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Can you believe “Mad Men” just won the Emmy for “outstanding drama” its first season out -- while its basic-cable brother “The Shield,” now in its 7th season, has never been so much as nominated in the category? (Even FX sister show “Damages” got nominated for the top drama honor in its first season!)
Could 2009 be “The Shield’s” year? Will this final batch of episodes, so brimming with exciting Armenian/Mexican intrigue, be able to pull enough votes away from “Mad Men,” “Lost,” “House,” “Damages” and even the final 10 episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” to snag the top prize? “Damages” star Glenn Close was nominated in 2005 for her role in “The Shield,” but the adventures of Vic Mackey have been roundly ignored by the TV academy since.
Ain't It Cool's Chicago boss, “Capone,” has an affinity for underdogs like Vic Mackey, and he’s got a review of tonight’s installment:
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here in Coaxial. There are nine episodes and counting in "The Shield's" Final Act. When last we left our Strike Team members, Vic (Michael Chiklis) and Shane (Walton Goggins) seemed to make an unsteady peace. So you'd probably think the rest of the series would be all kittens and rainbows and butterflies, right? Guess again, motherfuckers. Here's a rundown of episode four of Season 7.
Title?
GENOCIDE
Writer?
Lisa Randolph, writer of one previous episode of "The Shield" from last season, as well as Episode 9 of this season. She's also written one episode of "Gilmore Girls." But perhaps her most worthy credit is that she has been Tom Fontana's assistant since "Homicide."
Director?
Dean White, credited as a producer on 40 episodes of "The Shield." As a long time director of TV drams, White has also worked on such shows as "CSI," "Thief," "Prison Break," "The Nine," "Dirt," "The Unit," "Law & Order: SVU," "Saving Grace," "Shark," "Friday Night Lights," "Men In Trees," and "The Cleaner."
Where do we pick things up?
Vic shows up the morning after the previous episode to Corrine's (Cathy Cahlin Ryan) house to talk to his eldest Cassidy (Autumn Chiklis), an effort that blows up in his face. Meanwhile, Rezian's (Ludwig Manukian) safe house goes up in flames on what just happens to be the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of World War I. Rezian decides to use his second wish with Mackey, whom he enlists to set up a sit down with the Mexicans. Vic recommends he pushes the meet back; Rezian says he wants it immediately, so Vic gets sets a plan in motion to bring the two together…sort of.
How is that blackmail box holding up?
In an unexpected twist, after the Mexicans agree to the meeting only if the Armenians turn over the blackmail box, the Armenians suddenly tell Vic they indeed have it, which Vic knows is a lie, but a lie that Vic may be able to use to his advantage.
We know things are bad in Vic's professional life. How bad are things getting in his personal life?
Cassidy shows up at Danni's (Catherine Dent) house to see Vic's bastard son and to talk.
Hey, don't other people do police work at "The Barn"?
Dutch (Jay Karnes) and Billings (David Marciano) look into what appears to be a breaking and entering, self-defense killing by a high school boy. Frances Fisher guests as the clearly shaken up boy's mother. Dutch suspects there's something not quite right about the kids story or the east with which the kids shakes off what he's done, and convinces the mother to bring the boy back into the Barn for "psychological observation."
Meanwhile, Claudette (CCH Pounder) and officer Hanlon (Paula Garcés) are paired thanks to department regulation requiring the commanding officer to spend a little time on street patrol.
Who brought in the Feds?
After weeks of being a peripheral but useful force in the Strike Team's world, Laurie Holden's FBI Agent Olivia Murray plays a pretty significant role in this week's conclusion.
So how does that Armenian/Mexican sit down go?
Oh, it happens with the Strike Team present. The first item on the agenda: the Armenians have to hand over the blackmail box. So…very…awkward.
So what about the real blackmail box?
At one point, Vic convinces Aceveda (Benito Martinez) to tap into the box, which Aceveda is still hiding from Vic. They need something they can float in front of the Mexicans to make them believe the Armenias actually do have it. Our old friend the City Controller (who screwed Vic after Vic helped the guy keep his daughter's slutty activities a secret last season) just happens to be in the box, and they force his hand to do something nice for the Armenian people.
What I liked.
That really icky feeling I'm still getting the Vic's daughter is about to cause him some real pain and heartache before this season is done. Watching Vic and Shane manipulate the Mexican-Armenian sit down is a thing of beauty. They are improvising like their on stage at Second City during the actual meeting, and it's like gazing upon fine art.
What I didn't like.
That there are only nine episodes left in this mind-blowing series, and that the ratings for the show are obscenely low. Other than that, the episode is flawless.
How does it end?
Refer to my comments above, regarding FBI Agent Olivia Murray. Also, the Mexicans help Vic solve the arson case of the Armenian safe house fire, but only after they send a very clear message, via a certain public official, that helping out the Armenians is a bad idea.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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