This is the part where I act like an authority on entertainment, and criticize the work of professionals who are, without exception, more successful than I in the industry in which we both work. Some people would say this is proof I have "balls", or "chutzpah" in Jewspeak. Others would say it's proof I'm a "douchebag". To catch up on any old reviews, you can find the link on the right hand side of the page, or just click here.
(Before I begin, two quick notes: 1) As I mentioned in my last post, I have seen the lion-share of the top Oscar contenders coming out this month, and will have several reviews coming right up -- as well as a year-end 10 Best list. But first, I wanted to post my long-promised review of 'The Shield'. Look for the movie reviews to begin in the next day or two -- up first: 'Milk' and 'Benjamin Button'. 2) 'After Further Review...', my recap of the weekend's action in the NFL is up now over at Niners Nation -- you can check it out here.)
The ending of my favorite shows fills me with a strange and unique sensation -- one part breathless anticipation, one part dread. On the one hand, they're finales are long-awaited treats to be enjoyed. On the other, they're like old, dear friends who I'm watching march off to the electric chair, never to be seen again. I don't want them to go, but I can't wait to watch them leave.
That's how it's been with 'The Sopranos', 'The Wire', and a dozen or so great shows before them, and that's how it was with the long-awaited season finale of 'The Shield'. And having to wait nearly 15 months from the end of Season Six to the start of the final season did nothing to change that. Really, viewers have been waiting for closure since the end of Season Five, when Shane Vendrel (Walton Goggins) killed his friend and fellow Strike Team member Curtis "Lem" Lemansky (Kenny Johnson). Season Six was supposed to be the final season, but creator Shawn Ryan found Lem's death presented too much to deal with and still effectively pay off the entire series ("Lem's death sucked all the air out of the room" was a quote I read at the time).
Ryan asked the head honchos at F/X for one more season in order to allow the entire story to play out at a less rushed pace. His request was granted, so Season Six was cut a bit short at 10 episodes. It allowed for the ending to be set up, but never got to the heart of the issue on everyone's mind: What would happen to Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), the leader of the Strike Team, and our hero and our villain? He had found out Shane was guilty of his friend's murder, and wanted revenge, but was hamstrung by Shane's blackmail threats and his own fight to keep his badge.
To be frank, Season Six, while more compelling than just about anything else on TV -- the scenes of Shane dealing with his guilt and suicidal thoughts were especially good -- was probably the least entertaining. While long-time fans enjoyed seeing their favorite characters put through the meat-grinder, the episodes didn't have the same action-packed whiplash-inducing pace. Much of the time is spent searching for killer we (and Shane) know they'll never find. But Season Six did what it had to -- set the stage for the final 13 episodes.
Season Seven returns the show to the top of its game. The pace is back to what its lofty standards, and the tension's at an all-time high. Not only is Vic put through his usual paces -- running around town, usually behind the department's back, trying to play one side of the other and back again, looking for any angle. And this time, he faces even tougher challenges -- threats to his life, not to mention those of his wife and children, and his last remaining partner, Ronnie. He faces threats of blackmail and worse from his former best friend, Shane. Vic is also having to watch his back not only on the street, but in the squad house, where the suspicions of his captain and long-time nemesis, Claudette Wyms (C.C.H. Pounder) are forcing his actions further below radar, all while he is told he's just days from losing his badge for good.
When the final season starts, the audience knows Shane is guilty, and so do Vic and Ronnie. But by mid-season, so does the rest of the force, and that changes everything. Soon, Shane is on the run, and Vic must choose to either aid his enemy's escape, or risk his own exposure for any number of crimes upon Shane's capture -- the murder of fellow detective Terry Crowley and the robbery of the "Armenian Money Train" chief among them.
While this plays out, the supporting characters are given the usual subplots, but not paid off if any meaningful way. This is realistic, if not completely satisfying, so I understand and respect the choice. But it would've been nice to see a bit more of a climax for the dogged Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach (Jay Karnes), one of my favorite characters. He has a small payoff, as does Wyms, and also Steve Billings (David Marciano), but others -- officers Danni Sofer (Catherine Dent) and Julien Lowe (Michael Jace) just went on about their business. But such is life -- not everyone has dramatic life moments in concert with those around them.
The big payoffs are reserved for the Strike Team. I won't reveal any spoilers here, but as Shane's escape hits any number of snags along the way, it becomes clear things can't end well for him, which seems only fair. But what about Vic, our heroic villain? Let me just say this: We know he can't get away clean, and we probably don't want him to, but some men just can't die. Especially when he's willing to do anything to stay alive. If there's one thing we've learned about Mackey, it's that he's a survivor. It's more a question of how he lives with the things he's done to stay that way.
Using the age-old Hollywood scale of judgment -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND/RECOMMEND/CONSIDER/PASS (circle one) -- I rate 'The Shield':
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
No comments:
Post a Comment