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If you like to explore police procedural and/or crime dramas then there is one more English TV Serial you will like to go for – The Shield. It was premiered on 12th March 2002 in USA. Focused on the cops who don’t mind going out of the way to get the result, this serial got warm welcome from the public.
Actually it is setup in a fictional district of USA (Farmington district, often referred as The Farm) and revolves around a group of detectives who served in “The Barn” police station. The group is known as “Strike Team”. On a side note, a group of 4 detectives who work as anti-gang, is inspired by real life Rampart Division Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) of Los Angeles Police Department.
Principal Characters and Actors who played them:
| Actor | Character | Role | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Michael Chiklis
|
Vic Mackey | Detective | 1-7 |
|
Walton Goggins
|
Shane Vendrell | Detective | 1-7 |
|
Kenneth Johnson
|
Curtis “Lem” Lemansky | Detective | 1-5 |
|
David Rees Snell
|
Ronnie Gardocki | Detective | 1-7 |
|
CCH Pounder
|
Claudette Wyms | Captain | 1-7 |
|
Jay Karnes
|
Holland “Dutch” Wagenbach | Detective | 1-7 |
|
Catherine Dent
|
Danielle “Danny” Sofer | Sergeant | 1-7 |
|
Michael Jace
|
Julien Lowe | Corporal | 1-7 |
|
Benito Martinez
|
David Aceveda | Captain / Councilman / Reserve Officer | 1-7 |
|
Cathy Cahlin Ryan
|
Corrine Mackey | Civilian | 1-7 |
|
Glenn Close
|
Monica Rawling | Captain | 1-4 |
|
Reed Diamond
|
Terry Crowley | Detective | 1-2 |
|
David Marciano
|
Steve Billings | Detective | 4-7 |
|
Paula Garcés
|
Tina Hanlon | Officer | 5-7 |
Here the makers try to give equal weightage to almost all the main characters and each episode is usually focused on a different case. The serial also explores the down sides (aka weak points) of all the principal characters in addition to their strength. Thus, it is obvious to find each episode explores various attributes of different main characters. Of course, various cases are going on parallel. Sometimes you see the totally opposite sides of a character is explored.
The season was well received and was renewed for Season 2. And then, based on the viewers’ response, it was extended for more seasons, making the season 7 as the last season (aired in 2008).
Of course, we will provide you episode wise reviews for each of the 88 episodes later on. But season 1 is mainly focused on introduction of the characters and exploring their attributes along with other stuff. David is assigned as the new captain of the Barn. He have his priorities. This season explores how he deals with them all.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Clark Johnson | Shawn Ryan | March 12, 2002 |
| Our Gang | Gary Fleder | Shawn Ryan | March 19, 2002 |
| The Spread | Clark Johnson | Glen Mazzara | March 26, 2002 |
| Dawg Days | Stephen Gyllenhaal | Kevin Arkadie | April 2, 2002 |
| Blowback | Clark Johnson | Kurt Sutter | April 9, 2002 |
| Cherrypoppers | D. J. Caruso | Scott Rosenbaum | April 16, 2002 |
| Pay in Pain | D. J. Caruso | Shawn Ryan | April 23, 2002 |
| Cupid & Psycho | Guy Ferland | Glen Mazzara | April 30, 2002 |
| Throwaway | Leslie Libman | Kevin Arkadie | May 7, 2002 |
| Dragonchasers | Nick Gomez | Scott Rosenbaum & Kurt Sutter | May 14, 2002 |
| Carnivores | Scott Brazil | Story by: James Manos, Jr. Teleplay by: Kevin Arkadie & Glen Mazzara |
May 21, 2002 |
| Two Days of Blood | Guy Ferland | Kurt Sutter & Scott Rosenbaum | May 28, 2002 |
| Circles | Scott Brazil | Shawn Ryan | June 4, 2002 |
This season is also 13 episode longer. Drug lord Armadillo is the main antagonist introduced in this season. In addition to the business of drugs he is a psycho rapist as well. One officer of the team shot one man and the consequences of that event is also dealt in this season.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Quick Fix | Scott Brazil | Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara | January 7, 2003 |
| Dead Soldiers | John Badham | Kurt Sutter | January 14, 2003 |
| Partners | Guy Ferland | Scott Rosenbaum | January 21, 2003 |
| Carte Blanche | Peter Horton | Reed Steiner | January 28, 2003 |
| Greenlit | Terrence O’Hara | Kim Clements | February 4, 2003 |
| Homewrecker | Scott Brazil | Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara | February 11, 2003 |
| Barnstormers | Scott Winant | Scott Rosenbaum | February 18, 2003 |
| Scar Tissue | Paris Barclay | Kurt Sutter | February 25, 2003 |
| Co-Pilot | Peter Horton | Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara | March 4, 2003 |
| Coyotes | Davis Guggenheim | Reed Steiner | March 11, 2003 |
| Inferno | Brad Anderson | Story by: James Manos, Jr. & Kim Clements Teleplay by: Kim Clements |
March 18, 2003 |
| Breakpoint | Félix Alcalá | Glen Mazzara | March 25, 2003 |
| Dominoes Falling | Scott Brazil | Shawn Ryan | April 1, 2003 |
Aired in 2014 this season consists of 15 episodes. The incidents explored in this season are the consequences of the money train heist. Telling more about it will reveal all the suspense details related to it.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing Tight | Clark Johnson | Shawn Ryan & Kurt Sutter | March 9, 2004 |
| Blood and Water | Clark Johnson | Charles H. Eglee & Kim Clements | March 16, 2004 |
| Bottom Bitch | Scott Brazil | Scott Rosenbaum & Adam E. Fierro | March 23, 2004 |
| Streaks and Tips | Scott Brazil | Glen Mazzara | March 30, 2004 |
| Mum | Nick Gomez | Kurt Sutter & Shawn Ryan | April 6, 2004 |
| Posse Up | Félix Alcalá | Kim Clements & Charles H. Eglee | April 13, 2004 |
| Safe | Peter Horton | Adam E. Fierro | April 20, 2004 |
| Cracking Ice | Guy Ferland | Charles H. Eglee & Diego Gutierrez | April 27, 2004 |
| Slipknot | Michael Chiklis | Kurt Sutter | May 4, 2004 |
| What Power Is… | Dean White | Kim Clements | May 11, 2004 |
| Strays | David Mamet | Glen Mazzara | May 18, 2004 |
| Riceburner | Scott Brazil | Adam E. Fierro & Scott Rosenbaum | May 25, 2004 |
| Fire in the Hole | Guy Ferland | Kurt Sutter & Charles H. Eglee | June 1, 2004 |
| All In | Stephen Kay | Scott Rosenbaum | June 8, 2004 |
| On Tilt | Scott Brazil | Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara | June 15, 2004 |
This season was aired in 2005 and is 13 episodes longer. Glenn Close joins the team and takes over as the captain of Strike team. There is a sub plot also moves parallel where differences between fellows are explored.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cure | Scott Brazil | Glen Mazzara | March 15, 2005 |
| Grave | Paris Barclay | Kurt Sutter | March 22, 2005 |
| Bang | Guy Ferland | Scott Rosenbaum | March 29, 2005 |
| Doghouse | Dean White | Adam E. Fierro | April 5, 2005 |
| Tar Baby | Guy Ferland | Charles H. Eglee | April 12, 2005 |
| Insurgents | Vondie Curtis-Hall | Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain | April 19, 2005 |
| Hurt | Nick Gomez | Scott Rosenbaum & Lia L. Langworthy | April 26, 2005 |
| Cut Throat | Dean White | Story by: Randy Huggins & Glen Mazzara Teleplay by: Jennifer R. Richmond & Glen Mazzara |
May 3, 2005 |
| String Theory | Philip G. Atwell | Charles H. Eglee & Shawn Ryan | May 17, 2005 |
| Back in the Hole | Scott Brazil | Story by: Shawn Ryan Teleplay by: Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain |
May 24, 2005 |
| A Thousand Deaths | Stephen Kay | Story by: Shawn Ryan Teleplay by: Adam E. Fierro |
May 31, 2005 |
| Judas Priest | David Von Ancken | Story by: Kurt Sutter & Charles H. Eglee Teleplay by: Kurt Sutter & Scott Rosenbaum |
June 7, 2005 |
| Ain’t That a Shame | Stephen Kay | Story by: Shawn Ryan & Kurt Sutter Teleplay by: Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara |
June 14, 2005 |
Aired in very beginning of 2006 this season have 11 episodes. Internal Affairs Division Lt. Jon Kavanaugh is one of the key characters of the season. An investigation on the Strike team carries out which proves to be the biggest challenge the team have fought with so far.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction | D. J. Caruso | Kurt Sutter | January 10, 2006 |
| Enemy of Good | Guy Ferland | Charles H. Eglee & Adam E. Fierro | January 17, 2006 |
| Jailbait | Stephen Kay | Scott Rosenbaum & Glen Mazzara | January 24, 2006 |
| Tapa Boca | Guy Ferland | Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain | January 31, 2006 |
| Trophy | Philip G. Atwell | Kurt Sutter and Renee Palyo & Tony Soltis | February 7, 2006 |
| Rap Payback | Michael Chiklis | Charles H. Eglee & Ted Griffin | February 14, 2006 |
| Man Inside | Dean White | Adam E. Fierro & Emily Lewis | February 21, 2006 |
| Kavanaugh | D. J. Caruso | Shawn Ryan & Scott Rosenbaum | February 28, 2006 |
| Smoked | Dean White | Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft & Glen Mazzara | March 7, 2006 |
| Of Mice and Lem | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Charles H. Eglee & Kurt Sutter | March 14, 2006 |
| Postpartum | Stephen Kay | Adam E. Fierro & Shawn Ryan | March 21, 2006 |
This 15-minute mini-episode was produced between the fifth and sixth seasons, and initially released to various websites in February 2007 as a promotion for season six. It was later made available on the Season 5 DVD set. This episode is referred as a “promosode” at many places.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurt Sutter | Elizabeth A. Hansen & Lisa Randolph |
Aired in the second quarter of 2007 this season is 10 episodes longer. Of course, it continues from where we left in Season 5. Loss of a fellow and its emotional effects on the team member(s) are explored in addition to the main duties of the team.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the Jones | Michael Fields | Kurt Sutter | April 3, 2007 |
| Baptism by Fire | Guy Ferland | Scott Rosenbaum | April 10, 2007 |
| Back to One | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Adam E. Fierro | April 17, 2007 |
| The New Guy | Clark Johnson | Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft | April 24, 2007 |
| Haunts | Michael Chiklis | Glen Mazzara & Charles H. Eglee | May 1, 2007 |
| Chasing Ghosts | Frank Darabont | Shawn Ryan & Adam E. Fierro | May 8, 2007 |
| Exiled | Dean White | Scott Rosenbaum & Kurt Sutter | May 15, 2007 |
| The Math of the Wrath | Rohn Schmidt | Charles H. Eglee | May 22, 2007 |
| Recoil | Guy Ferland | Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft & Adam E. Fierro | May 29, 2007 |
| Spanish Practices | Paris Barclay | Shawn Ryan & Scott Rosenbaum | June 5, 2007 |
Aired in the third quarter of 2008 Season 7 was the last season of the series. It was 13 episodes longer. There are many crimes and plots exposed in the season which works effectively as the finale of the series.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coefficient of Drag | Guy Ferland | Kurt Sutter | September 2, 2008 |
| Snitch | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Gary Lennon | September 9, 2008 |
| Money Shot | Terrence O’Hara | Adam E. Fierro | September 16, 2008 |
| Genocide | Dean White | Lisa Randolph | September 23, 2008 |
| Game Face | Michael Chiklis | Charles H. Eglee | September 30, 2008 |
| Animal Control | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | John Hlavin & Angela Russo | October 7, 2008 |
| Bitches Brew | Stephen Kay | Charles H. Eglee & Elizabeth A. Hansen | October 14, 2008 |
| Parricide | Guy Ferland | Kurt Sutter & Gary Lennon | October 21, 2008 |
| Moving Day | Rohn Schmidt | Adam E. Fierro & Lisa Randolph | October 28, 2008 |
| Party Line | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Angela Russo & John Hlavin | November 4, 2008 |
| Petty Cash | Craig Brewer | Charles H. Eglee & Jameal Turner | November 11, 2008 |
| Possible Kill Screen | Billy Gierhart | Adam E. Fierro & Evan Bleiweiss | November 18, 2008 |
| Family Meeting | Clark Johnson | Shawn Ryan | November 25, 2008 |
This entire TV Series is available as a DVD set. The hard work of the entire team is quite evident on screen. The series was critically acclaimed for several performances.
The TV Series and actors/mucicians/producers/directors/authors and other crew members assoicated with the same were notminated for various awards and won many of them. Here is a compiled list of selected nominations from the same.
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2002 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Michael Chiklis | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2002 | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | Clark Johnson | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2002 | Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series | Shawn Ryan | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2003 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Michael Chiklis | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2005 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2005 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | CCH Pounder | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Award | 2003 | Best Television Series – Drama | The Shield | Won |
| Golden Globe Award | 2003 | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Michael Chiklis | Won |
| Golden Globe Award | 2006 | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Michael Chiklis | Nominated |
Watch out for the episode wise reviews for the TV serial in coming days. The list of the episodes will be kept updated with the links to Episode wise reviews, so don’t forget to bookmark this page. Also keep in mind that the parental guidance is required to watch this TV serial.
Over To You:
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