Spoilers for "The Shield," season seven, episode eight, coming up just as soon as I sign everybody up for the precinct softball team... "Y'all about bringing force down on the street. Why don't y'all take a look at what ya got going on in your own roof?" -Two Man
You lucky, lucky, lucky bastards.
As I think I mentioned a few months back, FX sent out the first eight episodes of this season in advance, and being "The Shield" addict I am, I devoured them over the course of a few days. So the last episode I got to see for a very, very long time was one in which several metaphorical atom bombs were detonated in Farmington.
Shane tries (and fails) to kill Vic and Ronnie!
Shane is found out and turns fugitive!
Mara confirms for Corrine every bad thing Vic has done in his life! Including killing Terry!
VIC TURNS IN HIS BADGE TO HUNT SHANE?!?!?!?!
Well, let's just say that there are certain advantages to watching things a week at a time like a civilian, because it was killing me having to wait so long for more, or to be able to talk to other people about what had happened.
(I know, I know. To quote Livia Soprano: poor you. Let's talk about the episode already instead of my whining.)
As if the episode where Vic and Ronnie tried to kill Shane wasn't tense enough, "Parricide" upped the ante considerably. I knew Shane wouldn't succeed on his end -- you don't kill of Michael Chiklis this early in the season -- but I wasn't feeling too good about Ronnie's safety until Two Man blew it. And to have the failed assassinations go down at the start of the episode, with both sides then scrambling for most of the hour to either solve the case or cover it up, made for as taut an hour of the show as I can remember.
And then, on top of that, to have so much of the show's foundation ripped apart in the episode's final third? Good lord. No more messing around with the Armenian mob; Shawn Ryan and company are playing for keeps. This was like the penultimate episode of "The Sopranos," where Phil Leotardo almost casually bumped off half of Tony's crew and showed Tony and us how vulnerable he really was -- only it came with five episodes to go, and with a show far less likely to get philosophical in its final minutes.
The really shattering moment to me wasn't the gang at the Barn realizing that Shane plotted to kill Ronnie, or even Vic turning in his badge, though both were major freak-outs. For me, it was Corrine confronting Vic with all of the things Mara told her, and Vic admitting, "I did a lot of things I shouldn't have done, for reasons that made sense at the time but are hard to defend now." For Vic to even come close to confessing to Terry and all the other crimes he's committed -- especially for him to do it to his wife, the one person he's been most stubborn in his denials and manipulations over the years -- shows just how fragile his world is right now.
Corrine insists that after she helps him this one last time, "You have to pay some kind of price." Based on how things are going for him lately, I'd say Vic is already starting on the installment plan.
Some other thoughts on "Parricide":
• I would have been frustrated with Vic constantly leaving the investigation to play footsie with Pezuela if it wasn't for him attempting to make ICE into a comfy landing place when all this stuff with Shane and the department goes from bad to worse. Everything's tied together now, and it's all a big mess.
• Even though he hasn't been on "Prison Break" in a while (at least as far as I can tell from IMDb; been a long time since I actually watched it myself), Silas Weir Mitchell is keeping busy. He was on the "My Name Is Earl" season finale in the spring, then popped up on both "Burn Notice" and "The Closer" and here gets to play the troubled but ultimately good priest. Still, he'll always be Haywire to me.
• That storyline also gave Vic a chance to utter the priceless "I wouldn't want to piss off Jesus on top of everyone else." Uh, Vic? I suspect Jesus is already plenty pissed at all the things you've done in your life.
• Another great Vic one-liner: "Why is Montalban crawling out of his fine Corinthian skin," which is funny if you've ever seen the legendary Ricardo Montalban commercial for the Chrysler Cordoba.
• After all this time, you would think Claudette would insist on having the camera in the interrogation room rigged up in a way that doesn't make it so easy to unplug. Think of how many shenanigans the strike team has pulled by disconnecting that thing at opportune moments.
Finally, since the FX previews now seem determined to spell out almost everything that happens in each episode (the ads I saw for this one gave away a huge chunk of the plot), I'm going to remind everyone again about the rules here: No talking about the previews. No talking about interviews you've read elsewhere that give away stuff in the future. No talking about preview copy on network websites that hint at spoilers. No spoilers of any kind. Anything I consider the least bit spoiler-y is getting deleted.
What did everybody else think? I've been waiting a very long time to start talking about this one.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of status-quo shake-up that so many other shows need. This is exactly the type of development that could keep a show like Dexter more interesting for two more seasons. Too bad most shows are so married to their present cast, sets, and status quo that they could never be this bold.
I just have not idea how they drag this out over 5 episodes, but it's gonna be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAh! It seems as if a debate is afoot!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit frazzled over the rest of the episode to comment right now, but I thought it was a bizarre coincidence that Silas Weir Mitchell shows up as a priest with a secret in yet another crime drama set in Los Angeles (The Closer).
ReplyDeleteI was actually jumping up and down when Two Man started to squeal, and my hands were shaking when Vic took off his badge. I need next week Tuesday to get here QUICK SHARP!
At first I was wondering what was going to happen next week, but then a new riddle popped into my head: what did commenter #3 pull himself away from in order to give his lively opinion on the Shield?
ReplyDeleteWas it re-reading the novels of Proust?
Was it planning a trip to the museum?
I can't tell, but my best guess is a hybrid of the two. I will quit guessing and let your minds run wild.
P.S. Great review - really fine tv from them tonight - none of the fluff that usually turns me off of the shield.
Wow! What a great episode. I can't imagine how the last few episodes play out. One minor complaint- I find it hard to believe that Claudette (as Captain), would have let Vic be on the street so much this season. Given her (correct) suspicions of Vic & knowing his hearing was coming up, it rang false that he wasn't assigned desk duty.
ReplyDeleteWay back in the first season, the Strike Team, in addition to being corrupt, was also pretty incompetent and always seemed to be desperately trying to cover their tracks and just barely staying one half-step ahead of Captain Acevedo. That was part of what made the show so novel and thrilling back then.
ReplyDeleteThis episode felt like a complete throwback to all of that. I've loved this series all along, but I haven't felt that kind of thrill in a long time.
It was so good tonight that I forced myself to turn off the recording as soon as the episode ended so that I wouldn't see the preview.
What an amazing episode. Shane's out. Mackey's out. Corrine's out. Almost everything is out in the open, and I have no idea how this is all going to resolve. None whatsoever.
Now that was fun. You know it's a good episode when you think to yourself:
ReplyDeleteHey, it's the reappearance of Ronnie Gardocki, ladies man!
Two Man's starting to make some good sense (re: the quote above)
Shane's marriage really does seem to be built on a greater foundation of trust than Vic's.
Hey, it's Silas Weir Mitchell!
---
And while I'm looking forward to the hunt for Shane as much as anyone, I also have high hopes for story of how everything shakes out at the Barn. It'd be nice to see Claudette rack up one last win.
Anon
Haha, Pale Writer, you're my hero!
ReplyDeleteWho seeks out a blog just to post nastiness like that? People don't make sense
Wow-- I think this episode just cemented the Shield's place as one of the five greatest TV dramas of all time. And all due to respect to the show that made you famous, Alan, but I think the Shield has also just surpassed NYPD: Blue as the best cop show of all time.
ReplyDeleteOz
Awesome episode! The whole sequence of Shane slipping out of the barn was really great. Its at the point where Shane is easily my favorite character on this show. Goggins is fantastic. Also loved the Mara/Corinne and Corinne/Vic confrontations. Some of the earlier episodes of this season were tedious but everything is blowing up now!
ReplyDeleteWow, just....WOW!
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was so into an hour of television that I was literally jumping on the edge of my seat was Stringer (non-spoilery for The Wire watchers). That's as high a compliment as I can pay this episode.
I'm with bix. I don't know how they're gonna stretch this over 5 episodes, but they're gonna be awesome.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that there's just no way there can be a "happy" ending in the cards for Vic Mackey. If Vic ultimately will receive what he deserves from a karmic standpoint, I could see the final five showing a complicated (but ultimately successful) hunt for Shane, resolution to the Pezuela storyline, fallout between Gardocki and Mackey (or perhaps Gardocki's death - if Vic's getting what he "deserves," Ronnie is his last friend in the world and needs to be lost to Vic as part of his karmic punishment). I feel like Vic will have lost so much (his family, Lem, his job) by the end of the series that there's no way they could Vic off - he needs to be alive to suffer for his sins.
ReplyDeleteToo use a phrase that's almost being over used these days, what a "game-changer" of an episode! My roommate and I who have both watched since S1 just kept saying "no way!" right before two-man gave Shane up. We both agreed we haven't felt that kind of almost unbearable tension since the first 4 episodes of S6. Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed the ride since that stretch, but only a very few episodes have been REALLY good like this one, IMO of course.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to say, I love The Wire and will always consider it the best series ever. BUT, I think this last run of The Shield is much more intense and unpredictable. Obviously that has to do with the nature and arc of every season of The Wire, but still. I can say right now that I have absolutely no idea how this will end up. I mean, can anyone?
Other then maybe you Alan if you've seen the last 2 episodes, I know Matt Roush has.
Holy crap holy crap holy crap.
ReplyDeleteWas that the best episode ever? I think it might have been the best episode ever.
The whole time I kept expecting somebody in the Barn to notice the strong odor coming from the back of Shane's pants. And then! He! They! What! Holy crap!
Vic and Corrinne finally being real with each other was amazing, but I think the scariest scene was Mara giving Corrinne her instructions. Are she and Shane soulmates or what?
I loved how Vic and Claudette's faceoff at the end mirrored Vic and Acevedo sniping at each other in the very first episode. Vic's got a long history of sneering up at his superiors and hissing, "You got nothin'."
And when Vic walked out, I seriously felt lightheaded and my fingers were tingling.
Holy crap.
P.S. Loved all the casual racism about Ronnie's date. Cops, right?
Oh, and two other great moments:
ReplyDeleteShane taking one last quick glance back at the clubhouse.
Vic getting to do one last good deed before hanging up his badge and...?
I was wondering how the Barn would react to Danny's disappearance. The episode was so intense that I forgot about that until well after it ended.
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, Danny must have left some sort of note for Claudette, or there would be an investigation. And Vic must know that Danny ran off to escape from him.
To quote the great Frank Barone, "Holy Crap!"
ReplyDeleteMotherfrakker.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. And Vic giving his shield away to go after Shane might as well be the ultimate 'Shield' moment yet.
It hasn't been this good since the final episode of Season five.
ReplyDeleteWow.
I don't understand how Shane would put everything in the hands of two-man? I knew that was going to blow up in his face, and when he snuck out of the barn, I knew he didn't have a plan B. Also, I'm not sure why Two-man didn't keep his mouth shut knowing that Shane went and got the gun himself, and that the cops didn't have it.
ReplyDeleteSilly. Still, great episode.
It was only in reading the comments that I realized no one had mentioned that Danny had left town.
ReplyDeleteThis episode was insane. At first I couldn't believe that Claudette wasn't clueing in quicker on Shane talking to Two Man, but then everything else happened so quickly, it was like everyone was learning they were a Cylon at the same time.
With 5 episodes left, Vic will have to stop and think about the real consequences of taking out Shane. Or at least worry about what Mara will do, because whatever happens, Mara will be left standing.
Wow. WOW.
ReplyDeleteSince no one else has brought it up, I just have to mention Walton Goggins amazing acting--the look on his face when Two-Man starts to confess was incredible. And then when he runs away...and Vic and Shane start running after him...and Dutch's "Shane Vendrell??" in disbelief...truly awesome.
I also loved Ronnie on his date. Who wouldn't go home with him on the first date?
Finally, the Corrine/Maura scene was one of the most intense confrontations in the history of the series, and that's saying a lot! Maura is just as crazed as Shane is, good luck to their kids....
CCH Pounder was awesome in the Vic's "Kiss my ass time" scene. Triumph, reflection, realization... wow!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if I had missed a "where's Danny?" moment. Apparently not. Maybe she's on vacation. It's not as if a lot of time has passed between episodes.
As for Shane trusting too much to Two Man, he did take on the big job himself (Vic).
What an AMAZING EPISODE.
ReplyDeleteThe Scene where Two-Man is in the barn,and Shane and us(as viewers) realize that he's about to confess is one of the BEST scenes in The Shield period!!
Definitely didn't seen Vic resigning, if anything I thought he was going to get Pezuela and the Cartel to help track down Shane.
Where does this leave him with ICE? is he still going to be working with them or what?
I had to turn on the Closed Captioning to figure out what Ronnie said to Billings (when Billings remarked on a "first date" ending at Ronnie's house). Instant classic - "I'll explain it to you later."
ReplyDeleteTriumph, reflection, realization... wow!
ReplyDeleteI was just watching that moment again. She gets no more than a second of triumph before she realizes, "Wait a minute!" Vic can't even leave her with that much.
Question for Alan: Do you know what stage of production this and the remaining episodes were in, in relation to when the writers' strike hit? One of the worries was that they couldn't do any rewriting, I think? I can't remember, except something about Shawn Ryan being able to come back to work on the finale. Was he involved in this one? That was more than one question.
Jim, only the finale was shot after the strike began. (Shawn Ryan told a great story about doing a one-man picket of the episode -- during the lunch break -- one day because he wanted to say hi to his wife before she filmed her final scene on the show.) Other than not having a writer present on the set for that one, nothing was really changed: FX waited for the strike to end before completing post-production on the last few episodes so Shawn could do his traditional producer's cut and get it looking the way he wanted it to.
ReplyDeleteOther then maybe you Alan if you've seen the last 2 episodes, I know Matt Roush has.
ReplyDeleteIn the interest of full transparency, I should say that I was at the same screening of the final two episodes as Matt (and a number of other critics). Two things to know:
1)You have nothing to fear from me in terms of spoiling anything; I've done rough outlines of each episode review as I've watched, so I'm going to be giving you my first impressions, rather than anything colored by what I know is coming.
2)The final two episodes are AMAZING. The finale may be the best I've ever seen from a drama of this caliber -- and I say that as someone who dug the "Sopranos" finale and obviously worships "The Wire." The experience of watching them back-to-back left me shaking, they were so intense.
It's hard to understand all the continuing raves about this once-inventive show.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a show that should have ended 3 or 4 seasons ago: it's so formulaic now (and so completely unbelievable) that I can watch it with the sound off and guess approximately what every character is saying, doing, and how they will react/respond (aside from some of the rare interesting subplots NOT involving the strike team).
Let me see if I can summarize the main plot of virtually every episode (including this one): something happens at the beginning of the episode (or the end of the previous episode) which generates a 'crisis' for Vic or some other member of the 'team'. This provokes a 'decision' (usually something not-nice) about how to resolve this NEW 'crisis', which, as always, involves rushing around, breaking heads, and staying one step ahead of an opposing force (Aceveda, Claudette, Vic, Shane, etc, etc, etc), until the very last second - when the 'crisis' is averted - or defused enough so that it will morph into the followup 'crisis' for the next episode
I noticed in your other column that you were decrying another season or two of Dexter. Although I agree that season 3 of Dexter is weaker than the last 2 (so far), it's still WAY more original than anything that's happened on The Shield in years; I really don't understand how you can still be enthralled with it.
This horse has been beaten WAY beyond death - it has been pulverized into a stain on the ground.
P.S. Dexter killed off a main character in Season 2 (Doakes). It took The Shield 5 seasons to do it.
Mark, since you feel compelled to cut and paste your argument from the "Dexter" renewal post into here just to make sure I saw it (and newsflash: all comments are e-mailed to me, so I see 'em all), I'm going to copy and paste my reply:
ReplyDeleteFirst, I did complain a fair amount about The Shield running in place during its middle seasons, and in an ideal world, it would have run maybe five years instead of seven.
Second, the last few seasons -- all written with an end date in mind -- have been phenomenal, with last night's episode among the most intense the show has ever done, entirely because the writers could do blow things out knowing only a few episodes are left.
If "Dexter" seasons four and five are designed with some kind of endgame in mind, maybe my opinion of this move will change. Hell, it's still eminently possible that my opinion of this season may improve before we're done.
Also...
ReplyDeleteP.S. Dexter killed off a main character in Season 2 (Doakes). It took The Shield 5 seasons to do it.
If we judged a series based on the rate at which it killed off regular characters, then "Heroes" (which bumped off several people in season one) would be considered better than "Dexter."
Alan,
ReplyDeleteSorry about the double post - it was a complete accident. I thought I had posted the comment in The Shield column and it never appeared - so I thought the blog posting had screwed-up (not me). I never thought to check in Dexter; please feel free to delete that comment since it was always meant to be in this section.
Also, I made the first post before I had actually watched the latest episode. I noticed there were huge raves about it (didn't read the specifics for spoilers), so I watched it with the hope that the writers had finally discovered some fresh new methods of characterization and plotting, only to be disappointed again. Then I rewrote and re-posted, thinking it hadn't gotten through before.
Again, sorry about that.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteSince you've seen it and it wouldn't be giving any thing but a number away, how long is the finale(or with commercials, will be)? Its usual 60+ minutes, 90 min, 2 hours?
Thanks
AMAZING! By far, the best episode on TV this season (coming after raves about SOA and Mad Men).
ReplyDeleteThis was such a strong episode - for 6+ seasons I have under-valued Shane (and Walter Goggins), but last night's episode was all about what wasn't said and the emotions conveyed by expressions between the characters. For the entire run of The Shield one of the strongest aspects was the way Michael Chiklis could silently convey a range of emotion (anger - fear - lust...), but last night's episode allowed Shane and Ronnie the same kind of opportunity. The look between Ronnie and Shane when he catches Shane gesturing to Two Man said it all as well as the stares between Vic and ronnie when they realize Two Man set up the hit - priceless.
This show has been raw and gritty and bold every season, and like the Wire, each season connected by the obvious and not so obvious. It's going to hurt when the show is gone, the same way there is a huge void where the Wire used to reside.
BTW - I think Claudette told Danny to take as much time as she needs to get her affairs in order a few eps ago - that would explain why no one has noticed her gone yet - they haven't realized she has disappeared.
Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield" comparison like your comparo from years ago between "Blue" and "Homicide?"
ReplyDeleteSince you've seen it and it wouldn't be giving any thing but a number away, how long is the finale(or with commercials, will be)? Its usual 60+ minutes, 90 min, 2 hours?
ReplyDeleteIt's longer than normal, but I believe will run slightly less than 90 minutes. Maybe to 11:20? When it gets closer, I'll check in with FX on the exact running time.
Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield" comparison like your comparo from years ago between "Blue" and "Homicide?"
ReplyDeleteNah. While those shows do seem like the respective spiritual heirs -- and in many ways eclipsed their predecessors -- I don't know that I need to explain what should be pretty obvious differences in style and theme between the two series. I love them both dearly. "The Wire" was more ambitious (and mostly lived up to its ambitions) and affected me more emotionally overall, but I'm not sure I've ever had a viewing experience quite like that happened when I watched those last two "Shield"s. When I watched the "Sopranos" finale a few hours early in an HBO screening room with a bunch of other print reporters trying to make deadline, we all immediately started talking (and, in some cases, laughing) about what had happened in that final scene. When the "Shield" credits finished rolling, we were all struck dumb for a very long time, owing less to any one thing in the final moments than to the power of the two episodes back to back.
Wow, I am extremely excited for the finale now Alan. Two questions though for everyone: Was the scene in the clubhouse Cathy Cahlin Ryan's best performance yet? and, Is anyone else rooting for Shane? I was really hoping he would get out of there and was pretty much ready to yell at the softball sign-up lady as well. Can't believe I'm rooting for the guy who gave my favorite character the grenade sandwich.
ReplyDeleteBy the way - how about Shane's wife going along with the whole scheme? Vic's wife was (rightfully) furious after finding out about Terry and everything else - but Shane's wife (sorry, I forgot their names) not only is going along with him, she's providing for his alibi and relaying messages along for Shane. That's a huge difference in the two.
ReplyDeleteAnd Bryan - I was completely screaming for Shane to get out of there faster. I never liked Shane, but after he was set up I began rooting for him. My heart was pounding watching him try to get to the car before everybody put the story together.
Argh, Blogger ate my reply so I'll cut it down to my main point:
ReplyDeleteBeing formulaic doesn't make a show bad as long as the formula works well. Law & Order had several bad years because the writing (over-reliance on twist endings) and some of the acting (Waterston's scenery chewing and Rohm's wooden demeanor) sucked, not because the formula suddenly stopped working. ER's attempts at being "non-formulaic" are largely really bad episodes.
Bix..
ReplyDeleteBeing formulaic doesn't make a show bad as long as the formula works well.
Works well in what sense? It continues to make money?
Works well for who? I guess that depends on whether you like being fed the same thing over and over and over again.
Ever ride a roller coaster more than once, Mark? Or eat the same meal?
ReplyDeleteI thought much of last season was "meh" at best, and I wasn't in love with the first 3 or 4 eps of this season, either. But with all of that now out of the way, holy crap is this one heck of a ride!
Besides, the show isn't THAT formulaic, anyway. Plenty of episodes have opened with the case of the week and not "event that triggers stuff." On a scale of anthology series to L&O, Shield is closer to the middle.
ReplyDeleteWalton Goggins should get the Best Supp Emmy for this.
ReplyDeleteWalton Goggins has stepped it up this year. Hope the guy gets some credit, particularly given the tough breaks in his personal life.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Danny goes, Claudette told her to take some personal time. So it's pretty easy to see why she may go unnoticed for a few days. I'm not one for office romances, but I can see what won Vic over, she does wear a uniform quite well.
I've learned to live with the fact that The Shield will be ending. Homicide gave way to The Sopranos, which gave way to The Wire and now this show is leaving us. Of course those shows slowed in their last year, while The Shield has improved. And we are also left with the brilliant Mad Men, which may very well be the best out of them all.
Didn't know that "Cassidy" is Chiklis' real life daughter. There's got to be more to her storyline, I hope she doesn't hook-up with that budding serial killer that Dutch dealt with 2 weeks ago.
ReplyDelete"Can't believe I'm rooting for the guy who gave my favorite character the grenade sandwich."
ReplyDeleteThe crazy thing is, I'm rooting for ALL of them. I want Shane to get away, AND I want Vic to kill him, AND I want Claudette to heft Vic's badge in her hand, AND I want Vic to piss her off one last time. I want Vic to hang on to what's left of his family, AND I want them to escape his rottenness once and for all. I want Dutch to humiliate Billings for his laziness, AND I want Billings to come out of left field with some very perceptive personal observation that genuinely hurts Dutch's feelings.
I want them all to win and I want them all to lose.
How do they do that?
Alan, could you and your other tv editorial cohorts help to influence the Emmy Awards? The Shield deserves to go off with huge wins for this Season and for 7 seasons of incredibly compelling television. I think objectively, this show has been consistently excellent from the very beginning.
ReplyDeleteJeff:
ReplyDeleteEver ride a roller coaster more than once, Mark? Or eat the same meal?
Sure, of course. I just don't particularly want to do it once a week for several years - what was once exciting becomes tedious.
And I'd be the first to admit I'm curious about how they're going to end it all (having seen the show at the beginning), although I will in no way mourn it's demise.
My point was rather the sad tendency for creations, which originally perhaps broke old formulas, to become formulaic themselves, due mainly to financial motives. It's very difficult to repeat the same concepts in a fresh way for more than 4 or 5 years - The Wire was certainly the most successful of recent shows - since it was partly about the very tendency of human behavior to be repeated, either by institutions or individuals. I personally would rather have an interesting show evolve in a new direction after a certain amount of time, as opposed to regurgitating the same hackneyed plot lines and character underdevelopments ad nauseum. But I understand I'm in the minority when I look at TV ratings.
And as much as I've enjoyed certain episodes/seasons of The Shield, I can't fathom people here comparing it (which at best, was a fast-paced and exciting show based around the curious twist of the lead being a cop-killing cop) with The Wire, which is widely regarded in the English-speaking world as perhaps the best drama ever written for television.
I am with Mark. To me, the shield became boring after season 4. After that season, I started watching the wire. Mackey's hijinks just became hackneyed after that.
ReplyDeleteBut this last episodes was one of the best ever. And I too am excited to see how it will end.
Love this season........Walt Goggins deserves an emmy, just watching the expressions on his face as Two-man was crumbling and he had to get out of there-FAST! How funny was it (brief moment of humor to break the stress) when the softball woman intercepts Shane "Shane do you want to be on the softball team this year? That will be $75. Okay now what number do you want?" I thought he was going to run right over her! Great episode, can't wait to see how this will unfold......Vic will be left alone-no family, no friends, no job to atone for his sins.
ReplyDeletejim treacher states my feelings as well. It's a confusing, amazing, exciting feeling.
ReplyDeleteOh good gracious. Now I can't stop watching these one right after the other.
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed this show, but yes, it was formulaic (albeit good formula). However, when the bad (good?) guys got away with the bad stuff they did every single time, it gets a little tiresome. Of course you have to keep the story going, but still. So I was slightly annoyed that Shane was staying one step ahead of Ronnie/Vic until the interrogation, and then when Two-Man cracked I think I screamed. Because oh my God! That never happens! I loved the episode with the showdown last season with Shane and Vic about Lem, but man--this was 100 times better.
And Mara! Is so scary. She's SO lady macbeth. But I kept thinking--so Vic takes down Shane. Is he taking down Mara too? And their son? How does he get out of this??
And yeah, you can totally see how Vic seems himself as the hero, and just ignores the rest. But we do too. Are people safer with him on the streets? It's why I like Dexter--it makes me question my moral judgment. Yeah, this guy is scary (who occasionally goes out of control)...but aren't we better off without him? It's like a meat factory...we like it, we just don't want to know how it's made. THAT'S good television.
I'm not rooting for Shane, because he blew up sweet Lem (well, as sweet as one can be on the strike team). That was uncalled for! But Vic? I guess I have to root for Vic. I've always had a soft spot for him!!
Aahh! Now, back to episode 9!