The Shield - The Complete First Season Reviews

• The Cop Drama Above All Others

  
  By A1F8JG3FFF7I10 on 2003-01-06
  Being a cop seems pretty attractive on TV. Some of the hit shows today show cops who are really clever, tough, and sexy. Their jobs are great, only interrupted by a serial killer or two. They always catch the bad guys though, and everything turns out all right. It makes a good television fantasy, but as NYPD Blue proved, a serious, hardcore police drama can work with the viewing public. The Shield builds on the success of NYPD Blue, taking an edgy style to the limit and sporting an unbelievably talented star and supporting cast. If you want a grown up drama that does not gloss over street life in LA's worst neighborhoods, the Shield's 1st season is the first place you should turn.

  The Shield centers around Detective Vic Mackey, played possessively by a transformed Michael Chiklis. Mackey runs an elite Special Police Force, that specializes in high risk investigations and arrests. Based partly on the infamous LAPD Ramparts division, Mackey's unit is brutal in its efficiency and gives little heed to regulations. Mackey justifies his extreme brutality by pointing out the drop of crime in the area, once thought hopelessly crime ridden. His secret is that, through collusion with the local drugs gangs, Mackey overseas a peaceful narcotic distribution and crime operation that shies away from shootings and other violence. Mackey is good, but many are after his hide. His main foil is Captain Aceveda, a politically motivated official who considers bringing Mackey down essential to his professional future. The dynamic between the two is intense, as is Vic's discovery of skeletons in Aceveda's closet. At every turn, Aceveda stands ready to take down Vic's regime.

  I am sure many think that the whole show is based on Vic. He is the most engaging character of the show, but the supporting cast is a great compliment. Standouts include "Dutch", a police detective who has a lot of inner conflicts, including a lack of confidence. His development during the season is really exciting. Shane Vendrell, Mackey's right hand man, is a treat to watch, as he begins to degenerate into reckless criminality that threatens Vic directly. The other great performances are too numerous to mention, suffice to say this is, besides the Sopranos, the best cast on TV today.

  The writing of this show is top notch. There are only one or two sub par episodes, while most installments are just mind blowing. The first episode and the last 3 are the highlights, but good episodes abound. We meet a colorful group of criminal leaders, psychopaths, police relatives, [prostitutes], and corrupt cops that even surpass Vic. Visible throughout the whole inner city milieu is Vic, who almost never deviates from his one-man crusade to keep the neighborhood safe. I am so glad Chiklis won the Emmy, as he delivered a performance just as good as Kiefer Sutherland, on a much smaller stage.

  Just a great show.
  
  

• One of the Only Shows on TV Worth Watching!

  
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2003-02-07
  I love this show! I first got into it after reading some of the reviews posted here on these Season One dvds, so I thought I would give it a try and I purchased this complete season. I am truly glad that I did. I was hooked from the first episode to the last and I am now watching Season 2 on FX. What makes this show far better than all the other cop shows is that the production value is more in line with HBO or a movie than a cable television show. The acting is extremely good as are the scripts and dialogue. Even though Vic and his team are labeled "dirty" cops you can't help but root for them in the end. Michael Chiklis deserved his Golden Globe award for best actor, he takes on this role as if Vic Mackey was himself in a former life. I was also glad this show won the award for best drama series on TV. If you haven't seen the show yet and are unsure if you would like it, give it a try. It's a bit brutal and graphic, but by the time you finish the final episode, "Circles," you will be speechless, praying to catch repeats of Season 2.
  
  

• The best cop-drama series on TV bar none

  
  By A19VMQDCB4HZ9P on 2006-02-15
  Shawn Ryan's raw, gritty and excellent The Shield on the FX Channel gives the well-worn cop-drama genre a lethal dose of adrenaline. The Shield is not your dad's old type of cop show. Where shows like Law and Order (and its many spin-offs) shows cops at their honorable best, Ryan's series shows that there are also tragically flawed men who wear police blues.
  
  The Shield and its main character Vic Mackey (excellently played by Michael Chiklis) shows the dark, seedy underbelly of police work in a multi-ethnic district of Los Angeles. The show uses the real-life, scandal of the LAPD's RAMPART Division and runs with it. Instead of South Central, the show primarily uses the fictional LA district of Farmington as their base of operation. It is an area rife with gang activity, violence and drug-dealing. There's also the racial divisions between the Latino and black communities always in danger of bursting into open violence. Through all this lies Vic Mackey and his RAMPART-like Strike Team. Right from the pilot episode we see that Vic and his men are the true power in Farmington as they try to hold the peace between rival gangs and drug dealers. The Strike Team's intentions are noble, but they've also become so much a part of the problem that they do not see their amoral and corrupt tactics as anything bad. They see things in their district on the verge of anarchy and decided that the only way to save it is to use any means necessary.
  
  The Shield pushes the boundaries of basic-cable shows and teeters right over the edge. All the episodes are well-written with stories and topics seemingly ripped from the headlines. The first season runs the gamut from police corruption, child pornography, rapes, murders, gang violence and cop-killing. These stories are not doen with the aim of titillation and gratuitous violence and sex just for its sake. Ryan and company create the stories to show that all the news of downtrodden neighborhoods and Wild West-styled policing are all too real and can be ignored. The ensemble cast surrounding Michael Chiklis also needs to be commended for keeping the gritty and realistic tone of the show from ever becoming over-the-top and sensationalist. Stand-out performances by Walter Goggins as Vic's reckless, racist partner in the team and that of CCH Pounder as the mirror opposite of Vic just shows that all the accolades heaped upon this show has been well-deserved and well-earned.
  
  I can't say enough about The Shield to convey how excellent a show it is. The show doesn't pull its punches in dealing with its characters and its controversial topics. Instead Shawn Ryan and his actors infuses the show with realistic grit and uncompromised storytelling. A new series usually grows on me overtime as the early episodes tries to find the show's personality, but the pilot and its shocking cop-killing by a major character hooked me from the start and I have been a loyal devotee of Vic and his Strike Team. The Shield and Vic Mackey have become the Dirty Harry of the new millenium.
  
  

• Mercilessly unflinching L.A. police drama!!

  
  By A1P2NBM3P3TS2X on 2002-12-18
  Thank God for cable TV!

  "The Shield" is the most intense new cop series in a decade. The action centers around an proto-experimental police precinct in South Central L.A. The action is violent and intense and pulls no punches. Series lead Michael Chiklis stars as Vic Mackey, leader of an elite squad within the precinct. Mackey is corrupt, amoral, but a great and effective cop. Even when you want to hate him you can't help but root for him. The precinct house's new Lieutenant makes no secret about wanting to bust Mackey as part of his political aspirations, but Mackey isn't going down without a fight. And he certainly has the fight in him.

  The final scene in the first episode set the tone for what kind of cop Mackey can be. But throughout the whole first season viewers are treated to a level of grittiness and action rarely seen on television. Always intense!

  One particularly satisfying story arc in the first season centers around one of the precinct's new detectives trying to catch what he thinks might be a serial killer. He eventually gets his man, and some unexpected respect from his fellow officers, but the psychological price he pays is what will resonate long after the case file is closed.

  And "The Shield"'s visual style (namely the art direction and use of color) is unlike any other cop show you've seen before. That sounds kind of odd if you haven't already seen the show, but it gives the show a distinctive look to go with its already distinctive sound and feel.

  Watching this show gives me the same charge I got from watching the first season of "N.Y.P.D. Blue" -- the David Caruso season.
  That whole first season is also available from Fox TV on DVD in early 2003. Too bad the "...Blue" box set won't also contain the first four episodes from Season 2, the episodes that wrapped up David Caruso's character story line through his exit from the show.

  **** Easy instructions for watching "The Shield - Season One" on DVD:
  Point, click, buy, watch, enjoy, pick jaw up off floor.
  
  

• Like an elephant to the head (4.5 stars)

  
  By A3N5XIM9R2OQH0 on 2006-01-10
  Since I've never been a cop, I can't really vouch for how realistic its portrayal of urban police work is, but there's no denying that the first season of The Shield makes for some mighty compelling drama. The Shield was a target for controversy from the very beginning, drawing all kinds of free publicity from TV journalists fascinated by the fact that the show contained such words as "s--t" and "balls," but those willing to look deeper were greeted with a fierce, intelligent drama that upped the ante on decades of TV cop fare. Granted, The Shield was hardly the first police drama on TV, nor was it the first to reflect a more modern sensibility on the part of its creators--both Homicide: Life on the Street (which I watched) and NYPD Blue (which I didn't) were known for their gritty, realistic depictions of police work and occasional use of naughty words. That said, if you thought five years ago that there was nothing left for a cop drama to say, you would've been wrong: whatever the first season of The Shield lacked in originality it more than made up for in complexity and sheer intensity. This first season barrels through thirteen episodes at lightning speed, throwing so much at you that it's virtually impossible to get bored. Below all the action and cliffhanger finales, though, The Shield manages to overcome cop-show cliches and make itself a worthy watch because its writers blend intricate plotting with multi-dimensional characterizations and a healthy dose of moral ambiguity. Much as FX's other great dramas, Rescue Me and Over There, de-romanticize the lives of firefighters and soldiers, respectively, The Shield presents a portrait of cops as deeply compromised people trying to do a tough job under incredibly trying circumstances.
  
  Naturally, no characters on the show are more clearly compromised than the always-compelling Vic Mackey and his Strike Team, who are almost impossible not to watch as they steal, beat, make deals with drug pushers, and generally abuse their power. At first I thought the creators of the show were daring viewers not to like Mackey, but then I came to a more counterintuitive conclusion: Shawn Ryan and co. are daring us to *like* Mackey, to approve of his methods and the results they produce in spite of his blatant corruption and disrespect for procedure. All this intentional ambiguity surrounding Mackey and his men actually goes to what I think is the other main thrust of the show, namely that moral rectitude and effectiveness as a police officer may not go hand in hand. The show may take place in the fictional Farmington district of LA, but its setting could be a stand-in for pretty much any inner city where racial division and fears of crime run rampant (or, to put it another way, pretty much any inner city). When they're presented against this context, it's easy to view cops like Mackey as a necessary evil at worst.
  
  Anyway, while Mackey and his behavior seemed to get The Shield a disproportionate amount of its considerable press, it's still hard not to notice what how many great characters there are overall here. For all of Michael Chiklis's sound and fury as Mackey, my favorite this first season was actually Det. Holland "Dutch" Waggenbach, played in career-making fashion by Jay Karnes. Dutch is the quintessential misfit (especially in a police station), the socially awkward guy who can't take a joke and internalizes everything, and winds up getting perceived as a glory hog because he just wants to be respected for his own abilities. I have no idea why, but some small part of me can relate to a shy, overanalytical type who wants to be liked but who doesn't fit in well with his peers. Benito Martinez is probably the most memorable after that as Captain Acevada, who in his own way is just as morally gray as Mackey, at times almost to the point of being amoral. Much as Dutch typifies the well-intentioned misfit, Acevada typifies the ambitious social climber, the guy you can't really trust because he almost always has a self-interested ulterior motive, namely pacifying the Hispanic lobby and advancing his own political career.
  
  Like with so many other of the best shows on TV these days, The Shield is able to pull off its nuanced characterizations so well because its writers prove to be experts at developing them over time, as well as balancing single-episode plots with longer, more complex arcs that extend over several episodes. Without giving away too much, there are numerous key strands that hold the season together even as smaller plots come and go: Vic's struggles to keep a lid on his collaboration with a local drug dealer; Dutch's search for a serial killer; Assistant Chief Gilroy's various perfidies; Aceveda's political maneuverings; and of course Julien Lowe's struggles with being a gay black religious rookie cop, which are handled a lot more delicately than you might expect from such a show. The last few episodes are especially addictive, moving at even-faster-than-usual speed and expertly ratcheting up dramatic tension as they bring a bunch of plots to a head until I JUST COULDN'T STOP WATCHING!!!!!!!!!! DAMN YOU CREATORS OF THE SHIELD WHY DO YOU MAKE YOUR SHOW SO DIFFICULT TO STOP WATCHING!!!!
  
  Oh, sorry, don't know what got into me there. Guess that's just what watching The Shield does to me. Well, now that I've calmed down, I guess I'll just state dryly that I consider The Shield to be about as addictive as heroin, and easily one of the best new TV shows I've picked up in the past five years. Yeah, that sounds about right.
  
  
  
  
• Explosive
  By A3H6ILRU4OBLD5 on 2009-03-03
  From the first scene, you know this isn't going to be your regular TV cop drama. Hard hitting, combat style filming, harsh street dialog make The Shield the best show out there. If you watch the first season, you will be hooked into the whole series. DVD quality is great and rewatching the episodes with commentary by the director and actors really gives insight as to the vision they all had. A must see!
  
  
• A reason to stay home and watch TV
  By A2L4XGVPR42KHL on 2003-01-30
  After much hype by FX, the Shield debuted on cable television last year. It quickly became a hit, with its gritty and controversial characters, top-notch writing, and superb acting. There have been many attempts to do police dramas, but the Shield elevates the bar. With Michael Chiklis plays the lead role of Vic Mackey, the leader of a special strike team that does things in legal and not so legal ways at times to get the job done.

  One of the most interesting aspects of the show is wondering what Vic will do next. He does some questionable things at times, but you can't help root for him and his team. With a Captain out to expose Mackey for the "dirty" cop that he is, every episode has you hooked and eagerly anticipating the next. Rounding out the superb cast, is the mentioned Captain, two detectives that get to solve many interesting cases, and two patrol officers, one a female training officer teaching the job to a new rookie. Intertwining them all is expertly done, and each actor knows their character so well, that you can feel it each time they speak.

  The Shield pushes the limits of what can be shown on TV, though not as blatant as the Sopranos (which has to be shown on HBO), it has it's share of swearing and some brief partial nudity, as well as dealing with subject matter that is not for the kids. It's about time that a police drama is shown this way. NYPD Blue touched on this, but The Shield in the first season manages to take it up a notch.

  The DVD set of the first season includes 4 discs containing the 13 episodes of season one, and includes a making of documentary and commentary on the episodes. Video quality is fairly good, but at times some artifacts are present. All in all, a good set and the quality of the show itself makes this set shine brightly. An award winning show with an Emmy and two Golden Globes (best Drama series and Michael Chiklis, Best actor Drama), you can't go wrong here.
  
  

• Complex material, brilliant acting
  By on 2002-12-29
  When they say The Shield is groundbreaking, the critics are talking about more than the amped-up sex-and-violence. This show relentlessly explores topics that no one else will touch: police brutality and its sometimes positive result, racial politics, political correctness, and more. Thanks to first-rate writing, there areno easy answers, and just when you think you know a character, that character is confronted with a different set of rules, and reacts completely unpredictably. In our post-9/11 search for comfort, this is not easy material to love, but every actor on screen lives these characters from the inside out. Special praise to the 8 principal actors and those who play recurring characters for keeping it real week in and week out. Chiklis got an Emmy out of this. Look for CCH Pounder, Benito Martinez, Jay Karnes and Michael Jace to score next time around. Their portrayals are courageous and original!
  
  
• A towering masterpiece among police dramas
  By A1NSMQIF1C2VCE on 2005-10-12
  Very few police dramas expand or redefine the genre. Dragnet, Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue and CSI are among the few that have. Add to that very select list, The Shield.
  
  Although Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue featured police officers straying into gray areas of morality, in The Shield, cops operating outside the law are the center of the action. Like in the Sopranos, viewers are challenged by these characters: Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) isn't a good guy, he isn't a bad guy, he's something in between. To Vic, his rogue behavior serves the public interest. To everyone else, a cop with a pet crack dealing operation who murders, plants evidence and savagely beats suspects is a danger who needs to be taken off the street. But Vic is an old pro at this, and viewers get to watch him attempt to out-maneuver the forces trying to take him down, and not always for the best of reasons.
  
  But the show is an ensemble, as the best cop shows have been, and everyone from beat cops to detectives to the police captain get their moments to shine. Especially impressive is Detective Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder), who radiates morality, maturity and wisdom. Claudette has to deal with an over-eager partner (who, on paper, the audience should love, but who in practice practically invites the abuse the other officers heap upon him), a politically minded captain and, of course, the Strike Team, led by the obviously corrupt Vic Mackey.
  
  Bear in mind that the series, which will begin its fifth season in January 2006, is constructed in 13 episode arcs. At times, the first few episodes will seem slow, but it's always building to a shattering conclusion at the end of each season.
  
  This is one of the few television shows that can justly be called a classic. More importantly, The Shield redefines what audiences can and should expect from police dramas in the years to come.
  
  Strongly recommended to fans of police dramas. Be warned that The Shield skirts an R rating much of the time, especially in the adult and dark subject matter.
  
  
• Wow!
  By A3LRNSI9QM1RMV on 2008-10-02
  All I gotta say is wow. I'm a big fan of TV on DVD and have been searching for my next show to get into. I have all the 24 seasons, all the Lost seasons (my two favorites...until now), and was looking for something to watch since I'm all caught up on those two shows and prefer serial type shows.
  
  I decided to give Shield a shot remembering the glowing reviews (and controversy) it had when it first came out back in...well, whenever it came out (sorry, currently too lazy to dig for that particular fact).
  
  I can say that the first season of The Shield was probably some of the best stuff I have ever seen in a TV show. It is on par with some of the best movie dramas ever made. I highly recommend this show to anyone who has not seen it before (those folks like me looking for TV on DVD they haven't seen before). I can only hope that further seasons live up to this first one.
  
  
• The best cop show ever
  By on 2002-12-27
  Power, juice, rules, loyalties, all of it rolled up and swished around into one of the most enjoyable and complex dramas ever on TV. The character you root for this week is the one you hate the next. I wish I had all of the actor's and character's names at my fingertips because all of them are excellent and deserve a lot of credit.

  Chiklis is both menacing and heroic at the same time. And somehow still seems sympathetic whether he's fixing a blunder by one the guys on his team, or skimming some drug money for himself. The detective "Dutch" moves from cluelessness to genius to destroyed emotional cripple in a single episode. The writing, acting, and shooting are amazing. The individual episodes have complete plotlines, yet feed into the entire season (which has an impressive climax while maintaining the tension for season 2). The alliances between the leads and supporting characters constantly change and twist as the characters look for personal advantage.

  What's most impressive is how the series feels new and almost never hits a cliched clanger note (ehhh, with one exception that I'll let you find for yourself).

  This is one of those series that make you re-arrange your schedule. It's the only one I made an effort for. Easily the best thing on TV last year. Thanks to the producers(or whoever) for allowing us to watch and share this fantastic series anytime.
  
  

• THE SHIELD ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By A39FO99Z1V6MYV on 2005-03-02
  I didn't start watching the show until the 1st season came out on DVD, and from the very start of the 1st episode I was hooked to it. This is in my opinion without doubt will rank as one of the best shows in the history of TV.
  Michael Chiklis just blows me away every time he portrays Vic Mackey. Well don't take my word for it, go and see the show yourself and I will guarantee my whole paycheck that you won't be disappointed.
  
  
• VIOLENT, ROUGH, & GRITTY: THIS IS NO ADAM-12
  By A3BUFAGPDKONX1 on 2005-03-26
  The way to watch this award winning FX TV show is one episode after another, but be prepared for graphic violence and rough language. These are not the kinds of cops you grew up with. Michael Chiklis stars as Det. Vic Mackey, who carefully toes the line between good and evil, and steps all the way across every so often. Vic is the kind of cop you would want investigating a crime if you were the victim. He is not the kind of cop you would want after you, because you will most likely end up robbed, beaten, dead or all three.
  
  Watching the entire series provides the viewer the luxury of watching not only for episode by episode contact, but the story and character arcs that cross from the first episode to the season finale. Whenever it looks like Vic and the Strike Team are about to bite the dust, Vic finds a miraculous but plausible way out.
  
  When the show first came out I was somewhat offended and put off by the amoral/illegal behavior of the police. But when Glen Close joined the cast in Season 4, I decided I needed to play catch-up to get up to speed and see what this show was really about.
  
  Each episode is its own gem. Literally unlike anything ever on TV before. Chiklis is mesmerizing to watch. His Emmy is well deserved. The rest of the cast are no slackers either. Each one adds their own little something. CCH Pounder is particularly watchable as a sage detective paired with the astute, but goofy Det. Wagonbach.
  
  This gritty show has to be seen to be believed, but it is no Adam 12.
  
  
• "The Shield" is simply awesome
  By A397RCIKNPZJEK on 2003-03-25
  Fantastic TV show from top to bottom. I first became interested in this when I heard that Michael Chiklis had won the Golden Globe - anyone beating Pres Bartlett and Tony Soprano to an award had to be from a helluva show! Here in the UK we have never heard of the Shield, and after reading a few online reviews, I dived right in and bought the box set. And I'm sure glad I did. Corrupt Strike Team leader Mackey is the show's dark, fiery heart, and you can't help rooting for Vic as he takes on the bad guys and fights off the do-gooders in the LAPD, even though we know he's no angel himself. High end production values, super-realistic violence, outstanding acting performances all round in a very well fleshed out cast (no dead wood on the screen, ever.) and totally intriguing plot lines make this riveting viewing from Ep1 right through to the end of season finale. Its gonna be a long time until Season 2 comes out on DVD!!!
  
  
• Intense Cop drama delivers in powerful first season!
  By A1JKNVM6NAU13V on 2006-06-03
  After 20 plus years (or could we even say 30 or 40?) of cop & crime drama's, there is one that blasted onto the scene in the 21st century that is taking the networks, cable or otherwise, by storm. That show is "The Shield". Not since Miami Vice (now nothing more than an afterthought to many) in the 80's has a show garnered such a strong fan base while still keeping its gritty, underground edge. Season one is where it all started.
  There are a multitude of things that makes the shield a must see. The last but not least of these on my mind are the actual stories, usually a story can survive with decent actors and tight scripting. With the shield you get that and so much more. Here are some things to consider if you are not sure of checking out this great series.
  
  THE CAST: The shield features a variety of lesser-known actors for the most part, but their characters are oh so real! Each one is unique and vibrant, their personalities as well as their professional skills as police officers, detectives, and management are definitely something to behold. I'll list some of the cast below along with a brief description to give you a better idea of who they are and how they add to the show.
  
  Michael Chiklis as Detective Vik Mackey: The most intense character on TV in my opinion, Mackey is a cop who plays dirty cop to be a great cop. In his personal life he has a child with Autism and a loving wife who is tired of her husband being gone all the time. He uses wits, strength, and sheer will power coupled with a ferocious intensity to squeeze, manipulate, control, endure, and succeed as a Detective in the Farmington Bureau.
  
  Walter Goggins as Detective Shane Vendrell: Vendrell is similar to Mackey in that he is an intense character. He sometimes is diving head first into situations without thinking but at the same time can be agile, quick thinking and ahead of the game. He's not afraid to speak his mind and though we don't get much of a glimpse into his personal life, we know he's a southern born cowboy type who loves his job, even though most of the time he's getting his hands dirty helping Mackey and the rest of their unit take down thugs in some not so legal ways.
  
  Michael Jace as officer Julien Lowe: One of the most complex characters in this show, Julien is a unique case. He's an African American male who is a rookie on the force. He's a devout lifelong Christian who also battles some inner demons...Julien is gay. This mixture of tumultuous themes gives his character a perplexing dilemma in nearly every episode, and is by far one of the most liked. Hats off to Jace for doing such a great job with this role!
  
  Catherine Dent as office Danny Sofer: She's a stunning beauty but tough enough to wear the badge and do her job. She's not a cop who breaks the rules, but also believes in not rocking the boat either. She knows what is going on behind the scenes and the fact she seems to have something going on behind the scenes with Mackey only makes her character all the more interesting...as well as dangerous.
  
  Benito Martinez as Captain David Aceveda: Benito is superb in this role. He's a no nonsense serious type who always seems one step behind. Someone is always stepping on his toes. He's trying to keep Farmington safe while at the same time put together the pieces of the puzzle that are starting to spell out the fact that there is a darker reason behind all of Mackey's high profile drug busts.
  
  CCH Pounder as Detective Claudette Wyms: A powerful actress who is somewhat in the shadows. She's not with Mackey's crew, and she doesn't always see eye to eye with Aceveda. She's in the middle of the whole thing, trying to keep her wits and do her job while at the same time balance her friendship within the professional aspect of her job.
  
  Jay Karnes as Dutch Wagenbach: Dutch is the type of guy who got beat up a lot as a kid, and though his stature is more that of say, an accountant or day trader than a detective, he's the most by the book cop on the force. He's not only by the book though, we see him really bloom into a great detective throughout season one. Not part of Mackey's agenda, Dutch takes quite a hazing in season one but soon earns respect in the department.
  
  Filming: The shield is great because it's different, and the way the series is filmed is no exception. Cameras will zoom in and out quickly. Views will be had from various angles, including being in the cop car much like the show "cops". Off the wall and shaking shots all add up for something that is not contemporary Hollywood so much as a modern day masterpiece. It's like art in FAST motion. And best of all, it works! They are able to capture the intense scenes in a different fashion while not losing any of the power behind them. They are able to capture the emotion of the characters and their plight without making it drawn out and sappy. I like this style of camera work for sure!
  
  The Show: The shield centers around a group of cops who operate out of an old building called "the barn". The Farmington district is in a poor part of Los Angeles, and it is their job to keep the peace. Mackey and his task force operate as men on the edge. They work with the criminals on the street sometimes so that they can use information and coercion to their advantage to take down more crimes. There are gangs who are just as dangerous. One of them is the "Toro's". The show is very realistic in setting and acting, and the stories are tightly constructed so that even though there are several sub plots going on within the streets as well as the lives of the characters on the show, we never lost interest or feel like we are lost. Everyone on this show is a key ingredient to its success. Every crime is gripping, awful, and sad. Every day is different. Every part of season one of "The Shield" lets us know that there is still a chance for cop/crime dramas to be reborn. This show has the ability to mix super impact action with high-strung drama and roll it all up into a fine soup ready to serve.
  
  Season one comes with four discs that include the pilot and over 15 episodes of suspenseful and intriguing drama and action. The special features are also a plus as they show us the making of the show, the behind the scenes looks, and some insight from several of the actors. Be aware this show is on cable for a reason. This is not your typical evening TV series. Blood, guts, some foul language, and skin will all be exposed in season one. Some call it "going over the line" because they are stepping it up. I think in the case of the shield, anything less would be a disappointment, or maybe worse, just another cop show that runs at 7pm on your local channels.
  
  You'll follow Mackey and his task force through day and night. You'll be there when the bust goes down. You'll also be there when the deal goes bad. You'll be there towards the end of season one when corruption and betrayal hit an all time high, and are coupled with a riot and a group of people killing cops. You'll see the strain the families, like Mackey's, go through. You'll follow Julien and pray for him to find his way in the world. You'll take a deep breath, and put in the next disc, because it really is that good!
  
  
• Riveting
  By A220ZQQXMK8KKU on 2006-02-25
  I like cop shows in general. I have been watching them since I was a kid. This one is by far the best I have seen. I have watched seasons 1-3 so far and cannot wait for the rest. This is not just another cop show. You get attached to the characters quickly, despite their many moral flaws. Also, the storyline changes in unexpected ways so each episode keeps you on the edge of your seat. Highly addictive.
  
  One word of caution, this is for adults only. Watch only when the kids (even teens) are not around. This is vulgar, violent and sexually explicit.
  
  
• This is a Masterpiece of Writing and Acting - A Must See
  By A25E44CFFC4B7T on 2005-10-29
  It is my loss that I don't spend more time looking at what is on TV other than news, commentary, sports and an occaisional special. I was facing knee replacement surgery a little over a month ago and wondering how I would use the down time I would have while recuperating. Little did I know what I was in for when my son, knowing I would have some time on my hands gave me the above DVD saying, "I think you might like this and I know you won't forget it." He never spoke truer words.
  
  To say I was drawn into the world created by this show would be an understatement. At first you say to yourself, "this is too over the top to be real", but before long you are totally invested in the various personalities and situations. There is little point in my detailing what others have already done very well. However, if you are a fan or crime stories and police procedurals, all I can say that there is none better. I was delighted to find that the series I watched was the first year of the show and that there are more out there. I'm on my way to get them.
  
  
  
• More Realistic Than Most TV Shows
  By A3PWF2AQ5XYALW on 2005-02-09
  "The Shield" made history by earning the most Emmy nominations ever for a basic cable drama series, with Michael Chiklis winning the coveted Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. I am now halfway through season one on DVD. The show is outstanding for many reasons. It is a police show. That is not uncommon. What is unusual is that the characters in the show are complicated human beings who have both good qualities and bad qualities. As in real life each person is not all good or all bad, but they are complex human beings capable of bravery, generousity, and other good qualities on one hand, and greed, deceit and even murder on the other hand. It is an excellent drama with good writing of the scripts and good acting. Another plus, is, of course with the DVD one does not have to sit through many commercials.
  
  
• The best show you will ever see
  By A2L2OERT7VXXYV on 2006-03-10
  I am a TV sitcom watcher from the 80's. I grew up on shows like 21 Jump Street, Dukes of Hazard, The Hulk and Knight Rider. Come to modern day and how can you not be a fan of Lost, The Office, My Name is Earl and the 200 reality shows. With all on TV, I never was able to watch The Shield. About 2 months ago I purchased season 1 and a few short weeks later I am almost done with season 4. This Show grabs you from the first episode and before you know it you have watched three or four of them in one sitting. You can't turn your attention to something else until you know what happens with Vic and his team. I wish I could write more but I am off to watch the rest of season 4.
  
  
• Excellent, gritty cop drama
  By AKT4O7KPZETMX on 2005-09-06
  I was a little wary of this show as I'd heard so many good things about it but hadn't seen it, so decided to plunge in at the beginning.
  Two days and 8 episodes later and I'm hooked - everything I'd read was true. The characters are well written and presented, and the storylines don't flinch from reality or have to hold back to fit in with US network telvision restraints.
  Definitely recommended, if you've watched and enjoyed HBO shows such The Wire and Oz, you should give The Shield a try.
  
  
• Tv's #1 Drama
  By ALG3ACQIJJSUZ on 2005-02-11
  If you love drama this is the show for you. explosive action every second,Every episode leaves you wanting more. I Watched Season 1&2 and got hooked. Now I Can't Wait For Season 3 On Febuary 22, 2005. Season 4 Starts In march Check Your Local Listings The Premire date Should be March 15, 2005.
  
  
• Rare gem omong TV mediocrity.
  By A1TQ59ENLET55M on 2004-12-19
  Show has fantastic writing, great character developement and superb acting. I'm a sucker for urban crime drama and this show is as true to its subject matter as it can get. some may say that it would gain a lot as an HBO vehicle but it rides the line without being gratuitous and keeps integrity in the storytelling. The show doesn't play out like it has compromised anything.
  The first 2 seasons are a lot stronger than the 3rd (but what show doesn't follow this pattern). Regardless, i'll be buying the 3rd when it comes out in February. WAtch 3 episodes and you'll be hooked.
  
  
• One of the best shows on TV right now!
  By A2PM7CQZTMMT6I on 2004-11-07
  I am one of those people that kept seeing commercials for this show and thinking "Hmm, that looks ok, maybe I should watch it." but never getting around to it. Well, one day they had a marathon of The Shield going on, and I finally had nothing to do, so I sat down and started watching it. I got through the second episode on the marathon and I knew I was hooked. I rushed right out and bought the first season on DVD so I could see the entire set in the correct order and without missing anything. The show is great. I would put this show right up there with The Sopranos, but unlike Tony and gang, the cops in The Shield are trying to do good things....as long as it doesn't interfere with profits. The moral ambiguity in the show really helps make it believable and work for many people. You might find that you like a cop like Mackey being able to get the answers and information that no regular cop can, but you might find that you dislike him for using the methods he does to get them. The show presents the question "Is a win for the good guys a win no matter what the cost?" and then leaves you to answer it for yourself.
  
  
• "Mackey's not a cop. He's Al Capone with a badge..."
  By A2ZLROGIL2V7GV on 2004-01-10
  Cable programming will never be the same again, and "The Shield: Season 1" is the reason for that. A cop drama unlike any you have ever seen before, this highly controversial and brilliantly written show takes you for a ride into the darkest parts of law enforcement that you never thought existed. This is a show that isn't strictly about good vs. evil; it's about getting your hands dirty in order to get the job done.

  The show revolves around a police department and the men and women behind it. They're faced with ugly situations on a day-by-day basis. A major player is Detective Vic Mackey; the leader of a Strike Team unit that goes places where nobody else would ever want to venture. Only problem is that in order for the Strike Team to get the job done, they have to bend or break the rules. Rules that could end up having them become the actual lowlifes that they have dedicated their lives to lock away for good. With numerous storylines popping up at every corner, one of the key ones is Mackey's superior, Captain Aceveda, looking for any excuse to catch Mackey doing wrong so he can lock him up with the same criminals that he takes down. The end result of all of these characters and their stories lead to a shockingly entertaining show that ignores every rule in the book and questions your own morality.

  I found this show to be extremely addicting. The show is down and dirty, just like some of the shady characters that are in it. Sometimes you're afraid to watch because you have no idea what buttons the show plans to push next. This is for sure not "family entertainment." With the exception of not being able to use the "F-word," this show pretty much gets away with everything else. You'd think it was on HBO.

  So what's so appealing about this show? I think it's because of the risks it takes. Instead of conforming to your typical cop dramas where the lines between good and bad are more than crystal clear, we are presented with a show that tests our morals and values. It forces you to think and ask yourself, "Would I have done the same thing?" While a lot of the things that transpires on the show can be viewed as outrageous and over-the-top, there's a lot of ugly truths hidden within. And, we must remember that this is a TV show with a goal to entertain. The actors are fantastic in their roles (especially Michael Chiklis, who plays "Vic Mackey"). The writing and directing also stand out in this well-structured series.

  The DVD set has some goodies to offer, which will please fans of the show. This 4-Disc DVD collection includes extras such as commentary on every episode, the original script for the "Pilot" episode, two featurettes, deleted scenes, and cast audition videos. If the 13 episodes alone weren't enough for you, the extras should make you happy.

  "The Shield: Season 1" is an excellent show that takes chances by portraying flawed characters that seem much more realistic than most seen in other shows. It's not for everyone, of course. The show is brutal and in-your-face. If you're willing to see how down and dirty a show can get, then this is something to check out. A very clever show with an extremely promising future.

  Just how far are you willing to go to get the job done? You'll soon find out once you pop in the first DVD. Once you go in--there's no coming back.
  
  

• Possibly the best cop show ever -- and I LOVE Law & Order
  By A26XCS3QLDJJWN on 2006-01-23
  I thought Law & Order had set the bar pretty high for a cop serial (even though it doesn't focus spc. on the cops, I know, I know), but as far as entertainment goes, you can't beat The Shield.
  
  You can guarantee what's going to happen on Law & Order: someone's gonna get murdered, and there will be a trial. The Shield guarantees none of that, except maybe the murder. If there is a trial, you ain't gonna see it, and if Det. Vic Mackey and his Strike Team deal with a problem the way they want, ain't gonna be no trial, either.
  
  Following a team of cops that are corrupted to varying degrees puts a whole new slant on the cop show. It's hard to know whether to cheer for Mackey or not as he makes decisions that frequently have little to do with police ethics.
  
  Cringe as he doesn't remove children from a crackhouse, but instead advises the owner "to put 'em in the back room and rent the Lion King... just keep them away from this s***." Watch in disbelief as he beats a hooker (at her request) so that her story about killing a john will wash with the cops.
  
  And through all this, Mackey is a) trying to avoid the net of Capt. Aceveda, which gets tighter and tighter following the wickedest decision Mackey makes in the series' first episode and b) trying to save his family and his son, whose learning disability becomes painfully clear midway through the first season.
  
  Add a stellar cast of characters and just the right amount of T&A, violence and ignorant jokes (hey, what can I say, I'm a 24-year-old male...), and you've got an appallingly great show that I'm just now getting into.
  
  I watched the first season in less than two days. Probably ditto for the second season, which just came in today's mail. Compelling is the only way to describe it. Can't wait for the new season on F/X.
  
  If you're a big Law & Order fan, and ESPECIALLY if you liked Homicide: Life on the Street, this is the show for you.
  
  
• This series is nothing short of amazing.
  By A25AXWGBGJ5KBS on 2005-08-15
  I am almost angry with myself that I waited this long to "get into" this amazing series called "The Shield".
  
  Yes, I was aware how Michael Chiklis won the Globe, the Emmy, the freaking Nobel Prize, etc. Critics drooled over themselves in a manner not seen since the debut of "The Sopranos".
  I just wasn't ready for another cop show. I loved "NYPD Blue". That was enough for me.
  
  Then I got horrifically addicted to FX's "Nip/Tuck", and now can't wait for Tuesdays and "Rescue Me." And then "NYPD" ended.
  I suddenly had the urge to give "The Shield", FX's flagship show, a try.
  
  What an idiot I was. This series is nothing short of amazing.
  There is nothing wrong with this show. Nothing.
  Name one other show you can say that about.
  
  The concept: to show the inner workings of a beleaguered police station, inhabiting an old church, in the middle of the worst section of L.A. They take an unflinching, thinly veiled look at the corruption (and decency) that led to the Rampart scandal, how race riots, drug wars, and political racketeering are part of the urban landscape... you will sit goggle-eyed staring at the TV at the brazen approach to some of these topics.
  
  This show is refreshingly lacking in political correctness.
  
  The idea is to present various points of perspective, good, bad, black, white, gray...and allow the viewer to arrive at their own moral conclusion.
  
  And my morals have never been so challenged by any sort of media than they have by this show. You will grapple with feelings you didn't realize you had. Your own ideas about race, drugs, crimes, the police, city politics will be prodded, pricked and scrambled like an egg. This happens because you are so drawn to the characters, you will find yourself wondering what you yourself would do in these tense situations. And you will do this without realizing what you are doing. Every brain cell will be involved and attentive.
  
  The thirteen episodes unfold like a carefully constructed puzzle. There are dramatic peaks within a show, as well as across 3-4 shows like mini-arcs, and in the end, all the threads come together in the altogether satisfying finale.
  
  The screenwriting is whip-crack smart...the dialogue is about the best on TV. The plot twists and turns are impossible to predict, yet as logical as a mathematic theorem. In other words, after seeing the entire season, there is not one false step. Not one unfair misdirection. Yet I was so absorbed...it was like riding a terrific rollercoaster, and you KNOW there's a drop or a loop or a curve up ahead, but you STILL are thrilled to the core.
  
  The look of the show takes the handheld technique pioneered by "NYPD Blue", and elevates it to a whole new level. It's beyond the "docudrama" level, to the point where you feel like you are "on scene", peeking over people's shoulders...
  
  The acting is justly celebrated. Top to bottom, these actors have been perfectly cast, beginning with Mr. Chiklis. I was only peripherally aware of him before, but during the pilot episode, he vaulted into my personal pantheon of great television actors. He makes an impression within milliseconds. After seeing the season, it will be not be a surprise to you anymore that he won the Emmy. In fact, it will seem like it could not have been anyone else.
  
  Next up on the "ridiculously good" list is CCH Pounder, so often seen on network TV, yet so often unappreciated. THAT will never happen again, as her every line, look, head move and scene entrance in this show is performed to perfection.
  
  Walton Goggins, as Chiklis' loco 2nd-in-command, is a bug-eyed manic marvel. This guy's clearly defective, but you can't take your eyes off him for a minute.
  
  Catherine Dent, as the female cop with secret issues and desires; Michael Jake, as the rookie black cop with religious conflicts; Jay Karnes as the flawed Boy Scout detective; Benito Martinez, as the Latino Captain with skeletons and political aspirations...they are all masterful. If they were this good before, where have they been all this time?
  
  Every episode has merit...in fact, on this DVD, every episode gets a commentary, and the funny thing is they DESERVE them. But I must single out the pilot.
  
  After seeing it, I knew instantly that I was hooked, and hooked for the long term. I knew I was in the presence of greatness, and I literally could not wait for the next episode. For me, this had only happened twice before: the aforementioned "Nip/Tuck" and "24". After the final shot, I yelled at my TV screen, apoplectic, "Holy s@#t!"
  
  It was awesome, let me tell you.
  
  This is up there with "Firefly", "Buffy", "Hill Street Blues", "Sopranos"...it's just great television.
  
  This is the reason TV is available on DVD.
  
  
• Unbeatable -- when it sticks to the drama
  By on 2003-01-15
  I've been a hardcore fan of The Shield since it first aired. It is quite simply the best thing I've ever seen on TV. The writing is highly original, and doesn't lapse into TV-land cliches, but the acting is what stands out here. For all the nudity and violence, The Shield packs more honest-to-God humanity into one episode than most shows can manage during an entire run. These actors are not afraid to play the worst sides of their characters -- petty, ugly, stupid, weak, racist, sexist, ambitious, whiny, selfish, vicious, self-righteous, manipulative, dishonest -- and that makes their best moments shine all the brighter. Benito Martinez, Walton Goggins, Jay Karnes, and Michael Jace are especially brilliant in this regard.

  Too bad the same can't be said for Shield creator/exec. producer, Shawn Ryan. The episode commentaries reveal him to be a man obsessed with avoiding self-congratulation, and true to the Middle Eastern myth, what he fears most ends up killing him and every commentary track he's on. With numbing regularity, Ryan interrupts his colleagues' fascinating stories, comments, feelings, and insights to offer meager insights of his own. The result is never an improvement; Ryan bulldozes over many potentially honest (painfully so?) moments, especially from his actors. He needs to learn that the space between others' words is not just occasion for him to figure out what he's going to say next. For a writer (who is also, theoretically, a trained observer), this is a dangerous tendency. I hope it doesn't mar the writing of future shows or the commentary tracks on future DVDs. I can only wish that Fox would release a bonus disc with all the stories Ryan verbally erased just so he could hear himself talk.
  
  

• Not for the faint hearted
  By ABGAL4ZQ7ZG0Z on 2009-05-16
  I remember this show being on Australian TV a few years back but didn't watch it. After recently seeing the DVD sets on sale at a local department store, I decided to give season one a go. Boy, am I glad I did, as every episode blew me away. I received a buzz similar to that of watching Hill Street Blues on DVD for the first time or seeing NYPD Blue when it premiered on television. The Shield though doesn't have anywhere as much humour as HSB and is somewhat more violent than NYPD Blue.
  
  There are only 13 episodes in the set but the drama and action is in your face. There are times when the strike team cops are heroes and times when they are villians. They'll do almost anything to get results but often leave many loose ends along the way, which have to be attended to in future episodes. Michael Chiklis was born for the role of Vic Mackey.
  
  Soon after watching season one, I went out and bought season two. Took me just a few days to watch all the season two episodes and am now in possession of seasons three and four. Only gripe with my Region 4 DVDs is that I've come across a couple of faulty discs (occasional vibrating/whirring sounds on more than one DVD player) and have had to exchange two of the sets. Still gave my review 5 stars since Amazon.com is not selling Region 4 discs (although did notice that previous reviewer (American?) experienced some problems - is Sony having problems worldwide with these sets?).
  
  Anyway, hold on to your seat and enjoy the ride! One suggestion though: you may want to keep the remote control close by in case you need to refer back to the subtitles after missing some quick dialogue, and so you can turn down the volume of the closing theme music. While the theme suits the show, I do find it quite loud and annoying.
  
  
  
  
  
• Remember, the Team comes First
  By A96JD9312DHWC on 2007-06-06
  In LA, Farmington creates a special kind of criminal. In addition to smaller gangs trying to cash in on the money and prestige to be had, there are the bigger gangs with bigger agendas and individuals with their own problems. This creates dilemmas of all kinds and calls for cops of all calibers to stem this proverbial tide of violence. Enter Vic Mackey, head of Farmington's elite Strike Force and a true force to be reckoned with. Far from the police units that operate within the clearly-divided blue lights of "justice," Mackey operates his force like a cold and calculating mob of his own. This means he has enemies on all sides of the law and that he creates a story that is really worth watching.
  
  When it came to The Shield, I was initially hesitant because I really detest the overflow of "Cop drama" on television. I thought I had seen all the different types of dirty cops that the network minds had to offer and I wasn't in the mood for another slice of the shield-toting pie. Then I watched the pilot, saw just how far the strike team - Ronnie, Shane, Lem, and Vic - were willing to go, and reevaluated my priorities. As I continued watching the show I found that it worked on a lot of other levels as well, making me think about the motivations of every person involved and how tempting power like the type Mackey finds himself faced with could really be. A cop with a family, a child with a disability, and a job that doesn't really appreciate the things that are done in its name; that brings up the question of where does prevention end and crime really begin?
  
  This isn't to say that the Strike Team is the whole of the tale; far from it in fact. The 13 episodes on the disc are really the story of a lot of people trying to maintain a fine line on a personal and professional level, following two main detectives and a drove of other police officers and showcasing progression as the series goes forward. I'm writing this at the conclusion of the 6th series, too, knowing how much these people start to mean and how many of them lose small things like dignity or larger things like life. Not wanting to spoil things I have to end it there, simply saying that the show will keep giving and that Mackey always has a method in some of most beautiful forms of madness I've watched play out.
  Just watch the pilot and you'll understand what I mean.
  
  About the Set: Full-Frame, Subtitles: English, Spanish
  Episodes Included: 1- Pilot. 2- Our Gang. 3 - The Spread. 4 - Dawg Days. 5 - Blowback. 6 - Cherrypoppers. 7 - Pay in Pain. 8 - Cupid & Psycho. 9 - Throwaway. 10 - Dragonchasers. 11 - Carnivores. 12 - Two Days of Blood. 13 -Circles.
  Also included: commentary, "behind the shield" featurette, a few deleted scenes
  
  
• The Best Show on TV
  By A1CNCJ2GKDV788 on 2006-10-05
  My mom and sister had been trying to get me to watch this show with them forever. I don't watch any tv shows religiously and hate cop shows,they're so predictible. I wasn't interested. One night I was bored and I rented the first few episodes of The Shield at Blockbuster and WAS HOOKED... I've been addicted ever since. There is nothing like it. The acting, storylines and characters are incredible. It is a MUST SEE!! You won't be disappointed. While you're at it...you might as well go ahead and order the other seasons that are out because you are going to want to get caught up as soon as possible!
  
  

• The Shield - The Complete Second Season
• The Shield - Season 3
• The Shield - The Complete Third Season
• The Shield: Season Four
• The Shield: Season Five