Remember that wave of emotion that washed over you while watching the final meeting between Shane and Lem? Well, multiply that by ten and you’ll just begin to get an idea of how breathtaking tonight’s showdown between Vic and Shane was.

Of course, I’m getting ahead of myself. The episode kicked off in grand fashion when Vic made a surprise visit to Antwon Mitchell in prison. Ever since Kavanaugh was arrested and his luxuries were reinstated, Antwon is living the good life, with almost every guard in his pocket and more perks than he had on the street. Vic isn’t there to make small talk, however, and he gets down to business: Lem’s killer. Antwon is quick to admit that while he’d love to take credit for the creative stroke of genius, it wasn’t him.

All progress in the case seems lost when Vic suddenly suspects Shane of the dirty deed. You can’t blame him, either. One week Shane is on all of their asses about disrespecting Lem and tracking down his killer, and the next he’s acting normal again. Almost too normal, in fact, to the point that Vic has Ronnie look into how many grenades Shane logged in after the bust. The number matches up, but after taking a look at Lem’s autopsy report (courtesy of Dutch), Vic discovers a final report from Kavanaugh that states he was shorthanded the night of Lem’s death. And because Kavanaugh had only one extra man to tail the Strike Team, Shane was never actually followed, despite his claims that it took him a little longer than the others to lose his.

Caught in a lie, Shane finally confesses to Vic, telling him that he “did what [he] thought had to be done at the time.” Vic doesn’t buy into his bullshit, however, and though Shane tries to play the “we’re the same” card, Vic is intent on turning him in. Wait just a second, though. What’s this? Oh, right, Shane has enough dirt on Vic to land him in prison for life. So, what’s a crooked cop to do? If you’re Vic, you threaten him some more (“If I see you again, I will kill you”), but Shane’s not about to bow out so easily. He’s in this for the long run, and the ending has just begun.

There’s almost too much information in this episode to discuss in a blog, and while it would usually deserve a place any other week, it just doesn’t seem fair to steal any attention away from the above confrontation. Instead, I’ll just list the other highlights, as they may come into play in future episodes:

1) After quietly dismissing a murder case involving the daughter of a well-respected friend of the police department, Vic makes it known that he would like a little help in his upcoming appeal.

2) Following a visit from Guardo’s girlfriend, Dutch is clued into Vic’s possible involvement with his disappearance. It probably doesn’t help that he’s also learned about the Strike Team’s meeting with Hernan.

3) Tina’s back from her duties for the department PR blitz and returns to discover that Danni is her new partner. Danni continues to treat Tina like shit when Hiatt shows interest in the Latina rookie over her, but Tina’s made some new friends in high places, and she’s not going to let herself get bullied anymore.

4) And finally, Cassidy knows about Vic’s illegitimate child with Danni (via a phone call between her mom and grandma). She goes to see her baby brother (Lee) at the end of the episode, and suffice to say, she’s not in the least impressed.

Overall, this was a solid hour that begs comparison to the show’s early years. Mr. Ryan, you officially have my attention. Now, how about you show me why “The Shield” is still one of the best dramas on television.