It seems like forever since fans of “The Shield” were presented with the shocking death of resident nice guy Curtis Lemansky, but after watching the season six premiere, I’m prepared to agree that it was entirely necessary. This may come as a surprise to many, considering my earlier reactions to the event, but the potential is simply too delicious to pass up; especially now that the show is gearing up for its big finale.

The episode begins with (surprise, surprise) the Strike Team visiting Lem’s grave and, appropriately, honoring his death with an improvised 21 gun salute. It doesn’t take very long before Vic starts questioning how Guardo (Lem’s apparent murder) could possibly be involved, however, and yet despite any real motive, it’s still his only lead. The El Salvadorians may not have had a hand in Lem’s death, but it sure is the Golden Ticket when it comes to gang pride. Everyone is lining up to plead guilty to the act; even those who arrived in the country days after Lem was killed.

Meanwhile, Shane is really feeling the burn of killing his best friend, but when he finds out that Lem was never offered a second deal (but rather agreed to a longer sentence), Shane is forced to deal with the fact that he did so for no reason. As a result, he’s got a death wish that might just come true before the end of the season. That is, if he doesn’t die by his own hand or some junkie arsonist before then.

Kavanaugh isn’t about to believe the El Salvadorian angle for a single minute, either, and though he’s wrong in his accusation of Vic’s involvement in the murder, that doesn’t stop him from launching an investigation of his own. This includes spreading his charm a little too thin and continuing to spread a web of lies, just so that he can see Vic behind bars. Not because he’s necessarily guilty; just because. Still, the guy’s getting a bit out of hand with the whole framing. He’s convinced Emolia to deliver a false statement and has just planted evidence in Vic’s apartment tying him to the case. It’s a desperate move that will eventually result in his downfall, and it couldn’t come at a better time.

I really like the Jon Kavanaugh character, but now it’s just getting out of hand. With Claudette as the new captain and Dutch not at all impressed by his lies, the guy’s going down sooner rather than later. Plus, he’s got Vic threatening to kill him (“You think I’m a cop killer? You’re a cop, right?”) and the Asst. Chief threatening to seize his stripes, so the future doesn’t exactly look bright for the surly IAD agent.

As for the rest of the episode, it was a bit of crapshoot featuring characters that have been dead to me for the past few years. Julian and Tina worked a bullshit case involving a porn shop owner who is terrorized by the grandson of an old woman he fucked for his “Dick In Grannies” video series, and Corrine gets into yet another forgettable tiff with Danny about her relationship with Vic. Oh brother, we’re in for another wild one.