NBC may not be King of the Nielsen Ratings just yet, but we know good television when we see it, and the Peacock has returned in full force with a dominating presence that includes the top three shows and five of the top six. HBO, on the other hand, is experiencing the opposite, with the departure of “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Rome.” Add to that the fact that our list features a whopping 10 new entries — five of which are freshmen — and you’ve got one heck of a Power Rankings shakeup. Much of this has to do with so many shows being on hiatus until next year, but whatever the cause, it’s nice to see some much-needed change to a usually familiar lineup. And, hey, don’t miss the list of our favorite shows which are currently on hiatus (and are therefore ineligible for the Top-20), our farewell to “The Sopranos,” and our stable of Honorable Mentions. Check out the list here, then come back and let us know how we did…or if we missed any of your favorites! Filed under: TV and Actors and Actresses and News and Reviews and TV Comedies and TV Dramas and TV Action and Rome and Lost and South Park and Prison Break and The Office and 24 and The Shield and The Sopranos and Rescue Me and Deadwood and External Entertainment and External TV and The Wire and Heroes and Jericho and Battlestar Galactica and TV Sci-Fi and Reaper and Journeyman and Friday Night Lights Comments: 2 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
 Well, that wasn’t exactly what he all had hoped for, now was it? Then again, it certainly doesn’t make the wait for the final season any shorter, either. The spotlight remained on Vic this week as he struggled to stay on the force. Despite a seemingly effective blackmail of Aceveda (after securing the original memory card containing the infamous photo from Cruz), the former captain continued his claims that he couldn’t help with his current situation. He did, however, offer up a suggestion: play the autistic child card with the head of the appeals (the only man with the power to turn the vote), who just so happens to have a grandchild with the same disease. Not content with using his children as an excuse, Vic turns to his last resort: crack the San Marcos case wide open. After tailing the one-armed delegate to a money drop with some Mexican intelligence former who’s joined up with the Mexican mob, Vic uncovers a plan that involves the Mexicans buying up land in Farmington as a means to both launder money and do illegal business. The smell of crooked politicians is too much for Aceveda to pass up, and so he teams up with Vic on the hunt. Unfortunately, Vic doesn’t have the kind of time needed to investigate a case of such proportions the right way. Instead, he goes straight to the source, pulling over the aforementioned intelligence officer to discover a trunk filled with boxes of blackmail-quality material. The guy didn’t go down without a fight, though – attempting to drive away before Vic jumped through the window and beat his ass – and now it looks like Vic finally has the case needed to guarantee his future at the Barn. A worthy story arc for the final season? You bet. Despite butting heads several times in the past, the Vic/Aceveda dynamic has always been one of the best thins about the series, and I can’t wait to watch the two of them working together again. |
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After a particularly lackluster week, the writers of “The Shield” got back on track last night with an episode that – for all intents and purposes – set up one hell of a season finale. The cards are on the table, the bets have been placed, and now all we have to do is sit back, relax and wait to see who comes out on top. Vic’s mission to earn a little goodwill (and behind-the-scenes help) before going in front of the appeals board next week crashed and burned when the city controller who he protected a few weeks back (by failing to disclose the real reason behind his daughter’s murder) came up short on his end of the deal. Knowing full well that Claudette’s lack of pity certainly isn’t helping the case, Vic makes the threat of the century by informing her that not only will he solve the San Marcos murders, but that after he does, she won’t have any other choice but to keep him onboard. So what does he do? He solves the freaking case. Thanks to yet another tip from Aceveda’s city planning friend, Cruz, the Strike Team pick up one of the suspects, but Vic and Hiatt butt heads on how to deal with him. Way to burn yet another bridge, Vic. When they finally convince the slicer-and-dicer to give up his pals, Vic goes over Hiatt’s head and swoops them up, stashing them away in a freight container before anyone else can find them. Vic then makes good with the Mexicans by handing over two of three El Salvadorians, and a tip that the third will be out of prison in 18 months. Unfortunately, Claudette couldn’t care less, and despite Vic closing the San Marcos case (or at least clearing all those red names from the board), she informs him that he’s still on his way out. Aceveda wouldn’t have it any other way, but his friend Cruz feels differently. Despite his obvious connection to the murders, he thinks Farmington needs as many good cops as possible, and in order to keep Vic on the force, he gives him the one thing that will secure his future: the infamous cell phone picture of Aceveda’s rape. |
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With only two episodes left in the season, you’d think that this week’s show would have been a little more significant to the big picture, but alas, it only served to amplify the same points that have been made throughout the course of the last few episodes. Hernan is still missing and his handler isn’t at all pleased. Claudette couldn’t care less as long as he holds up his end of the deal (that being the arrest of the San Marcos murderers), but she might have a problem soon enough, as Hernan most definitely doesn’t want to be found. Vic seems to think it’s because he’s so deep undercover, but it’s more likely that he’s simply fallen for the gang life. If that were the case, however, why would he give Vic a heads up about the automatic weapons burglary? That remains unseen, but what is clear is that Vic has found an ally in Hiatt. The only Strike Team member not involved in tracking down Hernan is Shane (obviously), who is spending his time doing a little side work for the Armenian mob. Pissed about the unexpected death of the gas station attendant, Shane goes to visit the mob boss, Mr. Kesakhian, but is instead greeted by his daughter, Diro (Franka Potente), who apologizes and pays him for his “troubles.” Little does Shane know that Diro is actually running the family business while her father withers away on his deathbed until, of course, he eventually figures it out. That doesn’t change his position with the Armenians, though, and it’s only going to land him in some serious trouble in the future. My money’s on the Armenian’s finding out about his involvement with the money train a few years ago, and it might just be Vic who pulls the trigger. |
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“The Shield” went back to the days of old this week, where an episode would focus on a single case, and the topic at hand was the San Marcos massacre. After the Biz-Lats retaliate against the El Salvadorians by killing women and children at a street fair, tensions are heightened leading to a personal threat from the Asst. Chief to shut down the Barn. Blaming Hernan for the misinformation that has caused the case to remain unsolved for so long, Vic makes a deal with the undercover agent that will help him earn his stripes within the gang. Even though Vic thinks the guy “is kind of an asshole,” it’s difficult for him to turn down such a promising venture. I have a feeling that Hernan is just looking out for himself (and quite possibly integrating into the gang he’s supposed to be investigating). Although his intel did land the Barn three of the six San Marcos murderers (who were engaged in a private gangbang when the Strike Team picked them up), his sudden disappearance at the end of the episode doesn’t bode well for the future. |
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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. |
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I’d be remiss if I didn’t begin by mentioning how tonight’s episode of “The Shield” was the first of the new season that didn’t quite do it for me. Of course, while the events that took place were very Sopranonian (a necessary buildup for the things to come), it’s still a little unusual for any episode of “The Shield” to come off as even a little bland. Still, we got a ton of info this week that will certainly work toward the Vic and Shane face-off at the end of the season. Of course, this isn’t the first time we thought Vic would kill his best friend. It happened in season four after Vic found out about Shane’s dealings with Antwon Mitchell and, according to Shawn Ryan on the season five DVD, he was supposed to die until the writers chickened out and cut it from the script. If this season doesn’t end with Shane in a puddle of his own blood, I don’t see how else it would. Anyway, getting back to the episode at hand, Shane is feeling increasingly more guilty about murdering Lem, so when he arrived at the hospital beaten to a pulp, it seemed like maybe he had done it to himself. As Vic soon discovers, however, Shane was beat up for banging Tilly (the black jailbait) by the girl’s step-dad. Even Mara finds out all about his infidelity when she rummages through his things and finds condoms. This, of course, leads Mara to kick Shane out of the house, and when he fails in overdosing on a handful of Oxycontin, he returns to tell her that he is the one responsible for Lem’s death. Apparently, this is supposed to make things all better (since he did it to protect Mara and Jackson), and surprisingly, it does. |
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If there’s one battle that’s bigger than the one between Vic Mackey and Aceveda, it’s the ongoing gang war between the Byz-Lats and the One-Niners. A regular bloodbath that has caused its share of problems (and business opportunities) for the Strike Team in the past, it also hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Another week, another hit out on one of the gang’s high ranking soldiers, but this time around, Vic is joined by his new replacement, Kevin Hiatt. Played by Australian actor Alex O’Loughlin, the guy’s only been around for one episode and I already like him. Heck, Vic could be taken away at the end of the year and this guy could easily pick up the reigns for the final season. As one would expect, Vic doesn’t exactly warm up to Hiatt upon their introduction, but when Claudette tells him that she’s set up an appeals panel to review his “retirement” plan (apparently because she wants two teams: one under Vic, and the other under Hiatt), Vic quickly reverts to his best behavior. Unfortunately, Claudette was just lying so he wouldn’t cause any more friction during his final weeks on the force. Even the new guy is impressed by his methods, despite Claudette’s advice not to buy into his “good side.” Still, there’s no way Vic is leaving the show with only one more season to go, and I have a feeling Hiatt is going to eventually warm up to his coach to the point that he takes his side over Claudette’s. Plus, with Shan potentially getting a bullet to the head in the coming weeks, there will definitely be another spot open. |
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In all six years of “The Shield,” I don’t believe we’ve ever seen Vic Mackey quite like this before – unless, of course, you count his memorable beatdown of Armadillo in season two – and I have to say, it’s good to see badass Vic is finally back. Picking up right where the last episode left off, Vic continues to bullshit Nadia (Guardo’s girlfriend) as he sets a meet with Guardo. The El Salvadorian thinks nothing of the ransom, dropping off the money with a posse of fellow gangbangers so he can deal with the kidnapper in his own way, but when he’s captured by Vic and taken to an abandoned warehouse, he soon realizes that it’s something much bigger. The guy actually gives up a name a little too easily (which should have been the first clue that he was lying), but Vic checks it out, only to find that the guy Guardo gave up has been in jail for over a month. With an alibi secured, Vic returns to the warehouse he has Guardo tied up in and tries a new method: torture by way of a thick metal chain to the face. Guardo looked like he was definitely in a world of pain, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Vic never misses a single episode of “24.” Still, it looked like Shane had finally convinced him to back off, because, well, the guy would have spoken if he knew anything (right?), but Vic’s one persistent dude, and so he shoots Guardo in the head. In the words of Jack Bauer: damnit! Just when the Strike Team had finally been cleared of all suspicion, Vic had to go and ruin everything by murdering another innocent in cold blood. Now, Guardo is hardly an innocent man, but he didn’t have anything to do with Lem’s death, and Shane only feels worse for it. Plus, it almost more than assures that Vic will feel the sting of his brash actions in the very near future. That is, if he’s still around. Claudette is strongly pushing for Vic’s impending retirement, and she’s even bringing in a new guy to begin training as his replacement. Meanwhile, Dutch and Billings work a multiple homicide involving an ex-Armed Forces meth head running around town stealing amphetamine from pharmacies, and Ronnie jumps onboard to lend a helping hand. It was great to see Ronnie get a little more face time than usual, and we can only hope that this trend will continue through the end of the series. It just might if Tina’s sudden flirtatious behavior around him matures and we see the two become a couple. Though methinks Dutch wouldn’t be too happy about that. Of course, Dutch Boy already has his hands full. Between partnering with Billings (whose Odd Couple team-up is priceless, by the way) and his newfound static with the FBI (who have ordered him to drop all inquiries into the El Salvadorians), he may not have the time to continue wooing the young up-and-comer. Let’s hope I’m wrong, or he may continue his investigation into the Strike Team. On a side note, it looks like Danny took the sergeant post she was offered at the end of last week’s episode, but it’s probably safe to say that we won’t be seeing too many repercussions of her decision. That character died a long time ago; right around the time Julian officially became a waste of space. Seriously, though. Is Michael Jace perfectly content with acting as background nowadays? I couldn’t care less, but it’s an interesting observation that needs to be dealt with sooner than later. Just ship the guy off to another station and get back to the good stuff. |
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It didn’t take very long for Kavanaugh to buckle under pressure. Or better yet, the guilt of framing an innocent man. After getting a warrant to search Vic’s apartment – which conveniently led Dutch to a variety of perfect evidence – an APB is put out on the Strike Team leader for further question. It should have been a dead giveaway that Kavanaugh was up to no good when Billings himself stated the obvious (“Vic wouldn’t off his own guy”) – not to mention Shane’s remark about a possible set up– but apparently Dutch and Claudette aren’t as smart as we all thought. Then again, both proved us wrong later on. First, Dutch tricked Kavanaugh into giving himself away when he interrogated Emolia without his knowing, and then Claudette pulled the old good cop shtick on Emolia that led to Kavanaugh finally confessing. He must have felt pretty darn guilty for forcing all this on the single mother, and as a result, he was arrested and sent to lockup. It was nice to see that he had the courage to confess, but it would have been so much better if Dutch actually caught him in the act. Goodbye, Jon Kavanaugh. We despised thee well. Meanwhile, the Strike Team continues to search for Guardo, but after they hear about Vic’s warrant over the radio, Shane and Ronnie are sent packing. Vic heads across the border to stir up the pot with some Biz Lat banger named Salsetta, but after taking the guy hostage (in his own territory and surrounded by twenty other Mexicans, no less), he doesn’t get what he needs. Instead, Vic decides that kidnapping Guardo’s girlfriend is the quick and easy route to settling things with the presumed cop killer, despite extreme hesitation from Shane. We all know why, of course, but Vic has yet to find out. The previews for next sure point toward the possibility that Shane will come clean, but I think that it’s still too early for that bomb to drop. Plus, does anyone really think that Shawn Ryan and Co. are ballsy enough to kill another character so soon? Unfortunately, because most of this week’s episode was dedicated to the sudden implosion of Kavanaugh and his career, not much else happened. Shane has certainly been trying to drop subtle hints that he’s responsible for Lem’s death, but neither Vic nor Ronnie seem to want to listen. We also discovered that Danni passed her Sergeant’s exam, but with one caveat: she has to accept the job. Now. Also, Aceveda stopped by to let it be known that – yes – he’s still on the show, but his pointless discussion with Claudette was nothing but filler material. Maybe he’ll play a bigger role in the case against Vic now that Kavanaugh’s out of the picture. He is, after all, the man that started it all. |
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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. |
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Since the dawn of creation — well, the creation of this feature, anyway — Jack Bauer sat atop Bullz-Eye.com’s TV Power Rankings, owning the #1 slot for better than a year and a half. Some would say it was only a matter of time, but now that it’s finally happened, the sudden fall from grace of Fox’s hit show “24″ is actually a lot more embarrassing than it is depressing. But the real-time thriller isn’t the only major shakeup in the winter 2007 edition of the rankings. HBO’s “The Wire” makes its grand (and, forgive us, long overdue) debut, while NBC experienced a big surge thanks to its fresh fall lineup. Of course, HBO still came out the big winner with five shows emerging in the Top 10 (four in the first six), proving once again that it pays to, well, pay for quality television. Here are a few entries from our list: 11. Scrubs (NBC): It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see that “Scrubs” has dropped so low in the rankings. Coming off one of the best years since its debut, expectations for the show were certainly higher than usual – especially when it was called up to the big leagues and given a spot in NBC’s highly coveted Must See TV lineup – but no one could have guessed that the sixth season would start out on such a sour note. Whether it was the accelerated progression of J.D. into adulthood (he’s got a baby on the way, with guest star Elizabeth Banks, no less) or Carla’s all-too-brief post-partum depression (a subplot added to accommodate Judy Reyes’ real-life hip injury), the first five episodes of the new season were particularly somber. Things were looking so bleak, in fact, that fans of the show were preparing to concede that the medical comedy was finally showing signs of wear, but with the much-publicized musical episode creatively rejuvenating everyone involved with the show, things are finally getting back on track. And as long as things remain this kooky and fresh (read: Kelso getting his own episode, or the Janitor using a stuffed rabbit as a salt and pepper shaker), we don’t see any reason why “Scrubs” won’t being making a triumphant return to the Top 5 in the very near future. ~Jason Zingale 17. Deadwood (HBO): Well, despite all the rumors, “Deadwood” isn’t quite dead…yet. Last year, HBO decided not to extend the options of the terrific ensemble cast, making a fourth full season unlikely, but the network and series creator David Milch agreed to produce two two-hour telefilms to wrap up the show’s loose ends. Season Three contained a myriad of intertwining storylines, but focused on the growing influence of businessman/asshole George Hearst, which put former adversaries Al Swearengen and Sheriff Seth Bullock in an unlikely alliance. “Deadwood” features stronger language than any other HBO show, and with “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” on the network’s roster, that’s saying a lot. The truth is that everything about the show – the language, the acting, the story, the sets and the costumes – is colorful, and whether or not HBO wants to admit it, they’re going to miss “Deadwood” once it’s gone for good. ~John Paulsen Check out the full list here. Filed under: TV and Rome and Lost and South Park and Prison Break and The Office and My Name Is Earl and 24 and The Shield and The Sopranos and Entourage and Deadwood and External Entertainment and External TV and The Wire and Heroes and Battlestar Galactica Comments: 9 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Savor the moment, HBO. You currently own more than a quarter of our TV Power Rankings list, but with the imminent departure of “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Rome,” along with the TBD status of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the oddly lengthy shooting schedule for the half-season “Extras,” the end of your reign as BE must-see TV could very well be nigh. For the moment, though, we heart you and wish you would ask us to the prom. Unless Jack Bauer’s still single, in which case we’re spoken for. Here’s a sample entry from our list: 13. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO): It seems like a long time between seasons of this great comedy, and I often wonder during the show’s hiatus: What trouble is Larry David into right now? Last season, he had to decide whether or not to give one of his kidneys to Richard Lewis. Richard’s cousin, Louis Lewis, was (conveniently) in a coma and Larry kept visiting him in the hospital, secretly hoping that Louis would croak so that Richard could have Louis’ kidney instead. The other season-long storyline was Larry investigating the possibility that he was adopted, leading to several funny scenes with his supposed gentile birth parents. The show isn’t quite as fresh as it was in its first couple of seasons, but with episode titles like, “The Korean Bookie,” “The Christ Nail” and “Kamikaze Bingo,” how could you be? ~John Paulsen Check out the full list here. Filed under: TV and News and Reviews and TV Comedies and TV Dramas and TV Action and Rome and Lost and South Park and Prison Break and The Office and My Name Is Earl and 24 and The Shield and The Sopranos and Rescue Me and Entourage and Deadwood and External Entertainment and External TV Comments: 4 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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Fans of HBO’s western drama “Deadwood” and FX’s crime drama “The Shield” can rest a little bit easier tonight. Both shows have been renewed for new seasons… kind of. In lieu of the third (and final) season of “Deadwood,” creator David Milch made a deal with HBO to produce two, two-hour movies that would act as a way of conveniently wrapping up the series set to air following the new 13 episodes of the show this summer. According to the source, Milch was actually offered a six episode fourth season, but he turned it down in favor of the four-hour wrap-up. Meanwhile, TV Guide is reporting that a sixth season of “The Shield” has been greenlit to go into production following the filming of the final ten, season five episodes slated for early 2007. This is actually bad news for fans of the show, who have finally come to cope with the fact that their favorite show is finally ending. Is there really enough story here to continue the series? I think not. Following the death of Curtis Lemansky at the end of season five, I can’t imagine creator Shawn Ryan not wanting to finish up the drama before it gets out of hand. |
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*SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING BLOG IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T WATCHED THE SEASON FINALE OF “THE SHIELD”* … < ding! > Kill off the most loved character on the show. Seriously, what was Shawn Ryan thinking when he came up with that one? I know, I know, the series is on its way out (with a presupposed final ten episodes airing this fall), but did it really have to end this way? With Lem getting blown to bits by a grenade – A FUCKING GRENADE - no less by his best friend? I mean, Shane used to be my favorite character on the show, and though he was a bit of an arrogant asshole, he always made things right at the end of the day. The biggest problem with all of this, of course, is that throughout the show’s five years on the air, the writers have always made a point of emphasizing the eternal brotherhood between these four guys. What happens to all of that history now? Is it just flushed down the toilet for the sake of edgy television? And if it comes down to that, then shame on you Shawn Ryan for taking the easy way out. On behalf of all the “Shield” fans still at home shaking their heads in absolute bewilderment, I’d like to exclaim how heartbroken I was to see this betrayal in action. I would have much rather seen Lem killed in prison by Antoine Mitchell than by his best friend, and the writers have turned what would have been the best season in the show’s history into quite possibly the most disappointing. I can only hope that this travesty will be rectified come this fall, but my doubts are abounding. What good can come of this? I see only one solution, and it’s not the one we all hoped for… |
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In what had to have been the most pivotal, jam-packed episode of the season, Vic also managed to get laid not once, but twice, by two different women in about as many days. The first was Hot Lawyer Chick, whose obvious sexual attraction yielded in some much-needed action for a bald friend, while the surprise bang was with none other than Kavanaugh’s ex-wife. And I don’t care how wrong that might have been, because any day you get to see the beautiful Gina Torres’ naked ass is a good day. And speaking of sex, everyone’s favorite gloryhole assailant is back with a whole new line of dangerous mouse traps including ones with serrated edges. Ouch is right. Claudette and Dutch are given the pleasure of investigating the matter further, while Billings drags Julien into the mess as well. And now that Tina is out of his life, Julien’s past dabbling with homosexuality is sure to come back and haunt him by the series’ end. Why else would he go apeshit on the gloryhole suspect when he had him all alone in the investigation room? Meanwhile, Lem has just about had enough of playing cat and mouse with Kavanaugh (i.e. throwing up blood), and in an attempt to close the investigation, makes a deal with the Chief of Police to plead guilty to the theft of the block of heroin. With it comes a five-year jail sentence, or 18-months with good behavior, but the rest of the Strike Team aren’t as confident with his decision, and so Vic visits Antoine Mitchell to talk with him about Lem’s “comfort of living” should he land in prison. The deal includes Vic and the other guys helping out Antoine’s One-Niner lackeys with a heist at the police warehouse, but when the job goes south, Antoine withdraws his offer. And since the chances of Lem staying alive for more than a few weeks is slim, Vic convinces him to go on the run until they can smooth out all of the details. Like the good boy that he is, Lem listens, but it’s probably only going to spell even more trouble for him in the long run. He would have been better off sticking with his first deal, but lobbying for incarceration in another state. I don’t know if that’s even possible, but it would have been worth a shot. And in a very surprising turn of events, Claudette’s sitdown with the Assistant Chief about her undisclosed lupus went from a lecture about getting work approval from the city’s doctors to getting offered the captain’s spot once again. This time, however, Claudette actually takes the position (only because there’s a new Chief of Police) and Kavanaugh gets booted out of the Barn. Somehow, he ends up on Vic’s ex-wife’s steps. Is this revenge, or is his attraction the real thing? Also, we already know that Corrine’s an ugly bitch, but would she really fall for a guy like Kavanaugh? I think not, but then again, it would make for some pretty interesting television. |
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Tonight’s episode of “The Shield” may not have been as exciting as most weeks, but it was definitely a lot bitchier than usual. First, daft rookie Tina botches yet another arrest, and just when it looks like she’s going to get the ax, candid photos of her changing in the locker room appear on Dutch’s desk. And Dutch, the chivalrous gentleman that he is, investigates the matter further, only to discover that it was Captain Billings who accidentally snapped some shots while trying to catch the Snack Box Bandits. With the prospect of getting booted, however, Tina agrees to drop the matter and instead gets a career boost with the help of Dutch; God help us. The second act of Bitchfest 2006 came later in the show, and couldn’t have been nastier if it was being broadcast on “Jerry Springer.” Corrine reamed into Danny about her fatherless child, calling Vic a cheater, Danny a whore, and the baby a bastard. Sheesh, is it that time of the month already? Meanwhile, Lem is stuck in jail because Kavanaugh has frozen all of the Strike Team’s assets, and after throwing a curveball that included bringing Terry’s brother to the scene of his death, Vic and Kavanaugh butt heads over his behind-closed-doors deal with Antoine Mitchell to land Lem in the same prison cell. In a desperate attempt to pay bail and get Lem the hell out of there, Vic makes a deal with a drug dealer looking to get some stolen money back, and after they’ve secured the cash, the Strike Team calls on reliable Smitty (I think this guy guest stars at least once a year) to post bail. And since Smitty has a booming surveillance business, the 100k posted won’t look suspicious. Before Lem is set free, however, Aceveda visits Kavanaugh about launching his own investigation into the IAD agent’s shoddy work, but after being convinced of the evidence that Kavanaugh has squandered together, the councilman agrees to help. This is where things get complicated. Vic goes to visit Aceveda only a few hours later, and after threatening him with the possibility of dragging his name through the trial, Aceveda agrees to help Vic get rid of Kavanaugh. Now, is Aceveda just playing Vic to aid in Kavanaugh’s investigation, or is Aceveda really on the Strike Team’s side? Let’s hope for the latter, because I’d hate to see what Vic would do to him when he finds out he’s working both sides. And on a quick side note, Claudette returned to the Barn “early” this week to join Dutch on whatever bullshit case he was working. She’s got a cane to help her move around now, what with getting banged up on her stumble down the stairwell a few weeks back, but I seriously doubt her battle with lupus is far from over. |
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The price of discovering more about Kavanaugh’s past was a hefty one: Lem has officially been arrested, but not before the Big K made a royal ass out of himself in front of everyone at The Barn. Didn’t we just see this happen, like, yesterday, when CTU agent Samwise Gamgee was relieved of duty for going apeshit on “24”? I can’t decide if this behavior makes Kavanaugh look less credible or just more menacing, but one thing’s for sure: he means business. This includes running to prison lifer Antoine Mitchell for help with the investigation, but Antoine won’t dish out the dirt until Kavanaugh agrees to send the Strike Team to the same prison cell. And to think that just moments before all of this went down, Lem saved Kavanaugh from getting blown up into tiny little bits by a grenade. The events leading up to Kavanaugh’s public breakdown weren’t all that exciting, including some bullshit case that sent the Strike Team running around town looking for some crazy El Salvadorians throwing live grenades into former drug hideouts. And with Claudette out of commission (was there even any mention of her throughout the entire episode?), Dutch teams up with Kavanaugh on a rape call involving his ex-wife Sadie (played by Amazon beauty Gina Torres), who, for the record, seems a little too shaken up from the incident. What isn’t already implied, however, is made quite clear only a few moments later when Dutch uncovers Sadie’s former history of mental illness. Um… duh! It was pretty obvious that she was a bit whacko, but did anyone really think that she was crazy enough to stick a soda bottle up her hoo-hoo (a “Scrubs” term, not mine)? Yeah, well, me either. All in all a pretty disappointing episode, especially since it appears that the writers have given up on developing the show’s many other subplots for the time being. Remember when Danny and Julien were considered major characters? And what happened to Aceveda’s role in all of this? Is he still even a suspect in Kavanaugh’s case, and if so, when will Vic call a truce with the shady bastard? Hopefully, these questions will be answered over the next few weeks, and not left to mull over while the show is on hiatus until the mysterious mini season set to air in the fall. |
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Um, excuse me, Claudette? That was supposed to be taken figuratively, not literally. Oh well, I guess that it was bound to happen sometime. She did have lupus, and what better time for her to pass out then right after she got Kleevon to confess to all of the murders he’s been suspected of for the past year? Don’t count out Claudette too soon though; she’s an integral part of this series. Dutch, on the other hand, looks absolutely devastated – not because he was accused of knocking her down the stairs, but rather because he pushed her so hard to close the case. And now, he doesn’t have a partner. Maybe he should’ve taken that captain position after all… Meanwhile, the Strike Team is working alongside the new Crime Unit on a case involving a murdered mother and daughter, and lots of stolen crystal meth. The man in charge of the unit, whom I believe to be Paul Reyes (the man that beat out Vic for the top job last season), offers Vic and his crew a spot on the team, but is later forced to withdraw the offer when he discovers just how deep the IAD investigate goes. No harm done, really, since there wouldn’t be a show if the Strike Team wasn’t working out of the barn. Still, it was a nice break from the usual week-to-week monotony, which doesn’t usually include blowing up the side of a house with C4 in order to save a hostage held at gunpoint. In between all of this running around, Kavanaugh finds the time to interrogate the guys again, including Ronnie, who we discover has been perfect with his money management skills. Shane, on the other hand, isn’t as cool and composed, and it looks like Kavanaugh is finally getting under his skin – especially since he’s threatening to drag Shane’s personal life through all of this. It doesn’t help, of course, that Vic finds it necessary to tell Hot Lawyer Chick all about their past money skimming, and when the other guys hear about this, they decide that getting their own lawyers might better represent their individual needs; and simultaneously cause an even bigger headache for Kavanaugh. By the way, what’s with Aceveda’s sudden interest in helping out the Strike Team? Is he really concerned about their futures, or is just out to save his own ass? Regardless of what happens from here on out, Aceveda is in the doghouse with Kavanaugh. The IAD agent is certain that he’s up to no good (even though he’s not), but that doesn’t change the fact that his past dealings with Antoine Mitchell will come back to bite him just as hard. Maybe Vic and Aceveda need to sit down and make a deal? Oh, and for those wondering: yes, that was ex-NFL coach Jimmy Johnson in the cage at the Barn. When did he find the time to grow a beard? |
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen “The Shield” acknowledge a holiday (for the record, I’m still waiting for the Halloween-themed episode), but this had to have been the worst Valentine’s Day ever for our boys and girls at the Barn. First off, I doubt that Kavanaugh’s decision to set up shop in the station was a welcome one by any member of the police force – including Captain Billings, who although has command over the IAD Lieutenant cannot stop him from taking over his office. Bummer. And so the first round of interrogations begins, with Vic playing his lawyer card and Shane treating the investigation as a mockery. We already knew that all of the guys on the Strike Team wouldn’t talk, but Vic’s fugly ex-wife Corrine just had to open her big fat mouth and tell Kavanaugh about the mysterious $65,000 that he gave her at the beginning of last season. Was her nose not taking up enough of her ugly face? Did she have to open her fat mouth and start crying too? Ye gods, and on VALENTINE’S DAY! That wasn’t all folks. Even poor Danny Sofer got the shake down for having a past relationship with Vic. Not like she’ll get punished for it, but it was a nice zinger to use against Corrine during her investigation. Kavanaugh is good at manipulating the weak, and the cards are in his favor for the time being, but what happens when the bulk of the case comes down to getting one of the four guys to turn? We’ve seen how brutal he can be in the interrogation room, but will Kavanaugh really have the balls to drag Shane’s wife Mara into the mix? If he does, God help us. If Corrine cracked under pressure, Mara will surely be more problematic down the road. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette revisit an old murder case from last season involving the cool and composed killer, Kleevon, when his sister goes “missing” and they think that he killed her. We know she’s okay, of course, because we caught a quick glimpse of her in the previews for next week’s episode, but another black woman was found raped and murdered mere hours after he was released from question, and she bears an uncanny resemblance to Claudettte. Looks like she may have pissed him off just a bit, but the reckless death job may be his final curtain call. And in a short subplot of ouch-that’s-gotta-hurt hilarity, Julien and Tina walk in on a guy who’s suspended at a glory hole because his dick is stuck in a… what for it… mousetrap! Yowzers! That’ll teach you, if nothing else, to NOT stick important body parts into foreign holes. |
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