The Shield

"The Shield" can also refer to the logo of the Warner Bros. movie studio.

The Shield is an American police drama television series shown on FX Networks and other networks around the world. The show is notable for its controversial portrayal of corrupt police officers. The first season gained the most Emmy nominations ever for a basic cable drama. The series was created by Shawn Ryan and The Barn Productions for 20th Century Fox Television and Sony Pictures Television (formerly Columbia TriStar Television).

In the United Kingdom The Shield is screened at 11pm on Five on Fridays.

About the series

The Shield is about an experimental police division set up in the fictional Farmington neighborhood ("the Farm") of Los Angeles, using a converted church ("the Barn") as their police station. Although Michael Chiklis has top billing with his portrayal of Detective Vic Mackey, the show has an ensemble cast that will normally run a number of separate story lines through each episode.

Detective Mackey is the leader of the Strike Team, a four-man anti-gang unit based on the LAPD's real-life Rampart Division CRASH unit (Rampart was seriously considered as the series name ). The Strike Team uses a variety of violent and extortive methods to maintain peace on the streets, while maintaining their own profits through drug protection schemes and robbery. The Strike Team isn't above planting drugs on and coercing confessions out of gang members. Attempts to give the team a fifth member have frequently led to near-catastrophe for the group.

The Shield has a variety of subplots specific to the main characters, notably David Aceveda's political aspirations, Vic Mackey's struggle to cope with a failing marriage, and Julien Lowe's internal conflicts between his belief in the teachings of the Bible and his homosexuality.

Common themes are the citizens' distrust of police, the social impact of drugs and gang warfare, and the conflict between ethics and political expediency. Most characters are portrayed as having both vice and virtue. For example, Vic's loving relationship with his children contrasts with his thuggish attitude towards police work.

The Shield has won much praise for its realism, and one area in which this is particularly noticeable is its portrayal of gang violence in Los Angeles. Although names of actual gangs are not used, the portrayals are based on real gangs . Latino gangs with names such as "Los Magnificos" (or "Los Mags") and the "Toros" are a constant thorn in the Strike Team's side in the early seasons of the show, whilst African American gangs become more prominent in later episodes. In particular, a gang calling themselves the "One-Niners" are central to the plot of Season 4. Like the notorious real-life Blood and Crip gangs, the One-Niners identify themselves strongly with one color (in this case purple), wearing it on various forms of clothing. There are also a number of stories set in Korean neighborhoods, as well as plots involving Armenian gangsters.

Finally, to further its realistic mood, the show makes very little use of background music.

Episodes

Season Overviews

The second season premiered January 7, 2003. The season mostly revolves around a new drug-lord who ruins the drug trade in Mackey's precinct and a plan to rip off an Armenian money-laundering ring.

The third season premiered March 9, 2004. The season mainly revolves around the aftermath of the Money Train Heist and its effects on the Strike Team.

The fourth season premiered March 15th, 2005, with the addition of Glenn Close as a full-time cast member, and ended on June 14th. The season dealt with the fallout from the Strike Team disbandment and examined some controversial police policies.

The fifth season premiered January 10th, broken into two parts. The first part consisted of eleven episodes and ended March 21, 2006. The second part, which FX is now calling The Shield's sixth season, will consist of ten episodes scheduled to begin filming in April 2006, for broadcast late 2006 or early 2007. Creator Shawn Ryan had stated that this may be the last season David Mamet and Shawn Ryan: 'The Unit' Audio interview from NPR, recorded March 14, 2006, but on June 5, 2006 FX announced it would bring The Shield back for a seventh and final season. Production of the 13-episode slate is scheduled to start in mid-2007 and is expected to air in late 2007 or early 2008. Hollywood Reporter story, June 5, 2006

Characters

Main article: List of characters from The Shield

Strike Team

Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis): Leader of the Strike Team.
Detective Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins): Vic's friend and member of the Strike Team.
Detective Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell) : Member of the Strike Team.
Detective Kevin Hiatt (Alex O'Loughlin): Member of the Strike Team. Replaces Curtis Lemansky.

Former members

Detective Terry Crowley (Reed Diamond) (Season 1 episodes 1 - 2, Season 2 episode 22): An undercover detective working with David Aceveda and the Department of Justice, who was trying to get information on the illicit activities of the Strike Team. Was shot and killed by Vic Mackey in the pilot episode.
Detective Tavon Garris (Brian White) (Season 2-3): A later addition to the Strike Team. Left the LAPD after a fight with Shane Vendrell and a subsequent automobile accident left him unfit for duty.
Detective Armando "Army" Renta (Michael Peña) (Season 4): Shane Vendrell's partner after he left the Strike Team at the end of season three. Was involved in Shane's illicit dealings with Antwon Mitchell, and later split from Shane in order to avoid a lie detector test related to that.
Detective Curtis "Lem" Lemansky (Kenny Johnson) (Seasons 1-5): Member of the Strike Team who often served as the group's conscience. Also referred to as "Lemonhead." Was murdered by Shane Vendrell in Season 5.

Administration

Councilman David Aceveda (Benito Martinez): Politically ambitious former police captain, elected to the Los Angeles City Council between Seasons 3 and 4. Is one of Vic Mackey's main rivals, although often they have forged uneasy alliances for various reasons. Was raped at gunpoint in Season 3, which eventually drove him to arrange a deal with ganglord Antwon Mitchell for killing his rapist in prison.
Assistant Chief of Police Ben Gilroy (John Diehl) (Season 1 episodes 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13; Season 2 episodes 22, 23; Season 4 episode 43): Crooked cop and longtime friend of Vic Mackey. Was forced out of office after being arrested in a real estate scam; later turned state's evidence in order to obtain evidence to take down the Strike Team, but was forced into exile and eventually died in Mexico.
Assistant Chief of Police Roy Phillips (Nigel Gibbs) (Season 3 episode 9; Season 4 episode 1; Season 5 episodes 1, 10): Replaced Ben Gilroy as Assistant Chief of Police. Apparently an acquaintance of Vic Mackey's, though their relationship has never been clarified.
Captain Monica Rawling (Glenn Close) (Season 4): Succeeded David Aceveda as captain of the Barn. Responsible for a controversial asset-seizure program during her tenure; was eventually fired when she interfered with a DEA operation in Los Angeles at the end of Season 4.
Captain Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder): A veteran detective and on-again off-again partner of "Dutch" Wagenbach. Replaced Steve Billings as captain of the Barn in Season 5.

Police

Detective Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach (Jay Karnes): Claudette's former partner and lead detective at the Barn.
Detective Steve Billings (David Marciano) (Season 4-): Wishy-washy detective and former captain of the Barn after the departure of Monica Rawling. Paired with Dutch during Season 5 after losing his position as captain to Claudette.
Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer (Catherine Dent): Patrol officer who aspires to become a detective. Served as Julien's training officer early in the series. Involved in an on-again-off-again affair with Vic Mackey, resulting in the birth of Danny's son Lee in Season 5.
Officer Julien Lowe (Michael Jace): Patrol officer. Many episodes involve subplots related to his suppressed homosexuality. Training officer of Tina Hanlon.
Officer Tina Hanlon (Paula Garcés) (Season 5-): Julien's officer in training. An attractive young female Hispanic police officer, she is also being mentored by Dutch.
Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh (Forest Whitaker) (Season 5-): Internal Affairs officer investigating the Strike Team.
Officer Ray Carlson (Matt Corboy) (Seasons 1-3): Homophobic patrol officer. Led assault on Julien Lowe after Lowe was outed as a homosexual. Lowe returned for revenge, leading to Carlson's departure early in Season 3.

Criminals

Antwon Mitchell (Anthony Anderson) (Season 4-): Leader of the One-Niners gang, drug dealer and general criminal kingpin, and Shane's former 'employer' during his split from the Strike Team. Due to his knowledge of what Shane did and how he was treated, he is one of the Strike Team's most powerful enemies. Currently serving a sentence in Lompoc Prison for murder.
Margos Dezerian (Kurt Sutter) (Season 1 episode 5, Season 3 episodes 40-41): High-ranking member of the Armenian Mafia in Los Angeles. Was killed by Vic Mackey at the end of Season 3.
Armando "Armadillo" Quintero (Daniel Pino) (Season 2 episodes 14-15, 18, and 21): Ruthless Mexican gang leader that Shane, Ronnie and Lem arranged to have killed while in police custody before he could reveal that Vic had scarred him.
Kleavon Gardner (Ray Campbell) (Season 4 episodes 6, Season 5 episode 6 & 7): A serial killer.

Gangs

Armenian Mob
Farmington One-Niners
Los Magnificos (or "Los Mags")
Los Toros
Los Profetas
El Salvadorans
The Torrucos
The Byz Lats
Spookstreet Souljahs
K-Town Killers
The Horde (biker gang)

Other

Corrine Mackey (Cathy Cahlin Ryan): Vic's ex-wife.
Becca Doyle (Laura Harring) (Season 5): Defense attorney for the Strike Team during Kavanaugh's investigation.
Emolia Melendez (Onahoua Rodriguez) (Season 4, Episodes 10, 11 & 13, Season 5, Episodes 1, 2, 5, 8, 11): An informant for the Strike Team and a secret witness for Kavanaugh.

Trivia

Cathy Cahlin Ryan (Corrine Mackey), is in real life married to series creator Shawn Ryan and is very good friends with Michael Chiklis's wife Michelle. Cathy & Shawn's infant son was also cast as Connie's son, Brian in seasons one and two.

Autumn Chiklis (Cassidy Mackey), is the real-life daughter of Michael Chiklis, and likewise plays his daughter on the series. However, Chiklis does not let her watch the show.

The badges worn by officers in the show differ from their real-life counterparts in both design and their position on the uniform. This was done to distance the show from the actual LAPD, who objected to their portrayal as corrupt.

The characters of Detectives Ronnie Gardocki and Curtis "Lem" Lemansky were not part of the original series pitch. The character of Detective Lemansky was created especially for actor Kenny Johnson after he auditioned for the role of Terry Crowley. Meanwhile David Rees Snell, a friend of show creator Shawn Ryan, was offered a part as an extra as a member of the Strike Team in the pilot episode. When FX greenlighted the series, he was signed on to the show as the enigmatic Detective Ronnie Gardocki.

The alcoholic beverages Corona and Southern Comfort are often the beverages of choice when the Strike Team are seen celebrating, or advertised in bars they visit throughout several seasons.

Video game

On March 3, 2004, Sammy Studios announced a video game version of The Shield for Xbox and PlayStation 2. The game was to be a 3rd person action game developed by Point of View. On March 7, 2005, Sammy Studios Inc. completed a management buyout from parent company Sammy Corporation of Tokyo, Japan and was thus renamed High Moon Studios, Inc. The game's development was cancelled in the summer of 2004 following the Sammy/Sega merger.

DVD releases

Region 1 releases were handled by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

DVD	Date Released (Region 1)
The Complete First Season	7 Jan 2003
The Complete Second Season	6 Jan 2004
The Complete Third Season	22 Feb 2005
The Complete Fourth Season	26 Dec 2005

Region 2 Releases: Season 1 and Season 2 were released in 2003 and 2004 respectively. However, Sony (the successor to Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment) have since decided not to release any further series of The Shield in Region 2.

References

External links

Official website

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