Extraction

Shattering...
...is about the only way to describe the way the first part of season five of 'The Shield' ends. It's the hallmark of a truly terrific series that events from its very first episode (like, the first episode of season ONE) form the basis of the entire fifth season.

Detective Vic Mackey's original sin -- to keep it hushed for those not in the know -- comes back to haunt the entire Strike Team in the fifth season, while strings from seasons past (The Incident with Aceveda, Mackey and Danny's tryst, etc., etc.) are all pulled taut to make the entire season tense with ugly possibilities, the ugliest of which comes at the end.

Forest Whitaker is a commanding presence as Internal Affairs Lieutenant John Kavannaugh, a seemingly-dedicated member of the rat squad who SHOULD be perceived as the hero in this piece. But of course, we've all come to love Vic Mackey so much that we're actually rooting for Kavannaugh to fail (again, another impressive accomplishment for a...

What goes around comes around
Sometimes TV shows let you down after they've built up the tension, that is not the case here. Everything that came before in the Shield series built up to the events of this season. All the characters start to reap what they've sown for the past 4 years and it doesn't disappoint, although it will twist your heart.

In real life, Forest Whitaker's Kavanaugh would be My Hero, because I know the Strike Team members deserve what's coming to them, but as a Shield and ST fan I mostly don't want them to get it now. One minute they're behind, the next minute ahead, but Kavanaugh is a pit bull who won't let go so the tug of war goes back and forth the whole season. The storylines for the rest of the cast weren't as meaty this year but still complemented the season and built on their history as well. The shoe was on the other foot for Julian who was training officer for bumbling newcomer Tina, while Billings is an inept acting Captain. Catherine Dent was pregnant so Danny was too,...

Unrelenting, intelligent writing
This season is going in my DVD collection instantly.

One of the aspects I began noticing while watching this season was how the writers are showing us in each consecutive season how captians and people with authority handle Vic, and what it will actually take to get him.

When Aceveda was running the barn, he wanted to bring Vic down because Vic was a bad cop, but also because he wanted to help himself. That also meant he didn't mind helping himself to Vic's methods (used Vic) when it suited him. He couldn't get the job done, because he lacked personal integrity.

Rawlings had the integrity, but she believed in a second chance for all. She would have eventually got Vic, but unfortunately, her integrity got her canned while Vic's second chance clock was winding down.

Billings? Forget about it, he just wants cruise control for himself. Kavanaugh is a bull dog who wont stop, and will use any means necessary, even if it means he has to break...

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