In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« The Shield
April 10, 2007: I Framed a Guilty Man
So the fact that Forest Whitaker wasn’t going to be around after this episode was not a well-kept secret at all, but I wasn’t expecting the situation between him and Vic to go down like this. I think I was somehow expecting Kavanaugh to get a surprise beating or take a bullet, although then again, he’s too smart for that. But it seems like he wasn’t smart enough to realize that no one plays both sides quite like Vic Mackey. Jon’s downfall of course was when he started planting evidence. (You could say his downfall was taking this case in the first place, and I might agree.) But seriously, when you think about it, Vic has done so many things wrong, from killing a cop through the money train, that if Kavanaugh couldn’t take him down based on the true facts, then maybe he’s just not as good as he thinks he is. Vic was in his head so much that as a last-ditch effort he tried becoming him but even Dutch Boy saw through the load of crap that Kavanaugh was shoveling. Claudette was the true great manipulator in this one, though. She ripped into Emolia and broke her down while she forced Kavanaugh to watch from the outside. As you could see by the look of shock on her face, I don’t think she was expecting Jon to bust in and confess everything, but she was playing him, too, so she knew something was up. As crazy as the whole situation with the two of them went down, Jon seemed very at peace with himself after confessing, when he stated to Claudette, “At least I have Mackey out of my life. He’s not my problem anymore, he’s yours,” and when he told Vic that it just wasn’t his time and that “the universe will take out its trash when it’s ready.” Big props to Corinne as well, who established she had big cojones by outing Jon’s advances in front of the whole barn. Family comes first, even when family is Vic Mackey.
Speaking of a big set of family jewels, it takes ones the size of boulders to go into the middle of a gang house, alone, with just one bullet. But Vic is determined to do anything to find Guardo Lima. So he goes in alone and tells the leader, “You and I are going to leave this basement together, or you and I are going to leave this life together.” It must be nice having a friend who will go to this length to avenge your death, but Vic’s pushing it so far that he’s going to get himself killed. And really, what good would that be in finding Lem’s murderer? Now Vic’s going to kidnap Guardo’s girlfriend Nadia, knowing he’ll come back from Mexico to keep her safe. Shane keeps trying to get Vic to stop the madness, but he knows there’s only one way and that’s to tell Vic the truth. I just don’t know how Shane can keep this in. It’s still clearly bothering him and yet all he keeps telling Vic is to stop. Clearly, Vic is not going to stop until he gets Guardo, so if Shane or Ronnie are going to get him to back down, something else needs to happen, and quickly.
Not a mess of violence tonight, which is semi-unusual for The Shield, but there was so much drama. I for one am really going to miss the dialogue between Vic and Jon. I love the blood and guts, but the drama between the two of them is what made Season 5 so good and what’s making Season 6 the best yet. Let’s hope the loss of Forest Whitaker won’t also mean the lost of quality. The promo for next week makes it looks like there'll be quite a scene with Vic, Shane and Guardo, so I’ll cross my fingers that it delivers some violence and that the drama continues. And maybe “soon enough” Vic will be at peace again.
Until next week, friends.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 1:40 AM
|
Wow - I'm the first poster? I feel so privelaged!
Great, great episode. The Shield proves once again why it's such a great show - nearly every episode has a moment that you just did NOT see coming. Kavanaugh busting in on Claudette's interrogation to confess? CONFESS?!? I agree with Dave, I thought things were going to come to blows - or worse - between him and Vic. But if we saw what we expected every week, this show wouldn't be as great as it is, would it?
My wife thinks that Shane can't hold in his silence much longer. I disagree - while he may be stupid sometimes, he is no fool. But it does bring up an interesting thought: if Shane were to confess to Vic and Ronnie, would Vic really seek eye-for-an-eye vengance against him? Imagine Vic trying to not only cover up what Shane did, but despising him while still having to work with him (remember Vic covered up Shane's other screw-up with Tavon). Oh, the tension would be intense!
IMHO, this is THE best show on television. Tuesday nights are my favorite night of the week now.
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 10:29 AM
|
|
What a fitting end to the Cavanuagh storyline. Loved it! My concern after seeing the preview for next week is that it appears that there is goin to be some "24" style torture. I don't like those scenes so I hope there aren't many of them. I don't think Shane will be able to just stand there and see Vic torture Guardo. I think he'll speak up. As someone else said, it would be interesting to see how Vic reacts to learning that Shane killed Lem. I do think that Vic would protect Shane, especially when he gets the whole story about how Cavanaugh and Acaveda played him. I think this might bring Cavanaugh back into play because Vic will want to get revenge. Don't you all think I should write for this show? ha! ha!
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 11:06 AM
|
Hello David! VEry nice recap, but once again a difference of agreement:
Big props to Corinne as well, who established she had big cojones by outing Jon’s advances in front of the whole barn. Family comes first, even when family is Vic Mackey.
Simply, I think the reason Corinne took the actions that she did had nothing to do with the "family" of The Barn or Vic.
Corinne, who is quite basically the most principled cop on the show (yes, you can include Dutch, too)did it because she was disgusted with Kavanaugh turning dirty and disgracing the badge. Go back and review those long, deliberate shots of Kav turning in his gun and shield. Corinne outed Kav for that reason, not because "family comes first."
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 11:22 AM
|
I thought last nights episode was great! Although their dialogue was intense, I think that I needed a break from the Vic-Cavanaugh termoil.
In my opinion, Shane will only give up his secret if Vic carries this whole Lemvengeance thing to a near-death situation!
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 11:27 AM
|
I don't know if y'all noticed, but Shane did confess in an odd sort of way. When trying to convince Vic to drop the kidnapping ploy and release Nadia, Shane said to Ronnie, 'well, what if I say that Lem and I were playing around with the grenade and it went off?' Of course, Ronnie said no one will believe that story (Ha!).
Now, I'm worried about Ronnie, who (foolishly?) decided to wait for Guardo to show at Nadia's house. Hope he doesn't become the next casualty!
Random thought: Walt Goggins sure has some pretty green eyes, which convey his guilt very well!
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 11:57 AM
|
Another great episode! I wasn't expecting Kavanaugh to go down like that but he was truly at peace with his decision. I expected fire and brimstone from him mixed with shouts of revenge. Interesting turn, I think he lost it completely.
I agree Claudette played him beautifully. Love when Claudette and Dutch work a suspect.
When Vic walked into that gangland situation, I was like he's got some basketball sized ones! As for Shane, he won't say a word. Vic is going to figure it out and that will be the showdown I want to see. I can't see him covering this up, Shane crossed the line (granted a tiny almost invisible one!) of loyalty. Vic is always about the team. They discussed what to do with Lem at length before Shane went to meet Lem. For Shane to go behind his back and do this, unforgivable.
And for the record DS9Sisko, Corinne isn't a cop but I agree she did it to hurt Kavanaugh and for the sake of justice more than any family loyalty.
Defintely THE best thing in drama on tv period! So glad it's on FX!
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 12:29 PM
|
Right--Corinne isn't a cop, she's a nurse. And it was really brave of her to call Jon K. on his offensive moves last season (which were an attempt to get revenge on Vic because Vic slept with Jon's ex-wife).
But there is indeed a great cop in the Barn--Claudette. She was so right that even if Vic is guilty of a lot of other stuff, this is the one thing (killing Lem, I mean) that he didn't do, and the truth still counts. The Shield never goes for the simple solution.
Excellent, excellent episode--and show, for that matter. Consistently great--acting, writing, and plot development. (And good episode summary, too!)
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 12:39 PM
|
Vic was in his head so much that as a last-ditch effort he tried becoming him but even Dutch Boy saw through the load of crap that Kavanaugh was shoveling.
I take issue with this. Dutch has always been one of the, if not the, best pure detective on the show,figuring out what happened from logic and observation. His failings have always been on the personality front.
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 1:27 PM
|
|
I could swear I saw them discover a house full of slaughtered people. What happened to that story?
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 3:27 PM
|
Huntress - No offense, but it's safe to assume that everyone noticed Shane's attempt at confession. That's kind of like asking if anyone noticed that Vic went into gangland all by himself. You're right though - great reaction by Ronnie!
marcilynnj - Great observation! That was one thing near the top of my mind when the show started, but it dove right into Vic/Kavanaugh and I forgot about it. Maybe they're still putting pieces together (sorry, horrible word selection) at the crime scene and letting Dutch 'wrap up' his investigation into Lem's death. Hopefully they'll resume that storyline next week.
Speaking of Lem, there's a great interview with the crew about filming that scene at FX's website. http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/the_shield/main.html
Click on "Videos" then "Making A Scene". Great stuff! Made me miss Lemonhead even more.
Can't wait to see who the next Strike Team vict... er, member will be!
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 5:49 PM
|
jwskiman, perhaps Shane's "confession" was obvious to most, but I find that some of the most crucial dialogue in this show is hard to hear and I have to replay it to make sure I heard it right. For me, this was one of them. Glad to know it didn't slip by you
Yes, what did happen to the slaughterhouse victims??????
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 7:37 PM
|
|
DS9Sisko - I think you're confusing Corinne with Claudette.
|
|
Apr 11, 2007 11:16 PM
|
As cool as the Strike Team is, last night's episode reaffirmed that what most of us know, that Claudette and Dutch Boy and still the best characters on the show. I'd forgotten how well they work together.
An earlier poster said it, and it couldn't be more true, no one breaks a criminal better than those two in a room with them.
Also, and this is coming from Shane and Vic's POV, I don't trust Ronnie as far as I can throw him. It's obvious after all these years, he doesn't trust them. When they found out the cops were raiding Vic's place, and Vic said there isn't anything to find, Ronnie said something like, "Is there anything you need to tell us?" Luckily Shane came to his defense, but dang, he'll always be an outsider.
Lastly, BRING BACK TAVONNE (sp)!! Or at least give us a little update on him. Last we saw he was recuperating in a hospital, right?
|
|
Apr 12, 2007 12:47 AM
|
|
Tavon! Man woodson21 - there's a name I haven't heard in a while. The guy takes an iron to the skull and we never see him again. I think that ship sailed long ago!
|
|
Apr 12, 2007 8:19 AM
|
|
|
