Rating: 
Summary: Intense Drama that Always Surprises
Review: I heard about "The Shield" from a friend at work, and the idea of Michael Chiklis, TV's "The Commish", as a bruising, corrupt but with a unique sense of justice cop seemed ludicrus. Still, I turned in for the marathon that FX played right before the Season one finale, and I was hooked. You see, it's not just Chiklis who makes this show work(he is incrdible, by the way, and by no means was his winning an Emmy a mistake), it's the entire cast and the way the show refuses to just focus on one part of life in the precient. The show gives you four distinct storylines each week, and weaves them in and out over the course of the season. Each storyline is engrossing, and each charachter played to perfection.Chiklis is the obvious standout, and one of only two "name" actors on the show, the other being CCH Pounder. Pounder has been a great B-list actress for years, and she's been given excellent material to work with, as the straight shooting but street-weary detective who is partnered up with a smart young detective who feels the need to prove himself to the veterans on the force, and is usually put through hell by Chiklis. The other two story arcs involve a beat cop training a rookie with a secret he dare not reveal, and the new, politically abitious Captain, a young hispanic who was rose quickly through the ranks because he was young and hispanic. He knows this, and wants to make a real name for himslef, and sets his sights on taking down Chiklis and his squad of corrupt yet oddly honorable cops. That they end up working together as much as against each other is a testament to the ingenuity of the writers. The season starts off hot, as we're introduced to the whole cast, and keeps getting tougher and more uncompromising as we learn more about the players. Chiklis is a family man at heart, though he sleeps around. CCH Pounder has lots of family issues, the young Detective goes through hell to solve cases, and it starts to affect him personally, and the Captain faces one problem after another, usually sparked by something Chiklis has done. Was his promotion to this precient a pat on the back or a slap in the face? All of this is portrayed brilliantly, and I heartily recommend the DVD if you've seen the show. It is always rewatchable, and always tense, with a good sense of humor as well. It will make you think and it will have you screaming in outrage. TV hasn't been this good since "The Sopranos" started.
Rating: 
Summary: Complex material, brilliant acting
Review: When they say The Shield is groundbreaking, the critics are talking about more than the amped-up sex-and-violence. This show relentlessly explores topics that no one else will touch: police brutality and its sometimes positive result, racial politics, political correctness, and more. Thanks to first-rate writing, there areno easy answers, and just when you think you know a character, that character is confronted with a different set of rules, and reacts completely unpredictably. In our post-9/11 search for comfort, this is not easy material to love, but every actor on screen lives these characters from the inside out. Special praise to the 8 principal actors and those who play recurring characters for keeping it real week in and week out. Chiklis got an Emmy out of this. Look for CCH Pounder, Benito Martinez, Jay Karnes and Michael Jace to score next time around. Their portrayals are courageous and original!
Rating:
Summary: The best cop show ever
Review: Power, juice, rules, loyalties, all of it rolled up and swished around into one of the most enjoyable and complex dramas ever on TV. The character you root for this week is the one you hate the next. I wish I had all of the actor's and character's names at my fingertips because all of them are excellent and deserve a lot of credit. Chiklis is both menacing and heroic at the same time. And somehow still seems sympathetic whether he's fixing a blunder by one the guys on his team, or skimming some drug money for himself. The detective "Dutch" moves from cluelessness to genius to destroyed emotional cripple in a single episode. The writing, acting, and shooting are amazing. The individual episodes have complete plotlines, yet feed into the entire season (which has an impressive climax while maintaining the tension for season 2). The alliances between the leads and supporting characters constantly change and twist as the characters look for personal advantage. What's most impressive is how the series feels new and almost never hits a cliched clanger note (ehhh, with one exception that I'll let you find for yourself). This is one of those series that make you re-arrange your schedule. It's the only one I made an effort for. Easily the best thing on TV last year. Thanks to the producers(or whoever) for allowing us to watch and share this fantastic series anytime.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Even On El Cinco De Mayo
Review: I must admit I was not blown away by this show. I watched about the first 3-4 episodes when they first aired, and pretty much thought this show was awful. To me the characters talked in nothing but cliches, and awful "tough guy talk." Here are some examples of what I remember (some quotes might not be exact):
"I won't listen to you and neither will my men. Not today. Not ever. Not even on El Cinco De Mayo."
"I'm not the good cop, and I'm not the bad cop. I'm a different kind of cop."
Granted both of those lines came from the same character in the same episode, but that is all I remember. If it wasn't for Clark Johnson's brilliant direction of the first episode, I would not have bothered watching any of the other episodes. For my money I'll stick with reruns of Homicide on CourtTV.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Hypnotizing!!!
Review: I would give this program 10 stars if I could. I saw the previews before the first season started, but was not able to see the first few episodes so I did not watch any of them. I have this thing about watching episodes in order so I waited. Then they played each episode one day after another. Truely the most perfect casting. I loved The Commish and I cannot believe it is the same person. I was praying that it would be available on DVD soon and it will be. I was told by someone that it was too violent. Fighting drugs and crime cannot be dealt with any other way. this is not customer service where you have to wear a constant smile to prevent insulting someone killing people and selling dope. There is a big difference in a personal drug user and a dealer. If letting a personal user slide (within logical reason) to catch the ones dealing to kids and gangs, then it must be allowed. It is no different than every day life elsewhere. Just in a different form. If I was a cop and someone pulled out a carton of smokes, I would not hesitate to shoot. No time to say "you got me. Nice joke" Cops do not make that much money, but have to worry about how they defend themselves. If I pulled out a carton like a weapon, I would expect to get shot. Who wants to die for a criminal's rights over their own. This show will grow to be quite a great thing. I know someone that is a drug user and hates the show and it is because it does not promote drugs. So if it scares people that are trouble, then the show really works. People worry about cigarettes killing people. I worry more of someone on coke with a gun. Season two will be awesome I am sure!!!11
Rating:
Summary: I'm a different kind of cop!
Review: I knew, I just KNEW, from the first teaser commercial trailer for this show that they had on display in the months prior to the season premiere, that this show would be a HIT!! I had heard of Michael Chiklis beforehand, even though I had never watched 'The Commish' before. I knew that this show was going to blow me away, and that it certainly did... AND MORE! Everything is on point with this series, the action, the drama, the humor, EVERYTHING!! Congratulations to Michael for winning the Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama Series. I am so looking forward to the 2nd Season. January 7th folks, on F/X, BE THERE.
Rating:
Summary: One word: Intense
Review: Not since "Homicide: Life on the Street" has a cop drama so thoroughly sucked me in. Mike Chiklis greatly departs from his warm and fuzzy character from the former series, "The Commish" and becomes and intense, ferocious, dirty cop named Vic Mackey. When I say he "becomes" him, I mean it. Just like the early day of H:LOTS, the main character is surrounded by great supporting characters played by talented actors. The jist of the show is Vic Mackey is dirty, and he is the leader of a strike team that is just as dirty as he is. The Lieutenant knows he's dirty and wants to nail him(plus he has much political ambition), but is never able to get enough on him to do so, this all leads to some thrillingly intense television and departs from the typical, "cops are heroes" mentality. Remember when "NYPD Blue" was considered the most intense cop show on TV? Forget those days. . . .they're over; 'Blue looks like Romper Room compared to this.
Oh, and Andy Sipowicz is no longer the baddest cop on TV.
Rating:
Summary: Great Show...
Review: When I first saw commercials for "The Shield," I thought 'oh, FX is making a crappy show glorifying police violence with a cartoonish bad guy cop. Then, just because I was curious, I watched the first episode. WOW. It was so much more than I expected. The show's main character, tough cop Vic Mackey, is a man who started out doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. But in the first episode, he crosses the line of no return. Reed Diamond (beloved by the faithful for his portrayal of the troubled Mike Kellerman on "Homicide") goes in undercover as part of Mackey's street crime unit. Mackey finds out, and during a drug bust, he suddenly turns and blows Kellerman (I mean, Terry Crowley) away. Everything that happens after that is the aftermath of Vic and his men crossing the line too far. All the characters have interesting stories behind them, and they all come to some kind of dramatic change or maoment throughout the course of this first incredible season. Michael Chiklis (formerly of "The Commish") is incredible and deserved that Emmy (even though Kiefer Sutherland was just as worthy). And all the acting is incredible, even though most of the key players are either no names or bit players from other things. I'm not sure if season 2, which starts in January, could possibly be as gripping as the first. But, if it isn't , run out and buy this when it comes out on DVD. It's amazing. FX has a hit show of it's very own. Who'd a thought.
Rating:
Summary: How cruel can FX be?
Review: How in the world can FX actually be so cruel as todo a 13 days of "The Shield" and then nothing untill January 2003. Don't they realize there are "Shield" Junkies out there. I can't hardly wait for the 2nd Season and to be able to buy the 1st season on DVD. "The Shield" is awsome
Rating:
Summary: This defines *AWESOME* TV
Review: I was first skeptical when I first heard of this show when they first were advertising it on FX as "Rampart". I remember watchig "X-Files: The Movie" and seeing this ad, then they said coming in 6 months. I was like "Yeah right, that won't work". Then about two months later more ads came on but the name had changed, and much for the better. This Emmy winning show would be named "The Shield". After I watched the very first showing of the series premeir, I was completely stunned. The first episode brought so many things that normally would not work: Drama, action, violence, nudity, language, drugs, and even some Kid Rock music. Needless to say, the last four minutes were amazing. They come busting into the house perfectly rythmed with the Kid Rock music and then actually showed that guy get shot in the chest. Amazing. This show puts nearly every other cop/detective-related show to shame. The acting is top-notch (Chiklis got an Emmy), the action is some of the best ever done on a cable show, the conflicts between the characters is very believable, Chiklis doesn't play a hero, he has many more problems than anyone else in the show, and the story's most likely have happened before (this is NOT fiction). I am very pleased this show is getting an early, Box set release, unlike many new shows like "The Dead Zone" which have started to produce DVD's that come with only 2 episodes on each disc. The re-runs were basically the only thing to hold me over the summer seasons besides Farscape. I am VERY pleased with the current winter season show line-ups, on all channels. FOX has "24", FX has "The Shield", CBS has "The Amazing Race", WB has "Angel", and NBC has "Fear Factor". This is going to be a very busy, yet very pleasing winter for TV viewers. I highly recommend watching this show. I would NOT recommend kids under 13 watch it though. It IS rating TV-MA. It's just that now and then they show some really brutal and nasty things (remember the scene with the rookie cop and the juwish guy?) That one kept me explaining to my 7 year old sister for hours.... My final words are: Buy the DVD, watch season 1, and get ready to see even more intense drama with season 2 starting January 7th.
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