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« The Shield
April 24, 2007: The New Guy
A big hearty handshake (well, not from Shane) goes out to Alex O'Loughlin, aka Detective Kevin Hiatt, as he begins his tour of duty in Farmington. Boy, he has no clue what he's being thrown into!
This was a nice semi-setup episode to get us ready for what we saw in the preview. For the first time this season, chasing Lem's killer wasn't No. 1 on the list. We saw new drama unfold and even got back to the slaughterhouse briefly, while the Lem situation still stewed in the background a bit. Of course, that's not to say that the strike team was thinking about Lem at all. Corinne brings him up with this dream of hers (more on that later), and a box of books that Lem bought arrives at the barn. Plus, the new guy is a painful reminder that the team is one short.
Right away, Hiatt learns how Vic operates when he's told to stay down as Vic storms a house. This doesn't sit well with Hiatt, but butting heads with Vic is certainly not the path to go down. I love the fact that Claudette is still playing Vic and Hiatt knows about it. Vic really thinks he's got an appeal hearing, but Hiatt knows that Vic is definitely on the way out. I'm curious to see how that plays out in the end. It's strange to see the almighty Vic Mackey not picking up on what Claudette is doing. He's always been able to see through the smoke and get to the bottom of things, but this season, he's not picking up on situations as well. And I love that. Why? Because it's realistic. He's had a rough go of it lately and it seems like the blinders are on. We all go through stages like that, so I like seeing Vic go through it as well, though he is still more on top of his game than I ever would be in his situation.
There are a lot of things going on besides that as well. The Mexican-slaughterhouse case is back in Claudette's lap so she can solve it and bring the number of closed cases back up in Farmington. Claudette doesn't quite see it this way, though — for her it's more like an extra body count is being dumped on her, especially since at least a half dozen 1-9ers have gone down in this one.
We also have a new open case with the sexual assualt that happened. Did you see that girl's stomach? "Go home" carved on it? Ouch. The biggest revelation in this whole story is that Claudette and Dutch got a case wrong. They didn't believe the last victim of this crime and so they did nothing to prevent another one from happening (and who knows, maybe another).
Then of course we have the whole festering relationship between Billings and Dutch. A few of the comments from last week mentioned that some of you look at Steve as simple comic relief, so I decided to look at it from that perspective this week and I have to say, I didn't dislike him as much as I have in the past. When Claudette was handing the assault case off to Dutch, I had to laugh at Billings comment: "I love the smell of underage sexual assault in the morning." Oh my! That statement would have gotten me a trip straight to the TV Guide human-resources department. But Billings just got a few shocked looks and some eye-rolling. I laughed again when he called Dutch out on his attempted "dating," saying that Dutch has "a pattern of sh**ing where you eat." Ha! And Billings probably has never said anything more true. I can't forget him motioning how large Danny has become or the fact that he knew who 98 Degrees was, either.
Then there was Vic trying to keep Vantes, a reformed 1-9er, from getting killed. That's awful nice of Vic, wouldn't you say? It's a shame that all of Vic's work didn't keep Vantes alive. It's also a shame that silence and brotherhood trump saving a life. If only Vantes' friends had given up the location sooner. And now we have to go back to discussing the dream, since after Vantes died at the hospital Vic went nuts again and started mumbling about it. I could be completely off base, but the dream had to do with Lem and burgers that were overcooked so the center wasn't bloody, and there at the end is Vantes with blood coming out of his gut. Am I onto something here? I could be grasping at straws, but that's all I really got out of it. If you understand what the dream meant and how it tied into the final scene, I'd love to know your thoughts on it.
And Julian? The strike team? I don't see that being a very good match, do you?
Until next week, friends.
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Apr 25, 2007 1:11 AM
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Another stunning episode. Haitt is an interesting addition. I'm looking forward to seeing how Julian on the strike team plays out. Looks like Danny got another raw deal. Not sure why the brought on Tina only to abruptly exit her. Acveda i think is screwing over claudette and that last scene was just so powerful. Chiklis needs to submit that for the emmy.
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Apr 25, 2007 8:43 AM
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It was heartbreaking watching Vic breakdown when Vantes died. That was definitely an Emmy-worthy moment. Although Vic is a bad-guy in the overall scheme of things, you can't help but want him to come out on top.
Also, Julian on the Strike team? He must be on his way off the show because there is no way that's going to be good.
I think Vic is going to solve the multiple-1-9ers murders and then Claudette can't get him out of The Barn and he will have Hiatt on his side, rooting for him to stay. We know Shawn Ryan has talked about ending the show but I dont think forcing Vic into retirement is the way to end our anti-hero's tenure as one of Farmington's damndest.
And what about next week's previews? I think Shane is looking in the mirror when he says out loud that he killed Lem.
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Apr 25, 2007 10:01 AM
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Riveting stuff, indeed.
Billings isn't simply comic relief. He adds immensely to the verisimilitude so central to the drama (and its appeal). His comments and observations accurately reflect what many think and say----but political correctness and standard propriety prevent even cable television from airing. All the same, to the writers' credit, Billings doesn't come off as a caricature. Rather, he's real and his comments, while patently offensive, are genuine.
The character development here---with everyone on the show---is simply remarkable. Amid all sorts of drama and action.
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Apr 25, 2007 10:26 AM
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Julian and the Strike Team go together like oil and water. This is not going to end good. Am I the only one that remembers Shane's wife is supposed to be pregnant with their second child. He told Lem that at the end of last season before dropping the granade in the car and we haven't seen her or his son at all. Vic is "The Shield" without him they have no show so somehow he is not going to be forced into retirement.
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Apr 25, 2007 10:29 AM
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Something is going to come up that will require Vic Mackey's skills and expertise and he will come through - again! This show can only take so much of Vic being less than on top of his game.
This will get interesting!
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Apr 25, 2007 11:04 AM
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That Shane really makes me sick. When he was talking to that little girl. I thought I told you to stay away from him (I can't think of the bangers name) but then he's over there being Mr. Phedophile himself YUCK. He's a pig. I hope Vic finds out he killed Lem and then shots him in the head. That would be a great scene.
I don't get the whole dream part tying into that guy dying but hopefully someonoe will.
I really like the new guy. I think he is gonna be the one to help convince them to let Vic stay and then soon after regret it.
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Apr 25, 2007 11:10 AM
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I don't think Shane was talking to the mirror, I think he was talking to the other guy, I never remember his name! He was already suspicious, maybe he confronts Shane and it comes out. Obviously the gang leader finds out about him and the girl and puts a beatdown on him. Shane will have to explain this. Before the preview, I thought maybe Hiatt would be the one to discover that little secret. As for Shane's instant dislike of Hiatt and the relationship (I couldn't believe he was jealous!) with the young girl, he is about to implode.
I agree with everyone that says Hiatt will go to bat for Vic. I do find it amusing that Vic is in the dark over the whole Claudette ruse. How many times did he do that to her? I recall one episode where she was trying to solve a case and Aceveda and Vic had her ping ponging back and forth. She was steaming mad over that one. Love their conversations during this new dynamic!
Glad Tina is gone, LOL on the way she left and Dutch looking so silly (as usual) leaving her a voicemail. As for Julian joining the strike team, oh that is going to be crazy. Did you see his face when Claudette suggested it? Priceless!
Can't wait for next week!
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Apr 25, 2007 11:28 AM
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OMG! Love this show! I like the Det. Hiatt a lot. I think he is a lot more like Vic than Claudette realizes. I can't imagine that Vic will actually end up retiring. Like another poster said, I think something will come up that will make him invaluable again. Shane is losing it fast! In the previews you could tell that another person was standing there but couldn't tell who it is. I'm thinking maybe the girl. That is another whole disgusting subject. What happened to Shane's wife and kid? It was storming really bad here in Missouri so the satellite was kind of in and out. Love the dream and the final scene of Vic breaking down. I actually cried!
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Apr 25, 2007 11:40 AM
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I actually felt like an old fogey when they were asking the first victim questions about where she was raped and she referred to the 98° poster and the band itself as "old". I was like "what?!" I remember them from my high school days and I'm only 23. I suppose I'll have to get more used to that. :/
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Apr 25, 2007 12:05 PM
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The whole Vic retirement thing is interesting. I find myself intrigued when considering what the show would be like if Vic was on the outside. Claudette should be thinking more along the lines "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." I don't think Vic would leave the show but he might leave the Barn, at least for a while. I'd expect there would be some reason to reinstate him after a bit. It would be interesting to explore where Vic would go without the constraints of the police precinct.
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Apr 25, 2007 3:58 PM
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DONFAY43...i totally agree with you (i didn't cry though <g> .
I think Hiatt is going to be more like Vic, than anyone realizes it, even vic.
Who was Shane talking to when he admitted that he killed Lem? Looks like a mirror. The strike team needs another 'lem' to make it more interesting. Don't like a 'mole-like' character (hiatt), in the mix. It's more like Vic will be watching his P's and Q's, from now, on. And especially with Julian, now in the mix, it will be worse for vic. Vic will now think that Julian is Claudette's stooge and will report every last detail about what happens, with the strike team.
just my opinion...
daveedt
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Apr 26, 2007 12:16 PM
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Some random thoughts:
I think Vic was experiencing "magical thinking" during this episode; he thought that Lem was somehow reaching out to him through Corinne's dream and the books Lem ordered before he died (one of which was a book on interpreting dreams). Somehow, this got mixed up in Vic's head with the idea of "rescuing" Vantes and his fellow "revolutionaries" from the 1-9ers, so that, if Vic could rescue them, he was somehow making up to Lem for what happened. When Vantes died, it was, to Vic, like his last link to Lem was gone and all he was left with was his grief.
For all of you wondering about the whereabouts of Shane's wife and son: I have no clue where his wife is, but his son was in the second (I think) episode, in the scene where Corinne took toys her kids had outgrown to Shane's apartment for Jack (Shane's son) to play with. This was while Vic was in Mexico and she was pumping Shane for information on where Vic was and what he was doing.
I can't wait for what happens when Vic finds out about Shane.
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Apr 26, 2007 1:18 PM
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Who was Shane talking to when he admitted that he killed Lem?
Mara
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Apr 26, 2007 2:22 PM
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It looked like Shane was just talking in the mirror. I don't think Shane will kill himself anytime soon. I think Shane gets beat up, in the next episode, when they find out he's been banging the sista'. Don't know what gang it is, but it's the one Shane was hot for.
just my opinion...
daveedt
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Apr 26, 2007 10:47 PM
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