The Shield 7x13 - "Family Meeting" (SERIES FINALE)
- Thread starter Gregsmack
- Start date
Spoilers for the finale of course:
I voted Very Good, which is what it was. A good solid episode. Couple of points.
1. I was disappointed in a few things. No resolution to the Dutch storyline was one of them. What the heck. All of this build up and no conclusion. I thought it was pretty clever of the kid to try and frame Dutch though, instead of killing him.
2. I kind of figured Shane was going to off himself. Didn't think he would take his family with him though. Kind of the pussy way out. Which was Shane in a nut shell I guess.
3. The Ronnie ending kind of sucked too. Went out with a whimper instead of a bang. I thought he would get shot during the drug raid.
4. They bring in this new mayoral candidate, why? He was annoying. Felt like filler.
The rest of the episode was good though. The ending was great. Vic stuck behind a desk in a suit and tie in a kind of living hell. Awesome.
For a brief moment Vic was feeling sorry for himself, but that look on his face at the end showed he won't be down and out for long.
I voted Very Good, which is what it was. A good solid episode. Couple of points.
1. I was disappointed in a few things. No resolution to the Dutch storyline was one of them. What the heck. All of this build up and no conclusion. I thought it was pretty clever of the kid to try and frame Dutch though, instead of killing him.
2. I kind of figured Shane was going to off himself. Didn't think he would take his family with him though. Kind of the pussy way out. Which was Shane in a nut shell I guess.
3. The Ronnie ending kind of sucked too. Went out with a whimper instead of a bang. I thought he would get shot during the drug raid.
4. They bring in this new mayoral candidate, why? He was annoying. Felt like filler.
The rest of the episode was good though. The ending was great. Vic stuck behind a desk in a suit and tie in a kind of living hell. Awesome.
For a brief moment Vic was feeling sorry for himself, but that look on his face at the end showed he won't be down and out for long.
I voted "very good" (barely), because the episode had a great set-up and execution for the most part, but the ambiguous ending for some of the plot threads bugged me.
Why spend so much time developing this opposition candidate to Aceveda only to have it go unresolved? They could have made it more clear if his campaign was in ruins on account of the suspicion of David murdering him, or the fact that he essentially got martyred, but nothing much happened. It felt like wasting time when we could have been focusing more on the key players.
Why spend so much time with Lloyd to only leave that open-ended as well? I liked the angle with him setting up Dutch, but they should have at least closed that case and given Dutch the win.
I couldn't care less about the resolution of Billing's lawsuit, and the fact that that silly plot thread ate up so much time just so Dutch could get the hook up irritated me as well.
Shane and his "family meeting" though was just chilling. I had an inkling that might happen when Mara talked about what would happen to Jackson and their unborn daughter when they got caught, but damn, to actually see it happen was just rough. That (and the reaction of the cops upon seeing it) was the only part of the episode for me that rivaled the power of Vic's confession last week, which I think was a superior episode.
I didn't mind Ronnie's ending, because the looks on the faces of all the cops in the Barn (towards Vic) and on Ronnie when he knew he was betrayed made it worth it. Loved the scene with Claudette reading the note and showing the pictures to Vic.
It must really suck working a cubicle, if you can't even hack it one day when the only other option is life in prison or the death penalty. I get the distinct impression Vic was off to do some misdeeds there.
It was a good episode, just not quite up to the standard that the last episode set for it. If they had wrapped up a couple more loose ends I would have been happier.
Why spend so much time developing this opposition candidate to Aceveda only to have it go unresolved? They could have made it more clear if his campaign was in ruins on account of the suspicion of David murdering him, or the fact that he essentially got martyred, but nothing much happened. It felt like wasting time when we could have been focusing more on the key players.
Why spend so much time with Lloyd to only leave that open-ended as well? I liked the angle with him setting up Dutch, but they should have at least closed that case and given Dutch the win.
I couldn't care less about the resolution of Billing's lawsuit, and the fact that that silly plot thread ate up so much time just so Dutch could get the hook up irritated me as well.
Shane and his "family meeting" though was just chilling. I had an inkling that might happen when Mara talked about what would happen to Jackson and their unborn daughter when they got caught, but damn, to actually see it happen was just rough. That (and the reaction of the cops upon seeing it) was the only part of the episode for me that rivaled the power of Vic's confession last week, which I think was a superior episode.
I didn't mind Ronnie's ending, because the looks on the faces of all the cops in the Barn (towards Vic) and on Ronnie when he knew he was betrayed made it worth it. Loved the scene with Claudette reading the note and showing the pictures to Vic.
It must really suck working a cubicle, if you can't even hack it one day when the only other option is life in prison or the death penalty. I get the distinct impression Vic was off to do some misdeeds there.
It was a good episode, just not quite up to the standard that the last episode set for it. If they had wrapped up a couple more loose ends I would have been happier.
An interesting way to go, I guess they left it open-ended so you could kind of draw your own conclusions even if that means the episode wasn't probably as satisfying and cathartic as it could have been.
For example, it's possible that Dutch was complicit somehow. I'm not saying I believe that personally but the seeds were sown for such a possibility. Was Aceveda involved in the fate of Andre 3000? Certainly not beyond him. Was Vic going to kill himself at the end when he smirkingly grabbed the gun at the end? Or go raise hell? Or spend three years writing memos?
Vic in a suit and tie at a desk job was rather priceless though. That is probably the ultimate punishment for him. For someone who has always been one-step ahead and top of the food chain to be just another pencil pusher that was great. Mind you, I work in an environment not much different which was kind of sad and sobering for me to watch. At least my cube job isn't quite so formal.
For example, it's possible that Dutch was complicit somehow. I'm not saying I believe that personally but the seeds were sown for such a possibility. Was Aceveda involved in the fate of Andre 3000? Certainly not beyond him. Was Vic going to kill himself at the end when he smirkingly grabbed the gun at the end? Or go raise hell? Or spend three years writing memos?
Vic in a suit and tie at a desk job was rather priceless though. That is probably the ultimate punishment for him. For someone who has always been one-step ahead and top of the food chain to be just another pencil pusher that was great. Mind you, I work in an environment not much different which was kind of sad and sobering for me to watch. At least my cube job isn't quite so formal.
What's that phrase about "every man makes his own hell" or something? Vic made his.
For a minute there, I know he was thinking that it was all worse than prison for him. In prison he would still be somebody, still be who he always was. The thought only lasted a minute though. He's got no badge, no friends, no family, horrible (to him) job for 3 years that he must do, but at the end of that he'll be Vic Mackey again, and he'll be free of everything he ever did. In 3 years, he's Vic Mackey, private eye or private security consultant. He can get a job with a gun where he's out on deck again. His reputation, especially with everything confessed that he got immunity for, will make him golden in some markets. He still has his other son from Danny, and he'll never give up on his other kids, especially with the eldest daughter not far from 18 and college and being able to make up her own mind about contacting him. It may be a bit bittersweet, but Vic won. Everyone else lost to a point.
It was a good ending. Not the best, but far from the worst. I think the point of the other unresolved story lines where all the same thing: life goes on. No matter what happens or changes, the world does not stop spinning. Dutch will go on being Dutch, so on and so forth.
For a minute there, I know he was thinking that it was all worse than prison for him. In prison he would still be somebody, still be who he always was. The thought only lasted a minute though. He's got no badge, no friends, no family, horrible (to him) job for 3 years that he must do, but at the end of that he'll be Vic Mackey again, and he'll be free of everything he ever did. In 3 years, he's Vic Mackey, private eye or private security consultant. He can get a job with a gun where he's out on deck again. His reputation, especially with everything confessed that he got immunity for, will make him golden in some markets. He still has his other son from Danny, and he'll never give up on his other kids, especially with the eldest daughter not far from 18 and college and being able to make up her own mind about contacting him. It may be a bit bittersweet, but Vic won. Everyone else lost to a point.
It was a good ending. Not the best, but far from the worst. I think the point of the other unresolved story lines where all the same thing: life goes on. No matter what happens or changes, the world does not stop spinning. Dutch will go on being Dutch, so on and so forth.
^I agree Frontier.
People keep saying this is "a living hell for Vic".
Sure, but it's hell with a three year time limit, a 62,000 dollar a year salary, and health insurance. When he finishes that up, he'll still be Vic Mackey.
The only part of the episode I really enjoyed was the look on Corinne's face when she and the kids got to the house chosen by the Feds as part of their witness protection deal.
The stereotypical house in the suburbs, free from Vic and the madness of his life. The look of relief, wonder, and amazement on her face was precious.
People keep saying this is "a living hell for Vic".
Sure, but it's hell with a three year time limit, a 62,000 dollar a year salary, and health insurance. When he finishes that up, he'll still be Vic Mackey.
The only part of the episode I really enjoyed was the look on Corinne's face when she and the kids got to the house chosen by the Feds as part of their witness protection deal.
The stereotypical house in the suburbs, free from Vic and the madness of his life. The look of relief, wonder, and amazement on her face was precious.
It was the best episode of the show.
First, allow me to clear up a few points:
- Dutch's case WAS solved. The killer admitted when he said, "Everyone comes to LA to be famous." That's why Claudette left because Dutch was going to take his confession.
- Acevada had the candidate killed. Hence why Claudette remarked that even the election won't stop him from becoming mayor.
Okay, now onto everything else. First and foremost I don't think I've ever seen a more disturbing hour of television in my life and I've seen every episode of The Sopranos and The Wire!
I knew the episode title beforehand so when Shane called, "Family meeting!" I knew that something would be up so I made a mental note of that scene. After seeing him kill himself and take his family out with him I know I will never forget him call for the family meeting. It was a haunting moment and a true moment of horror. Seeing him kill himself was even worse. And then the family on the bed...
Michael Chiklis gave his best performance yet when Claudette called him into the interrogation room and he had to sit there and listen to Shane's letter. I teared up.
But the killer was when she left the pictures on the table and said, "And this is what the hero leaves behind."
And then we saw Ronnie's arrest. Boy, did David Rees Snell knock it out of the park or what? The betrayal in his face was devestating. I think it was a betrayal we all felt because we followed Vic for so long and we always knew he was evil but boy, did he put it right in our faces at the end.
Chiklis out does himself yet again in the final scene with the push onto Vic's face by director the fabulous Clarke Johnson (who made a cameo as the Fed guarding Corrine). Damn, this man is a great actor and they really let him show it.
I think Vic's fate was a fitting one. He has no friends, no family, no badge and he knows he was responsible for Lem's death, Shane's death, Shane's family's death and for Ronnie's arrest. Now he has to serve three years in hell which is how long he was on the strike team. A perfect sentence. Of course, after that he'll just have to fade away.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some other fine scenes. Claudette affectionately tugging on Dutch's tie and saying how he's her friend was great. And her line, "I'll be here every day until I'm not" made me tear up. Dutch and Claudette have always been my favorites so it was heartbreaking for me.
Julian seeing the two gay men was perfect and you could see the inner battle in his face.
The finale wasn't what I expected but I'm glad it wasn't. I loved it.
First, allow me to clear up a few points:
- Dutch's case WAS solved. The killer admitted when he said, "Everyone comes to LA to be famous." That's why Claudette left because Dutch was going to take his confession.
- Acevada had the candidate killed. Hence why Claudette remarked that even the election won't stop him from becoming mayor.
Okay, now onto everything else. First and foremost I don't think I've ever seen a more disturbing hour of television in my life and I've seen every episode of The Sopranos and The Wire!
I knew the episode title beforehand so when Shane called, "Family meeting!" I knew that something would be up so I made a mental note of that scene. After seeing him kill himself and take his family out with him I know I will never forget him call for the family meeting. It was a haunting moment and a true moment of horror. Seeing him kill himself was even worse. And then the family on the bed...
Michael Chiklis gave his best performance yet when Claudette called him into the interrogation room and he had to sit there and listen to Shane's letter. I teared up.
But the killer was when she left the pictures on the table and said, "And this is what the hero leaves behind."
And then we saw Ronnie's arrest. Boy, did David Rees Snell knock it out of the park or what? The betrayal in his face was devestating. I think it was a betrayal we all felt because we followed Vic for so long and we always knew he was evil but boy, did he put it right in our faces at the end.
Chiklis out does himself yet again in the final scene with the push onto Vic's face by director the fabulous Clarke Johnson (who made a cameo as the Fed guarding Corrine). Damn, this man is a great actor and they really let him show it.
I think Vic's fate was a fitting one. He has no friends, no family, no badge and he knows he was responsible for Lem's death, Shane's death, Shane's family's death and for Ronnie's arrest. Now he has to serve three years in hell which is how long he was on the strike team. A perfect sentence. Of course, after that he'll just have to fade away.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some other fine scenes. Claudette affectionately tugging on Dutch's tie and saying how he's her friend was great. And her line, "I'll be here every day until I'm not" made me tear up. Dutch and Claudette have always been my favorites so it was heartbreaking for me.
Julian seeing the two gay men was perfect and you could see the inner battle in his face.
The finale wasn't what I expected but I'm glad it wasn't. I loved it.
I liked the finale too. Not great but good enough. Vic in the prison without walls....never really saw it coming even though it is pretty obvious now.
I am still shocked about Ronnie, that totally sucked. Ronnie was a great character, I was sad and disappointed with what happened to him.
Shane had no cards left to play, but to kill himself and his family is just bad....and wrong...it's badrong!
I thought Aceveda would have a bigger story at the end, but I guess not. I would have been nice for him to get tipped on the bust and have him present to get shot or help with the bust...something like that. As everyone else pointed out, I didn't like the sub plot with the other candidate. Just didn't feel right to be in the finale like that. I don't think Aceveda had anything to do with the murder. He is dirty but not a murderer. He would liken it to something that Vic would do.
Overall, it was a good solid ep. Sorry to see such a fine show end.
I am still shocked about Ronnie, that totally sucked. Ronnie was a great character, I was sad and disappointed with what happened to him.
Shane had no cards left to play, but to kill himself and his family is just bad....and wrong...it's badrong!
I thought Aceveda would have a bigger story at the end, but I guess not. I would have been nice for him to get tipped on the bust and have him present to get shot or help with the bust...something like that. As everyone else pointed out, I didn't like the sub plot with the other candidate. Just didn't feel right to be in the finale like that. I don't think Aceveda had anything to do with the murder. He is dirty but not a murderer. He would liken it to something that Vic would do.
Overall, it was a good solid ep. Sorry to see such a fine show end.
Very good episode from me. Taken together with episode 12, then we have 2 great episodes.
The resolution for most of the characters was hard to swallow, just like real life. I feel for Ronnie the most, Vic should have dealt him a better way out and encouraged him to run after the drug bust (where I thought Ronnie was going to get killed).
I don't think that Dutch did solve the case, which could be something that 'sticks in his craw' for a number of years and shapes his future.
The only disturbing thing was the killing of Huggins, he really should have been seen as a challenge to Aceveda and maybe even won the election, which would make Aceveda more reckless and resentful.
Possible future The Shield storyline in 2 years.
Vic in 'cubicle hell' will only last for less than 2 years. It will be less as Olivia moves out and up and he gets transferred. He gets a chance to make an impact on the streets in another city (Miami, where they have cops and ADAs that kill - Dexter). Vic then leaves and searches for his kids and payback on Corrine
Ronnie handles himself in State Pen, good behavior and helps out the correction system with their drug problem and gets out on good behavior early. Tracks down Corrine and the kids to get back at Vic. We see how smart and devious Ronnie can be.
Dutch Boy is the Captain of D's and tries to solve another serial killer case. He goes to Claudette who is on her deathbed to bounce ideas. We find Lloyd's mother body and get clues that Dutch was involved in her death (he did have a good strangle with the cat in Season 1, right).
Aceveda as mayor is run against someone in his 2nd term that inspires the spirit and martyrdom of Huggins. We then see the near criminal side of Aceveda as he does anything to want to win re-election.
Just one alternate future.
The resolution for most of the characters was hard to swallow, just like real life. I feel for Ronnie the most, Vic should have dealt him a better way out and encouraged him to run after the drug bust (where I thought Ronnie was going to get killed).
I don't think that Dutch did solve the case, which could be something that 'sticks in his craw' for a number of years and shapes his future.
The only disturbing thing was the killing of Huggins, he really should have been seen as a challenge to Aceveda and maybe even won the election, which would make Aceveda more reckless and resentful.
Possible future The Shield storyline in 2 years.
Vic in 'cubicle hell' will only last for less than 2 years. It will be less as Olivia moves out and up and he gets transferred. He gets a chance to make an impact on the streets in another city (Miami, where they have cops and ADAs that kill - Dexter). Vic then leaves and searches for his kids and payback on Corrine
Ronnie handles himself in State Pen, good behavior and helps out the correction system with their drug problem and gets out on good behavior early. Tracks down Corrine and the kids to get back at Vic. We see how smart and devious Ronnie can be.
Dutch Boy is the Captain of D's and tries to solve another serial killer case. He goes to Claudette who is on her deathbed to bounce ideas. We find Lloyd's mother body and get clues that Dutch was involved in her death (he did have a good strangle with the cat in Season 1, right).
Aceveda as mayor is run against someone in his 2nd term that inspires the spirit and martyrdom of Huggins. We then see the near criminal side of Aceveda as he does anything to want to win re-election.
Just one alternate future.
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I don't see how either of those "clear anything up."
Just because the kid showed some insight into why serial killers come to SoCal (after being prompted by Dutch) doesn't mean he's admitted to anything actionable. It was no mystery to the audience that he was a killer, it's just a matter of finding proof or of him admitting to it. Claudette said that he would eventually break down if they kept at him, not that he was going to immediately give a confession to Dutch on the spot.
Aceveda was certainly a suspect, and likely guilty, but there was nothing conclusive that makes him the killer or the one who ordered the hit.
While I was hoping for more closure, I have to say that CCH Pounder and Michael Chicklis gave great performances in these last two episodes. I think, and hope that this means that a follow up spin-off or future movie could be made to resolve some of the outstanding issues. Overall, the SHIELD was a good series that will be missed!
I agree with you 100%.
Did anyone else feel almost physically ill because of just the sheer gravity of the episode? Shane's suicide is the most horrific thing I've ever seen on TV and, like sidious, I've even seen all of the most heinous shit from both The Wire and The Sopranos.
The Shield is a prime example of how TV should be written if the medium is ever going to be considered as anything more than nightly pulp entertainment.
Quick note on the Mayoral candidate. He's actually a character that's been on the show a few times before. He was the comic book store owner that was hosing down drug dealers in front of his store. He's played by Andre 3000 who's a huge fan of the show.
As a casual watching of the series, I must say the ending was both shocking and hilarious (in a good way). I sort of felt like they wouldn't go the cheap route and have Vic die off guns blazing and I was right. Being Dilbert for 3 years and losing his kids is probably the most fitting ending for the character. He gets away with everything, but anything he could have cared about is taken away from him - he might as well be dead.
I only wished that they ended with him sitting defeated at his desk rather than walking away with a gun. I suppose they did it to offer the character some hope, but I'd rather he end up trapped in Office Space rather than believe that he's just going to go out on the street to start it all over again.
Shane's end was pretty shitty though, but I'm sure that was the point.
I only wished that they ended with him sitting defeated at his desk rather than walking away with a gun. I suppose they did it to offer the character some hope, but I'd rather he end up trapped in Office Space rather than believe that he's just going to go out on the street to start it all over again.
Shane's end was pretty shitty though, but I'm sure that was the point.
I also thought it was excellent for all the reasons given above. I guess the Aceveda and Huggins thing didn't connect with me; I didn't think about it.
But yeah, Shane's death and the scenes between Dutch and Claudette were great. I do agree with the statement about how life goes on... we don't get a neat resolution; it's certainly realistic.
my 2 cents
But yeah, Shane's death and the scenes between Dutch and Claudette were great. I do agree with the statement about how life goes on... we don't get a neat resolution; it's certainly realistic.
my 2 cents
[/quote]
Aceveda was certainly a suspect, and likely guilty, but there was nothing conclusive that makes him the killer or the one who ordered the hit.[/quote]
plus who would have done it? not the cartel, he just got his hands clean of them. So who would he use to kill this guy?
Aceveda was certainly a suspect, and likely guilty, but there was nothing conclusive that makes him the killer or the one who ordered the hit.[/quote]
plus who would have done it? not the cartel, he just got his hands clean of them. So who would he use to kill this guy?
I agree, definately.
There was a time where I seriously thought that everyone was going to get screwed;
Vic - In prison
Ronnie - In prison
Shane - Dead
Mara - Dead
Corrine - In prison/dead
Danny - Absconded
Claudette - Dead
Dutch - In prison
Billings - Unemployed
Aceveda - Lost the mayoral election
Tina - Reprimanded for not taking Huggins' death threats seriously
Julian - Back in uniform
Looking at the three major players of the strike team;
Vic - Free
Shane - Dead
Ronnie - In prison
Glad that they all had their separate fates, although personally, I was convinced that Ronnie would get away with it, and I fully expected Teyvon to play some part in bringing Shane down one way or another. Shame they couldn't have wedged Army into the final few episodes at some point.
Vic - In prison
Ronnie - In prison
Shane - Dead
Mara - Dead
Corrine - In prison/dead
Danny - Absconded
Claudette - Dead
Dutch - In prison
Billings - Unemployed
Aceveda - Lost the mayoral election
Tina - Reprimanded for not taking Huggins' death threats seriously
Julian - Back in uniform
Looking at the three major players of the strike team;
Vic - Free
Shane - Dead
Ronnie - In prison
Glad that they all had their separate fates, although personally, I was convinced that Ronnie would get away with it, and I fully expected Teyvon to play some part in bringing Shane down one way or another. Shame they couldn't have wedged Army into the final few episodes at some point.
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