OFFTOP - The Shield (2002-2008)

Today were are going to talk about great TV show “The Shield”, because, let me repeat myself, it is totally great. I was somewhat surprised, that it is not as popular as “Breaking Bad” or “The Wire”, considering how exciting and twisted this show was. And it is as much as dynamic, thrilling and addictive to watch, as the examples, mentioned above.

What is it about? “The Shield” follows the life of detective Vic Mackey (portrayed by matchless Michael Chiklis), and his elite task force Strike Team, who are keeping streets of fictional LA district Farmington safe and clean. The problem is, Vic, Shane, Lem and Ronnie are no good cops - in fact, they are the worst kind of cops. Excessive force use, drug dealing, covering gang members for money - Strike Team is corrupted from top to toe. Somehow, their methods work, but is only a matter of time, when Vic decides to raise the bar. Until then he successfully hides the truth from his superior, Captain David Aceveda, his fellow colleagues, detectives Dutch Wagenbach, Claudette Wyms and officer Danny Sofer, as well as his own family.

As I see it, the name of the show has a dual meaning: a) it represents Strike Team’s shielding themselves with their badges, while making unjustifiable acts (main theme) and b) represents other “good” policemen, that are protecting the citizens (secondary theme). The main theme of the show rolls around the idea, how good intentions with bad methods can harden the person, and gradually turn him into a monster. “Breaking Bad” is about that too, but Walter’s problems were solved one by one (season by season), with one problem, causing an end to his saga. Then there is Mackey, whose choices throughout the show blow back at him each season, and turn into a giant snowball, that would cause the avalanche in the show’s finale. Since season one, team manages to get away with their wrongdoings with a dumb luck or well-thought lies, but with every next season it gets harder to keep a poker face.

And they do unspeakable things, which are hard to be justified. Especially the “money train” job, which was done of sole greed and thrust for money, and none of good intentions whatsoever. However, last season gets onto Strike Team’s nerves, and their panic and desperation opens the worst characteristics of Vic and his crew. They start to think as criminals and adopt the rules of criminal world.

While Breaking Bad's Walter White was trying to uncover his potential and smartness and show it to whoever would like to see it, the power was not his main goal. And Vic Mackey is hungry for power. He uses his family as a shield, as an excuse to keep being a gangster (though he did try to act “diligent” in Seasons 4 & 5). Moreover, he is willing to fight for his parental rights, just for a matter of control - it is recurrently shown, that Vic has no time for kids. He loves them, but he loves his job more. Being a cop gave him an excuse to threat, torture and insult people and he liked it. However, department realizes that even this beast can be put into a good use, and Mackey proves his value bust after bust. And we do sympathize him throughout the show, because we believe his lies, that are big enough for his family, his colleagues, and Vic himself. As he stated in a series finale, "he was that good".

Walton Goggins plays Vic's best friend, detective Shane Vendrell, who has as many sins as Mackey. He knows the rules of the game, that Vic plays, but his temper and disrespectful attitude ruins everything, he tries to achieve on his own. With his light-mindedness Shane constantly drags the Strike Team into big troubles. The most dramatic moments of a show are happening with Shane, and in those moments Goggins play is truly marvelous. Kenneth Johnson plays detective Curtis Lemansky, the most conscious member of the Team. He is a bit naïve, loyal and overall, just found a bad company. He does not change his attitude much during the show, unlike detective Ronnie Gardocki (portrayed by David Rees Snell). Ronnie is introduced as a funny and somewhat clumsy member of a team, who is also having problems of talking with women, and usually seen at the background. Season after season, he becomes more hardened and ruthless, and it is explicitly shown during seasons 6 and 7, when Gardocki gets more time on the screen. Ronnie’s change is one of many representations of Mackey’s corruption.

The show has many memorable characters (notably Dutch Wagenbach, Claudette Wyms, Monica Rawling (whose methods are similar to those of Bunny Colvin from The Wire) and Jon Kavanaugh (Forest Whitaker is a bit creepy here)) and sets tensions between them, which develop throughout the show. It is somewhat disappointing, that majority of background characters do not develop a long-existing storyline, which could be resolved in the finale, or their existing stories would be abandoned for some reason. For example, officer's Lowe struggle with his homosexuality was left behind at some point, and was brought up few times more with no further development.

Some people would also feel Strike Team's regular evasions from the punishment a bit farfetched and unbelievable. Although, it is a TV show, right? It needs to grab viewers’ attention, and "The Shield" does that successfully. It is hard to lose interest in a show, because it cleverly and constantly throws intriguing cliffhangers to you, especially in a culminating Season 5. And in "The Shield" small details echoes throughout each season, guiding you to the grand resolution, which is filled with drama and sorrow.

"The Shield" is not perfect, but it is catchy, smart and knows how to deal with emotional component. It is a pure drama, which needs to be followed and talked about more. It is fantastic, you have my word. Find some time to watch it.