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« The Shield
June 5, 2007: Spanish Practices
Man, what a season. Can't the final season just start next week? Or can't we just fast-forward to March 2008 right now? (Leave Christmas in just for the heck of it.)
Again, The Shield threw me for a loop. I was expecting either Shane or a member of the Mackey family to bite the big one and none of them did. I was expecting Vic to get his job back, but not by exposing the Mexican mob, and I certainly didn't expect him to walk out of his hearing. As I've said before, the twists and turns are what make this show so great.
We start off with a bang, right where last week left off, with Vic and Aceveda doing a dance. I loved what happened between the two of them in this episode. Vic tries to blackmail Aceveda by showing him the picture. Then David turns around and sends a lawyer to tell Vic he's being sued and will lose everything. Then Vic goes back to Pazuela and gets the memory card, which forces Aceveda's hand. But instead of just trying to get his job back, Vic teams up with Aceveda this time. David looked truly stunned when Vic told him the memory card came from his buddy Pazuela. But you have to wonder how much Aceveda really knows. I mean, he knows something is going on. Pazuela is trying to change the district lines to manipulate votes and is clearly shady. But who knows if Aceveda's blind eye is because he's truly blind to the majority of what's happening? It certainly seems like that though, because he looked shocked again when Vic started pointing out where Pazuela's real estate was and how he's helping the Mexican mob basically take over the whole area.
Then there's Shane, who's in even deeper than ever now. First he tried convincing Diro to not kill Vic, but she's got to take care of her business. Then Rezian tells Shane that she won't kill Vic — yet. Instead Kazakian will kill Vic's family first and then down the road Vic will die. So when Shane can't get hold of Vic to warn him, he goes and kidnaps Corinne and Cassidy and locks them in a truck somewhere where the Armenians can't find them. Then he waits at Vic's house for the guy who's supposed to kill them all. In the ensuing scuffle Shane's gun goes off and the Armenian guy gets popped, which is the source of the blood we saw in the previews last week. Then Shane goes back to Rezian and attempts to negotiate. Shane gives up the location of Diro and her father so that Rezian can take them out and can head up the crew when he gets out of jail. In exchange Rezian says he'll avoid killing Vic and his family. Now, of course, he can't let someone come in and kill Diro and her father, so Shane goes back to the hospital and warns her. This means, though, that she has no option but to pull the plug on dear old dad and leave the area. Better to have him go in peace than get killed. And she's more than happy to leave Shane at the hospital to be there when the hitmen come by. Heck, Shane's in more trouble now than ever. He's played both Diro and Rezian multiple times now and the Armenians are not happy with him. What's he to do now? If the guy doesn't disappear soon, will he make it through next season?
Before I get back to Vic, let's go through all the crazy little side stories.
Miracle Joe was actually kind of touching. The guy survived everything known to man and in the end his heart gives out. All the vets at the barn knew about him and were sad to see him go.
I was surprised the whole Dutch/Billings/Tina/Hiatt thing didn't force someone to come to blows. A very downtrodden Dutch says he knows that Billings pulled the prank off but can't prove it. But in the end everything is civil after he talks to Tina and sets the record straight. And he doesn't have to worry about Billings anymore, because not only is Steve leaving, but he's suing the department for millions. Claims he has back pain from breaking up the big barn fight from last season and even got a "doctor" to validate his claim. So where's the comic relief going to come from next season? On top of that, it looks like Dutch won't have to worry about any awkwardness between him and Hiatt either. Claudette wasn't thrilled with Hiatt coming clean about her going behind Vic's back to start with, but then Hiatt blew an arrest and had sex with an officer and she boots him. Vic's clever enough to cover up his wrong doings. Apparently, Hiatt is not. And as soon as Hiatt is let go, you know that Vic's keeping his job.
So, we go back to the man of the hour now, who through all that's going on is still looking into Pazuela to try to figure out his connection to the San Marcos murders. Following the money that was found on the one-armed Mexican official is what led to the most answers. It was cool the way this story tied into his review hearing. Vic's family shows up to support him and he walks out before it even starts. Between Claudette, the Controller and Aceveda telling Vic flat out that he's a goner, Vic knows there's nothing he can say to keep his job and the only way of doing that is by exposing Pazuela. So he tracks down the man with the money, pulls him over, then wrestles him out of the car and lays a smackdown on him. But no one could have prepared Vic for what was in the trunk. A box full of evidence that Pazuela was blackmailing everyone in the government down to the secretaries, to get the people he wanted in office, so the Mexican mob could eventually take over the entire area. Now Aceveda knows, Vic knows and everyone in the government owes Vic a big favor. Job saved! I know there's been a lot of debate on what types of feelings we should have for Vic, but now I couldn't help but root for him after he showed that Farmington is better off with him than without. Although I think he would have made a heck of a copier salesman.
And I know I should end on that because that was the big shocker, but I'm not going to. Instead I'm going to end with this:
Danny and Dutch, yeah baby!!!
Until next season, friends.
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Jun 6, 2007 12:20 AM
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Wow, what a great action-packed episode! Comparing The Shield to The Riches is like comparing night and day. The hour-long finale of The Riches was totally boring and nothing happened; more happened on The Shield before the opening theme music!
Can't wait until next season!
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Jun 6, 2007 12:57 AM
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The show was so intense I couldn't sit through it - thank heaven for DVRs! So many twists and turns.....
I know Vic is a dirty cop, but when it comes right down to it - Vic does tend to protect the innocent - even if it costs him. And he clearly loves his family. I'm sure he justifies the dirty jobs he's done as necessary to take care of his children......
Can't believe we have to wait until next March for a new episode!
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Jun 6, 2007 8:45 AM
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Even though this was on way past my bedtime, I'm SO glad I stayed up and watched! Vic jumping through the car window to attack that guy was the most incredible thing I've seen on TV in a long time. And how can you not love a guy who would rather take the hard road of cracking down criminals to keep his job instead of using his sweet little children? I know he's a dirty cop and all, but the look of horror on his face when he thought something happened to Corrinne and Cassidy made me feel so bad for him.
March seems like such a long way away.
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Jun 6, 2007 8:49 AM
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A great end to a great season. I agree with every Angel said! Vic was amazing this episode. Loved seeing Dutch and Danny get together, Haitt get the boot. Billings however will be missed. I hope they find a way to work him into next years final season in some way. Also i hope we get to see Glen Close's character one more time before the series wraps. Great episode. I love captain Claudette.
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Jun 6, 2007 9:19 AM
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Can someone tell me how Vic knew to run after the guy with the information in his trunk. He just walked out of his hearing and started going after the guy, but I didn't catch what led up to him going after the guy. I need help with this one...
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Jun 6, 2007 10:00 AM
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tv_is_hot: The guy Vic was going after was the boss of the receptionist at the office where the one-armed diplomat left the suitcase of money. The receptionist told Vic that her boss was supposed to meet a client that night. Vic knew where the boss parked his car (in the lot next to the office), so Vic went there and followed the boss.
What a set-up for next season!
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Jun 6, 2007 10:40 AM
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Wow - This episode caught me totally by surprise! I was expecting a bloodbath, people dead, lives changed forever and we get a complete directional change in the show. FANTASTIC!
Shane spent the episode trying to protect everyone that he had placed in danger by dealing with the Armenians and Vic spent the episode trying to protect his job, Acevada, and Farmington.
Could next season actually bring us Vic Mackey, star of the Farmington Barn? Who knows, but I can't wait to find out!
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Jun 6, 2007 11:21 AM
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This has to be the best season yet. The picture coming back in the first place shows that the writers remember season to season. Aceveda teaming with and trusting Vic shows he actually does care about Farmington and not just his election. Excellent show and awesome season finale. I expected blood and guts too and it's nice to see that they can have an intense show like that end on intelligence rather than violence.
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Jun 6, 2007 12:03 PM
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jdflyersfan - I agree with you. I also think this was the best season yet. I really don't think there was a bad season, but this season and last I was really on the edge of my seat the entire time. Let's hope the last season is even better!
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Jun 6, 2007 12:08 PM
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Absolutely freakin' fantastic (no pun intended)! A bad season with the Shield does not exist, they keep gettinig better and better. I will follow Shawn Ryan anywhere he pops up again, TV just doesn't get better than this.
I hope they figure a way to include Billings next season, he is the perfect comic relief to the craziness of the Barn. Plus Dutch has got to get some payback. BTW, he and Dani are a much better couple, he gave up too easy with her.
I was thrown for a minute as well when Vic walked out of the hearing (WTF?! - I was so shocked) and then pulled that guy over, thanks to gghwc for the info, I was so lost. I couldn't believe it when he was in the car window fighting that guy!!
Shane is so out of his league. Shane is playing checkers while Vic is playing chess - always a few moves ahead and I can't even go into his improvisation! The Armenian thing is so out of control, he made his own mess and is going to be buried by it. I am sure this is not over.
I can wait for next season because I know it will be worth every painful second until March of next year. Shawn and company NEVER disappoint!
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Jun 6, 2007 12:37 PM
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This is one of my favorite shows on TV and I love Vic and his team. The problem the writers have is Vic and Shane's redemption. No matter what the reasons and the good deeds they do, it always goes back to the fact that they have murdered people. I am sure the writers would love to go back and rewrite that first episode where Vic killed Terry, and have it turn out that Terry was a dirty cop or was planning to kill them or whatever. No matter how much we like him, we have to know that the ending for Vic and Shane will not be a good one. I expect to see them go out together like Butch and Sundance. Man, this is a great show and I cant wait til it comes back.
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Jun 6, 2007 12:38 PM
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Thanks gghwc - I guess I didn't have my thinking cap on, but I'm glad you did. The pieces are all together now. 
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Jun 6, 2007 12:53 PM
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Great Episode. I have one question that is unanswered. After Shane told Vic about killing Lem he started to get involved with the Armenian mob. Why did he do that? For protection? I know this goes back a few episodes but it's been bugging me.
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Jun 6, 2007 12:59 PM
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Shane saw Vic's future as a retired cop working as a security guard on a reduced pension due to early retirement. He lost his nest-egg when Lem destroyed the loot from the money train robbery. He has a child and a wife who would like to become accustomed to being maintained a little better. He saw the Armenians as a way of supplementing his income since he was soon to transfer to vice where he could protect them by giving them a heads-up in advance of investigations and raids. But, being Shane, he totally fouled up.
Mackey back in bed with Aceveda, eh? That's not going to end well.
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Jun 6, 2007 1:25 PM
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