tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post6535516688301365965..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Shield, "Parricide": It's kiss my ass timeAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13587510042964668712008-12-21T23:27:00.000-05:002008-12-21T23:27:00.000-05:00Oh good gracious. Now I can't stop watching these...Oh good gracious. Now I can't stop watching these one right after the other.<BR/><BR/>I'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. <BR/><BR/>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?? <BR/><BR/>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. <BR/><BR/>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!!<BR/><BR/>Aahh! Now, back to episode 9!erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186483042206438665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82760654069570340782008-10-23T21:26:00.000-04:002008-10-23T21:26:00.000-04:00jim treacher states my feelings as well. It's a c...jim treacher states my feelings as well. It's a confusing, amazing, exciting feeling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59646085578796089122008-10-23T11:00:00.000-04:002008-10-23T11:00:00.000-04:00Love this season........Walt Goggins deserves an e...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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85812196370421845842008-10-23T09:47:00.000-04:002008-10-23T09:47:00.000-04:00I am with Mark. To me, the shield became boring af...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.<BR/><BR/>But this last episodes was one of the best ever. And I too am excited to see how it will end.dronkmunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09324354314421977169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89907051240781170132008-10-23T06:48:00.000-04:002008-10-23T06:48:00.000-04:00Jeff:Ever ride a roller coaster more than once, Ma...Jeff:<BR/><BR/><I>Ever ride a roller coaster more than once, Mark? Or eat the same meal?</I><BR/><BR/>Sure, of course. I just don't particularly want to do it once a week for several years - what was once exciting becomes tedious.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.MadMemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719499288325313334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-84673700266632003232008-10-23T04:53:00.000-04:002008-10-23T04:53:00.000-04:00Alan, could you and your other tv editorial cohort...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.Keevohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18393558276656465995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20677113425044379742008-10-23T02:22:00.000-04:002008-10-23T02:22:00.000-04:00"Can't believe I'm rooting for the guy who gave my..."Can't believe I'm rooting for the guy who gave my favorite character the grenade sandwich."<BR/><BR/>The 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. <BR/><BR/>I want them all to win and I want them all to lose. <BR/><BR/>How do they do that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31458308820861573302008-10-23T02:00:00.000-04:002008-10-23T02:00:00.000-04:00Didn't know that "Cassidy" is Chiklis' real life d...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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1563749379802617372008-10-23T00:23:00.000-04:002008-10-23T00:23:00.000-04:00Walton Goggins has stepped it up this year. Hope t...Walton Goggins has stepped it up this year. Hope the guy gets some credit, particularly given the tough breaks in his personal life.<BR/><BR/>As 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.<BR/><BR/>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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66848530862034952872008-10-22T22:44:00.000-04:002008-10-22T22:44:00.000-04:00Walton Goggins should get the Best Supp Emmy for t...Walton Goggins should get the Best Supp Emmy for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69743582964427318802008-10-22T21:44:00.000-04:002008-10-22T21:44:00.000-04:00Besides, the show isn't THAT formulaic, anyway...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.Bixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924119954199649577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27633260752315312392008-10-22T20:16:00.000-04:002008-10-22T20:16:00.000-04:00Ever ride a roller coaster more than once, Mark? ...Ever ride a roller coaster more than once, Mark? Or eat the same meal?<BR/><BR/>I 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!Jeff Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14777614840039507252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-70103432010299977542008-10-22T20:06:00.000-04:002008-10-22T20:06:00.000-04:00Bix..Being formulaic doesn't make a show bad as lo...Bix..<BR/><BR/><I>Being formulaic doesn't make a show bad as long as the formula works well.</I><BR/><BR/>Works well in what sense? It continues to make money?<BR/><BR/>Works well for who? I guess that depends on whether you like being fed the same thing over and over and over again.MadMemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719499288325313334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24837929332968229142008-10-22T19:50:00.000-04:002008-10-22T19:50:00.000-04:00Argh, Blogger ate my reply so I'll cut it down...Argh, Blogger ate my reply so I'll cut it down to my main point:<BR/><BR/>Being 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.Bixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924119954199649577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17644983237476422222008-10-22T17:34:00.000-04:002008-10-22T17:34:00.000-04:00By the way - how about Shane's wife going along wi...By 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.<BR/><BR/>And 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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18660066523203669392008-10-22T17:06:00.000-04:002008-10-22T17:06:00.000-04:00Wow, I am extremely excited for the finale now Ala...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.Bryan Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04453957792623988652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54776352235405718252008-10-22T14:31:00.000-04:002008-10-22T14:31:00.000-04:00Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield...<I>Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield" comparison like your comparo from years ago between "Blue" and "Homicide?"</I><BR/><BR/>Nah. 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.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57606577351679656112008-10-22T14:27:00.001-04:002008-10-22T14:27:00.001-04:00Since you've seen it and it wouldn't be giving any...<I>Since 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?</I><BR/><BR/>It'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 Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-2633447347165504702008-10-22T14:27:00.000-04:002008-10-22T14:27:00.000-04:00Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield...Alan: Any chance you'll do a "Wire" versus "Shield" comparison like your comparo from years ago between "Blue" and "Homicide?"UnwantedTouchinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14459449971542271695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88597296221463474452008-10-22T14:21:00.000-04:002008-10-22T14:21:00.000-04:00AMAZING! By far, the best episode on TV this seas...AMAZING! By far, the best episode on TV this season (coming after raves about SOA and Mad Men). <BR/><BR/>This 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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24666785942762874942008-10-22T14:18:00.000-04:002008-10-22T14:18:00.000-04:00Alan,Since you've seen it and it wouldn't be givin...Alan,<BR/><BR/>Since 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?<BR/><BR/>ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63613191363268348472008-10-22T13:30:00.000-04:002008-10-22T13:30:00.000-04:00Alan,Sorry about the double post - it was a comple...Alan,<BR/><BR/>Sorry 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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>Again, sorry about that.MadMemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719499288325313334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81844122168510112172008-10-22T13:23:00.000-04:002008-10-22T13:23:00.000-04:00Also...P.S. Dexter killed off a main character in ...Also...<BR/><BR/><I>P.S. Dexter killed off a main character in Season 2 (Doakes). It took The Shield 5 seasons to do it.</I><BR/><BR/>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 Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69745743942168220332008-10-22T13:22:00.000-04:002008-10-22T13:22:00.000-04:00Mark, since you feel compelled to cut and paste yo...Mark, since you feel compelled to cut and paste your argument from <A HREF="http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/10/showtime-orders-two-more-seasons-of.html" REL="nofollow">the "Dexter" renewal post</A> 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: <BR/><BR/>First, 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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23749215290348820672008-10-22T13:17:00.000-04:002008-10-22T13:17:00.000-04:00It's hard to understand all the continuing raves a...It's hard to understand all the continuing raves about this once-inventive show.<BR/><BR/>Talk 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).<BR/><BR/>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<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>This horse has been beaten WAY beyond death - it has been pulverized into a stain on the ground.<BR/><BR/>P.S. Dexter killed off a main character in Season 2 (Doakes). It took The Shield 5 seasons to do it.MadMemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719499288325313334noreply@blogger.com