(S06E09) "Too many shit-heads. Not enough pillows." - Vic
Despite the fact that I love Vic Mackey, I still laugh a little any time he makes some comment about people in jail. The luck this guy has had! He could just as easily be behind bars. But as this episode taught us, it more often than not just falls into his lap. You'd think karma would have come and bit him in the ass by now, but his good fortune never seems to cease.
Who would have thought that Aceveda's "incident" would ever make a return? After David's deal with Antwon in season four (to have Juan killed), I thought we had heard the last of it. But it turns out that the cell phone photo that Juan snapped of David on his knees still exists and Cruz Pezuela was more than happy to give it to Vic. Knowing Vic though, he's not going to stop going after Cruz. It's beyond clear that he has some sort of connection to Romero (the Mexican official) and San Marcos. So now Vic can blackmail Aceveda with the photo, keep his job (we can only hope), and then still nail Cruz. That seems the most logical outcome to me anyway. After all, we do have one more season.
The way Vic handled himself in this episode was great though. He's officially proved that he can do this job more effectively than Hiatt, despite the fact that Claudette doesn't give a damn. Giving two of the killers to Santi and the Byz Lats for revenge and still letting Claudette get one live one for the cameras was incredibly smart on Vic's part. Everyone involved is happy. There's no way Hiatt would have ever come up with a plan like that. The best part was that look he shot Vic in Claudette's office as they looked at the crime scene photos of the two other dead shooters. He knew he got played.
Speaking of getting played, how much of an a-hole/genius is Billings? Who knew he was so vindictive? The entire sub-plot of him dropping the right words to Hiatt and Tina was brilliant. All just so Dutch would see the two of them doin' the nasty. The real question is will Dutch be able to put it all together and realize that Billings is behind it? I'm thinking yes. It'll be a disappointment if we don't get one big fight between the two of them. It's been brewing all season, especially since Dutch started holding the whole "quick-meal" machine knowledge over Steve's head.
Then the big finish. Shane, in a desperate attempt to maintain Diro's trust, dropped the one phrase you don't want to say in the same room as an Armenian mobster: money train. He spilled it all, conveniently forgetting to mention that he had a part in the heist as well. So what does this mean for next week's finale? We already know what Diro does to people that rip off one of her brothels. What do you do to someone who ripped off six months worth of income? Shane just put an Armenian hit out on Vic.
But here's where I'm slightly confused and as I'm typing this.... I think I may have answered my own question. At the end of season three, didn't the Armenians know the Strike Team was behind it all? Or did that knowledge just die with the death of Margos?
I'm loving the dynamic that's been created though. Season four is still my favorite because of the tension that existed between Shane and Vic. Now we're getting it all over again. The difference, besides the absence of Army Renta? Shane is far more dedicated to his self-preservation this time around. He's smarter, colder, and far more calculated than he used to be. While he seems apprehensive about it now, telling Diro about the money train may be the one thing that can save him at this point. Especially if he wants Vic out of the picture and not just out of Farmington. Because we all know Vic isn't just going to sit still. 6 out of 7. See you for next week's season six finale, "Spanish Practices."
Giveaway Monday: That '70s Show The Complete Series Stash box set
Giveaway Monday: Back to You season one DVD
Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-30-2007 @ 4:44AM
Kevin Stahnke said...
Cruz Pezuela and Romero are clearly connected. The amount of money Romero had in the brief-case was $200,000. The amount of money Pezuela gives to Aceveda for his exploratory committee? $200,000. Is there a connection here or is this yet another case of the Shield creators throwing out a misleading detail to keep the viewers guessing?
I don't know. All I know is that in any given episode I find myself finally understanding some point while becoming newly confused on another. We rightfully praise the actors for their great performances, but the continual story-lines weaving in and out of each other are what really blow me away week in week out.
Question about Billings, did he pocket Tina's phone? He sent a text message to Dutch and the message didn't have a name but Dutch knew it was Tina so I assume Billings was using her phone. I'm pretty sure I saw him pocket it when walked in on Tina and Hyatt in the breakroom. I can see this really blowing up in Billings face.
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5-30-2007 @ 4:44AM
T.M. said...
As sorry as I felt for Shane earlier in the season, that's how much I detest him now. Bye Shane.
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5-30-2007 @ 4:44AM
Jim said...
Did anyone else notice the hand creep into the frame behind Diro in the second-to-last scene?
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5-30-2007 @ 4:45AM
Tim said...
Jim, I noticed that too.
T.M. I feel exactly the same way. When he killed Lem, I was so pissed and wanted him to get was coming to him. This season you could see how it was eating away at him and you couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Once he told Vic, I stopped feeling sorry for him and now I've gone back to wanting him to get what is coming to him. This show plays with my emotions toward each character so much. I love it!
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5-30-2007 @ 4:46AM
resource said...
If Shane was truly sorry for killing Lem he wouldn't have been gunning for Vic by joining with the Armenians so quickly.
He's the epitome of self-interest and greed.
Vic is a scumbag in a lot of ways but he's genuine about looking out for the team.
Things get even worse next week.
I won't spoil the finale but it will be weird to see what the strike team will be like next year for season 7.
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5-30-2007 @ 4:46AM
jim said...
Spoilerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Alert !!!!!!
This sucks, I was on IMDB and found out that Alex O'Loughin (Hyatt) is starring in his own show on CBS this fall. Must be the end of him here and that sucks because I thought he was a great addition this season. Can't wait to see what plays out but still a bummer
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5-30-2007 @ 9:40AM
Lemonhead said...
Oh, and another thing... anyone else love the way Vic could barely contain his glee once it sank in that he had a photo of Aceveda on his knees? Priceless.
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5-30-2007 @ 10:17AM
Lemonhead said...
As soon as she said Vic had to be killed, you could tell by the look on Shane's face he knew he had made a mistake telling Diro about the money train. Shane is known for not really being a big thinker, he blurted it out in desperation and now I think he knows he stirred up yet another shitstorm. I'm still giving Shane the benefit of the doubt about his guilty conscience over killing Lem, and I don't think he wants Vic dead more than he wants to be forgiven by him.
Although the coming attractions make it look like Shane kidnaps Vic's family for execution, I'm wondering if Shane will actually redeem himself by trying to protect Vic's family from the Armenians.
Billings is the best - that pain-in-the ass Dutch played that vending machine card one too many times and got what was coming to him. I think it would be interesting if Dutch killed Hiatt - after seeing Hiatt and Tina banging away, he seemed to relate a little more to that murderer he was interrogating.
Damn, it seems like I wish a week of my life away just to get to another Tuesday at 10pm!!
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5-30-2007 @ 10:24AM
Gordy said...
Dammit! I thought for sure Claudette would bring Vic down. Oh well...
Kevin, great catch! I didn't think to connect the money Aceveda received to the Mexican diplomat. Too bad that investigation will be buried...for now. Vic's got a new lease on life in the LAPD.
Billings doesn't realize that Dutch is a sociopath. He could kill him easily. I hope that situation come to a head in the finale.
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5-30-2007 @ 12:26PM
Rudebwoy381 said...
Not to gloat, but I knew The Incident was coming back.
Ever since Lazano's girlfriend showed up in S4 bragging that 'there's a photo,' I knew it would come back at SOME point. I thought Mackey would be investigating some totally unrelated crime, and he'd end up at Lazano's girlfriend's house looking for a gun or some other evidence, and just stumble upon The Picture.
But this was so much better. I really think Pezuela's being set up to become The Big Baddie to cap the series off, and the whole show is going to take a 'Wire'-like turn into some serious political intrigue, to accompany the usual action. He clearly wants to have Aceveda in his pocket. I can only assume he was saving that picture to use if he had to, and since he's plugged into the gangs, he probably knows that Vic is the kind of cop who he can count on to make a deal if it comes to that -- 'The kind of cop this community needs.' -- That was nice, and Mackey 'solving' the San Marcos murders is just the cover Pezuela needs to keep him around.
Just in case no one believes I saw The Return of The Incident:
http://striketeam.blogstream.com
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5-30-2007 @ 12:27PM
Rudebwoy381 said...
Toomey:
I'm 100% with you on the Armenians already knowing it was the Strike Team. Their treasury dept. mole in S3 fed them the entire teams' addresses. I thought the whole reason for killing Margos was to send the message that it was game over... 'We can rip you off, we can get to your bosses, etc., etc.' And in the two seasons since then, the Armenians haven't even appeared on the show. Rehzian told Shane in their initial meeting that the old-world Armenian might was in town to 'teach our American-born some some respect,' or something to that effect.
Maybe they just didn't know for absolutely CERTAIN who did it; they do now, though, and, in Ronnie's words, it's 'another Shane Vendrell Shitstorm Special.'
Can't wait for next week.
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5-30-2007 @ 12:27PM
Rudebwoy381 said...
Sorry to be 'that guy,' and just keep posting stuff, but here's the actual link to the page with the prediction for the Return of The Incident, under the May 1 heading, 'I ****ING KNEW IT!':
http://striketeam.blogstream.com/v1/p2.html
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6-01-2007 @ 11:33AM
Tna said...
Billings is such a creep; I so want someone to kick his ass.
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6-01-2007 @ 11:34PM
kiles123 said...
The Shield and 24 are the only shows I watch. Shield is at least twice as good as 24.
We should all write FX and tell them that this series needs to be longer. At least 3 months. I'm sad that the season finale is next week.
is next season REALLY the last? Say it ain't so someone!!!
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6-04-2007 @ 10:41AM
stoudtco said...
I effing love this show to death. The writers always seem to think of the craziest stuff we could think of and just blow us away with something we never saw coming. i can't even believe that the incident is making a return but when i saw that i couldn't help but think oh shit next week will be most interesting. and i can't wait to see what dutch is gonna do.
the best part about this show? its that every week u find urself rooting for Vic and the Strike Team to somehow find their way out of trouble once again and then u realise, you're rooting for the bad guys.
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8-26-2007 @ 7:32PM
IanG said...
Just watched it on my DVD recording. We have it on Friday evenings in the UK so next week will be the last episode.
As others have said, this show is so good, I loved the look on Vic's face when he was given the photo, taking off those cool shades and the way he lit up seeing that photo - absolutely priceless! I was dying to know what he had been given then I love the way the jerky camera view shows it. Also, the very start was classic, the hidden camera view of Diro sewing up something and you wonder what the hell is this about? Also, (there were some good lines in this one) the way Shane said '...when you said he was traveling you didn't say he was on the highway to heaven'. LOL. Franka is so convincing as a mobster's daughter, but there are so many sub-plots and interpersonal relationships you have to keep up or you literally lose the plot.
They say the Shield is like the drugs they feature on the show, you get hooked!
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