The Shield: Season 7 (2008)
Written by Simon Edwards Friday, 05 June 2009 16:34
DVD
Badge of dishonour
With everyone and his wife now rightly proclaiming HBO’s The Wire as the saviour of both modern television drama and the jaded cop show format itself, another little thug of a show, The Shield, has been baring its teeth and pummelling it’s own niche in the belly of the crowded television marketplace for seven seasons. As different as they are, both shows share links to their quietly lauded antecedent Homicide: Life on the Street, notably through actor and director Clark Johnson, who starred in Homicide and helmed both the Pilot episodes of The Wire and The Shield, consequently setting the ongoing style for each show. It’s an incestuous business it seems, and anorak details like this may only be of interest to TV buffs, but it illustrates the solid legacy from which The Shield is borne.
There’s only one big question hanging over this seventh and final season of The Shield – what’s to become of Vic Mackey, the dome-headed corrupt cop played with unerring intensity by Michael Chiklis, in what must almost certainly be his career role? Death, prison or some other purgatory? I’m not gong to give that away, but with this being the final season it’s fitting that things go full circle, with Mackey’s trail of misdemeanours spanning back to the murder of undercover cop Terry Crowley (Reed Diamond) in the Pilot Episode coming back to haunt him in one way or another.
Previous seasons set a precedent of casting heavyweight acting chops such as Glenn Close and Forest Whitaker to lock horns with Mackey; here, instead, Laurie Holden makes a solid but low-key new face this season as FBI Agent Olivia Murray. The Shield has always managed to muster up its ‘water-cooler moments’, which leave the viewer’s jaw on the floor, and it doesn’t disappoint in its final hurrah. Holden’s character becomes Mackey’s mother confessor in one of this season’s most electric moments, during which Vic details all of his hellish deeds.
As much as a fan may want more, The Shield bows out at the right moment. The quicksand in which its corrupt strike team are sinking, fully gobbles up and consumes them to the last, and whatever creative lengths the writers and creator Shawn Ryan could go, The Shield has reached its logical conclusion. For those who have been following the show from the get-go, this will be a rewarding wrap-up. And for those who haven’t, go out and buy it from the beginning – it’s the law! 5 stars
Extra Features
Various cast and crew have a final get together, including all of the major faces along with show runner Shawn Ryan, for commentaries on every single episode. They are both entertaining and intimate and, as corny as it sounds, it really does seem like a group of people who love each other. The final episode Family Meeting is available as either a two-parter or as a US bonus version in one extra-long feature. Two featurettes focus unsurprisingly on the end of the long-running show, with contributions from the set with cast and crew. 4 stars
(The Shield: Complete Season 1-7 Deluxe DVD Collection is also available )
Simon Edwards
Play The Shield: Season 1-7 Trailer (Low Res)
Play The Shield: Seasons 1-7 Trailer (Medium Res)
Play The Shield: Seasons 1-7 Trailer (High Res)
ROLL CREDITS...
Stars Michael Chiklis, Laurie Holden
Distributor Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Format DVD
Released June 8
Buy The Shield: Season 7 (Amazon UK)
Buy The Shield: Season 7 (Amazon USA)
