(S06E05) "You ever think about just coming clean? About everything?" -Shane
I suppose I should be used to it by now, but with the ups and downs that most great shows go through, it's weird to watch something and never be disappointed at the end of it. The Shield is just always good and I think it's remarkable.
So if that didn't spell it out, I liked this episode - a lot. Just solid from all points. Plenty of vintage Dutch, a blast from the past with the return of Vic's old partner, and a gut-wrenching confession from Shane made for one hell of an hour.
The biggest development was Claudette's decision to hand off the San Marcos murders to the Strike Team and it was interesting because this is the first time we're really seeing the dynamic of the new team. I have to be honest, I really like Hiatt despite my gut telling me to be suspicious of him. He seems like a decent guy. Not to mention the fact that he has crazy connections to just about anyone connected with the immigration and naturalization services. I think it's great that Hiatt was able to achieve where Dutch fell short by getting the face to face with Hernan.
Speaking of Dutch, it was great to see him back to his old self in the interrogation room with the creepy "Go Home" child molester. While Billings deserves the credit for pegging this guy in the first place, Dutch still shut him down when it mattered. I especially like how Dutch and Claudette still have their way with each other too. I loved it when Dutch poked his head in the surveillance room only to mouth "no" to Wyms in an effort to get Carlos in interrogation.
Other random thoughts:
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Ronnie has a new lady friend who apparently likes "baby smooth skin between the thighs." Tina seemed pretty into him a few weeks ago and she clearly wasn't interested in Dutch. Could she be Ronnie's new love interest?
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Not sure if there's any basis for this, but what are the chances that Shane got Tilly pregnant? Sure, he had condoms on him, but was he using them?
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I think it's incredibly interesting to see how Vic operates. Despite every despicable thing that he's done, he still has a level of decency. How much of an ass was that Lester guy, though?
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Speaking of Lester, I have to say that I resented Joe a little for bringing him along. If these are the kinds of people he's been running with, it takes away some of his credibility or status or whatever and Vic definitely picked up on it.
In the end, the two big bomb-shells that we already knew the answers to got dropped. Guardo didn't kill Lem. Shane did. So now Vic is back on the hunt for the killer and with Shane deteriorating at a rapid pace, the truth isn't far off. How good was Walton Goggins' performance in that last scene, too? Definitely on par with Chiklis and last week's hospital fiasco. Knowing how good those two are, it definitely gets me excited for the inevitable showdown when Vic finds out. Once again though, a spectacular installment. 7 out of 7.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-02-2007 @ 2:03AM
mayorjimmy said...
Vic is going to kill Shane. no question about it. only, not so much for Lem but for lying to Vic and letting him take his quest for vengeance as far as it's gone.
Either that or Shane is going to come clean and burn Vic and everyone in the process.
Am i the only one who senses a giant gang war coming?
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5-02-2007 @ 9:03AM
Borat said...
What a tense show.
I'm really liking the new side they are showing of Billings too. Amazing how even after 5 seasons we thought of him as just a stupid guy who rarely did anything.
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5-02-2007 @ 9:03AM
paramed said...
All I can say is damn. The Shield takes my breath away every week. This is the best tv series ever!!!!!!!! I agree, Vic is going to kill Shane, but we know we are going to have to wait until next season.
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5-02-2007 @ 9:03AM
Gordy said...
How soon we forget. Vic used to be like Lester. He just needs to keep his nose clean for now, 'cause he thinks he'll keep his job.
I hate Vic.
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5-02-2007 @ 10:59AM
graigbachman said...
You hate Vic? Don't watch the show then.
I've been saying the last two seasons that Shane would get killed in the season finale, I'll just say it again this season.
I like that they are developing Billings into a little bit more than Dutch's bumbling sidekick. It obviously pained him, being a father himself, that the guy would bang his daughter.
I would give this episode a 6.5 only because Gardocki (best character ever) shaved.
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5-02-2007 @ 12:52PM
Mase said...
My guess is that season finale will be Vic giving up Shane and, concomitantly, gets to stay on the force.
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5-02-2007 @ 1:42PM
Casey said...
Did anyone notice when Dutch walk into the room with Claudette, and accidentally called Vic Kavanaugh?
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5-02-2007 @ 2:25PM
hotboudain said...
Shane has so much dirt on Vic and he will use that to protect himself. All Vic wants to do is stay on the force now so he's going to have to let Shane slide for awhile. Shane doesn't do to well on his own (the Antwan debacle) and he'll probably trip himself up without Vic. His wife has a big mouth too and will get them both in trouble.
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5-02-2007 @ 10:59PM
Lemonhead said...
Vic could never give up Shane because Shane was witness to Vic murdering the undercover cop in episode 1, season 1 - not to mention all the other dirt Shane could spill about Vic.
I think Vic will understand and forgive Shane, and Ronnie will kill Shane. After all, Lem was actually his partner.
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5-02-2007 @ 2:45PM
Nicole said...
This show has been spectacular since episode 1 and is the only reason I have a DVR. My only complaint are the short seasons! Vic is awesome and I hope he gets away with everything and gets to keep his job. Ronnie is a nothing character, why didn't they kill him off instead of Lem? I miss Lem! Shane always has been and always will be a total loser, I can't stand that guy. I hope Vic kills him slowly & painfully but don't think he will. Love Billings - he's turning into a great character. I noticed the Kavanaugh comment too but I figured I must've misheard - they wouldn't that slide through in editing, I don't think.
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5-02-2007 @ 7:22PM
Cris said...
Vic wont kill shane. He's like a brother to him. I think in the end Shane will either kill himself or do something heroic and get killed in the process. Althogh i dont think what Shane has done is right, i do feel sorry for him now. He is falling apart more every episode. With two cops at least one dead informer and the money train incident, he is cracking. At least he hung in there as long as he could. Lem started puking blood just from the money train.
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5-02-2007 @ 7:22PM
Nij said...
Vic won't kill Shane..because he knows he led him down this path by killing Terry. He showed him its OK to kill to solve a problem. Yes, you can say Lem was a dear friend, Terry wasn't but on the other hand Terry was a clean cop just doing his job. he had a family too, and didn't deserve to die. So which murder is really worse? Tough to say. Only this show could make you even think about these complex issues.
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5-02-2007 @ 7:22PM
Bill said...
My only complaint was FX airing promos for this episode with Shane saying "I killed Lem!" in the first few seconds. I fast forward through or change the channel when I see promos of shows I watch, because I'm just that paranoid, but I sometimes can't help but see the very beginning. Very annoying.
I like the strike team dynamic their setting up though, with Julien playing things by the book, Vic having no patience for that, but Hiatt (it's Hiatt and not Hyatt?) making peace between them. If somehow Vic does get to stick around, I think the new guy will actually fit in very well and keep the peace, as long as he doesn't find out about Vic's sketchier endeavors.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
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5-03-2007 @ 1:55PM
Jonathan Myers said...
Here's something quite interesting that may change the whole playing field - according to Wikipedia, the Shield got picked up for a 7th season - even though the 6th was to be the last. So if we have another whole season coming, what should we expect??
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5-06-2007 @ 3:09PM
Brainfish said...
Season 6 is actually the 2nd half of season 5. Season 7 will be the final season
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5-06-2007 @ 3:10PM
Bobby said...
There was a song , I believe it was the first show this season. Sounded like Johnny Cash. Main lyric was Hang my head. Any help?
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5-06-2007 @ 3:10PM
Bobby said...
There was a song , I believe it was the first show this season. Sounded like Johnny Cash. Main lyric was Hang my head. Any help?
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5-06-2007 @ 3:10PM
Bobby said...
There was a song , I believe it was the first show this season. Sounded like Johnny Cash. Main lyric was Hang my head. Any help?
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5-06-2007 @ 3:10PM
hotboudain said...
Shane & Vic will have to find some way to co-exist because they are both so dirty. Vic's main focus now is to stay on the force by any means necessary. He'll probably try to find out who's on that committee and get some dirt on them.
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5-07-2007 @ 4:24AM
Dustin said...
The song being referred to in #16 is by Johnny Cash and titled "Hung My Heart."
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