The Zone

by **Neya** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:12 am

Im a tv junkie, Ill admit it, but no matter how much I love a show, rarely do i schedule my life around it. That was the case across the board until my remote landed on the FX network a few years ago on a Tuesday night. FX has to be the ballsiest non-premium channel on the air and I thank them every week for it. Nip/Tuck (even though last nights finale was kinda weak), Rescue Me, Im highly anticipating Thief, but none surpasses The Shield for me.

I loved Michael Chiklis back when his dumpy ass was chasing nutters around on The Commish, so when The Shield premiered, I was intrigued. After the credits on the first episode rolled, I was hopelessly addicted.

Now a few weeks away from what looks to be the most intense season yet, Im already getting excited. Forest Whitaker looks menacing and slightly insane as this seasons nemesis to Chiklis' Vic Mackey. Last season with Glenn Close had star power, but the season overall was weak, Anthony Anderson just didnt pull off the "evil bad man" role convincingly in my opinion.

Anyway, my fav FX show period, and probably my favorite cop show, thought I'd share. Anyone else a fan, or not-fan of this show?

by **dark wesley** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:22 am

massive fan, but have not got past season 2, as here in dera old london, they aint released 3 on dvd, so im waiting on that, but the first two seasons are great, with just tons of 'holy shit' moments,

by **brabs** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 9:37 am

i agree too. An amazing show only bettered by 24.

by **jgraphix** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:55 am

I got hooked right away and consumed all 3 three seasons in two weekends.

Rescue Me and Nip Tuck Rock too...

Haven't checked out Close To Home though...anybody watch this?

by **Carolian** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:11 am

Oh man, THE SHIELD has been the highlight of my television-viewing life since the first episode. The ending of the pilot is still one of the all-time greatest TV moments. Such a total shocker.

God, I can't wait for the new season. And yes, I'm totally F/X's slave. NIP/TUCK, RESCUE ME... I even liked OVER THERE, which not too many others did, and I'm looking forward to THIEF.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:12 am

Just FYI jgraphix, if you watched all 3 seasons, you still got one more season to go

But yea, chalk me up as another fan, FX has got me hooked on all three of their regular dramas, with Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck as well. Season 4 of The Shield was a bit of a let down. The show just came out of the gates running with that first episode of the series and just never let up for those first 3 seasons, the fourth season though they do seem to be taking a step back and reorienting themselves. Its my theory that they were counting on Close to bring in new viewers (and I'm sure she did), so they let up on the break neck pace of those first 3 seasons to kind of hit the reset button, season 4 could very easily be a season one as we watch the strike team (re)form, Vic and crew going from (trying) to be straight laced and slowly finding their way back to the dark side, Dutch and Claudette clawing their way from pencil pushers back into the rotation, and Acevedo starting out as a councilman.

FX has been doing mini-marathons of the show by replaying 3 or 4 episodes every Saturday night from the first season on, so I've been recording these and trying to refamiliarize myself with it (wish they'd go back to 3s though, tough to find time to watch 4 episodes a week), they're just about to get going on season 4 so I'll have to see if I like it anymore a second time around, the first 3 seasons still hold up to repeat vieweings, great tv.

by **jgraphix** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:14 am

Yeah..I meant 4...I liked it with Close as the captain...I was really getting sick of Aseveda.

by **fried samurai** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:46 pm

I also love this show.Its one of my fav's on the tube been hooked since the pilot.

There's one loose end that's always bothered me and maybe someone can answer.It was I believe the 3rd season the episode titled Strays.It was the one directed by David Mamet.

Dutch strangles and kills that cat.Also I dont know if it was the same episode but they take Dutch's laptop and he mentions there might be kiddie porn on it.He said it was for research but looked really nervous.

I always wondered if there was a dark side to Dutch or if he was just trying to get into the head of the serial rapist they were hunting down at the time.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:55 pm

Hey fried, just watched that episode recently, I'm not sure what the loose end question you have was though? But, just cause the episode's a bit fresh, the laptop episode and cat strangling episode were actually two different episodes, the cat strangling one is when he was interviewing the serial killer. After interviewing him, the killer piqued his interest with talking about a kind of unknowable feeling you get when you kill something, so I think it was more curiousity that spurred him to kill the cat than a darkside. But that's just my take, I don't think there's a clear cut resolution to whether Dutch has a darkside or not though, if that's what you're asking?

by **John-Locke** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:21 pm

I've seen every episode of The Shield, I love it.

It's basically a Western set in modern day L.A. the actual Shield Vic carries means a lot to him like it would a Cowboy Lawman of old, it's in his blood. The Second best Cop show IMO behind The Wire which is far more realistic even if it's not always as entertaining in the same way as the Shield.

I didn't know Forrest Whittaker was set to be in next season, thats great news, he'll fit right in.

I think Dutch is slowly turning crazy & might eventually turn killer or something but he might be fine, maybe Vic will help him, God I love the funny relationship those dudes have.

by **fried samurai** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:21 pm

Thanks Gheorghe you basically answered my question.So it was curiosity that killed the cat(pun intended).I guess time will tell whether Dutch has a darkside.Cant wait for the new season to start.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:31 pm

Lol, even having just typed that sentence summing up the episode, that its a little jab at the "curiosity killed the cat" line went right over my head, heh.

by **Phantom_Stranger** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:13 pm

"The Shield" is simply the best cop drama on TV

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:21 pm

Great, great show. I've seen every episode and LOVED Close last season. Vic, like Tony Soprano before him, is a great anti-hero. A guy whose actions are deplorable much of the time, but whose charisma makes the viewer root for him to somehow extricate himself from the messes his impulse-control problems always make for him. A primary difference, though, is that I think at heart Vic is a good man. At his core, Tony may very well be evil.

JL, agreed on Dutch. He's a serial killer waiting to happen. Aaaah, the irony...

by **ONeillSG1** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:48 pm

Anyone know the name of the song used in the promos for the January premiere? Something with the lyrics "I'm a bad man, I'm a bad man, put the mic in my hand I'm a bad man". That beat is intoxicating.

Also, they used Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" for a promo which now undenialibly cements them as the COOLEST show on Cable.

"I will walk out the front door on my own before I let someone push me out the back." Brilliant line.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Wed Dec 21, 2005 11:02 pm

"Bad, Bad Man" by John Cena and tha Trademarc.

by **ONeillSG1** on Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:26 am

WTF???

They're using John Cena's stuff?? Is he really a musician? Get the hell out of here!!!

by **The Selecter** on Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:16 pm

I'm looking forward to the return of one of the best shows on TV. I thought we'd have to wait longer, but I'm not gonna complain.

All of the FX dramas rock (though to me, Nip/Tuck seems to have lost something after season one -- it's too over the top now), and I hope Thief continues the trend.

The only thing that bums me out is that I suspect this could be the last season for the Shield. I've read rumors to that effect, and the storyline seems to be setting that up.

I also suspect they'll revisit the Dutch cat-killer angle at some point.

by **ONeillSG1** on Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:58 pm

The Selecter wrote:I'm looking forward to the return of one of the best shows on TV. I thought we'd have to wait longer, but I'm not gonna complain.

All of the FX dramas rock (though to me, Nip/Tuck seems to have lost something after season one -- it's too over the top now), and I hope Thief continues the trend.

The only thing that bums me out is that I suspect this could be the last season for the Shield. I've read rumors to that effect, and the storyline seems to be setting that up.

I also suspect they'll revisit the Dutch cat-killer angle at some point.

If it is the last season, I seriously hope either 1) Mackey gets arrested, the show continues with the character/detective/cop that bring him down as the new lead in another part of LA or 2) Mackey gets off scot free only to get gunned down by a criminal he shook down in the past a la Carlito's way.

I would hate to see the show go, but 5 years are usually the shelve life of an average drama, even if the seasons are half-loaded.

by **HeadlessCrane** on Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:59 pm

The Shield is my favorite cop show of all time. I want a game of The Shield so bad.

I haven't watched Season 3 or 4 because I got into the show from DVD since I haven't had cable for 5 years until a couple months ago. I can't find Season 3 anywhere though?! I'm glad you guys mentioned the back to back episodes playing on Saturdays. Sorry Christmas Eve, I guess I'm gonna be busy watching The Shield.

As for the cat strangling bit and whether or not it gives viewers a peek at the possibility of Dutch having a dark side... HE STRANGLED A CAT!?!! I think it's pretty clear he has a dark side. I can see little Satan as a child right now having strangled a cat "I was just curious to see what it felt like to kill" and God telling the angels "well, we'll have to see if it is just childlike innocent curiousity or if this is a sign of worse things to come".

by **ONeillSG1** on Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:26 am

HeadlessCrane wrote:I want a game of The Shield so bad.

What would the premise be?

SWAT 4-esque?

Punisher-esque?

by **HeadlessCrane** on Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:01 am

Use the Half Life 2 engine and make it both a first person shooter and third person shooter mix. You got be able to do some serious damage to people. Creative damage. like banging heads thru windows. Maybe a bit like Chronicles of Riddick:Escape from Butcher Bay. Real Hard and Dirty looking. If you've seen the latest HDR shots of Half Life 2 then you see that the game could look just like the show. Get the cast to do the voice acting and make the game over the top. I'd say SWAT 4 but I think that I like HL2's use of teammates in the later levels better.

Here's a screenshot of Half Life 2 with the new HDR(High Dynamic Range) lighting.

by **ONeillSG1** on Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:07 am

You might want to re-size those otherwise awesome pics.

by **HeadlessCrane** on Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:25 am

I can't seem to resize them with the ussual width and hight properties in the 'img' tag? I will resize as soon as I figure out how.

by **The Selecter** on Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:38 am

Yes! This story says 21 episodes this season (mildly spoilerish):

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|99223|1|,00.html

by **Carolian** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:40 am

So, any thoughts on the premiere?

Personally, I loved it. Forest Whitaker's character was a lot weirder than I thought he'd be, almost like a shark, circling the Strike Team, looking for blood in the water.

I can't wait for next week.

by **RogueScribner** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:59 am

I only caught the first half of the ep before I got pulled away. I guess it's torrent time for me!

by **MadCapsule** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:55 pm

HeadlessCrane wrote: I want a game of The Shield so bad.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/theshield/index .html?q=The%20Shield

Unfortunately it's been cancelled. At least there's still the 24 game to look forward to.

by **Vegeta** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:03 pm

Forest's character is awesome. Just comes off like such a fucking Struggling Background Artist. I couldn't believe he was trying to go after Vic's ex-wife for info. What a sleaze. He's gonna be great!

by **jgraphix** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:05 pm

Great Ep last night...Now we get to see it a crumble to the ground...and Forrest Whitaker is gonna be a sweet addition to the cast.

by **John-Locke** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:44 pm

HOLY SHIT

What a great episode, DJ Caruso does it again, I swear I must have shouted at the TV half a dozen times in this episode.

Vic as the Cowboy Sheriff of old came across perfectly, he'll sacrifice his own life for the better of the street/community, he has a conscience but he looks at the bigger picture.

That riot at the school was pretty fucking intense.

Vic with the taser was great

That guy trying to get away on the mini motorbike was hilarious.

Even Ronnie got some good screen time (he's always been my favourite)

Any lingering questions about Dutch the cat killer have now been answered, he would have killed that dude if someone didn't stop him. It will be interesting to see if that lust in his eyes for the rookie will lead him to Rape, I'm not sure but it could be where they are going.

Who do you guys think the father is?

Anyway probably in my top 10 episodes of the show so far, what a supurb return for one of the best shows on TV.

by **Vegeta** on Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:17 pm

Who do you guys think the father is?

My money is on Vic!

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:13 am

I'm betting on the guy from last season, the short lil black guy who was helping her and Julian run down leads on pawn shops...and so forth.

by **John-Locke** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:03 am

Gheorghe Zamfir wrote:I'm betting on the guy from last season, the short lil black guy who was helping her and Julian run down leads on pawn shops...and so forth.

LOL

I hadn't even thought of that but now you mention it I think you might be right.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:10 am

Two things this show doesn't get enough credit for, one, its ensemble, for the first three seasons everyone was so amazed by Chiklis's transformation that the whole cast (especially CCH) was overlooked. Pounder has been doing a great job of chewing up scenery, and last season Shane's breakdown got me appreciating Goggins much more, just like Lem's role these first two episodes have me impressed with Kenny Johnson. And the guys playing Aceveda and Dutch are constantly solid as well. Speaking of Dutch, liked seeing him coming down on Claudette, show's how much that relationship has progressed cause that's something we would have never seen two seasons ago.

The other thing this show doesn't get enough credit for is its sense of humor (something I think a lot of television dramas just ignore these days), the show's never out and out funny, but there's always a good handful of moments from each season that make me laugh.

"Does he get paid for the day?"

"Anger shoes?"

Anyways, that's my gushing, just watched tonight's episode and loved it, Whittaker is a great addition.

by **DirtyRatBastard** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:34 am

Yes, but where is the Punky Power?

by **Carolian** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:43 am

Yeah, the entire cast is stellar on this show. Unlike a lot of other shows, I usually don't feel like there are any worthless or throwaway plotlines, just because everyone's so good at what they're doing. It's refreshing.

Last night's episode was intense. The look on Vic's face as Lem drove away... sheeeit, next week can't come soon enough.

I gotta say, Forest Whitaker is shaping up to be a force on this show.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:14 am

*Beware spoilers if you haven't seen the 1/31 episode*

Just saw tonight's ep on TiVo, great as always, but not quite up to par with the rest of the season so far. The idea of road rage twisting into the mutilation of a woman and theft and murder of her baby I could buy in this show. I could even buy the "it seemed like a good idea at the time" theory behind it, which is often the motive in The Shield (and seems much more realistic than the grandiose evil plans concocted by the evil-doers in other shows). My problem is that the baby murder and the murder of the toupee guy seemed really shoehorned in tonight, much more so than usual for some reason. One of the best things about The Shield is that every episode moves the season arc, while still containing wholly satisfying one-shot story lines. Sometimes the one-shot story dominates a bit, sometimes the arc does. In this episode they tried to cram in a one-shot story that could have been compelling and disturbing enough on its own to drive the whole episode into an episode that is 90% about driving the arc. In short, they tried to do too much in this ep, in my opinion. As an aside, this may be a bad omen regarding whether this is the final season. Many a great show has fallen into the trap of trying to cram too much story into its final season.

Bitching aside, this is my favorite season so far. Whitaker is genuinely creepy. He seems obsessed with nailing Mackey. Maybe he really is that dedicated, or maybe there is some backstory here that we don't know about yet. I honestly kind of hope there isn't, and Cavanaugh is just that creepy. He's been fantastic.

One thing about The Shield that never gets old for me is the way the Strike Team is always seconds away from disaster. One misstep, one second of bad timing, and it all comes crashing down. Tonight's episode was brilliant again in that regard.

By the way, did anyone see the scenes for the next episode? WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!?!? Mackey's gotta be playing Cavanaugh and Aceveda somehow with that Russian, but holy shit!!!!!!!! Can't wait.

by **The Selecter** on Wed Feb 01, 2006 4:53 am

Yeah, the previews for next week really made me think WTF?! It ought to be good.

If Cavanaugh is half as smart as he seems to be, he now knows that Vic is on to him and IAD, so the initial dance between the snake and its prey is over. It's time for the real duel. The last encounter almost sealed it. Whitaker's kinda cross-eyed expressions make him look extra creepy.

I wish Danni hadn't been stuck behind the desk this season, since I enjoy her character's interaction with Julian, but real life with Catherine Dent's pregnancy intruded.

As far as the season goes, and this is spoilerish, the initial run that ends in March (when Thief takes its place -- I'm also looking forward to it) will be followed by another series once Chiklis finishes shooting the Fantastic Four sequel.

by **Gheorghe Zamfir** on Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:39 am

Yea, Cavanaugh knows that Vic is onto him, with Vic's wife figuring it out, the stand-offishness of the wire recordings, and finding the safe house, BUT, now Vic has tied the tip to Aceveda, basically insulating Lem, so Lem can still say he upheld his end and its not his fault that the wire isn't turning up anything, since Vic has been "tipped." But Cavanaugh still doesn't have anything to go in on Vic with.

And The Selector, am I understanding correctly, the Shield is gonna take a hiatus come March? That'd be a bummer, and very un-FX like.

by **The Selecter** on Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:52 am

Thief is going to premiere 3/28 at 10PM, so obviously The Shield won't be on.

By that time, they will have shown 11 episodes, but the good news is, they've planned 21 for this "season" which will really be more like two seasons.

Thief only has a six episode order, I believe, so what I think will happen is that Rescue Me will take over the slot in May, before the Shield returns sometime in the Fall.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:32 am

****potential spoilers****

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! EAT IT CAVANAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, only Vic Mackey can piss someone off like that, if you've seen the last 10 seconds of tonight's show you know what I mean.

Best line: You know what...we'll just beat IAD again next year...

fucking classic. God I love this show.

edit: just saw the promo for next week as well. Nice to see Corrine getting so much screen time (comparatively). I've always really liked Cathy Cahlin Ryan in this role.

by **The Selecter** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:13 am

Billings' "Gourmet Quick-Mealer"

Shane puffing away on a Smokey Thingie while they refuelled the Charger.

Acevada giving Cavanagh the exasperated "you idiot" look while thinking "god-damned Vic played us again."

The men's john going out of order again.

The scenes where the characters share a little moment, or where they feel suspicious tension that don't ring hollow like they do in a show like 24 (though I enjoy it, too).

I really enjoyed Close's role last season, but this show is better when there's balance between the whole ensemble.

Lovin' it all.

And damn, Danni looks like she's ready to burst.

Questions remain -- who's the father? Is Dutch gonna get lucky with the rookie?

(WTH? This board likes to substitute "Joint" for "cigare**e" in postings?)

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:20 pm

shameless bump...'cause last night's ep deserves it...

by **jgraphix** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:08 pm

Loved the scene where Kavannaugh went ape shit crazy. Also, the father of Danni's baby I think is obviously Vic... How she said the father doesn't know and that he has too much to deal with right now to handle knowing... seemed a bit too obvious how she was hinting...just my opinion, I could be wrong.

by **Carolian** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:01 pm

I think last night's ep may have been my absolute favorite episode of THE SHIELD ever. Kavanaugh's rage at the end, and the way Vic set him up... I was glued to my TV, and I actually screamed "HOLY SHIT!" when I realized what Vic had done to Kavanaugh. Fucking brilliant.

GOD, I LOVE THIS SHOW.

by **John-Locke** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:58 pm

What a fantastic episode, I really thought they were all fucked at the end of the episode, what a fucking outcome.

I've made a little GIF to show my favourite moment, unfortunately the site I upload to is down so it'll have to wait, let me just say it was the best "Western" moment of the show so far, you might have even missed it, it was so subtle.

by **Eric G** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:09 pm

This is one of those stand out TV shows. I don't watch it on TV, but I have the DVD's.

I hear Season 5 will be the last... anyone hear differently?

by **John-Locke** on Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:18 pm

Maybe the last maybe not, we're getting a double length season 5 (21 Episodes I think) which I guess will be the last but you never know.

Anyway here is my favourite moment from Last Nights epidode, notice the way Kavanaugh's hand goes for his gun, as does Mackey, A proper victorious standoff for Mackey without having to get his gun out, if they aren't modern day cowboys I don't know who are.

Goddamn I love this show, it might even be better than The Wire at the moment, possibly the best Show on TV.

by **The Selecter** on Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:58 am

Damn, it is Kavanaugh with a K. And Danny with a y.

Logically, it would seem to be Vic's baby, perhaps from the night where they went at it in the car while standing watch at Rawling's house. Or other potential offscreen encounters. Of course, they could always do a Nip/Tuck like they did with Julian's baby.

If it is Vic's baby, the potential fallout with his ex-wife could affect her actions regarding the investigation. It looks like they're going to lean heavily on her in the next episode.

Here's a question -- if this is the last season, how would you want it to end?

The Zone

THE SHIELD (Spoilers)

THE SHIELD (Spoilers)

"Don't worry, Dutchman's got a plan!"

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