The Shield

How can we talk of police series without talking of The Shield? This series speaks about such variety of subjects, it is virtually impossible not to mention it among the best police series ever. It was created in 2002 by Shawn Ryan and count 6 seasons, the 7th will be diffused soon on the USA on the FX channel. The synopsis is relatively simple, To restore the order in the most dangerous sectors of Los Angeles, Farmington, the Police uses all methods it founds. We see through various persons the way of making reign the order. So, we distinguish five differents types of cops : the simple policemen, the detectives, the captains, members of the internal police and the four members of the Strike Team with the main caracters.

The subjects approached by the episodes are very interesting and varied : shoot, death, police brutality, police corruption, police harassment, criminal investigation, Los Angeles California, police, corrupt cop, California and Mexico, arson, autism, bar, city council, corrupt cop, drugs, immigrant, mayor, murder, serial killer, prison, homosexuality, internal confrontation, racism (mexicain, black, armenian, white, chinese), rape, shoot out, politic, rumours, made for cable, TV, wisecrack humor.

The members of the Strike-Team are the leader Det.Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), Det. Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins), Det. Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemansky (Kenneth A. Johnson), Dét. Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell). They use a variety of illegal and unethical methods to maintain peace on the streets. To resolve their inquiries, they go beyond the law in a lot of case.

The main caracter Vic Mackey can beats, tortures, committs murder, steals drugs or money to come at his ends. Next this things, he's a father of three children (two of whom are autistic), has a wife, is very loyal with his partners. He has the highest number of arrests of his service.
Obviously, with his methods, he has many problems or aventures with his superiors the Capitain David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) or the Capitain Monica Rawling (the famous Glenn Close), his wfe Corrine Mackey (Cathy Cahlin Ryan), the inspector of the internal police Jon Kavanaugh (the famous Forest Whitaker) and some colleagues Det. Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach (Jay Karnes), Det.Claudette Wyms (C.C.H. Pounder), Officier Danielle "Danny" Sofer (Catherine Dent) and the new black Officer Julien Lowe (Michael Jace). All the caracters evolve significantly across the six seasons.

Then we can ask ourselves what's the difference compared with other police series ... The difference is that it is very realistic, with a style very nervous with the camera and the lighting, it gives us a colorful overview of Los Angeles, the way of life among the various ethnic groups, their reports with the police also, the arrests very muscular within the various gangs. For example, the offices are not pretty and clean like in other american series, but very simple as a former neighborhood at risk. The main caracter and his team, even if they are effective and motivate cops, are bent coppers.

It's a series with a incredible dramatic intensity, many pressures in each episod, many developments. The main caracter, Vic Mackey, is very interesting to follow, his decisions, his remorses, his way to resolve investigations and crimes, his way to get out him and his team of the situation of corruption, his way to survive in his hard life of detective. Having to watch the french and english version, I advise the english version which is really more realistic, captivating and fascinating than the french version.