Rating: 
Summary: Keeping Up with Season One
Review: A co-worker said to me, "That show's out of control!"
We've all been passing around THE SHIELD; first its first season, then its second. And it hasn't lost any steam. THE SHIELD still crashes and careens through the streets of L.A. like one of its wobbling-camera footchases, always managing to stun and electrify its audience.
Staying totally out of control.
I'll go as far as to say I think it's the best cop show on television.
I love the characters and I love the care the writers put into them. The actors are all superb. THE SHIELD is harsh, violent and sometimes very ugly, but it's also funny, sometimes touching, and always very smart.
(I'll get the third season as well and I can't wait for the upcoming fourth!).
Rating:
Summary: Still getting better
Review: After buying season 1 I enjoyed every episode and got season 2 right away. This season was even more compelling then the first with Vic facing off with a Mexican drug/gang lord trying to take over the streets. I found myself watching three episodes at a time and burning through the season in less then a week. Almost every character on the show is so real because they have flaws and strengths, this makes the show so much more then most and I strongly recommend it to adults but not kids.
Rating:
Summary: CAN'T WAIT!!
Review: ahh Best show on TV except for keeping the show hostage for 1 1/2 years
Rating:
Summary: Off With a Bang... Better than the 1st.
Review: Anyone who has saw the 1st episode can tell you, " You will love or hate this show." I personally LOVE IT ... All the characters captivate your attention ( with the exemption of Claudette which must be killed ) . Vic Mackey which is the main character with a dark side really wants to see Justice done .. but is tired of the laws that govern the way he must do things. He and his band of enforcers take it to the streets "their way" with some side step Justice .. Some things just work ... The only drawback to this series is the 9 months before another 13 episodes ... Come on Shawn Ryan get a move on ... Spring and Fall Baby !!! Oh and Vic !! Dead men tell no tales , never forget that ...
Rating:
Summary: Best show on TV, PERIOD!
Review: As a police officer myself, I find some of the things Mackey does a little hard to swallow, but it's the things most of us have wanted to do to a thug on the street, but we can't. I can relate to each character on the show, and compare him to a cop I know . That is what makes great TV, being able to relate all the people and experiences to yourself. I feel that in Season 3, Mackey is going to learn there are consequences and reprocussions for his actions. But these past 2 seasons have been as well-written, finely acted, and superbly directed as any police show I have ever seen. The use of the hand held cameras just adds to the grittiness of the show. Clark Johnson (himself a fine actor in his own right on Homicide)brings a superb touch to every episode he directs. Can't wait for season 3.
Rating:
Summary: What more can go wrong ?
Review: Better than season 1? I think so. Why even bother with network tv shows anymore, more importantly "cop shows." After watching The Shield and comparing it to all the other "cop shows", I found myself wondering why anyone would bother with anything else. Simply put, The Shield cannot be touched! I think a lot of people did not watch the show at first, me included, because it looked like just another drama. Surprise, surprise! The comedy elements of the show are what put this show ahead of every other. Don't get me wrong, the in your face violence is awesome as well. I find myself wondering what more can go wrong for Vic and the strike team in every episode. How many more problems can they get themselves into. And most of all, the interesting ways they temporarily get out of them. Check your morals at the door and bring your sense of humor. Can't wait for season 2 on dvd to come out and season 3 sometime this fall.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant acting and more
Review: Critics are a lot like infants. They want new toys, and they want them now, because none of the old ones is good enough. The sophomore backlash against The Shield began on schedule with the first published reviews of Season 2: One-dimensional performances, excessive violence, blah blah blah. If only they had watched more than two episodes. The first two episodes of S2 were distinguished by brilliant writing and acting, but episode 3, Partners, was the best of the season. Partners is proof positive that Chiklis deserves his Emmy nomination (and that co-star Benito Martinez and guest star Carl Weathers should have been nominated as well). The critics were outraged over Chiklis' repeat Emmy nomination, but, as rogue detective, Vic Mackey, Chiklis is even better this time around, trying to set limits on a life gone out of control. His scenes with guest stars Weathers and Mark Rolston, Cathy Cahlin Ryan (as estranged wife, Corinne), and Walton Goggins (both appealing and scary as Vic's partner, Shane), were masterful. Even better is Benito Martinez, subtle, volcanic, and fiercely intelligent as the reviled, ambitious City Council candidate Capt. David Aceveda. Martinez is heartbreakingly adept at letting silence speak for him. The look in his eyes, whether he is defying his campaign manager or having a showdown with his new boss, conveys all the moral struggle, passion for justice, and yearning for something better that are The Shield's major themes. Michael Jace also brings a quiet strength and deep, abiding kindness to his role as closeted beat cop, Julien Lowe. These two were the best actors on the show this season, and my only complaint about Season 2 is that they didn't get more screen time. Both bring awsome natural talent and presence to their roles. Kenneth Johnson's Lem is likeable, as is new Strike Teamer, Brian White (Tavon Garris), and I look forward to seeing more of these watchable actors next season. Jay Karnes is always on the money as Dutch, the squad room scapegoat with daddy issues. The Shield has always featured outstanding guest performances and S2 is no exception. The astounding Jamie Brown as hooker/informant, Connie; Danny Pino as the relentless drug lord, Armadillo; Weathers as Vic's down-and-out ex-partner, Joe Clark; the terrific Camilla Sanes as Capt. Aceveda's pragmatic, politically savvy wife, Aurora; and Rolston as a P.I. who turns emotional baggage into a contagious disease, are all superb. The Shield's music supervisor, Evyen Klean, is in top form, too. The S2 soundtrack features brilliant scene-to-song matches, and other, larger networks are taking notice. The transcendent 'Aleluia Melisma', from unsigned artist, Steve Edwards, isn't available commercially. Yet, a few months after it was featured in S2's soundtrack, it showed up on one of the hottest new shows from one of the Big Three networks. S2's final montage -- set to Live's "Overcome" -- is every bit as good as last season's capper, and recalls Miami Vice in its brilliant fusion of music and images. As usual, The Shield was there first. Ignore the critics and check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Cable TV at it's best
Review: Despite what many critics stated about the second season of FX's The Shield, this season proves to be better than the first by pushing (and even breaking) the limits of what can be seen on television. The main story running throughout this season is corrupt cop Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his Strike team learn of a money train and plan to hit it, but not without a few snags in the way. Julian (Michael Jace) denies his homosexuality and gets a quick marriage before he is revealed to his fellow officers, Dani (Catherine Dent) loses more and more her grip on her job and her state of mind, while Shane (Walt Goggins) forms a closer bond to Vic. Season highlights include Carl Weathers guest starring as Vic's old partner, the introduction of a drug dealer named Armadillo that would have a profound impact on the show, and a flashback type episode in which we see Vic and the Strike team join together for the first time, and we witness Vic's first corrupt act as a cop. Even though Chiklis gets most of the press for his performance on the show, the standout of season 2 was undoubtadly CCH Pounder who slowly learns the truth about Vic and his team, the culmination of which finds her in line for Aceveda's (Benito Martinez) job; the culmination of which will come to a head in the upcoming third season of the show. I had feared that after a breakout first season The Shield would become a cliche, corrupt cop drama a la NYPD Blue, but creator Shawn Ryan pulls no punches and up's the ante for on screen violence and brutality, while weaving an incredible web of story. All in all, this is cable TV at it's unprecidented best.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Cops Dramas Ever
Review: Dirty cops like Vic Mackey fascinate audiences because they are such complex characters. Many viewers may hate and revile Mackey for his brutal, not to mention illegal policing methods. However, others may see Mackey as the classic anti-hero, fighting the good fight the only way it can be fought in crime ridden areas. The Shield is one of the best shows on television precisely because it recognizes this odd little psychological fact, and plays off it so brilliantly. While season one set the foundation for this amazing police drama, season 2 elevates the genre too unheard of levels, with an impressive cast combined with a brilliant young writer. Season Two of the Shield begins with odd bedfellows. Detective Mackey, the energetic and effective vigilante has teamed with his old time rival, Captain Aceveda, in order to protect themselves and the precinct from outside investigations. While it seems relatively simple and clean, Vic is faced with a mind boggling amount of outside distractions. His family has fallen apart, with his wife leaving him. On top of that, Vic's delicate relationship with the local drug kingpin begins to fall apart as a new force moves into LA, Armadillo. The confrontation between the two characters provides the most memorable and powerful plot twists, as Vic is forced to take his brutality to whole new levels in order to contain the threat of Armadillo. The precinct is hardly boring itself, as the supporting cast begins to find themselves in a whole host of new controversies. Dutch, probably the most intriguing character outside of Vic, stumbles along, trying to find his place as he hits a quality slump. His partner, Wyms, begins to uncover the complicated relationship between Mackey and Acevedo. The storylines are complicated but also stunning in their quality. Stand out episodes can be found all along season 2. The finale is amazingly powerful, as Vic and his crew step way over the line in order to make a hit on the fabled "money train." Armadillo is dealt with in stunning fashion, a series of events that affects other characters as well. Ghosts of Vic's past come back to haunt him, as he is forced to deal with a disgraced former colleague who will do anything to save himself, even if it means bringing down Vic. The twists and turns come fast and furious, and breakout writer Shawn Ryan keeps the pace electrifying. The heart of the show is the cast. Michael Chiklis is still the shows standout, a raging thug with a sharp mind who will do anything to bring down the level of violence on the streets. He is eminently watchable and such an intriguing figure. The show has other standouts, including Shane, Wyms, and especially Dutch. It's a very special show and takes the cop genre to a whole new, edgier, level.
Rating:
Summary: season 2 slips a little bit but still a top notch show.
Review: episode 1- i was hoping for more in the season opener but not a bad episode. vic and the strike team go to mexico to get their "score" that went bad on the streets. armadillo who later causes big trouble for vic and the team first appears. David and vic strike up an alliance. episode 2-pretty good episode. vic and wyms work the armadillo case together into tio's place burning down which could land vic in jail. the last five minutes of this episode are top notch. episode 3-one of the top three eps of the season. dutch searches for a missing women while vic and his old partner joe(carl wheathers)try and get some revenge on an old foe of joe's who cost him his job. this episode has alot of great elements about it like the vic/shane storyline, the opening credits with tantrics breakdown playing in the background, the ending is somewhat suprising also. great ep. episode 4-this episode is a little flat. the money train is discovered(the strike team tries to take it down in the last ep.) episode 5-great episode, one of the best in the entire series. Women are killed at a shelter, david and julian work together in a bike case(pretty funny stuff). the last 15 minutes of this one are amazing. episode 6-average episode but nothing to get jazzed about. armadillo's drugs are being dealed out to kids at schools. armadillo has another card up his sleeve for the strike team. episode 7-average episode. vic and some very unnatractive lady help an abbused women. this episode is just pretty flat but the ending is alright. episode 8-decent episode. vic and the team search for armadillo. episode 9-flashback to the first day in the barn. pretty good episode but the ending could of used a little work. episode 10-gilroy returns and causes some trouble for the team. a new guy is added to the strike team. decent episode. episode 11-alright episode. episode 12-pretty good episode. vic,dutch, and wyms search for missing teenage boys. this is a good episode for vics family situation and a shocking ending. episode 13-great season finale. vic/dutch/wyms/tavon search for a shooter who killed wyms' ex husband.david has to lay people off(one of the main characters get fired) vic and the strike team try and take down the money train. awesome episode. so overall not as good as season 1 but this is still worth the money to buy it. id also like to add that the shield has some top notch songs on it, how bout a soundtrack or something?
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