The FX action drama, The Shield, is by far the hardest hitting,
most ambitious and grippingly suspenseful cop drama to ever hit television.
The Shield is one of those shows that just reels you in and
doesn’t let go.
For those unfamiliar with the show, or who need a recap, here is your basic
outline of the show: In a district of Los Angeles known as Farmington, a new,
experimental police force, one that brings all forms of police officers together
working under one roof, is created. Aptly named the Barn, it’s a converted
church that houses the likes of detectives, undercover agents, regular beat
cops and a captain. The series follows the highs and lows of this ensemble working
together and against each other to catch criminals, and not be caught themselves.
Each episode is a riveting mini-adventure that leaves you craving more.
Among the cast of characters are: a young captain, David Aceveda (Benito Martinez),
who is torn between advancing his own career and being a loyal cop; two brilliant
detectives, Holland 'Dutch' Wagenbach (Jay Karnes) and veteran Claudette Wyms
(CCH Pounder), who fill the classic role of the partners that are completely
different, but work outstandingly well together; and a series of beat cops that
share a passion for police work, including the emotionally struggling Julien
Lowe (Michael Jace) and the rugged-yet-beautiful female officer, Danielle 'Danny'
Sofer (Catherine Dent). But most of the action centers around one man and his
team: Det. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and the Strike Team. Vic is the definitive
rogue cop, who excels at his job of cleaning up the streets, but operates under
his own set of rules. His team, Ronnie, Shane and “Lem” (played
by David Snell, Walton Goggins and Kenneth Johnson respectively), follow him
loyally.
In this third season, after the money train heist that ended season 2, the
Strike Team has to play it cool so as not to arouse any suspicions from other
members in the Barn. Inner tensions worsen as Vic finds himself at odds with
his team and as they cope with the brewing rivalry with the newly appointed
Decoy Squad. When the Strike Team learns they are the targets of an Armenian
Mob hit, they must pull together to stay alive. Other major plots include Dutch
and Claudette’s pursuit of the “cuddler rapist,” and Captain
Aceveda’s degrading humiliation and the steps he takes for revenge. Obviously,
much more happens in the season, but I don’t want to ruin the action-packed
roller-coaster ride that is The Shield Season 3.
Many factors contribute to The Shield being one of the best
shows on television. For starters, the cast is simply amazing. From Vic Mackey
down to the minor beat cops and thugs, every character is superbly developed
and brilliantly portrayed by both excellent writing and incredible acting; Michael
Chiklis even took home an Emmy in 2002 for Outstanding Lead Actor. The individual
and collective story lines are all winners here as well. In fact, The
Shield has become famous for content that pushes the envelope and takes
chances. Another large part of the success of the show can be attributed to
the production style, on-location shooting, and photography. Shot in a dual
camera, mostly handheld-style, each episode, when complete, looks like a riveting
home movie. All of these factors help create a television show that blows away
the competition, and keeps you on the edge of your seat and begging for more.
The Shield Season 3 is presented on DVD in its televised full
screen (1.33:1) format with English Dolby Digital Surround; there are subtitles
in both English and Spanish. Packaging is 4 slim cases in a box, and artwork
is mainly devoted to Chiklis. The show is absolutely awesome, and being a fan,
I can’t give it anything less than an excellent grade. However, boring
and non-unique packaging detracts a bit in this case. I give it an A-.
Special features on The Shield Season 3 are fairly decent.
They are not overly impressive, and some fans may be disappointed, but what
is included will add another couple of hours of viewing time. However, due to
limited variety, I can only give the collection a C. Here is a breakdown of
features:
-- Audio Commentaries – There are 8 episode commentaries. Participants
include series creator Shawn Ryan, writers, directors, and a mix of stars including
Michael Chiklis, CCH Pounder, Walton Goggins, Michael Jace, Benito Martinez,
Catherine Dent, Kenneth Johnson, Jay Karnes, David Snell, Cathy Ryan, Matt Gerald,
Gareth Williams, Nicki Micheaux and Michele Hicks. Each commentary is definitely
worth a listen; the fact that there are four or more people on each one makes
for lively conversation, some more so than others. It’s clear that everyone
involved in the show loves what they are doing and admires one another’s
work. My favorites commentaries were on “Slipknot” and “All
In.”
-- Deleted Scenes – There are 38 deleted scenes from season 3, each one
presented with optional commentary by Shawn Ryan. All are brief, averaging less
than a minute, and for the most part none struck me as a “why did they
cut that”-scene. The only minor complaint I have is that you have to view
each scene by episode and one at a time, rather than having a full section on
each disc or a ‘play all’ feature.
-- “Breaking Episode #315” – This is a good in-depth ‘making-of’
that takes a look at the creation of the season finale, “On Tilt.”
The 80-minute feature covers the creation of every scene in the episode, starting
with the basic idea in the writer’s room and ending with the editing of
the scene. A really good piece, and more than was expected, this extra feature
will make a lot of fans happy.
In a nutshell, The Shield is one of the best shows on television.
It has lots of action, gripping storylines, incredible characters and it continues
to push the envelope and test the limits of what can be seen on TV. For fans
of the show, season 3 was no let down, and for those collecting the series on
DVD, this season is a nice addition to the shelf. However, while there are many
hours worth of extra features, the variety is limited. If you haven’t
started watching the show yet, I fully encourage you to start… but jumping
in at season 3 may spoil some of the fun you could have by starting at the beginning.
DVD Show Content/Packaging Score: A-
DVD Show Special Features Score: C
DVD Show Collection Overall Score: B
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