Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Cissy Évelyne It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Leftbanker Although I thoroughly enjoyed the series, almost start to finish, it has a heavy cloak of racism and misogyny covering it in almost every episode. Every black and Hispanic character is portrayed as weak, ineffectual, and cowardly. Blacks and Hispanics are the criminals and the whites are the good guys, even if they are completely corrupt and criminal themselves. We cheer for Vic Mackey through all of his sins, but we can't hold up even a shred of empathy for the minority characters be they cops or robbers.Hispanic David Aceveda is always two steps behind Mackey and his crew and allows himself to be raped by a thug. Claudette Wyms is impotent in the face of Mackey's abuses and ends up a weak, sickly caricature of a cop. Strapping recruit Julien Lowe is a self-hating homosexual and a bad cop. There isn't a single positive portrayal of a Black or Hispanic character in the entire six seasons. Coincidence? I don't think so. The negative stereotyping was relentless.Am I a Racist for Liking this Series? To answer my own question, I would have to say that I'm not a racist because the things I point out really bothered me and kept this series from being truly exceptional. Would it have killed them to have a couple of cool minority characters?I defy anyone to defend this show against my claims of racism.

felixoteiza At its core The Shield is the tale of the trials & tribulations of the Strike Team, a special four-men squad that has been put together to fight crime, gangsterism and drug trafficking in the mean streets of LA and which ends up doing the same things they are supposedly fighting, to improve their own economic situation, as they recognize themselves, while waddling neck deep in a sea of denial and self righteousness.As I wrote in my SOA review, it is practically impossible to judge that series without comparing it to TS; and the opposite is true. Only that in this case the comparison is not a happy one, as it clearly is in other cases like say, Cheers and Frazier, where the talent and the overall quality of the first series percolates, even enhanced, to the spin off, with good acting, hilarious plots and subplots and above all, superb writing all over. But such is not the case here. There are so many things that worked to perfection in TS and that are nowhere to be seen in SOA, that the only listing of them would take this whole review so let's just mention the most flagrant of them. The complete lack of realism in SOA, while even the smallest bit of a situation, conflict, character in TS reeks of unabashed realism, especially the last, from an always overexcited Shane to a conflicted Aceveda to bit players such as the prostitute who wouldn't bother calling the police because she had "the mouth full of dick" at the time. Or Vic Mackey dealing with the problem of having two autistic children. That is one of the things that make TS such a great series, when it comes to realism, compared to which SOA looks more like the febrile violent fantasies of an overexcited six year old or the daydreaming of a dead bored 9-to-5 office worker.(The IRA playing cynical political games with a kidnapped baby, really, Sutter?)I can't imagine one single element on which Ryan struck a note less than perfect here, from the fictional police station—a converted church of all places! where sinners/perps must tell of their sins/crimes to a priest/cop over a background of tinted glass windows!—to the lead character. I can't remember either another series where action, drama, even tragedy, meshes, so flawlessly, even harmoniously, with unabashed humor, as in those hilarious bits usually provided by bit players, generally witnesses, as for ex. the couple who had come up to give testimony on a crime and that, as the result of their unending fighting, end up instead in the cage facing criminal charges; or when Vic connects the monitor to show a nosy reporter how they could see what's happening in the interrogation room only to see his pal Shane banging a detained prostitute! Speaking of which, as Chiklis put it so many times in the DVD interviews, Vic is a man who spends his life juggling with four balls but who has to be prepared at any moment to receive the fifth one and then send it flawlessly up with the rest. It has been said many times that what characterizes the men of the Strike Team is their great capacity for denial, but in Vic's case we may add also that he is a master of improvisation. One of the things I marveled most about watching TS, which enjoyed the most also, is how he could react in a fraction of a second to a new, unexpected bit of information, presence, development, that could have surely made his entire building collapse in a cloud of guilt and damnation, yet he is always capable of pulling off his sleeve some little masterpieces of improvisation, for example when explaining to Cpt. Rawling why he didn't inform her of the Shane/Army/Antoine situation down to waving Hi to his daughter in the midst of a beating he is giving to a baddie. And Chiklis is the perfect man and body for the part—another magic touch by Ryan—not only because his oozing energy and earnest disposition but also for his physical features. He is not tall and athletic, but short and heavyset, which emphasizes even more the burdens and tribulations he is carrying for the entire series, so he'll never give us the impression of the guy who swiftly, flawlessly, takes care of business, no matter how difficult that may be, but that of the regular guy arduously, painfully struggling with oh so many things at the same time! With someone like say, Ron Perlman in the role, all that pathos could have been lost, Perlman's character would have just stared at the problem, at the people causing it, paused for a moment and then simply muttered that he would take care of it. (BTW, to be fair, in no way I am belittling him, if there is ONE thing great about SOA, that is Ron Perlman).TS must be the only one TV series of which I have watched the entire collection of DVD meetings and interviews. Of special interest to me were the videos of the meetings of the staff where they discuss future plots and subplots and the further development of current ones, like the story for example where one Armenian girl has her sister killed and they, the staff, try to put together the relationship she will have with Vic. For anyone like myself who has always wanted to know how all these TV plots and story lines come to life that was an invaluable piece of information. Thanks to the people who made this possible. And thanks specially to Shawn Ryan, for such great series.All in all, a classic, to keep in you collection and take it out to watch whenever you feel the need for a guilty pleasure. 9/10.

The Grand Master The Shield had me hooked right from the very first episode. The Shield rewrites the rule book on police/crime dramas and it is certainly not like any other show such as Law and Order, NYPD Blue, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The show is certainly not glamorised nor does it dilute issues raised in the show such as police corruption, politics, family matters, homosexuality, sexual assault, autism, and racism.Based on the Rampart scandal that plagued the Los Angeles Police Department in the late 1990's, The Shield focus on the LAPD's Strike Team that operates out of a disused church in the fictional Farmington Division in order to target street gangs. The strike team is led by the equally feared and respected Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) who utilises brutal tactics as well as stealing from criminals, beats suspects, blackmails others, and organises murders. Vic Mackey must also deal with issues within his family including his disintegrating marriage to his wife Corrine Mackey (Cathy Cahlin Ryan) and two of his young children have been diagnosed as autistic. Vic Mackey's best friend Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins) is also involved in Vic's various dealings on the street. Shane Vendrell is also reckless in his actions and is openly racist and bigoted as evidenced by his various derogatory remarks. Detective Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell) is calm, quietly spoken and mild mannered in contrast to the aggressive behaviours the other team members display. Ronnie manages to keep himself out of trouble but occasionally joins in when necessary. Detective Curtis "Lem" Lemansky (Kenny Johnson) is the muscle of the group, although he has a good natured personality and is extremely loyal to his friends.Other members of Farmington Division include patrol officers Danielle (Danny) Sofer (Catherine Dent) who is initially a training officer but is later promoted to Sergeant, and the rookie officer Julian Lowe (Michael Jace) who is torn between his deeply religious and moral beliefs as well as his hidden homosexuality.Also included at Farmington Division include veteran police detective Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder) who is often seen as the moral voice of reason in the division and is also being groomed for a future leadership role within the LAPD. Her partner Detective Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach (Jay Karnes) is socially inept and sexually frustrated as well as looked down upon by fellow officers despite being a intelligent and highly capable detective.Farmington Division is run by Captain David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) who has high ambitions for a political career as well as wanting to expose Vic Mackey and the strike team for their brutal tactics and acts of misconduct. Captain Aceveda sees Vic Mackey as "Al Capone with a badge" and wants to see Vic Mackey terminated from the LAPD or even imprisoned.Michael Chiklis does a excellent job as the hard headed an morally uncompromising Vic Mackey. Michael Chiklis is without question the star of the show. He was previously known to audiences for his role as the easy going Police Commissioner Tony Scali from the early 1990's show The Commish, and The Shield introduces a tough guy side to Michael Chiklis.Many well known actors have appeared throughout the series including but nit limited to John Diehl, Glenn Close, Michael Pena, Anthony Anderson, Carl Weathers, Forest Whittaker, Laura Harring, Franke Potente, Laurie Holden, Danny Pino, Alex O'Laughlin, Mark Rolston, Frank Grillo, Frances Fisher, Paul Ben-Victor, Kirk Baltz, Scoot McNairy, Ken Jeong, Kristen Bell, and Lucinda Jenney.The Shield may not be for everyone due to its strong violence, sexual content, drug use, and adult themes, but nonetheless it is addictive viewing for loyal fans of the show. The final season ties everything up neatly. The Shield is criminally underrated, but nonetheless it is an excellent show. 10/10.

kosmasp I wasn't aware of any bad reviews here on IMDb, until I just read about them from another reviewer. I still got late into the Shield, but for other reasons. I heard about the positive hype and liking Michael Chicklis I bought the Complete Box set of the series. But I never came around seeing the show, not necessarily because of time issues, but I never felt like it. I kind of thought this would be more or less your generic cop show.I couldn't have been more wrong. And the great thing is, you're either hooked with the first episode or you aren't. The way it does end, will either appeal to you or appall you. One thing is for sure: It will not leave you thinking "whatever". Love it or hate it, this is what it is.The main theme was a bit weird and I had to get used to that chaotic music, like I had to get used to the title screens (the names moving making you feel a bit dizzy). But it all fits into what the Shield is. It is one of the most realistic, but most of all one of the most non black and white show there is. And that is referring to characters, not skin color.The in your face style (camera always present, more like a documentary), fast cuts everything moving, no slow motion effects or any other fancy effect you might expect, fast talk, works perfectly. Of course, there might be people who don't like it. And you could find more "flaws" (see title cards, but also missing bits for more characters, more interactions, more personal life) ... but there is only so much time to tell a story. And if Vic Mackey gets you hooked ... you're hooked for good. His team is clearly defined and story lines get carried through not only to other episodes, but to other seasons.Maybe you'll find your own favorite of the show, mine was Lemansky (Lemonhead). I won't go into the reasons, but you might understand when you watch. Generally season 5 has a big climax and it is never an easy watch. Your inner feelings being as divided as the characters you're rooting for ...Because it feels so real, things happening will probably get you upset, you will root for some characters while dismissing others. But it's not that easy defining who or what is good and not. And while I remain vague in that description, not revealing any plot, I can guarantee you, that you will know after one episode if this is your kind of show.Having watched this through, I can tell you I was more than surprised. Not about the ending itself, although I wouldn't say I did see that coming like it did. But about the fact, that I really wanted the show to end. You know how it is with other TV shows, you wish they'd continue on and on and on ... but with this, taking its toll not only on the characters, but on the viewer, you might find yourself in the same position. And believe me when I tell you: that is one thing you can call "good" for sure ...