himself in too deep to pull out. To even mention the money train incident is ridiculous to try and win her over. Then to say he wasn't involved! He was the one that flipped out on Lem for wanting to get rid of the money. The beginning of the end for the Strike Team. That was the rift that started all the mistrust amongst them. Well really just Shane.
The fallout from his little remark is going to have very far reaching repercussions. People are going to die, I hope it isn't Vic's family, they didn't know anything about it. Unlike shady Mara, who was also responsible for the first real rift between Vic and Shane.
The Billings thing was hilarious, I mean I know it was really low down of him but they all played into his hands so easily. Dutch is compleletly going to go postal on Billings. But we might not see that until next season as the other poster mentioned.
As for Hiatt, not sure how much longer he is going to last. No way is Vic not going to use the photo as leverage to get his job back. Not only is he going to get rid of Hiatt and Julian but he now has something to use against Pizuela for the future. Aceveda deserves it anyway, he was so shady with this whole councilman thing and using everyone else. I guess the point of the show is how many shades of gray the characters have.
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May 30, 2007 10:53 AM
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I thought about Dutch killing that cat also. The whole Billings thing was hilarious!! Dutch is going to blow his top. I did feel and little sorry for him, but he needed to be taken down a peg or two. If anyone has to die next week, I hope it is Mara. Cannot stand her! Because Avaceda and Cavanaugh were responsible for Shane killing Lem I hope they get theirs, too. Tina is nasty! There is no other word for it. She creeps me out. I like Hiatt and think he and Vic could work good together. The only reason he one-upped Vic was because of Shane sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Can't wait for the finale!!
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May 30, 2007 11:14 AM
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It just doesn't get any better. This show has ruined all other shows for me since the first minute of the first show...
Last night sealed the deal. I had been thinking about Vic was gonna save his job and on Memorial Day I called my buddy and said "the picture!" that's his loop hole...as soon as I saw the envelope last night I started to laugh. Not because it was funny, I laughed in astonishment. This is truly the best writing in dramatic TV history.
I cannot wait to see the exchange between Vic and David and how the picture ended up in print. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Acevada nail the guy he "serviced" robbing a convenience store?
Is it Tuesday yet?
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May 30, 2007 11:14 AM
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Thanks David for a great recap!!
I think Vic is going to go straight to Acevada - he has no more interest in pursuing Pizuela - he just wants to keep his job. He will show the picture to Acevada and trade its secrecy for his job.
Shane has just stepped over into the abyss. There is no where for him to go but down. Even though the Money Train was bound to come up sooner or later, Shane should not have been the one to resurface it. This will be the death of him - in more ways than one!!
Billings really dug deep down into his bag of tricks to pull off that scam against the Dutch Boy! WOW - truly devious and entertaining too! We all remember the little kitty - is Dutch ready to show us his dark side again?
It was good to see Seth Peterson from Providence resurface last night as the gay killer. Very dark!
I can't wait for next weeks finale - I think its a full 90 minutes long to boot!!!
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May 30, 2007 11:26 AM
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donfay43, I couldn't agree more that Mara should bite the dust. I've been tired of her since the whole Tavon mess. She and Shane deserve each other.
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May 30, 2007 12:21 PM
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One of my favorite things about this show is that it keeps paying off on things that happened two and three season ago (Aceveda's forced sex and the continuing ramifications of what happened with the Armenian money train)--hell, it references things that happened right at the beginning (Terry's murder). The only other show I watch that rewards long-time viewers with this sort of continuity is HBO's The Wire, and I love both shows for that level of detail and dedication to their characters and the worlds they create around them.
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May 30, 2007 1:23 PM
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I thought Monica Lewinsky definitively established that Acevada did not have sexual relations.
Sorry.
I can't imagine that Billings is going to be around too much longer. I mean, he used to run the precinct. I thought they were just parking him while they tried to find something suitable to both his rank and incompetence. But, man, that was just too funny...the look on Dutch's face and the look on Hiatt's.
I can't help but wonder whether Vic, after he gets his job back, is going to get Acevada (corrupt politico) and Pizuela (corrupt businessman/crime boss?) to go after each other. Which leaves my girl Wymms riding the tiger.
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May 30, 2007 4:08 PM
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What was the whole vending machine scam that Billings is part of? I remember them mentioning it but can't recall the details.
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May 30, 2007 5:41 PM
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Billings owns all of the vending machines in the Barn. This violates police code - no police member can profit off of another (or something like that).
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May 30, 2007 6:43 PM
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Man, where do I start.
The look on Hiatt's face when those Salvadorians were found dead. Or when he walked out of interrogation realizing he wasn't giving up his cronies.
What about the smile on Vic's face when they were all standing at the desk with the pics of the 2 Salvadorians and he just smiled and said well we have at least 1 to convict.
Billings in the house with the dead guy, when Tina says " no signs of forced entry" and he says something lie not on this side. Boy did he screw Dutch up, I wonder if Dutch will go off the deep end and rape Tina.
I had a feeling Shane was gonna somehow drag either Mara or Corrin into this mess. After the episode when Mara told Corrin to tell Vic to back off, I knew one of them would be a piece to the puzzle. What a wus, Vic stole the money, I didn't want anything to do with it. Then when she says I'll have to kill em, uh well uh well.
Great episode, I will watch again today at lunch. Oh yeah the pic of A$$-a-vada blowing that dude from season 3 or 4. You could see the wheels of deceit rolling in Vic's head. I bet season 7 is Vic taking down that business man and a corrupt government.
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May 30, 2007 8:46 PM
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