The Shield

[Aero 0]

Now that Vic has openly said that he wants to get Ronnie a job with the ICE, I'd really love for Team Vic to win and for both of them to get those jobs. But I can't see that happening based on all the shit that's hitting the fan.

 

Ronnie in a suit. Weird. It took me a minute to realize that he was dressed up because now he's just a regular detective. It's just as weird as seeing both Vic & Shane in suits in that prequel episode back in season 2.

[haws bah gawd 0]

Man, there's really a lot of shit happening on this show now. It seems Vic is manipulating everyone and Ronnie just wants out. I badly want Shane to take the fall for all this, and Vic to get away, but no one is "in the right" anymore. Probably the only innocent parties in this entire situation are Corrine, Jackson, and of course, Shane's unborn child. I'm really pumped more than ever to see how everything ends. Especially now that Corrine is working with Claudette and Dutch to set Vic up for next week. For some reason, I see Vic's salvation in all this being his ties with the ICE girl.

[Craig Th 0]

The only chance Vic has is that he gets the Cartel (sp) to the feds so they give him immunity. Other than that, he's fucked.

 

Though I have a feeling Ryan is going to pull some rabbit out of his hat and shock us all.

[BruiserKC 0]

At the start of the season I figured that Vic was going to get away scot-free. Now I'm not so sure. His actions seem to be of someone who's starting to get real sloppy as the dragnet closes in on him. Of course, Ryan has never been known for wrapping things up in a neat little bow.

 

Couple of ideas I've thrown around...I could see Dutch running the Barn at the end as the tension becomes too much for Claudette's health and she falls by the wayside much like Kavanaugh did.

 

Also, if Vic does go down, what about Aceveda being the one who does it. I go to the matter with Crowley which did happen on Aceveda's watch and with Vic and him fighting over being the point man on the ICE investigation of the cartel, what if Vic tells him to back off or he'll bring up the night Aceveda was raped and forced to give head to the gang-banger? That would be enough for Aceveda to try to finish him off to save his political career.

 

 

[Timmy8271 0]

If Anyone's going to run the barn, it's going to be Billings.

 

Earlier I said that Cassidey was going to be the one that shot Vic. Now I think IF Vic dies, the one that shoots him will be Ronnie and he admits he knew about Terry all along. Acevada won't do it because he'll probably be dead in the next couple episodes.

 

Whatever happens, I know it will be big and this season has been outstanding. God I'm going to miss this show.

[Aero 0]

Ronnie was already told by Shane last season about Terry, but Ronnie told Vic that he had known for a while based on common sense, I guess. He only said that he wished Vic would have told him sooner so he could have helped cover it up better.

[Gary Floyd 0]

Holy shit, the preview for bext week.

[Aero 0]

Man, when Claudette and Dutch started wondering where Vic was in the park, I suddenly realized Ronnie was going to be there instead. The second he actually showed up, I just said "Oh shit" out loud.

 

Obviously it seems like Vic and Ronnie will be going down by the end, but you have to hand it to Shawn Ryan... With the ICE stuff, Vic talking about getting immunity, and now Aceveda apparently seems content with helping Vic in the end if it means he gets some credit for the cartel bust. There's just so many different ways it can end.

[Craig Th 0]

There is just no way Vic is going to get busted. It's wayyyy to obvious.

[haws bah gawd 0]

I'm fucking excited as hell for next week. The preview made it seem like someone is going to die. At this point, Vic (or Ronnie, for that matter) being killed or getting arrested is WAY too obvious, as Craig pointed out. Even Shane and Mara being killed or arrested seems too obvious. I think there is some major twist coming. It looks like Claudette will finally nail Vic and Ronnie, but their ties with the ICE people will grant them immunity. Claudette is obviously losing it, Dutch is starting to doubt her, there is still not much word from Danny aside from her telling Dutch she would be back soon, and there's just so many lose ends to tie up. Can't wait to see how it all ends. I just hope this show doesn't get snubbed AGAIN when the Emmy noms come up.

[Craig Th 0]

Ha, it will.

[milliondollarchamp 0]

I have to admit, there's something appealing about the "us against the world" loyalty that Shane and Mara show to each other. Have any two characters in the show ever shown that type of devotion to each other? I'm almost getting to the point where I want to see them get away. Bless their little criminal hearts that can't do anything right.

 

Would Claudette be willing to give Shane a complete and utter pass on Lem's death to get Vic? Has she even told anyone what Ronnie told her about Shane murdering Lem (complete with Ronnie telling her the evidence that Vic used to get Shane to confess)? Has she even told Dutch what Ronnie told her?

 

It would be a shame in a way if Lem's death is ultimately whitewashed and forgotten by the end of the series. Let alone a black mark on Claudette's moral character if she ends up taking the stance that Lem doesn't deserve to be avenged because he was weak and got corrupted by Vic as such, the grenade was karma and not a crime. That needs to be addressed, just as much as Terry's death given that Lem's murder was the direct result of the lesson Shane learned from Terry's death.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Vic seems so dead to rights with getting caught that it almost does seem too obvious that it'll go that way.

 

Very glad they've let Ronnie do more the last couple seasons. He's a solid character.

 

Another Dani-less episode. Is she off shooting a movie or something? She's done like 2 things this season

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Another Dani-less episode. Is she off shooting a movie or something? She's done like 2 things this season

 

She left with Vic's baby... Claudette told her to take as much time as she needed. Why do people have short term memories?

[Youth N Asia 0]

When main characters are written out of episodes like that is usually means the actor is working elsewhere or taking time off.

[milliondollarchamp 0]

So, anyone want to guess who or what ultimately brings Vic down? Maybe we should put it to a vote or odds or something.

 

Dutch has been set as the anti-Vic for so long I hope its him. My guess is he gets the truth out there but that doesn't result in Vic in jail due to something (deals, cover-up, the Feds wanting his connection, etc) else occurring. 1:1 on this, as its cynical and fits the show's mission statement the best and is true to the characters. Bonus odds - Ronnie executes Vic after Vic gets "away" with it as stated, assuming that Vic must have made a deal that will put Ronnie in jail. 3:1 for this part after the "taught me everything I know" line.

 

Cassidy, now redeemed, doesn't kill Vic but is instead collateral damage in some plan on the part of someone to take Vic out. Vic turns himself in and takes everyone down with him. Corrine may finish him off. 2:1 as Vic actually realizing what he has done instead of always putting the blame elsewhere (even with Lem, its never been his fault he got Lem into this whole world) would be a shock, plus it leaves no one unscathed (Shane, Ronnie, Acaveda, etc).

 

Would Danny pull the trigger on Vic in the future if he pays a visit and pushes for the kid? 5:1 and would require a flashforward, combined with the Dutch/deal scenario. The lack of Danny is just odd at this point...I don't like this idea but she is so out of the loop it seems like we should be surprised when she comes back - possible twist?

 

Acaveda in a rage after his campaign and career is ruined by Vic talking. 5:1 - but only if David follows by eating his gun as well.

 

What if Olivia had some connection to Terry we are unaware of? I'd accept an Olivia twist if she had been a partner (job or personal) of Terry's, but not that this was a sting on him. 10:1 only as it could be too cliched, but would be a twist.

 

Mara shoots Vic, while Shane is trying to "work it out" or can't pull the trigger on Vic. 20:

[haws bah gawd 0]

Here's my considerations for how this whole crazy thing ends:

 

- Referencing Ronnie's comment of "he taught me everything I know", referring to Vic. Vic things all is well and he and Ronnie are going to get away scot free, only for Ronnie to shoot him in the face ala Terry Crowley. The final episode ends similarly to the first, with Vic staring up at Ronnie, just before he dies.

 

- Vic goes down, and takes everyone with him. Ronnie, Shane, Mara, Acaveda, Olivia, anyone that he's ever had dirt on, or did something crooked with. Though Vic gave Olivia's file back to her, you KNOW he made copies of everything before doing so.

 

- Claudette is able to nail Vic, but something comes up to make her victory look more like a vendetta (which is what it's looking like more and more), thus none of her evidence becomes usable.

 

- Shane and Mara kill each other, ironically leaving Vic (Corrine) to look after Shane's son.

 

- The closest thing to a "Happy Ending" this show could generate: Shane and Mara escape to Mexico, Vic and Ronnie join ICE, Claudette's illness is made knowledge of the Barn, and she is replaced by Dutch (seemingly her successor), Danny and Vic come to a custody agreement, Vic and Corrine patch things up but remain separated, etc etc.

 

Theres so many ways this can go.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

What's fascinating is how many secondary characters from the past could logically reappear and play a big role in the ending (unlikely but it's possible). This includes: Terry's brother (Vic), Tavon (Shane), Antwan (all of them), Kavanaugh (Vic)...

 

Once again, I wouldn't bet on it, but it's a possibility.

[haws bah gawd 0]

I'd mark out something fierce if Antwan or Kavanaugh made some surprise cameos before the show ends.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

So I finally caught up and this season has been phenomenal but I expected nothing less. It's incredible to me that this show just keeps getting better.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

The beginning of this episode was intense.

 

Ronnie is so screwed.

[Aero 0]

RONNIE NOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

And Claudette's gone crazy... that's a shame. When Vic inevitably finds out that Corinne was working with the police, him turning in Ronnie will just feel just a little bit worse.

[Craig Th 0]

Wow, that was an intense episode. Right after Vic said his first statement, Olivia's face was classic.

 

I can't wait till next week.

[Gary Floyd 0]

I honestly think this is the perfect ending for Vic-he ends up working for the ICE. In the process, he now has to obey the law-no exceptions whatsoever. He'll be miserable, and work will be like a personal prison for him. He won't even want to be a cop anymore, because he can no longer do what he does. It's his own personal hell, and it's a fitting ending for him.

 

 

Well, or at least I think so.

[goldengreek 0]

That confession scene was perfect, because at first you think Vic might crack and have moral regret over what he is about to say, but then he talks about Terry matter of factly - "I pled it". Chiklis did a great job at the start of that scene. Then at the end about Ronnie "I'll string him along" and then to Olivia "I've done worse" - any doubt he's a sociopath now?

 

 

His confession, though, wasn't about self-preservation -- it was about protecting his children by protecting Corinne. It's going to be devastating when he finds out that Corinne was working with the cops and didn't need him to get her a deal from the feds. (Even though she used some of that Armenian money, she might -- might -- have gotten by on an innocent spouse defense. Actually, now that I think about it, Vic may not have mentioned giving any of the money to her.) Vic views Ronnie as family, and it hurt him to betray Ronnie like that. Only the threat to his kids could have persuaded him to do what he did, and he is going to be one broken man when he learns that his children were safe the entire time.

[goldengreek 0]

Good read:

 

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny...84.story?page=1

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Wow what an episode. Vic's delivery on "I've done worse" makes that the most chilling line in Shield history. Perfectly sums up the his character and the show as a whole. I can't wait for next week.

 

Anyone else see Shane turning himself in, in exchange for immunity for Mara?

[goldengreek 0]

Im guessing:

 

Vic kills Mara, Shane kills Vic, and then Ronnie kills Shane.

 

And that kid serial killer in the making kills Dutch

[haws bah gawd 0]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I have been behind Vic ever since the Kavanaugh investigation. I've been wanting him to find a way to get out of this situation so bad. It actually got a "YES!" out of me when Claudette and Dutch showed up to arrest Vic, only to find out he was untouchable. I laughed my fucking ass off when Claudette fired Dutch on the spot in her rage, and he started scrambling to save himself. Then it all came crashing down when Vic did the ultimate heel turn, and now Ronnie is going to have to burn for all the horrible things Vic has done.

 

Vic has been no saint to her by any means, but it's a major bitch move from Corrine to be working to set him up the way she has. Still though, this is all the bad karma coming back on Vic, and as much as I like the guy, he deserves everything that's going to happen to him. How devastated is he going to be to find out he sold out Ronnie to save Corrine, and she was never in any trouble? For some reason, I see Vic putting his gun in his mouth after all is said and done.

 

Concerning Shane and Mara, sadly, I see their fate ending-up like Bonnie and Clyde. I don't know if Shawn Ryan will go as far as to have Shane's son killed, but I see no happy ending for Shane and Mara.

 

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I think Mara will overdose on pills and Shane will commit suicide.